Blue Iris Vs Hikvision Nvr

If you are building a surveillance system, the two most popular "brains" for your operation are (software running on a Windows PC) and a Hikvision NVR (a dedicated, embedded Linux box). Both can record Hikvision (and ONVIF) cameras, but they operate very differently.

A Hikvision NVR (ranging from $150 to $1,500+) is a standalone embedded Linux device with no moving parts (except the hard drive). It is sold as a complete appliance. It is specifically optimized for Hikvision cameras, though it works with generic ONVIF cameras with reduced feature sets. You plug it in, add a mouse and monitor, and it runs 24/7 without ever touching a Windows update. blue iris vs hikvision nvr

Unlike an NVR, Blue Iris is "camera agnostic." You can mix and match a Hikvision doorbell, a Dahua turret, and an Amcrest PTZ camera all on one screen. If your PC is powerful enough, you can scale almost indefinitely. If you are building a surveillance system, the