IoT & Smart Home · head to head
Zigbee Alliance vs Arlo
Zigbee Alliance
IoT & Smart Home
Low-power wireless standard for IoT and smart home
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Arlo
IoT & Smart Home
Wire-free security cameras with cloud intelligence
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Zigbee Alliance has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Zigbee Alliance the Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.; 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: Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Arlo covers Wire-Free.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Zigbee Alliance and Arlo actually diverge.
| Attribute | Zigbee Alliance | Arlo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms | IOS, Android, Web, Smart Displays |
| Founded | 2002 | 2018 |
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 Zigbee Alliance
- Low Power
- Mesh Networking
- Self-Healing
- Scalable
- Smart home devices
- Hubs
- Controllers
- Integration platforms
Only in Arlo
- Wire-Free
- 4K Video
- AI Detection
- Color Night Vision
- Alexa
- Google Home
- HomeKit
- SmartThings
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Zigbee Alliance
- Smart lightingnot Arlo
- Sensor networksnot Arlo
- Home automationnot Arlo
- Industrial monitoringnot Arlo
Arlo
- Wire-free home security cameras, video doorbells and floodlight camerasnot Zigbee Alliance
- Cloud recorded video history with person, vehicle and package detectionnot Zigbee Alliance
- Professionally monitored home security through the Arlo appnot Zigbee Alliance
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Zigbee Alliance
- The Internet Archive's capture of the Connectivity Standards Alliance's Zigbee page on 4 January 2024 confirmed Zigbee is a protocol standard rather than a purchased product, with the Alliance's revenue coming from member dues and per-device certification fees rather than a software price list.
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
Zigbee Alliance
Free- Open SpecificationFree
- Low power mesh
- Self-healing
- Interoperable
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 Zigbee Alliance if
- You need low power.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms.
- You also want mesh networking.
Choose Arlo if
- You need wire-free.
- You work on IOS, Android, Web, Smart Displays.
- You also want 4k video.
Questions people ask
- Is Zigbee Alliance or Arlo better?
- Neither clearly leads. Zigbee Alliance 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, Zigbee Alliance or Arlo?
- Zigbee Alliance has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Zigbee Alliance and On request for Arlo.
- Does Zigbee Alliance or Arlo run on more platforms?
- Zigbee Alliance runs on Zigbee devices, Mesh networks, Smart home hubs, IoT platforms. Arlo runs on IOS, Android, Web, Smart Displays.
- Can I use Zigbee Alliance for free?
- Yes. Zigbee Alliance has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arlo starts at On request.
- What is Zigbee Alliance best used for?
- Zigbee Alliance is most often used for smart lighting, sensor networks, home automation, industrial monitoring. Of those, smart lighting and sensor networks are not what Arlo is typically brought in for.
- What can Zigbee Alliance do that Arlo cannot?
- Zigbee Alliance covers Low Power, Mesh Networking, Self-Healing, Scalable. Arlo covers Wire-Free, 4K Video, AI Detection, Color Night Vision.