It only runs on Windows
Blue Iris needs Windows 10 or 11. Loki Eye is a desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux, so a Mac mini, an old laptop, or a small Linux box can be the recorder.
Blue Iris alternative
A Blue Iris alternative that also runs on Mac and Linux.
Blue Iris is a capable Windows recorder. Loki Eye takes a lighter path: your cameras detect motion, their streams are copied straight to disk, and the recorder is whatever computer you already have.
Why people look beyond Blue Iris
Motion analysis costs CPU
Blue Iris decodes every stream it analyses for motion. Loki Eye uses the motion events your cameras already send over ONVIF, and needed 3.0% of one CPU core to record eight 1080p cameras in our measurement.
The price keeps adding up
Blue Iris costs $39.95 for one camera or $99.95 for the full edition, then $44.95 a year for updates after the first year. Loki Eye is free for two cameras, and as many as you need cost €29 + VAT a year or €99 + VAT once.
Loki Eye and Blue Iris, side by side
| Feature |  Loki Eye | Blue Iris Version 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | Windows, macOS, and Linux, as a desktop app. | Windows 10 or 11 only. |
| Price | Free for two cameras. €29 + VAT a year or €99 + VAT once for unlimited cameras. | $39.95 for one camera or $99.95 for the full edition. Updates after the first year cost $44.95 a year. |
| Recording | H.264 and H.265 copied to disk exactly as the camera sends them. Continuous, or on motion with pre-roll and post-roll. | Direct-to-disc recording without re-encoding. Continuous, motion, or scheduled. |
| Motion detection | Uses each camera’s own ONVIF motion events, so the recorder never analyses video. | Analyses decoded video on the server. Camera triggers can also be used. |
| Object detection | Records on the person and vehicle events of cameras that report them. No AI runs on the recorder. | Built-in AI since version 6. Fastest on a capable GPU. |
| Server load | About 0.1% of one CPU core and 19 MB of memory in our measurement. Video is only decoded for snapshots or on request. | Decodes every stream it analyses. Using camera sub-streams keeps this manageable. |
| Retention | By age and by a hard storage cap across all cameras, plus a free-disk floor. Shows the days of footage the cap allows. | Size and age limits per storage folder. |
| Setup | Install and add cameras in the browser. Stream probing and an ONVIF port test check each camera. | Windows installer and a dense desktop console with many settings. |
| Phones and remote access | With a licence, any browser on your network, behind a password. Away from home, use your own VPN. No native app yet. | Free iOS and Android apps and a built-in web server. You set up remote access yourself. |
| Integrations | Local HTTP API with an MJPEG stream and a still image for every camera, ready for Home Assistant and other home automation. | JSON API, MQTT, and alerts. Community Home Assistant integration. |
Blue Iris details were checked in September 2026 against blueirissoftware.com. Blue Iris prices are in US dollars before tax. For iSpy Agent DVR, Synology, and Frigate as well, see all five recorders compared.
Switching from Blue Iris
- Install Loki EyeDownload it for the machine that will record. The free tier covers two cameras and needs no account.
- Add your camerasStream probing and an ONVIF port test check each camera as you add it.
- Turn on camera motion eventsEnable ONVIF motion, and person or vehicle events where the camera has them, then choose continuous or motion recording with pre-roll and post-roll.
- Set retentionLimit footage by age and by one storage cap across all cameras. Loki Eye shows how many days the cap allows.
Many cameras accept more than one stream connection, so you can usually keep Blue Iris recording while you try Loki Eye on two cameras for free.
Download freeBlue Iris alternative questions
Does Blue Iris run on a Mac?
No. Blue Iris requires Windows 10 or 11, so on a Mac it needs a Windows virtual machine or a separate PC. Loki Eye runs natively on macOS, on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Is there a free alternative to Blue Iris?
Yes. Loki Eye is free for up to two cameras with every recording feature and no account. Frigate and Agent DVR also have free options, and our comparison page covers all of them.
Does Loki Eye use less CPU than Blue Iris?
Usually. Blue Iris decodes the streams it analyses for motion. Loki Eye never analyses video: it relies on the motion events your cameras already produce and writes their streams to disk exactly as sent.
Does Loki Eye work with Home Assistant?
Yes. A local HTTP API serves an MJPEG stream and a still image for every camera, which Home Assistant’s built-in camera integrations can read without a cloud account.
Can I watch my cameras on my phone?
With a licence, in any browser on your network, behind a password. Away from home, use your own VPN. There is no native phone app yet, whereas Blue Iris has free iOS and Android apps.
When is Blue Iris the better choice?
You record on a Windows PC and want the deepest set of options, native phone apps, and a one-off purchase. It also runs AI object detection on the recorder, which Loki Eye leaves to cameras that report person and vehicle events.
Two cameras. No licence. No cloud.
Install Loki Eye, add your cameras, and it starts recording to your own disk.
Download free