I have both. I started with arlo for the back yard but I couldn’t hook it up with solar so I have to use the batteries. The batteries last pretty long but I mostly use it when I’m going to be away from the house and no one is home. It can last me months but I don’t use it much. I use to have one in the house but somehow it went bad.
Now I have ring for the front door. You have to be careful of the options you sign up for. I have it set not to share with the neighborhood. I use rechargeable battery but not with solar. I don’t get enough sun to make that work. It last me a full week to maybe about 10 days before I replace it with a second rechargeable battery. Several things can affect how long it last. From the heat, to the cold to your settings. The higher the settings the least effective it is. Now if you can put one straight into the wiring that would be better. Then you never have to worry about replacing the battery.
I use to have one that was attached straight to hardwire but my (I think it’s called a transformer) for my doorbell isn’t working anymore and I cannot find where it is. It’s usually behind the door alarm in the house but it’s not there. The only other place is behind the electrical box but we didn’t want to pay an electrician to hunt down the transformer. So we opted for battery-operated.
I also have the ring in the house. Plug-in type. Excellent for viewing and hearing and talking to someone. I only turn those on when I’m going to be gone.
Did have it on when my nephew was home watching my dog while we were gone for a week. I would turn it on at night and turn it off from my phone during the day, so he could have his privacy and I could be sure he was safe at night.
As for safety anything can be hacked. Your laptop, computer and your phone. If you are going to worry about someone hacking in and listening than don’t get these items.
But as for companies, just read the fine print for what you are giving permission to
I like the ring the most. I have fewer issues when tuning in on my phone from miles away.
We also have ring in my inlaw’s home to monitor my father-in-law when he’s home alone and also to answer and call them when they don’t hear the doorbell. They are better at hearing the phone than the doorbell. We can also call them when a package is left at their door. They are both hard of hearing. It gives us both peace of mind.