Top 3 NVR options for Windows

Stonewatch is our top pick for local camera recording with a dedicated desktop app. Here are the key differences at a glance.

Three Windows NVR options at a glance
Features#1 · TOP PICKStonewatchBeta waitlist open#2Blue Iris#3Agent DVR
Desktop Viewer on Windows, Mac & LinuxYesNoNo
Native recorder on all three platformsYesNoYes
Record to your own driveYesYesYes
ONVIF / RTSP camera inputYesYesYes
Get early access Windows-only recorderBrowser interface

Your cameras. Your storage. One desktop app. Stonewatch combines local recording, built-in object detection, and a dedicated Viewer for live video and playback.

Can your Windows PC handle camera recording?

Yes—a spare office PC can be enough for a small camera setup. Stonewatch saves H.264 and H.265 camera streams without re-encoding them by default, keeping everyday recording light. Object detection can use Intel, NVIDIA, or AMD hardware you already have.

OpenVINO supports Intel Core CPUs as far back as the sixth generation. An eighth-generation Core i3 is a modest starting point for a Windows PC today.

Refurbished office PC

Intel Core i3-8100

8 GB RAM · Intel UHD 630

Recording HDD512 GB minimum · 1 TB recommended

An older office desktop puts Intel OpenVINO CPU detection within reach without a separate graphics card.

OpenVINO · CPU

Budget NVIDIA system

Core i5-8400 + GeForce GTX 1650

8 GB RAM · 4 GB GPU memory

Recording HDD512 GB minimum · 1 TB recommended

A used GTX 1650 adds CUDA or TensorRT object detection and NVENC video encoding to an ordinary desktop.

CUDA / TensorRT · AINVENC · video

AMD with integrated graphics

AMD Ryzen 5 4600G

8 GB RAM · Radeon integrated graphics

Recording HDD512 GB minimum · 1 TB recommended

Microsoft DirectML can use compatible DirectX 12 graphics for object detection, including an AMD system without a separate GPU.

DirectML · AI

Stonewatch runs on 64-bit Intel and AMD Windows PCs. These are example configurations, not camera-count benchmarks; capacity depends on camera bitrate, detection, and live views. GPU acceleration requires a compatible driver.

ONVIF and RTSP IP cameras send video to the Stonewatch recorder, which saves footage on your recording drive. The desktop Viewer connects for live video and playback.

How much storage will your cameras need?

Pick a camera, set your camera count and days of history, and get an instant storage estimate. Five camera presets are included, plus a custom option.

Enable JavaScript to calculate storage for your cameras.

Continuous video estimate based on the share of drive capacity used for footage. Audio, exports, and other files need additional space. Camera presets are sizing examples, not tested compatibility claims.

Common questions about Windows NVR software

Can I use a PC I already own?

Definitely. Stonewatch supports CPU-based detection, Intel OpenVINO, NVIDIA CUDA and TensorRT, and Microsoft DirectML on Windows. NVENC accelerates video encoding on compatible NVIDIA cards. For a small camera setup, an older 64-bit Intel or AMD PC can be plenty.

Does a recorder work when nobody is signed in?

Yes. Stonewatch's Windows recorder runs as a background service, so it keeps recording when you sign out or close the desktop Viewer, as long as the PC stays awake.

Is Stonewatch a Blue Iris alternative?

Yes. Stonewatch was created by a solo developer who was tired of recurring problems with a Blue Iris setup. Older Blue Iris setups with external AI could mean another service to install, connect, and keep running. A Windows-only recorder also limits where your system can live.

Stonewatch manages local object detection inside the app, with no separate AI server to maintain. Its recorder runs independently of the Viewer, and both are available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Your recording system can fit the computer you want to use.

Stonewatch pricing and availability

Essentials is free for two active cameras. Home is USD 99 before tax, paid once. One license covers a single machine, with one active Stonewatch installation. There is no subscription or renewal fee, and all v1.x updates are included.

Home has no fixed active-camera limit; capacity depends on your hardware and workload. Join the waitlist for the beta announcement.