Top 10 Best AI Camera Software of 2026

Frigate is an open-source Network Video Recorder (NVR) that delivers real-time AI-powered object detection for IP cameras using efficient edge processing with OpenCV and TensorFlow. It minimizes CPU usage through hardware acceleration like Google Coral TPU, supports customizable zones, masks, and event clipping for accurate alerts. Ideal for self-hosted surveillance, it integrates seamlessly with Home Assistant via MQTT and offers a bird's-eye view for multi-camera tracking.

Agent DVR is a free, open-source, self-hosted Network Video Recorder (NVR) that transforms standard IP cameras into an AI-powered surveillance system. It excels in real-time object detection (e.g., people, vehicles), face recognition, and motion analysis using efficient models like YOLO, with support for hardware accelerators such as Google Coral TPU. The software offers a modern web-based interface, mobile apps, and extensive protocol compatibility including ONVIF and RTSP, making it ideal for privacy-conscious users avoiding cloud services.

CodeProject.AI Server is an open-source, self-hosted AI inference server that delivers computer vision capabilities for AI camera applications. It offers a wide array of modules including object detection (YOLO), facial recognition, pose estimation, and license plate recognition, all processed locally on user hardware. Designed for integration with surveillance software like Blue Iris, ZoneMinder, or Home Assistant, it enables smart alerts and analysis without cloud dependency.

Blue Iris is a powerful Windows-based video surveillance software that manages IP cameras, handles recording, motion detection, and remote viewing for home or business security. It supports AI enhancements through third-party integrations like DeepStack or CodeProject.AI for object recognition, reducing false alerts by identifying people, vehicles, and animals. While not natively AI-focused, it offers robust customization for users building advanced camera systems.

ZoneMinder is a free, open-source video surveillance software designed for monitoring IP cameras with features like motion detection, event recording, and live viewing. It excels in customizable zone-based detection and supports AI enhancements through optional filters using models like YOLO for object recognition. While powerful for self-hosted setups, it requires technical expertise to fully leverage its capabilities in an AI camera context.

Shinobi is an open-source, self-hosted NVR platform designed for video surveillance, supporting IP cameras with features like motion detection, timeline-based recording, and AI object detection via plugins such as DeepStack or YOLO. It excels in handling high-resolution streams efficiently with hardware acceleration and offers a web-based interface for live viewing, playback, and alerts. While not natively AI-centric, its extensible plugin architecture allows integration with various machine learning models for smart detection tasks.

Kerberos.io is an open-source video surveillance platform optimized for edge devices like Raspberry Pi, enabling real-time monitoring and event recording. It uses machine learning models for intelligent motion detection and object recognition, such as identifying people, vehicles, and animals to minimize false alerts. The software supports customizable rules, notifications via email/Slack/Telegram, and integration with various cameras and hardware.

Milestone XProtect is a leading open-platform Video Management Software (VMS) designed for IP-based surveillance systems, supporting thousands of camera models and third-party integrations. It incorporates AI capabilities through its extensive analytics marketplace, enabling features like intelligent video search, object classification, facial recognition, and anomaly detection via partner plugins. While not a native edge AI solution, it excels in centralized management of AI-enhanced video streams for large-scale deployments.

Genetec Security Center is a comprehensive enterprise-grade unified security platform that manages video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection, and license plate recognition. It incorporates AI capabilities through modules like Security Center AI Analytics (formerly KiwiVision), enabling features such as real-time object detection, facial recognition, people counting, and attribute-based video search. Ideal for large-scale deployments, it supports thousands of cameras with federated architecture for scalability and centralized management.

Verkada Command is a cloud-based security platform that unifies video surveillance, access control, alarms, and environmental sensors into a single dashboard. It leverages AI for advanced analytics including face search, people and vehicle detection, license plate recognition, and automated alerts. Designed for enterprise-scale deployments, it eliminates the need for on-premises servers or NVRs, enabling remote management across multiple sites.