Guides · Two cameras
A free NVR for one or two cameras
Updated 29 September 2026
Two cameras cover a lot of homes and small shops: the front door and the drive, or the shop floor and the till. For that you should not need a subscription or a dedicated recorder box.
What the free edition includes
- Up to 2 cameras
- Every recording feature
- All updates included
- Viewing on the recorder computer
- No account needed
“Every recording feature” means the same recorder as the paid edition: continuous recording or recording on the camera’s ONVIF motion events with pre-roll and post-roll, retention by age and by a storage cap, playback of both cameras on one timeline, and the local API for Home Assistant.
What it leaves out is viewing from other devices. On the free edition you watch on the recorder computer itself.
The hardware you need
The computer you already have. Loki Eye runs on Windows 10 and 11, macOS, and Linux, and copies each camera’s stream to disk without decoding it, so two cameras use almost no CPU. The computer does need to stay on and to have disk space. An old laptop works well, and its battery keeps it recording through short power cuts.
Your cameras need an RTSP stream, and ONVIF motion events if you want to record on motion. Most mains-powered IP cameras have both. The camera setup guides cover Reolink, Hikvision, Dahua, Tapo, Amcrest, Annke, and Uniview. On a Mac, see keeping a Mac recording around the clock.
How much storage two cameras use
For continuous recording on both cameras:
| Stream | Bitrate | Per day | 7 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p H.265 | 2 Mbit/s | about 43 GB | about 0.3 TB | about 1.3 TB |
| 1080p H.264 | 4 Mbit/s | about 86 GB | about 0.6 TB | about 2.6 TB |
| 4K H.265 | 8 Mbit/s | about 173 GB | about 1.2 TB | about 5.2 TB |
Recording only on motion uses far less. How much depends on how busy each scene is, but a quiet driveway might see motion for an hour or two a day. Set a storage cap and Loki Eye shows how many days of footage it allows, then deletes the oldest recordings to stay within it.
Other free options
| Recorder | Free for two cameras? |
|---|---|
| Loki Eye | Yes, on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with no account. |
| Agent DVR | Yes, for local use. Remote access and the phone apps need a subscription. |
| Frigate | Yes, open source. Runs in Docker on Linux, and works best with a detection accelerator. |
| Synology Surveillance Station | Yes, if you own a Synology NAS: two camera licences are included. |
| Blue Iris | No. The one-camera edition costs $39.95, and it runs on Windows only. |
See the full comparison for how they differ on motion detection, load, and retention.
When to upgrade
When you add a third camera, or want to watch from your phone or another computer, a licence costs €29 + VAT a year or €99 + VAT once. If a licence ever lapses, Loki Eye goes back to running your first two cameras on the recorder computer, so nothing stops recording.
Questions
Is the free edition a trial?
No. It does not expire and needs no account. It records up to two cameras for as long as you use it, and updates are included.
Can I record more than two cameras for free?
No. A third camera needs a licence, at €29 + VAT a year or €99 + VAT once, which also adds viewing from other devices.
Do I need a separate NVR box?
No. Any Windows PC, Mac, or Linux machine that stays on can be the recorder. Two cameras barely register on its CPU.
Can I watch my cameras from my phone on the free edition?
No. The free edition is viewed on the recorder computer itself. A licence adds password-protected viewing from phones, laptops, and wall displays on your network.
Loki Eye records your cameras to your own disk on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Free for two cameras, with no account.
Download free