Arlo Secure vs Kaavala
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Arlo Secure
Manage your smart home security system, including cameras and video doorbells, from a single app. Arm/disarm your system, customize activity zones, and receive intelligent alerts. Access live experts and emergency response for round-the-clock protection.
- Remote system control
- Customizable activity zones
- Intelligent motion alerts
- 24/7 live security experts
- Emergency response activation
- High-resolution video viewing
- Object detection (person, package, animal, vehicle)
Read full descriptionHide full description
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
Kaavala
This personal safety app connects you with trusted contacts during emergencies. It offers instant SOS alerts with live location sharing, evidence recording, and a volunteer network for community support. Features include a duress code, stationary alerts, and fake calls for added security.
- Instant SOS alerts with live location
- Trusted contacts management
- Bluetooth Low Energy panic button support
- Audio/video evidence recording
- Volunteer network for community safety
- Duress code and stationary alerts
- Offline functionality via SMS
Read full descriptionHide full description
One press. Everyone who matters knows. Kaavala is a personal safety app that helps you alert your trusted circle when you need help most. Trigger SOS from your phone or a compatible Bluetooth button on your keychain, in your bag, or clipped to your jacket — no fumbling, no unlocking, no searching for the app. Whether you’re walking home, commuting late, traveling alone, or setting it up for someone you love, Kaavala gives you a faster way to ask for help. INSTANT SOS Send your live location to your emergency contacts with one tap. Your contacts receive a direct Google Maps link so they can see where you are and follow your movement in real time. BLUETOOTH PANIC BUTTON Pair a compatible Bluetooth Low Energy button to trigger actions silently from your pocket or bag. Use different press types for SOS, check-in, or location sharing. YOUR CONTACTS DON’T NEED THE APP Emergency contacts can receive alerts by SMS, so they don’t need to download Kaavala to help you. WORKS WHEN DATA IS LIMITED When internet access is unavailable, Kaavala can fall back to SMS-based alerts so your emergency contacts still receive your location. EVIDENCE RECORDING Start recording audio or video during an emergency. Recordings are stored locally on your device, with cloud backup available on Kaavala Plus. DURESS CODE If someone forces you to cancel SOS, enter your fake cancel PIN. It looks cancelled on your phone, but your trusted contacts can continue receiving your location silently. FAKE CALL Need a reason to leave? Trigger a realistic incoming call and use it as an excuse to exit an uncomfortable situation. LIVE LOCATION SHARING Share your real-time location with trusted contacts for a specific trip, walk, ride, or commute. They can follow your progress until you arrive safely. DANGER HEATMAP View community-reported safety incidents on a map, learn which areas may need extra caution, and contribute reports to help others stay aware. CHECK-IN Let your trusted contacts know you’re safe with one tap. VOLUNTEER NETWORK Join Kaavala’s community safety network. Verified volunteers can help support safer walks and community response where available. PRIVACY FIRST Your location is shared only when you trigger SOS, check in, or choose to share it. Kaavala does not sell your data and does not use ads. FREE TO START Kaavala includes SOS alerts, emergency contacts, location sharing, fake calls, check-ins, and the danger heatmap for free. KAAVALA PLUS Unlock advanced safety tools including unlimited contacts, Bluetooth panic button support, cloud backup for evidence recordings, duress code, continuous tracking, location history, and stationary alerts. Set it up for yourself. Set it up for your daughter. Set it up for your mom. Because safety should not depend on unlocking your phone. Questions? support@theforwardalpha.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Kaavala at 5.0 against Arlo Secure's 4.2. Kaavala also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). Arlo Secure's advantage is ratings volume (427K vs 1) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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 and Kaavala sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Kaavala holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Arlo Secure has 427K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Arlo Secure ships an update weekly, Kaavala every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Arlo Secure | Kaavala |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (427K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 56.3% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 427K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #9 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 14.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 819 MB | 100 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Arlo Technologies, Inc. | Forward Alpha, LLC |
Customer experience
Arlo Secure
Kaavala
Bugs and 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
Kaavala
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Arlo Secure
- Smart Aware Single$9.991 Month
- Basic Single$9.991 Month
- Basic Unlimited$14.991 Month
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- 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
Kaavala
- Kaavala Plus Monthly$3.991 Month
- Kaavala Plus Yearly$29.991 Year
- Kaavala Volunteer KYC Verification$4.99
- Volunteer Background Verification$39.99









