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Best VMS with built-in facial recognition

These do facial recognition natively — not via a bolt-on server. (Blue Iris and ZoneMinder are excluded here: they need an external AI add-on for faces.)

  1. NoviscanTested on our bench

    Built-in facial recognition, plus encrypted media at rest and cross-platform apps.

  2. ScryptedNot yet benchmarked

    Native face and licence-plate recognition with AI natural-language search (paid NVR plugin).

  3. Frigate NVRNot yet benchmarked

    Native face recognition since 0.16, free and open source, if you run Docker/Linux.

  4. Agent DVRNot yet benchmarked

    Built-in facial recognition and LPR, cross-platform (real-time AI needs a subscription).

  5. XeomaNot yet benchmarked

    Built-in face-recognition module (white/black lists) in a low-cost cross-platform VMS.

  6. Synology Surveillance StationNot yet benchmarked

    Face recognition on Synology Deep Learning (DVA) appliances, with high claimed accuracy.

Each product links to its detailed review, criteria and dated sources. See the Methodology.