lichen play vs Arlo Secure
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
lichen play
This smart sprinkler controller offers full automation and real-time remote access to manage your irrigation zones. Create custom watering schedules with independent control for up to 8 zones, running them multiple times daily.
- Fully automated sprinkler control
- Remote access from any location
- Customizable 7-day watering schedules
- Independent control of 8 zones
- Multiple watering cycles per zone daily
- Secure multi-path connectivity
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lichen play is a fully automated smart Sprinkler controller, placing you in full control of your irrigation zones. Its secure multi-path connectivity ensures real-time access from any location in the world. Watering schedules are based on a 7 day program, with the ability to run each of the 8 zones independently, up to 6 times each day.
Arlo Secure
Manage your smart home security system, including cameras and video doorbells, from anywhere. Receive alerts, view live feeds, and access 24/7 live security experts for enhanced protection. Customize activity zones and schedules for personalized security.
- Remote system control
- Live video streaming
- 24/7 live security experts
- Customizable activity zones
- Interactive motion alerts
- Emergency Response feature
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Control your Arlo smart home security system with one, easy-to-use app. Use the Arlo Secure App to protect your home, inside and out, with Arlo’s award-winning home security system, video doorbells, cameras, and floodlight. Protect your everything and personalize your entire home security system. With the Arlo Secure App, you can control multiple locations at once and quickly arm or disarm your system with one tap. Get round-the-clock protection with 24/7 Live Security Experts that will monitor your home, so you don’t have to or use one tap Emergency Response to quickly get police, fire, or medical help to your home.* Easily customize your security by creating smart activity zones to reduce unwanted notifications and set schedules to arm or disarm your system. See important details from your home security camera system with up to 4K resolution, 12X zoom image capabilities, and color night vision. When motion is detected, receive interactive notifications on your phone and watch an animated preview, call a friend, activate a siren, or initiate Emergency Response.* With an Arlo Secure plan and an Arlo camera, video doorbell, or floodlight camera, you can view 30 days of video history, receive notifications that tell you when a person, package, vehicle, or animal has been spotted with advanced AI Object Detection. Disclaimers: *Emergency Response (available in the United States only), Object Detection and Video History require an Arlo Secure paid plan after trial period. **4K resolution, 12X zoom image capabilities, color night vision, and Emergency Response features vary by camera model. Privacy Policy: https://www.arlo.com/en-us/about/privacy-policy/ Terms of Service: https://www.arlo.com/en-us/terms-and-conditions.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: lichen play at 100% against Arlo Secure's 56%. lichen play also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). Arlo Secure's advantage is ratings volume (428K vs 3) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Arlo Secure sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. lichen play asks for nothing beyond the download.
lichen play holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Arlo Secure has 428K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of lichen play's written reviews are positive against 56% of Arlo Secure's.
lichen play ships an update every 3 weeks, Arlo Secure weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | lichen play | Arlo Secure |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | 4.2 (428K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 56.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 428K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #10 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 36 MB | 819 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Playtopro LLC | Arlo Technologies Inc. |
Customer experience
lichen play
Arlo Secure
Bugs and requests
lichen play
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Arlo Secure
Reported bugs
4 issues- Camera firmware issues causing malfunctions
- App freezing and logging users out unexpectedly
- Inconsistent motion detection and recording
- Syncing issues between multiple devices
Requested features
4 requests- Customizable notification sounds and volumes
- Ability to view recordings from specific cameras
- Improved geofencing and automation features
- Better integration with smart home platforms
In-app purchases
lichen play
No in-app purchases
Arlo Secure
- Smart Aware Single$9.991 Month
- Basic Single$9.991 Month
- Basic Unlimited$14.991 Month
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- Smart Aware$19.991 Month
- Smart Secure$29.991 Month
- Plus Single$95.991 Year
- Basic Single$99.991 Year
- Basic Unlimited$149.991 Year
- Smart Aware$219.001 Year
- Premium$299.991 Year
Questions
Is lichen play free?
Is Arlo Secure free?
Which has better reviews, lichen play or Arlo Secure?
Do lichen play or Arlo Secure have ads?
Which is updated more often, lichen play or Arlo Secure?
Other comparisons
