- Video surveillance software at a glance
- Eleven video surveillance tools to consider
- Self-hosted NVR, on-premises VMS or cloud platform?
- Check the data protection side first
- Questions to ask before you install
- Features that matter at three in the morning
- Signs your current system isn't enough
- My plain advice on choosing video surveillance software
- Frequently asked questions
The best video surveillance software depends on where your video lives: a free or open source NVR suits homes and small sites, an on-premises VMS suits businesses with many cameras, and a cloud platform suits multi-site firms. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Cameras are the easy part to buy and the easy part to replace. The software decides whether you can find the right ten seconds of footage at three in the morning, or whether you scroll through hours of a car park.
The eleven VMS options below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, from free open source tools to cloud platforms for large estates. Every description comes from the vendor's own site, read this week. If you're tightening security more widely, my guide on staying safe from cybersecurity threats is a good companion.
Video surveillance software at a glance
In the free plan column, Yes means the tool's own site names a free plan, a free version, a free app or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agent DVR | Video surveillance software | Home and small business cameras | Yes |
| Blue Iris | Video security and webcam software | Windows PCs running many cameras | Trial only |
| Digifort | Intelligent video monitoring software | Licence plate recognition | Not stated |
| Eagle Eye Networks | Cloud video surveillance with AI | Cloud video with AI alerts | Trial only |
| exacqVision | IP video surveillance software | Open platform integrations | Trial only |
| Frigate | Open source NVR with local AI | Local AI detection with no cloud | Yes |
| Milestone XProtect | Video management software | Large multi-site systems | Not stated |
| Nx Witness | Intelligent video management system | Integrators building their own systems | Not stated |
| Rhombus | Cloud physical security platform | Cameras and sensors on one platform | Not stated |
| Shinobi | Open source VMS in Node.js | Self-hosted setups on any machine | Yes |
| Verkada | Cloud video security | Enterprise cloud cameras | Not stated |
Eleven video surveillance tools to consider
Agent DVR
Best for: Home users and small businesses that want camera software for Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker or Raspberry Pi, free for personal use.
Blue Iris
Best for: Windows users who want video management for up to 128 cameras, including webcams, network IP cameras and analogue cards.
Digifort
Best for: Sites that want video management with an add-on licence plate recognition module tied to alarms and automated actions.
Eagle Eye Networks
Best for: Businesses that want cloud video management with AI alerts for safety incidents, now alongside the Brivo access control suite.
exacqVision
Best for: Installers and businesses that want open platform video software that works with access control, analytics and thousands of IP cameras.
Frigate
Best for: Home tinkerers who want an open source NVR with real-time AI object detection that keeps camera feeds on their own hardware.
Milestone XProtect
Best for: Organisations with many cameras and sites that want an open, flexible and scalable video management portfolio.
Nx Witness
Best for: Integrators and partners who want a VMS they can build into their own security solutions, with a full developer toolkit.
Rhombus
Best for: Commercial sites that want cloud-managed physical security that's open and interoperable on one integrated platform.
Shinobi
Best for: Developers and hobbyists who want an open source VMS they can run on an enterprise machine or a small edge computer.
Verkada
Best for: Enterprises that want AI-powered search, alerts and analytics on commercial cameras managed from almost anywhere in the cloud.
Self-hosted NVR, on-premises VMS or cloud platform?
Self-hosted NVR tools run on your own computer or server and keep footage local, which appeals to home users and privacy-minded small sites. On-premises VMS software handles many cameras across a building or campus, with integrations for access control and analytics. Cloud platforms move management online, so multi-site firms can watch and search from anywhere.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Your network, your storage and your appetite for maintenance should decide which way you go, as much as the feature list.
Check the data protection side first
The ICO publishes a CCTV self-assessment checklist for assessing a CCTV system's compliance with data protection law, covering installation, management, operation, public awareness and signage.
Run through it before you choose software. Decisions about who can view footage, how long you keep it and what signs you need will shape which features matter most.
Questions to ask before you install
- Which camera brands and protocols does it support?
- Where is footage stored, and for how long?
- Who can view or export footage, and is every view logged?
- How quickly can we search for a person, vehicle or event?
- Does it work on our network without opening risky ports?
- How does it handle access control or alarm integrations?
Features that matter at three in the morning
- Fast search. Find a person or vehicle without scrubbing hours.
- Smart alerts. Fewer false alarms from trees and rain.
- Access logs. You know who watched or exported footage.
- Remote viewing. Safe access from a phone without open ports.
Signs your current system isn't enough
Footage that's too slow to find, recordings that overwrite before you need them and cameras nobody remembers the password for are the usual signs. Any of those is a reason to look again.
Do you make VMS software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing video surveillance software
Start with the incidents you need to solve, not the camera count. A shop that needs quick searches for theft has different needs from a warehouse checking deliveries, and the best tool for one isn't the best for the other.
Then take network security seriously. Cameras and recorders are computers, and they need updates, strong passwords and careful remote access. My piece on using a VPN to protect your business network covers one way to keep remote viewing safer.
Frequently asked questions
What is video surveillance software?
Video surveillance software, often called a VMS, records, manages and plays back footage from security cameras, and helps you search and export what you need.
What's the difference between an NVR and a VMS?
An NVR records video from network cameras, often on one box. A VMS manages cameras, users and recordings across sites, sometimes with several recorders.
Is there free video surveillance software?
Yes. Several tools here are free or open source, including Frigate and Shinobi. Check the table for each tool's status.
Is cloud video surveillance safe?
It can be, if the vendor handles encryption, access logs and updates well. Ask how footage is stored and who can reach it.
Do I need to tell people about CCTV?
In the UK, the ICO's checklist covers public awareness and signage, so plan for clear signs if your cameras capture people.
Can I use my own IP cameras?
Often, yes. Many tools here support a wide range of IP cameras and standards, but check your exact models before you commit.
