Blue Iris
Video surveillance software
Physical security software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$39.95 one-time
Free Trial
Free version unavailable
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What is Blue Iris
Blue Iris is Windows-based video management software used to record, view, and manage IP cameras and other video sources. It is commonly deployed by small businesses, integrators, and advanced home/SMB users who want an on-premises NVR/VMS running on commodity PC hardware. The product focuses on broad camera compatibility, local recording, and remote viewing via web and mobile apps, with optional AI-based motion/object detection through add-ons and integrations.
On-premises, PC-based deployment
Blue Iris runs on a standard Windows PC, allowing organizations to keep video storage and processing on-site. This can reduce reliance on cloud subscriptions and supports environments with limited internet connectivity. It also enables flexible sizing by selecting CPU, GPU, and storage to match retention and camera counts.
Broad camera and stream support
The software supports common IP camera protocols and stream types (for example, RTSP/ONVIF in typical deployments), which helps when mixing camera brands and models. It can ingest multiple streams per camera (main/sub streams) to balance live viewing performance and recording quality. This flexibility is useful for retrofits where existing cameras must be retained.
Rich recording and alert options
Blue Iris provides configurable recording modes (continuous, motion-triggered, schedules) and retention rules. It includes alerting and automation hooks (for example, actions on triggers and external integrations) that can fit small security workflows. Users can access live and recorded video through a browser interface and companion mobile apps.
Windows-only and self-managed
Blue Iris requires a Windows host and ongoing OS/application maintenance by the customer. Updates, backups, storage health, and security hardening are the user’s responsibility, which can increase operational overhead compared with managed offerings. Organizations with standardized Linux appliances or cloud-first policies may find this limiting.
Scalability and enterprise features
The product is typically used for small to mid-sized deployments and may require more manual design work as camera counts grow. Capabilities often expected in larger enterprise VMS environments—such as centralized multi-site administration, advanced role-based governance, and formal compliance tooling—may be less comprehensive or require third-party components. Performance and stability depend heavily on the chosen PC hardware and configuration.
Advanced analytics not native-first
While Blue Iris supports motion detection and can integrate with AI/object detection via add-ons or external services, advanced analytics are not always turnkey. Achieving reliable detection often requires tuning, GPU resources, and careful camera placement/lighting. Teams seeking built-in, centrally managed analytics may need additional products and integration effort.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| LE Version | $39.95 (one-time) | Supports 1 camera; includes 1 year basic maintenance with initial license purchase (per official site). |
| Full Version | $99.95 (one-time) | Supports up to 128 cameras; includes 1 year basic maintenance with initial license purchase. |
| Maintenance - Basic (extended) | $44.95 / year (listed on site) | Described as an extended/basic maintenance option (site text shows this price). |
| Maintenance - Extended (one year) | $49.95 (single year) | "Extended maintenance ($49.95/single year)" appears as a purchasable item linked from the official site. |
| Maintenance - Priority | $199.95 / year (site text) | Listed as "Priority ($199.95 /yr)" on the official page; a linked purchase page also shows $249.95 in a different location (see notes). |
| Commercial license (maintenance) | $39.95 / month | Listed on the official site as "Commercial license ($39.95/mo)" |
Notes: The official Blue Iris site (blueirissoftware.com) clearly lists the LE and Full one-time license prices and explicitly offers a free 15-day evaluation. The maintenance/pricing section on the site contains multiple price references (e.g., Basic $44.95/yr; Extended $49.95 single year; Priority $199.95/yr vs. a linked $249.95/single-year item), which appear inconsistent on the public page. I have included the specific prices as they appear on the official site and flagged that the site shows differing values for some maintenance items; recommend contacting Blue Iris sales/support for confirmation.
