Reolink Home Hub – The Ultimate Command Center for Your Cameras
The Reolink Home Hub is pretty much the missing piece for anyone looking to secure their home without overcomplicating things. Designed as a plug-and-play digital recorder, it lets you easily connect your Reolink cameras, manage your recordings locally, and—best of all—keep full control over your data, with no need for cloud subscriptions.
In this article, we’re going to break down exactly what this Home Hub brings to the table: its sleek, low-profile design, key features, everyday performance, and of course, its downsides—because let’s be honest, no system is perfect. We’ll also cover how easy it is to set up, the perks of local storage, compatibility with different Reolink models, and everything else you should know before making the investment.
And hey, if you’re interested, I’ve even got a discount code to help you save a bit of money.
So if you’re wondering whether the Reolink Home Hub is worth it and how well it could fit into your setup, stick with me—I’ve got all the details.
Design and Physical Appearance of the Reolink Home Hub
The Reolink Home Hub is exactly the kind of device you set up and then forget about. With its compact size of 3.7 x 3.7 x 6.4 inches (that’s roughly 9.4 x 9.4 x 16.3 cm), it fits easily on a shelf, tucked behind your router, or quietly sitting in the corner of your desk without drawing any attention. And honestly, that’s the whole point—stay out of sight but do the job well.
Looks-wise, it’s all about minimalism, which I personally love: a smooth, clean design in neutral tones like white or light grey, with soft curves that give it a modern, versatile feel. Reolink already had a habit of bold yet understated designs—like the Argus 2E (giving off serious Wall-E vibes) or the 4 Pro that resembles an Apple VR headset. But here, there’s no flashy gimmicks, no over-the-top LEDs blinking in every color… Just simple, elegant design, and honestly, that’s pretty refreshing.
On the back, you get the essentials: an Ethernet port to keep your network connection stable, and two slots for microSD cards, making it super easy to expand your local storage capacity. But don’t worry, we’ll get into that part a bit later.
Main Technical Specifications
Storage Capacity: Generous and Expandable
The Home Hub comes with a 64GB microSD card right out of the box, but if you’re thinking bigger, you can expand up to 1TB thanks to its two slots that support cards of up to 512GB each. That’s plenty of space to store hours of footage without worrying about running out.
(Quick tip: always go for class 10 microSD cards at minimum to ensure smooth, high-definition recordings.)
Camera Compatibility: A Well-Tuned Ecosystem
The Home Hub plays nicely with most Reolink cameras, including:
- PoE cameras (wired via Ethernet)
- Wi-Fi cameras powered via mains connection
- Most recent battery-powered models (excluding 4G and older 2MP versions)
If your setup is fully Reolink and relatively up to date, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting everything working seamlessly.
Encryption Technology: Maximum Security
When it comes to protection, Reolink doesn’t mess around: the Home Hub encrypts all your data with AES-128. Even if someone got their hands on your device, there’s no way they’d be able to access your footage without the right system.
And for a fast, stable network connection, you’ve got Wi-Fi 6 support (both 2.4GHz and 5GHz), backed up by WPA3 security to keep your home network locked down.
Reolink Home Hub Technical Specifications
- Camera Management: Supports up to 8 cameras simultaneously.
- Compatibility: Works with all Reolink Wi-Fi and PoE cameras (battery-powered models may require updates).
- Access Protection: Secure rights management and sharing through the Home Hub only.
- User Access: Supports up to 11 users (1 admin and 10 shared accounts).
- Local Storage: Two microSD card slots, supporting up to 512GB each (1TB max).
- Data Security: AES-128 encryption to protect your recordings.
- Backup: No support for SATA drives or external backup media.
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6 compatible (IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
- Wi-Fi Security: WPA / WPA2 / WPA3 for enhanced network protection.
- Ethernet: RJ45 10M/100M port for a stable wired connection.
- Network Protocols: TCP/IP, UDP, DHCP, P2P, UPNP, RTSP, RTMP, SMTP, SSL/TLS, DNS, DDNS, NTP, FTP.
- Sub-1 GHz Frequency: 868/915 MHz for optimized internal communications.
- Voice Assistant: Google Assistant compatible.
- Built-In Alarm: Powerful 115 dB speaker.
- Playback and Viewing: Access live feeds and video history via the mobile app or PC client.
- Power Supply: DC 12V / 1A.
- Operating Temperature: From 14°F to 113°F (-10°C to +45°C).
- Operating Humidity: From 10% to 90%.
- Dimensions: 95 x 95 x 161.8 mm.
- Weight: 441 g.
- Warranty: 2-year limited warranty.
What’s the Purpose of This New Reolink Product?
The Reolink Home Hub is designed to centralize the management of your cameras, trigger smart alerts, and make your life easier with pre-set scene modes. Everything is built to keep things running smoothly without you having to tinker with settings every day—all while keeping full control in your hands.
Let’s be honest: juggling multiple cameras that each work independently can quickly turn into chaos. But with the Home Hub, that’s a thing of the past. All your Reolink cameras are brought together in one place, under your control. The app gives you access to all your live feeds, lets you check event history, and even set up shared rules across devices—no need to configure each camera one by one.
The best part? When something suspicious happens, you don’t have to manually check every single camera. The hub syncs everything and gives you exactly the info you need, right away. Plus, it helps avoid duplicate recordings and overlapping detection zones. Everything stays smooth—and, more importantly, secure—thanks to the hub’s built-in encryption.
And You’re Alerted.
One feature that really deserves attention: the built-in alarm system. When a camera detects motion, the Home Hub takes charge. And it’s more than just a push notification on your phone—this thing can trigger a loud siren (up to 115 dB, so yeah, people will notice) to make sure unwanted visitors know they’re not welcome. You can also activate it manually, just like you would on the cameras themselves.
And here’s the kicker: it works even if your internet goes down. Since your footage is stored locally, the alerts don’t rely on the cloud. That’s a huge relief, especially if you’re in an area where the connection can be spotty now and then.
And let’s be real—this also means you’re not stuck paying a monthly fee just to store your own videos on someone else’s server. Definitely worth talking about.
What Are the Benefits of Local Storage with the Reolink Home Hub?
With local storage on the Reolink Home Hub, you can completely cut ties with Reolink’s cloud subscription services (which are common on some of their camera models), all while keeping full control over your videos and ensuring top-level security for your recordings. No hidden fees, no third-party dependency—everything stays right at home with you.
And honestly, in a time when every service seems to be pushing monthly fees—something Reolink easily could’ve done—it’s refreshing to have a solid, long-term alternative directly from the brand, without any extra costs.
Saving Money on Cloud Subscriptions
We all know the drill: cloud-based security systems lure you in with convenience, but soon enough, you’re reaching for your credit card. Between monthly fees just to access your own footage and pricey premium features to unlock basic functions, costs add up fast.
Not here. Once you’ve got your Home Hub set up, you’ve got your own private storage solution running on microSD cards (up to 1TB, no less). No more worrying about expired subscriptions or storage limits. You’re in control of how long recordings are kept, how much space you have, and when it’s time to upgrade (and honestly, I’d rather invest in two high-quality SD cards than pay for a year of cloud storage).
Full Control Over Your Data
With local storage, there’s no constant uploading to mystery servers somewhere out there, and no wondering who might have access to your footage. Everything stays right where it belongs—on your Home Hub—protected by AES-128 encryption.
And that makes all the difference. When you want to check a recording, it’s instant—no waiting for a download from a server halfway around the world. Want to delete some clips? Easy. Do it directly from the app. No confusing terms of service, no endless auto-backups you didn’t ask for.
Recording Security
One thing people often overlook with cloud storage is the risk of your videos being compromised. Whether it’s a security breach, hacking, or just a glitch on the provider’s side, you’re relying on someone else to keep your data safe.
With the Reolink Home Hub, it’s a different story. Recordings are encrypted from the moment they’re saved, and even if someone stole the device, the files are unreadable without the proper system. That’s real peace of mind. (And here’s a nice touch: even if the hub is reset, your videos stay locked and useless without the encryption key.)
Plus, the fact that everything runs locally helps minimize security gaps. The less you send out to external servers, the fewer entry points there are for bad actors. It’s common sense, but honestly, not many brands are taking this route anymore—they’d rather push you into over-connected solutions.
Now, all this is GREAT, BUUUUT… there’s one downside. If there’s a fire, or if someone steals your Home Hub, you’re out of luck. But, of course, Reolink thought of that too! Hidden in the Home Hub’s settings, you can set up an FTP server to back up your media elsewhere. Sure, it takes a bit of know-how and requires renting your own server, but for the tech-savvy folks out there, it’s a solid option.
What Cameras Are Compatible with the Reolink Home Hub?
As you’d expect, the Reolink Home Hub supports a wide range of Reolink cameras, offers multiple local storage options, and provides some basic smart home integration—though it’s still a bit limited compared to more open systems. The idea here is really about keeping things simple and efficient, kind of like the Apple ecosystem.
So, if you want a setup where everything speaks the same language from start to finish, you’re going to love it. But if you’re hoping to mix in gear from other brands or build out an advanced smart home setup, you might need to lower your expectations just a bit.
Supported Camera Types
You can hook up both PoE models and wired Wi-Fi cameras, plus the latest battery-powered Wi-Fi options like the Argus 4 Pro. That said, there are a few exceptions to keep in mind: older cameras and 4G models aren’t supported. So if you’ve already got some older gear, double-check your lineup to avoid any surprises. But if your Reolink setup is fairly recent, you should be able to centralize everything without an issue. Maybe just consider upgrading a few pieces to make the most out of the Home Hub.
Smart Home Integration
Now, let’s be honest—if you’re hoping for a fully connected smart home system with complex automations tied into your lighting or heating, you might find the Home Hub a bit underwhelming. Out of the box, it offers basic support for Google Assistant, which lets you use voice commands for simple actions (like streaming a camera feed to a smart display). But that’s about as far as it goes.
Good news, though, for Home Assistant users: the Reolink Home Hub is fully compatible with the platform, making it easy to integrate your security system into your existing smart home setup. With this connection, you can control your Reolink cameras, view live feeds, receive motion detection alerts, and even automate certain actions—all without relying on the cloud.
How Easy Is It to Set Up and Use the Reolink Home Hub?
Just like Reolink’s cameras and overall philosophy, the Reolink Home Hub is designed for a quick and hassle-free setup. In under fifteen minutes, you can have everything plugged in, configured, and up and running without a headache. And honestly, that’s a relief—no one wants to spend hours troubleshooting why a cable or camera won’t connect.
Setup Steps
When you unbox the Home Hub, just plug it into a power outlet, connect the Ethernet cable to your router (you can unplug it later if you want), and you’re good to go. The device boots up in seconds, and from there, the Reolink app takes over.
It’s as simple as scanning a QR code. Each camera links up using its own code, which you scan directly through the app—no complicated steps or technical work. Basically, you set it down, scan, and move on to the next one. Once all your cameras are connected, you can fine-tune your settings: manage storage, customize alerts, add users to share access… Nothing complicated.
What’s really nice is that everything feels designed to be approachable, with no confusing technical jargon. Even if you’re not into smart home setups, you’ll have no problem getting it all working without breaking a sweat.
Using the Reolink App
The Reolink app is your Home Hub command center. Whether you’re relaxing on the couch or halfway across the country, you control everything from there: live camera feeds, stored video playback, security settings—you name it. The whole experience is smooth, with no clutter or endless menus to dig through.
And here’s a feature I really appreciated: the weekly activity summary. The app gives you a recap of the past week, showing activity times, peak detection periods, and even a ranking of your most active cameras. It’s clever and saves you from digging through hours of footage just to see if someone was lurking near your driveway.
Day to day, performance is rock solid. Even with multiple active cameras, video playback stays smooth with no noticeable lag. And the best part? Once it’s set up, you barely have to think about it. No constant restarts, no tweaking settings every other day—just reliable performance, exactly as it should be.
What’s My Take on the Reolink Home Hub?
The Reolink Home Hub stands out for its simplicity and efficiency, but there’s still room for improvement—especially if you’re after a super versatile, all-in-one system. As always, it really comes down to your needs and how you plan to use it. If you’re looking for a practical, discreet tool to manage your Reolink cameras without any headaches, it absolutely gets the job done. But if you’re aiming for advanced integrations or heavy-duty use, you’ll have to accept a few trade-offs.
When you compare the Reolink Home Hub to other options on the market, you quickly realize it fills a pretty interesting middle ground. Compared to having microSD cards in each camera, it’s a clear upgrade—you centralize everything, it’s much easier to manage, and your data is more secure.
But stack it up against a full-fledged NVR, and it’s a different story. An NVR can handle way more cameras, comes with advanced features (like video outputs, massive storage options, etc.), and is generally better suited for larger setups. The downside? It’s more expensive, bulkier, and requires a bit more infrastructure (like network cabling and hard drives).
At the end of the day, it all depends on what you’re looking for. If you want something simple, compact, quiet, and easy to use to manage a small collection of Reolink cameras, the Home Hub makes a lot of sense. But if you’re planning a bigger, more connected system, or need compatibility with devices from other brands, you’re probably better off looking at more open solutions from the start.
Pros and Cons of the Reolink Home Hub
- Local storage with no subscription: No monthly fees to keep your videos—everything stays securely at home.
- Centralized camera management: One single interface to easily control all your Reolink cameras.
- Battery-powered camera support: Perfect solution for integrating models like the Argus series.
- Fast and stable Wi-Fi 6: Reliable connection, even with multiple cameras running.
- AES-128 encryption: Local data is securely protected from unauthorized access.
- Simple installation: Plug and play setup, no complicated wiring needed.
- Intuitive Reolink app: Easy access to live feeds, event history, and settings.
- Google Assistant compatible: Handy voice commands for basic hands-free control.
- Limited compatibility: Doesn’t support cameras from other brands or some older Reolink models (like 4G versions).
- No HDMI or USB ports: No direct video output or quick transfers via USB drives.
- Basic smart home features: Limited mostly to Google Assistant integration.
- Camera limit: Supports a maximum of 8 connected cameras.
- No external backup: No support for external hard drives or NAS backups via the Hub.
- Placement considerations: Requires an Ethernet connection, which can restrict ideal positioning if your router is poorly located.
What’s the Price and Where Can You Buy the Reolink Home Hub?
At the time of writing, the Home Hub typically sells for around £85–£95 or $110–$120, depending on the retailer and any active promotions. For that price, it comes with a 64GB microSD card included—so you’re ready to go right out of the box without needing to spend extra from the start.
Where to Buy
You can grab the Reolink Home Hub directly from Reolink’s official website (best service and works with our promo code), but it’s also available through popular retailers like Amazon, and occasionally from specialist security stores. Prices can vary slightly between sellers, especially during promo periods.
Reolink Home Hub Discount Code
Good news if you’re looking to save a bit: Reolink often shares promo codes. I’ve got one for you—just use the code CARO5
to get 5% off your order directly from the official Reolink website.
(Just a heads-up: be sure to check if the code is still valid before purchasing, and note that it might not work on items that are already discounted.)
With this kind of deal, it’s a great opportunity to upgrade your setup without breaking the bank—especially if you’re planning to add more cameras or accessories to your system.