Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenCVR VS Blue Iris

Compare OpenCVR VS Blue Iris and see what are their differences

OpenCVR logo OpenCVR

Open source ONVIF IP Camera manager

Blue Iris logo Blue Iris

Blue Iris is a high end security monitoring system that lets you view and control the feeds from all the cameras at your home or place of business.
  • OpenCVR Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-10
  • Blue Iris Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-19

OpenCVR features and specs

  • Open-source
    OpenCVR is open-source, allowing developers to access and modify the source code to suit their needs, ensuring flexibility and customization.
  • Cost-effective
    Being free to use, OpenCVR eliminates licensing fees, making it a budget-friendly option for video surveillance solutions.
  • Community Support
    As an open-source project, it benefits from a community of developers who contribute to its development, providing additional resources and help for troubleshooting.
  • Cross-platform Compatibility
    OpenCVR is designed to work across multiple operating systems, including Windows and Linux, which enhances its versatility in different environments.
  • Feature-rich
    OpenCVR offers a wide range of features such as video recording, playback, motion detection, and alert systems, making it a comprehensive tool for video surveillance.

Possible disadvantages of OpenCVR

  • Complex Setup
    The installation and configuration process can be complicated for users without technical expertise, potentially requiring professional assistance.
  • Limited Official Support
    As an open-source project, it may not offer dedicated customer support, which can be a drawback for businesses needing reliable service.
  • Hardware Compatibility
    Users may face challenges ensuring compatibility with all types of hardware, as OpenCVR may not support every camera or device out-of-the-box.
  • Performance Limitations
    Depending on the scale and requirements of the setup, OpenCVR might not perform as well as some proprietary solutions, especially in demanding environments.
  • Learning Curve
    The platform might have a steep learning curve for users unfamiliar with video management software, requiring time and effort to fully utilize its capabilities.

Blue Iris features and specs

  • Comprehensive functionality
    Blue Iris offers a wide range of features including motion detection, remote viewing, and integration with various camera brands. This makes it a versatile solution for different surveillance needs.
  • Customizable alerts
    Users can set up custom alerts based on motion, audio, or predefined schedules. Notifications can be sent via email, SMS, or push notifications.
  • User-friendly interface
    The software provides a relatively intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which makes it accessible for both novice and advanced users.
  • Good performance
    Blue Iris is known for its reliable performance and efficiency in handling multiple camera feeds simultaneously, without significant lag.
  • Affordable pricing
    Compared to other surveillance software options, Blue Iris offers competitive pricing without compromising on core features.

Possible disadvantages of Blue Iris

  • Initial setup complexity
    Setting up Blue Iris for the first time can be complicated, particularly for users who are not familiar with surveillance systems or networking.
  • Resource intensive
    Running Blue Iris requires a relatively powerful computer with a good amount of RAM and CPU. This can be a limitation for users with less robust hardware.
  • Lack of cloud storage
    Blue Iris does not offer a built-in cloud storage solution, thus users must rely on local storage or third-party cloud services for storing their footage.
  • Windows-only
    The software is only available for Windows, which excludes users who operate on macOS or Linux systems.
  • Paid updates
    While Blue Iris is affordable initially, updates and major version upgrades require an additional purchase, which can add to the long-term cost.

OpenCVR videos

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Blue Iris videos

Blue Iris Software Security Camera - Why I Recommend it

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Blue Iris Detailed Tutorial - The Best Security Camera Software
  • Review - Is the Synology Surveillance Station better than Blue Iris?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenCVR and Blue Iris)
3D
15 15%
85% 85
Security
9 9%
91% 91
WebCamera Apps
17 17%
83% 83
Video Surveillance
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenCVR and Blue Iris

OpenCVR Reviews

We have no reviews of OpenCVR yet.
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Blue Iris Reviews

  1. Mike Johnson
    Terrible Experience

    I have tried this software and it was the worst experience I have had. First, I had so much trouble connecting up my IP Cameras. I would error messages multiple times and the application kept crashing. Once I finally got everything up and running, I would periodically loose connection to my cameras. I had contacted customer support regarding my issues and they would never respond. There are many other better products than Blue Iris.


10 Best ZoneMinder Alternatives: Free and Paid Video Surveillance
Blue Iris is a commercial option that charges a yearly license, starting at $39.95 for one camera. The full version supports up to 64 cameras and goes for $79.95 per year. If you want to try the software there is a 15-day demo available. This company also offers support plans costing up to $99.95, which gets you phone and remote desktop support.
15 Best Blue Iris Alternatives 2024
However, it is not the only software in the category that gives excellent performance. Among the more popular Blue Iris alternatives are ZoneMinder, Shinobi, YawCam, and others. However, iSpy is the best Blue Iris alternative thanks to its affordability and feature-packed design.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Blue Iris seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 56 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenCVR mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of OpenCVR yet. Tracking of OpenCVR recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Blue Iris mentions (56)

  • Which Security Cameras?
    I use Annke (rebranded HikVision, and firewalled off from the Internet) and Eufy cameras in non-cloud (RTSP) mode. I use Blue Iris[1] as an NVR. I also run Skrypted[2] container on my Synology that concurrently makes me able to use HomeKit Secure Video. I've been using this setup for years. I kinda miss the ease of the cloud, but love the configurability and modularity. 1. https://blueirissoftware.com/ . Blue Iris... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Security cams
    Frigate https://frigate.video/ and ZoneMinder https://zoneminder.com/ come to mind. Blue Iris https://blueirissoftware.com/ is not open source but is what I prefer to use for my PoE systems ($80/yr). Source: over 1 year ago
  • unable to activate-- blueirissoftware.com down?
    I've had BI running for years-- something went haywire with my setup this morning and now I need to re-activate my license. However, I'm unable to do so within BI, and it appears that blueirissoftware.com is down. Anyone else having issues or know what's going on? Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Trying to get a Blue Iris license - no response from IPcam-central
    Blue Iris' official site is blueirissoftware.com and the company is Perspective Software. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Looking for an alternative
    Could look into a diy solution like https://blueirissoftware.com/ See what cameras are compatible. Might be some Ethernet based or wifi based cameras out there that would do what you need. Keeps it all local no clouds. Source: about 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenCVR and Blue Iris, you can also consider the following products

motionEyeOS - A Video Surveillance OS For Single-board Computers

ZoneMinder - ZoneMinder is a free and open-source piece of security software that can be used at home or in your business. The software puts you in control of all of your data, and it is exceptionally easy to setup. Read more about ZoneMinder.

ONVIFViewer - OnvifViewer. Contribute to caspermeijn/onvifviewer development by creating an account on GitHub.

iSpy - iSpy is software that allows the user to view and control video surveillance cameras. The software began development in 2007 and now has over 2 million users around the world, according to the software's website. Read more about iSpy.

webcam surveyor - Webcam Surveyor is a simple and functional software designed for video seize and surveillance.

MotionEye - motionEye is a web frontend for the motion daemon, written in Python.