IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Blynk vs Arlo
Blynk
IoT & Smart Home
IoT cloud platform with mobile app builder for connected devices
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Arlo
IoT & Smart Home
Wire-free security cameras with cloud intelligence
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Blynk has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Blynk the free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention; Arlo without an Arlo Secure subscription the cameras are limited to live streaming and two-way audio, with no cloud video history
- They diverge on capability: Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, Arlo covers Wire-Free.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Blynk and Arlo actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Blynk
- Mobile App Builder
- No-Code Interface
- Real-Time Control
- Cloud Storage
- REST API
- WebHooks
- Mobile app
- Cloud platform
Only in Arlo
- Wire-Free
- 4K Video
- AI Detection
- Color Night Vision
- Alexa
- Google Home
- HomeKit
- SmartThings
Both cover
- IOS support
- Android support
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Blynk
- Connecting IoT hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile appnot Arlo
- Over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devicesnot Arlo
- Automations triggered by device datanot Arlo
- White-label device apps for a hardware productnot Arlo
- Prototyping connected devices before committing to infrastructurenot Arlo
Arlo
- Wire-free home security cameras, video doorbells and floodlight camerasnot Blynk
- Cloud recorded video history with person, vehicle and package detectionnot Blynk
- Professionally monitored home security through the Arlo appnot Blynk
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Blynk
- The free tier covers 5 devices, 1 user, 100,000 messages and one week of data retention
- Data retention is tiered all the way up, reaching 12 months only on Enterprise
- Automations and webhooks are rationed, from 5 scenarios and 1 webhook on free to 100 or more on Production
- Over-the-air update campaigns are capped by tier, at 2 shipments on free and Starter
- Production plans run from $199 to $1,099 a month depending on device count
Arlo
- Without an Arlo Secure subscription the cameras are limited to live streaming and two-way audio, with no cloud video history
- Video history, Activity Zones and Advanced Detection require the paid Arlo Plus plan
- 24/7 Professional Monitoring and 24/7 Emergency Response are only on the Premium plan
- 24/7 continuous recording is an add-on to Premium and covers up to three cameras only
- Unlimited camera plans apply only to Arlo cameras at a single residential location on the same account
- Cameras must be bought as hardware before any plan applies, and the included plan is a trial that ends
Pricing, plan by plan
Blynk
Free- FreeFree
- 5 devices
- Basic widgets
- Cloud sync
- Premium$5/month
- Unlimited devices
- Advanced widgets
- Priority support
Arlo
On request- Arlo Secure$2.99/month
- 30-day cloud
- AI detection
- 1 camera
- Arlo Secure Plus$14.99/month
- Unlimited cameras
- 24/7 recording
- E911
Which should you pick?
Choose Blynk if
- You need mobile app builder.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device.
- You also want no-code interface.
Choose Arlo if
- You need wire-free.
- You work on IOS, Android, Web, Smart Displays.
- You also want 4k video.
Questions people ask
- Is Blynk or Arlo better?
- Neither clearly leads. Blynk starts at Free and Arlo at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Blynk or Arlo?
- Blynk has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Blynk and On request for Arlo.
- Does Blynk or Arlo run on more platforms?
- Blynk runs on IOS, Android, Web, Any IoT device. Arlo runs on IOS, Android, Web, Smart Displays.
- Can I use Blynk for free?
- Yes. Blynk has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arlo starts at On request.
- What is Blynk best used for?
- Blynk is most often used for connecting iot hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile app, over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devices, automations triggered by device data, white-label device apps for a hardware product. Of those, connecting iot hardware to a hosted dashboard and mobile app and over-the-air firmware updates to fleets of devices are not what Arlo is typically brought in for.
- What can Blynk do that Arlo cannot?
- Blynk covers Mobile App Builder, No-Code Interface, Real-Time Control, Cloud Storage. Arlo covers Wire-Free, 4K Video, AI Detection, Color Night Vision. Both handle IOS support, Android support, Web support.