Arlo cameras appear frequently on our Best Home Security Cameras page, but aside from great image quality and features, they all have one thing in common: they're all inexpensive

The new Arlo Essential Indoor Camera changes that equation somewhat: at $99, it's the company's least expensive security camera, not as cheap as some of the best home security cameras, but a lower-priced option from a reputable brand It's a good option for those who want to get the best of both worlds

The Arlo Essential Indoor Camera is available for pre-order today at Arlocom, Best Buy, and Amazon, and is the company's low-cost indoor wireless camera that replaces the Arlo Q and is currently available at a discounted price of $79 Like the Arlo Q, the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera is a low-cost wireless camera that can be connected to a power source, and is available for $79, Essential Indoor Camera must be connected to a power source

The Essential Indoor Camera is the second in Arlo's Essential line, which last year introduced the Essential Wireless Security Camera ($129), a battery-powered indoor/outdoor model

Like the Arlo Q and Essential outdoor cameras, the Arlo Essential indoor camera has 1080p resolution, two-way audio, and a 130-degree field of view In addition, it has night vision and a built-in siren that can be activated manually or automatically if the camera detects an intruder

New to the Arlo lineup is an integrated privacy shield that physically covers the camera's lens and stops all recording and motion and sound detection Unlike other security cameras with physical shutters, the Essential Indoor Camera's shield can be opened using the Arlo app

Like other cameras, the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, if you have a smart display such as the Google Nest Hub Max or Amazon Echo Show 10, stream images from the camera to that device and interact with the other person

The Arlo Essential Indoor Camera comes with a 3-month free trial of Arlo Smart, which allows users to store and share up to 30 days of video to the cloud and adjust motion settings After the trial, Arlo Smart subscriptions start at $3/month for a single camera

Learn more: which home security cameras have the best cloud storage plans?

The $99 Arlo Essential Indoor Camera is by no means the least expensive security camera; other great options, such as the Wyze Cam v3, are available for a quarter of that price However, Arlo's cameras are always among the best, and the Essential Indoor's relatively inexpensive price and its security features make it well worth the investment