Three ways to get Blue Iris-style recording on Linux
Only Stonewatch runs natively on Linux, with no Docker and no Windows virtual machine.
| Features | Stonewatch | Frigate | Blue Iris in a Windows virtual machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runs natively on Linux | Yes | In Docker | No |
| Install | One package, runs under systemd | Docker Compose and a YAML configuration file | A virtual machine, Windows, then Blue Iris |
| Object detection | Built in and set up for you. CPU, Intel OpenVINO, NVIDIA CUDA | Built in | Built in since version 6.0.1 |
| Viewing | Apps for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, and Android | Browser | Blue Iris in the virtual machine, a browser, and iPhone and Android apps |
| Price | USD 99 once, v1.x updates included, after a 30-day free trial | Free. Optional Frigate+ at USD 50 a year | USD 99.95, including one year of maintenance, then USD 44.95 a year, plus a Windows license |
Your options on Linux
- Blue Iris in a virtual machine keeps the software, and its problems: users on the IPCamTalk forum report crashes and updates that break working setups. You also keep a copy of Windows running around the clock inside your Linux machine.
- Frigate means Docker, a YAML file, and the command line. A 2026 review on cctvinfo.com says setup took four hours, and that once running, it worked. The Frigate alternative guide compares it in detail.
- Stonewatch is a native Linux recorder with a Viewer app for live view, a playback timeline, and export. There is no Docker and no YAML, and it restarts itself if it ever stops.
A recorder that does not need a desktop
Stonewatch runs as a service on a headless Linux machine. The Viewer runs on a Windows, Mac, or Linux desktop, or on an iPhone or Android phone, and reaches the recorder from anywhere over Tailscale or another VPN. For example hardware and a storage calculator, see the Linux NVR guide.
Common questions
Is there a Blue Iris version for Linux?
Blue Iris is Windows only. Stonewatch is the native Linux NVR that does the same core jobs: recording, object detection, live view, playback, and export.
Will my Blue Iris cameras work with Stonewatch?
They will. Stonewatch records any IP camera that sends H.264 or H.265 video over RTSP. It finds ONVIF cameras on your network automatically, and you can add any other camera by its stream URL.
Can I run Stonewatch without Docker?
Yes. It installs from one package and runs under systemd, with no containers to manage.
Can I watch my cameras from my phone?
The Stonewatch Viewer app runs on iPhone and Android, with live view, recordings, and events, and connects from anywhere over Tailscale or another VPN.
Stonewatch pricing and availability
Each machine gets a 30-day free trial of the full product, with no card and no account. After that, the Home license is USD 99 before tax, paid once, for one machine. There is no subscription or renewal fee, and all v1.x updates are included.
Home has no camera limit beyond what your hardware can handle. The recordings you make during the trial stay yours to play back and export.
BETA WAITLIST
Blue Iris-style recording, native on Linux.
Join the Stonewatch waitlist and we'll email you when the beta opens.
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