Blue Iris vs Agent DVR
Two prosumer NVRs. Blue Iris is Windows-only with a cheap one-time licence, huge camera support and add-on AI. Agent DVR is cross-platform freemium with built-in AI including facial recognition.
Head to head
| Criterion | Blue Iris | Agent DVR |
|---|---|---|
| Open source (auditable code) | ✗ | ✗ |
| Self-hosted (runs on your hardware) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works without a mandatory vendor account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Works with any ONVIF/RTSP camera (no hardware lock-in) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Built-in facial recognition | ✗ | ✓ |
| Encrypts stored footage at rest | ✗ | — |
| Remote access without a vendor cloud | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web + desktop + mobile apps | ✓ | ✓ |
Choose Blue Iris
Choose Blue Iris if you run Windows, want up to 128 cameras, deep configurability and a one-time licence, and don't mind running a separate AI server (CodeProject.AI).
Choose Agent DVR
Choose Agent DVR for cross-platform operation (Windows/macOS/Linux/Pi), built-in facial recognition and easy remote access — on a subscription for the advanced features.
Bottom line
Blue Iris is the cheap Windows workhorse; Agent DVR is the cross-platform option with AI baked in.
Full reviews:Blue Iris ·Agent DVR
Sources last consulted on .