Whether you’re looking to upgrade your Arlo base station or are simply choosing between Arlo vs. Arlo Pro Base Station, you’ll find everything you need to know in this article. And if you don’t, well, let us know — We’ll be happy to answer all your questions in the comments section.
About Arlo Base Stations
The Arlo Base Station connects Arlo and Arlo Pro wire-free cameras to the Internet to give you remote control of your Arlo smart cameras. Here’s how it works: the cameras connect to the base station via WiFi, and the base station connects to your router with a standard ethernet cable. The base station might seem like an unnecessary accessory, but it actually helps with providing long range connectivity and better battery life for your cameras.
Keep in mind that not all Arlo cameras need a base station to work: for the Arlo Q and Arlo Q Plus cameras you don’t need a base station, as they connect directly to your WiFi or PoE network.
Now that we know what the base station is and how it works, let’s take a look at some of the main differences between the Arlo and Arlo Pro base stations to give you a better sense of which product is right for you.
Arlo vs. Arlo Pro Base Station — Differences:
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Difference #1: Local storage – One major difference between the Arlo and Arlo Pro base stations is support for local storage.
The Arlo Pro base lets you connect a USB drive to the station for local backup and storage. All of your recordings are stored to the cloud, but you can use a usb device as a second location to store Arlo Wire-Free and Arlo Pro Wire-Free recordings locally.
It’s important to mention that the USB device can’t be used as the only option — you’ll still have to use cloud storage as the default. The option for local storage is definitely useful as it acts as a backup in case of an internet outage. Plus, the Arlo app will let you know if the USB device is low on storage or full, and will automatically overwrite the oldest recordings to make sure your recordings are current.
Even though the regular Arlo base station has two USB ports, it doesn’t actually support local storage.
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Difference #2: Siren – A smart camera system with a siren definitely has an advantage over those that don’t, as being instantly alerted and scaring off intruders is a useful perk.
The Arlo Pro base station has a 100+ decibel siren that can be controlled remotely via the Arlo app or triggered by motion or audio. Stop crime before it happens and make sure you’re instantly notified about suspicious activity with the Arlo Pro base station siren.
Unfortunately, the Arlo Base Station doesn’t have the siren functionality that the Pro model offers.
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Difference #3: Processor and memory – A better processor and memory means that your smart camera base will have faster, more optimized performance.
The Arlo Base Station features a 500 Mhz MIPS 74k processor with 128 MB Flash and 128MB of RAM.
The Arlo Pro Base Station is a little more powerful with a 99 Mhz ARM Cortex A7 processor with 128 MB Flash and MB RAM.
To clarify the technical information, it’s basically clear that the Arlo Pro station has superior specs.
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Difference #4: Size & weight – There are also some differences in the dimensions and weight of each device. The Arlo Base Station measures 8.5 x 2.25 x 6.5 in (215.9 x 67.15 x 165.1 mm) and weighs 3.8 oz. While the Arlo Pro Base Station measures 6.9 x 2.3 x 5.0 in (58.6 x 174.5 x 126.5 mm) and weighs 11.1 oz.
With all the extra technology and features, the Arlo Pro base station weighs more, but it’s more compact and has a better looking design.
Arlo vs. Arlo Pro Base Station — Comparison Chart
Arlo Base Station | Arlo Pro Base Station | |
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Interface port | Fast Ethernet | Fast Ethernet |
Indicator LEDs | Power, Internet, Camera, Smart Home, USB |
Power, Internet, Camera |
IP configuration | DHCP | DHCP |
Antenna | Internal | Internal |
Wireless range | 300+ feet line of sight | 300+ feet line of sight |
Wireless | 2.4 GHz 802.11n | 2.4GHz 802.11n |
Local Storage | No | Yes |
Siren | No | Yes |
Processor and memory | 500 Mhz MIPS 74 K processor 128 MB Flash, 128 MB RAM |
900MHz ARM Cortex A7 128MB Flash, 128MB RAM |
Certifications | FCC, IC, CE, UL | FCC, IC, CE, UL |
Operating temperature | 32° to 122° F (0° to 50° C) |
32° to 122° F (0° to 50° C) |
Dimensions | 8.5 x 2.25 x 6.5 in (215.9 x 57.15 x 165.1 mm) |
6.9 x 2.3 x 5.0 in (58.6 x 174.5 x 126.5 mm) |
Weight | 3.8 oz (110 g) | 11.1 oz (316 g) |
Can I Use Arlo Pro Cameras with Arlo Base Station?
Yes, you can! In fact, Arlo offers mix-and-match compatibility with other Arlo products! Which means all Arlo wire-free cameras work with all Arlo base stations. That’s great news for those of you who’s already invested in Arlo wire-free cameras. Just get the new Arlo Pro cameras and sync them with your existing Arlo base station to enjoy the new features that Arlo Pro cameras have to offer.
Just keep in mind that siren and local storage come with the Pro Base Station and not the cameras themselves. Other than that, compatibility match is one of the reasons we really like Arlo. No matter what models you end up using, Arlo keeps you covered from every angle.
Is It Worth to Upgrade to Arlo Pro Base Station?
Definitely, yes! You can get the Arlo Pro Base station separately and enjoy all the new benefits. As you already know, there’s no need to worry about compatibility whatsoever. Your existing Arlo wire-free cameras will work with the new base without a problem. And in case you want to extend your Arlo security system, you can buy Arlo Pro add-on cameras separately too. Check out our take on Arlo vs. Arlo Pro Cameras to see the differences between the cameras.
How to Switch From Arlo to Arlo Pro Base Station?
If you want to replace your standard Arlo base station with the Pro version, you’ll basically need to go through the setup process from scratch. Unfortunately, when you remove the old base station from your account, all the cameras that are synced to it are removed too. That means that all the modes and settings on your existing base station and cameras will be erased.
Once you’ve removed the older setup, you can connect the new Arlo Pro base station and pair all your Arlo wire-free cameras with your new base. The whole process is actually a lot easier than it sounds — Arlo setup is a breeze, so you’ll have everything hooked up in no time. Plus, with the new station you’ll get all the benefits of the Pro version.
Arlo Pro Base Station vs. Arlo Base Station — Our Thoughts
We feel that it’s pretty clear that the Arlo Pro Base Station has the advantage in this “battle of the bases,” with many more features like smart siren capability, usb storage, and better technical specifications, it outclasses the default Arlo Base Station in almost every way.
We think that going with the Arlo Pro Base Station is more than worth the moderate increase in price. The added features provide safety and convenience that extends beyond the default base functionality, and provides greater confidence in the security of your home.
Last update on 2024-04-17 at 21:04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Do you have to go thru the reprogramming process when upgrading from the standard Arlo base station to the Arlo Pro base station?
Hey Gerald,
Basically, yes. Removing the base station from your account also removes the cameras that are synced to it. So, you’ll have to set up all the modes/settings for the cameras again with the new base station. You can read a more detailed explanation about this process in this Arlo Knowledge Base Article, in the section at the bottom titled, “You do not want to use your existing Arlo system any longer”.
Thanks for this question, we’ll look to add this important detail to this article.
– Iryna
She went over it in article, the answer is yes. Yep
Love arlo, but we have a long home and I have 2 cameras in the back which strains the range of 300 ft. Is there a way to add an extender to the system? It is not clear to me. If so, where do I find instructions?
Hi William! Please check out this article from the Arlo support team: How can I extend the range of my Arlo system?
You forgot to mention the maximum number of cameras that can be connected to each base. Do you know what it is????
Hi Colleen! You can connect up to 15 cameras to each base station. Also, keep in mind that the maximum number of cameras depends on your subscription plan:
Arlo Smart (free) is up to 5 cameras,
Arlo Smart Premier ($9.99 / mo.) is up to 10 cameras,
Arlo Smart Elite ($14.99 / mo.) is up to 15 cameras.
Also, it’s important to note that one base can only stream/record a maximum of 5 cameras at the same time.
And if you want to add more than 15 cameras, you can always add as many Arlo Base Stations as you want — there is no limit on bases. Plus, there are Arlo cameras that connect straight to your router (like Arlo Q and Arlo Q Plus) which you can also add to your list if you’re really interested in extending your Arlo setup to its maximum.
Thank you for asking! I didn’t realize “up to 15 cameras” meant there was going to have to include subscription costs, which I try to avoid.
Is there a way to adjust the distance the Arlo and Pro will trigger?
Can I buy the Arlo Pro system (base and 2 cameras) then add additional cameras that are Arlo Pro 2 (1080 resolution)?
Hi Julie!
Yes, of course! Arlo Pro 2 cameras are compatible with the Arlo Pro system. 🙂
Are the Arlo Pro cameras still compatible with the ARLO base station and no the Arlo Pro base station, or do I have to upgrade the base station??
All Arlo wire-free cameras are backward compatible, except for the Arlo Ultra cameras which require the Arlo SmartHub base station.
So, in your case, there’s no need to upgrade to the Arlo Pro base station unless you’re interested in features that come with the Arlo Pro station (siren, local storage).
I have four of the original Arlo cameras. If I upgrade my base station to the Pro, do my older cameras gain Homekit integration support, or do I also need to purchase Pro cameras for that?
Hi David, we haven’t tested it, but it looks like it’s only available for the Arlo Pro/Pro 2 cameras on VMB4000/4500 base stations. Sorry 🙁
Is there anyway I can connect my base station to the internet other than by the LAN connecter.