A free Blue Iris alternative
Blue Iris is a long-standing Windows NVR. Litmus NVR is a free NVR that runs on more platforms and organizes footage by the people and vehicles in it, so you can find someone without scrubbing through hours of video.
At a glance
| Blue Iris | Litmus NVR | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39.95 (LE, 1 camera) or $99.95 (Full, up to 128 cameras). Updates included for 1 year, then $44.95 a year | Free, no camera limit. Paid plans only add relay bandwidth for remote viewing and cloud storage |
| Runs on | Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi, Docker, Home Assistant add-on |
| AI detection | Built in since version 6.0.1. External AI servers such as CodeProject.AI also work | Built in: people, faces, vehicles and license plates |
| Trial | 15 days | Not needed, free to use |
| Phone app | Android and iOS | Android and iOS, plus any web browser |
Blue Iris prices and features are from blueirissoftware.com as of October 2026.
What Litmus does differently
- Every person and vehicle becomes a card. Litmus detects people and vehicles as it records and turns each one into a card, so you browse who was there instead of scrubbing a timeline.
- Follow someone across cameras. Open a card to play that person’s scenes from every camera in time order.
- Four ways to search. By appearance (clothing and build), by face with no enrollment, by a description such as “a person in a yellow shirt”, or by attributes like clothing color, bag, hat and age group. Vehicles can be searched by license plate, and a partial plate works.
- Works locally, no sign-up. On your network, open it in a browser without a Litmus account.
- Remote viewing without port forwarding. Add the device to your Litmus account, and the phone app and browser connect over an encrypted peer-to-peer connection, which works on most home and office routers.
- Video stays on your hardware. Recordings and analysis are stored on the computer running Litmus, not in the cloud.
When Blue Iris may be the better fit
- More than 16 cameras on one machine. A Blue Iris Full license supports up to 128 cameras. Litmus recommends splitting more than 16 cameras across several devices.
Try Litmus alongside Blue Iris
Litmus connects to cameras over RTSP or ONVIF, and to the streams of an existing NVR. You can install it on another computer and try it on a few cameras without changing your current setup, as long as each camera accepts a second connection.
Questions
Is Litmus NVR really free?
Yes. Every feature is free with no camera limit. Live View over a direct connection is unlimited on every plan. Paid plans only add relay server bandwidth for networks that block direct connections, and more cloud storage for alert photos.
Does my video go to the cloud?
No. Video and AI analysis stay on the computer running Litmus. Only alert snapshots pass through our servers so they can reach your phone.
What hardware does Litmus need?
An Intel N100 mini PC handles 1 to 2 cameras, a 12th-gen Core i5 5 to 6, a 12th-gen Core i7 9 to 10, and an Apple M2 Mac 12 to 14. A Raspberry Pi 5 handles 1 to 2. A graphics card lets the same PC handle more cameras. These are for 1080p cameras at the default 10 analyses per second.