Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Shinobi VS Blue Iris

Compare Shinobi VS Blue Iris and see what are their differences

Shinobi logo Shinobi

Sega introduces a fantastic game named as Shinobi is an Arcade, Action, Side-Scrolling Combat and Single-player video game.

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.
Not present
  • Blue Iris Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-19

Shinobi features and specs

  • Open Source
    Shinobi is open-source software, allowing users to customize and modify the code to fit their specific needs while benefiting from community contributions.
  • Scalability
    The platform is designed to support multiple cameras and can be scaled according to user requirements, making it suitable for both small and large installations.
  • Web Interface
    Shinobi provides a web-based interface, enabling users to access and monitor their surveillance systems from anywhere with internet access.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    The software can run on various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and macOS, providing flexibility for different user environments.
  • Community Support
    Being open source, Shinobi has a community of users and developers who can offer support, create plugins, and contribute to the software's improvement.

Possible disadvantages of Shinobi

  • Complex Setup
    Installing and configuring Shinobi may be challenging for users who are not familiar with setting up server environments or dealing with networking configurations.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running multiple camera feeds and recording them can consume significant system resources, requiring robust hardware to ensure smooth operation.
  • Limited Official Support
    While there is community support, users seeking official customer service may find it inadequate compared to commercial software with dedicated support teams.
  • Updates and Maintenance
    As with many open-source projects, frequent updates may require users to regularly maintain and update their installations to benefit from improvements and security patches.
  • Potential for Compatibility Issues
    Due to its open-source nature and diverse hardware compatibility, users might encounter issues with certain CCTV setups or specific hardware components.

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.

Shinobi videos

Sega Ages: Shinobi Review - Electric Playground

More videos:

  • Review - Shinobi PS2/2002 Review - Stolken Reviews
  • Review - Shinobi: The Complete History - SGR [RE-UPLOAD]

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 Shinobi and Blue Iris)
Video Surveillance
32 32%
68% 68
Security
21 21%
79% 79
3D
24 24%
76% 76
WebCamera Apps
31 31%
69% 69

User comments

Share your experience with using Shinobi and Blue Iris. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

Shinobi Reviews

10 Best ZoneMinder Alternatives: Free and Paid Video Surveillance
Widely known and used, Shinobi is one of the most popular choices in software video surveillance. While development is ongoing many users report experiencing glitches and bugs.
The 8 Best DIY Security Camera Apps and Software for Linux
The community edition of Shinobi is free for anyone to use. A pro version is available for those who need developer support. The pro version receives regular updates, while the community edition only sees updates that deliver major changes and bug fixes.
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.

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.

Shinobi mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Shinobi yet. Tracking of Shinobi 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
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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.

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.

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

motionEyeOS - A Video Surveillance OS For Single-board Computers

Kerberos.io - Welcome to the revolutionary video analytics and video management platform. Open, modular, and extensible for everyone, anywhere

Omnigo - Omnigo ensures a safer tomorrow by delivering security management, incident reporting, and public safety software for law enforcement, education, dispatch, and more