Arlo makes some of the most popular smart home cameras. They’re reliable, easy to install, and supported by platforms such as Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. Many of its best devices fall into the Essential family, which includes the Essential XL, Essential 2K, Essential Indoor 2K, and Essential Video Doorbell.

Alongside these products, Arlo offers something known as a Smart Hub. This is available in two formats (Ultra Smart Hub and Pro Smart Hub), and both make it easy to connect your Arlo devices to the internet. But do you need an Arlo Smart Hub to use Arlo Essential cameras? Or can you get them online without purchasing the secondary hub?

Here’s a look at everything you need to know about Arlo Essential cameras and Smart Hubs.

An Arlo Smart Hub serves as a central location for all your Arlo devices. Cameras can sync with the Smart Hub to quickly get online or provide you with the option for local storage of your video files. In other words, a Smart Hub serves as the brains of your smart home.

Arlo offers two types of SmartHubs — the Arlo Pro Smart Hub and the Arlo Ultra 2 Smart Hub. These two devices work in much the same way, but there are a few notable differences. For one, the Ultra supports microSD cards for local storage, while the Pro uses USB Type A. For a detailed rundown of exactly what’s offered by each Smart Hub model, be sure to check out the official Arlo comparison page.

No, Arlo Essential cameras do not require an Arlo Smart Hub. Arlo notes that all Essential products are capable of directly connecting to your Wi-Fi network, negating the need for a Smart Hub. However, a Smart Hub is still useful if you’re interested in local storage. Using a Smart Hub may improve the battery life of battery-powered devices or offer long-range connectivity — but there’s no requirement to purchase the device to use the basic features of your Essential camera.

Here’s a look at a few Arlo Essential cameras that do not require an Arlo Smart Hub, along with a few products outside the Essential family:

Thinking about picking up a Smart Hub for your Arlo devices? Here’s a look at which ones can connect to the base stations.

Be sure to check the exact specs of your model, as there are some minor differences between the Arlo Pro and Arlo Ultra 2 Smart Hubs. And while you’re free to connect your Essential cameras to the Smart Hub, remember there’s no requirement to do so. Most people will find it to be easier (and cheaper) to directly connect their cameras to Wi-Fi, but those that want to use local storage as a backup might want to consider investing in a Smart Hub.