ZoneMinder

Not yet benchmarked

Vendor: Open source
License: GPLv2 (open source)
Platforms: Linux, Docker

Mature, fully-GPL self-hosted VMS with very broad camera support (IP, USB, analog) and zero cloud dependency. Version 1.38.3 ("Seek and Destroy") as of late May 2026. Not yet benchmarked on our test bench.

Strengths

Long-lived, fully open source (GPLv2), no cloud dependency whatsoever.
Very broad camera support: IP, USB and analog (via capture card).

Limitations

Dated LAMP-stack web UI and configuration complexity.
No built-in facial recognition — modern AI/face detection needs separate community ML add-ons.
No encryption of stored footage; no first-party desktop/mobile apps.

Criteria

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	✗

Sources

https://github.com/ZoneMinder/zoneminder — officiel (licence GPLv2, versions) (2026-08-01)
https://zoneminder.readthedocs.io/ — officiel (documentation) (2026-07-21)
https://github.com/ZoneMinder/zmeventnotification — communautaire (détection ML en add-on) (2026-07-21)
https://github.com/ZoneMinder/zoneminder/releases — officiel (1.38.3 « Seek and Destroy », 27 mai 2026, correctifs sécurité) (2026-08-01)

This product has not yet been tested on our bench. The information above comes from dated documentary sources; no comparative verdict is published until a real test has taken place.