# Nest vs Arlo Secure

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nest at none against Arlo Secure's 10. Nest also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.6 vs 4.2). Arlo Secure's advantage is review sentiment (56% vs 24%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On price and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Arlo Secure sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Nest asks for nothing beyond the download.

Nest holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nest has 2.6M ratings behind it against 429K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 24% of Nest's written reviews are positive against 56% of Arlo Secure's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Nest ships an update every 2 months, Arlo Secure weekly. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nest | Arlo Secure |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nest/id464988855/reviews)** | [4.2 (429K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arlo-secure-home-security/id1459289784/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.6M** | 429K |
| Positive reviews | 24.4% of reviews | **56.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #93 | **#9** |
| Size | 240 MB | 819 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nest Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/464988858) | [Arlo Technologies Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1457647429) |

## What reviewers say

### Nest

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nest/id464988855)

**Currently charting:** #93 Top Free · Lifestyle (US App Store)

Control your smart home devices, including thermostats, security systems, cameras, and smoke detectors, all from a single app. Receive alerts, manage schedules, and automate actions based on your presence.

**Highlights:** Remote thermostat control, Arm/disarm security system, Live camera feeds, Smoke/CO alerts, Automated actions, Visitor notifications

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Reliable security features
- 📽️ Good video quality
- 🔔 Useful alerts and notifications
- 🌐 Convenient remote access

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connectivity issues
- ⏱️ Slow app performance
- 🔒 Overly complex setup and login process
- 💰 Expensive subscription required for full functionality
- 🔋 Battery life issues with cameras

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent home/away detection
- Thermostat schedule resets unexpectedly
- Smoke detector false alarms
- Camera feed freezes or fails to load

**Requested features**

- Improved scheduling and automation options
- Better integration with other smart home devices
- More customization options for alerts and notifications
- Offline viewing and recording capabilities


### Arlo Secure

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

**Currently charting:** #9 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 Nest free?

Nest 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, Nest or Arlo Secure?

Nest is rated higher. Nest averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.6M ratings, while Arlo Secure averages 4.2 from 429K ratings.

### Do Nest or Arlo Secure have ads?

Arlo Secure shows ads; Nest does not.

### Which is updated more often, Nest or Arlo Secure?

Nest ships an update every 2 months, and Arlo Secure weekly. Most recently, Nest was updated on November 7, 2026 and Arlo Secure on November 7, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Nest or Arlo Secure?

Nest currently peaks at #93 in the App Store charts, and Arlo Secure at #9. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*