# lichen play vs Arlo Secure

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | lichen play | Arlo Secure |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lichen-play/id1329616907/reviews)** | [4.2 (428K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arlo-secure-home-security/id1459289784/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **428K** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 56.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#10** |
| Size | 36 MB | 819 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Playtopro LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1329616906) | [Arlo Technologies Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457647429) |

## What reviewers say

### lichen play

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lichen-play/id1329616907)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Arlo Secure

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arlo-secure-home-security/id1459289784)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Grossing · Lifestyle, #118 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Remote system control, Live video streaming, 24/7 live security experts, Customizable activity zones, Interactive motion alerts, Emergency Response feature

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Smart Aware Single | $9.99 | per month |
| Basic Single | $9.99 | per month |
| Basic Unlimited | $14.99 | per month |
| Smart Aware | $19.99 | per month |
| Smart Secure | $29.99 | per month |
| Plus Single | $95.99 | per year |
| Basic Single | $99.99 | per year |
| Basic Unlimited | $149.99 | per year |
| Smart Aware | $219.00 | per year |
| Premium | $299.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Clear video quality
- 🔒 Provides security and peace of mind
- 👍 Easy to set up and use
- 🔋 Good battery life

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues and cameras going offline
- 🕰️ Slow app response and video loading
- 💰 Expensive hardware and subscription model
- 🔔 Overly sensitive motion detection and false alerts

**Reported bugs**

- Camera firmware issues causing malfunctions
- App freezing and logging users out unexpectedly
- Inconsistent motion detection and recording
- Syncing issues between multiple devices

**Requested features**

- Customizable notification sounds and volumes
- Ability to view recordings from specific cameras
- Improved geofencing and automation features
- Better integration with smart home platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is lichen play free?

lichen play is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Arlo Secure free?

Arlo Secure is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, lichen play or Arlo Secure?

lichen play is rated higher. lichen play averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Arlo Secure averages 4.2 from 428K ratings.

### Do lichen play or Arlo Secure have ads?

Arlo Secure shows ads; lichen play does not.

### Which is updated more often, lichen play or Arlo Secure?

lichen play ships an update every 3 weeks, and Arlo Secure weekly. Most recently, lichen play was updated on November 2, 2026 and Arlo Secure on November 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*