Aeotec Smart Home Hub vs Arlo Pro SmartHub

The Aeotec Smart Home Hub wins overall because it is an actual multi-protocol smart home hub, with Z-Wave, Zigbee, Thread and Matter support plus Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant integration, and it is better rated by owners. The Arlo Pro SmartHub is cheaper but only serves Arlo cameras.

Protocols. The Aeotec Smart Home Hub includes a Z-Wave radio, a Zigbee coordinator, a Thread border router and a Matter bridge, so it can adopt sensors, bulbs and locks from many brands. The Arlo Pro SmartHub has no Z-Wave, Zigbee, Thread or Matter support at all and exists to link Arlo cameras to your network.

No. The Arlo Pro SmartHub is a camera base station, not a general hub, so it cannot pair lights, plugs, locks or sensors. What it does well is speed up Arlo camera response, extend their range, unlock 2K live streaming on Essential and Ultra cameras and record to a USB drive locally.

Neither is a strong local-control choice. The Aeotec Smart Home Hub is cloud dependent, so if your internet drops you lose app control even on the same network, despite its multi-protocol radios. The Arlo Pro SmartHub keeps recording to USB storage, but Arlo's event detection and recording features still require a subscription.

Buy the Aeotec Smart Home Hub if you want a single hub covering Z-Wave, Zigbee, Thread and Matter with the mature SmartThings app behind it, support for around 100 devices, an Ethernet port and excellent Alexa integration. Just accept the cloud dependency and the lack of Apple HomeKit support.

Buy the Arlo Pro SmartHub only if you own Arlo cameras and want faster response times, better range, 2K live streaming on compatible models and local USB recording. It is also the straightforward replacement if your original Arlo base station failed, but do not expect it to replace an Arlo subscription.