# Arlo Essential Plug-In (2025)

*Arlo / VMC3081-100NAS, VMC3281-100NAS*

> The Essential Plug-In is a 2K outdoor camera powered by a USB cable that does not use an Arlo SmartHub. It suits Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings users, with native support through the maker's cloud. Home Assistant users reach it through an integration (the maker's cloud).

- Canonical page: https://smarthomecanon.com/devices/arlo-essential-plug-in
- Last checked: 2026-10-20

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Brand | [Arlo](https://smarthomecanon.com/brands/arlo) |
| Category | Camera |
| Model numbers | VMC3081-100NAS, VMC3281-100NAS |
| Status | Current[^1] |
| Type | withheld |
| Video | 2304 x 1296[^1] |
| Field of view | 130 degree diagonal[^1] |
| Power | Plug-in, 16 ft USB cable and power adapter[^1] |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz[^1] |
| Hub requirement | Not supported[^1] |
| Works with | Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and IFTTT[^1] |
| Announced | withheld |

## Integration paths

**How the Arlo Essential Plug-In (2025) connects**

| Path | Requires | Local | Features lost |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Wi-Fi cloud](https://smarthomecanon.com/protocols/wifi-cloud) | Nothing extra[^1] | unknown | unknown |

**Platform support for the Arlo Essential Plug-In (2025)**

| Path | Platform | Support | Integration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wi-Fi cloud | [Amazon Alexa](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/alexa) | Native[^1] |  |
| Wi-Fi cloud | [Google Home](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/google-home) | Native[^1] |  |
| Wi-Fi cloud | [Samsung SmartThings](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/smartthings) | Native[^1] |  |
| Wi-Fi cloud | [Home Assistant](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/home-assistant) | withheld | twrecked/hass-aarlo |
| Wi-Fi cloud | [Homey](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/homey) | withheld | com.creson.arlo |

## Related pages

- [Arlo Essential outdoor cameras](https://smarthomecanon.com/lines/arlo-essential-cameras) (line)
- [Arlo](https://smarthomecanon.com/brands/arlo) (brand)
- [Wi-Fi through a cloud service](https://smarthomecanon.com/protocols/wifi-cloud) (protocol)
- [Amazon Alexa](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/alexa) (platform)
- [Google Home](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/google-home) (platform)
- [Samsung SmartThings](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/smartthings) (platform)
- [Home Assistant](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/home-assistant) (platform)
- [Homey](https://smarthomecanon.com/platforms/homey) (platform)

## Sources

[^1]: Arlo Essential (2025 Release) - Arlo US store. https://us.arlo.com/products/arlo-essential-plug-in (manufacturer, checked 2026-10-13)