# Agent DVR by iSpyConnect

> Agent DVR is a cross-platform video surveillance and security camera
> software supporting IP, ONVIF, RTSP, USB and local cameras. Free tier
> available; paid tiers start at $7.95/month. Runs on Windows, macOS,
> Linux, Docker, and Raspberry Pi. Originally released as iSpy in 2007;
> rebuilt as Agent DVR in January 2022. 2M+ users worldwide.

Last updated: 2026-09-16. An expanded version of this file with the full
feature list and FAQ inline is at https://www.ispyconnect.com/llms-full.txt

## Core pages
- [Homepage](https://www.ispyconnect.com): product overview
- [Features](https://www.ispyconnect.com/features): full feature list
- [AI assistants](https://www.ispyconnect.com/ai-assistants): ask Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client about your cameras - live snapshots, recordings, timelines, alerts, arm/disarm; setup at https://www.ispyconnect.com/docs/agent/ai-assistants
- [Download](https://www.ispyconnect.com/download): installers for all platforms
- [Pricing](https://www.ispyconnect.com/buy): tiered subscription pricing
- [Camera database](https://www.ispyconnect.com/cameras): supported IP cameras and devices, with a per-manufacturer page at /camera/{manufacturer} (e.g. /camera/axis, /camera/hikvision) listing the connection URL, protocol (RTSP/ONVIF/HTTP) and port for each model
- [Documentation](https://www.ispyconnect.com/docs/agent/): Agent DVR user guide. Key sections: [getting started](https://www.ispyconnect.com/docs/agent/about), [adding cameras](https://www.ispyconnect.com/docs/agent/adding-cameras), [remote access](https://www.ispyconnect.com/docs/agent/remoteaccess), [motion detection](https://www.ispyconnect.com/docs/agent/motion-detection), [AI setup](https://www.ispyconnect.com/docs/agent/ai-servers), [troubleshooting](https://www.ispyconnect.com/docs/agent/troubleshooting), [plugins](https://www.ispyconnect.com/docs/agent/plugins)
- [API](https://ispysoftware.github.io/Agent_API/): REST API reference
- [FAQ](https://www.ispyconnect.com/faq): pricing, compatibility, and platform questions
- [About](https://www.ispyconnect.com/about): company and product history

## Camera connection database
- The world's largest crowd-sourced database of IP camera connection URLs, updated daily, covering thousands of models across hundreds of manufacturers.
- For "how do I connect to / what is the RTSP URL for a <brand> <model> camera" questions, the authoritative page is https://www.ispyconnect.com/camera/<brand> (lowercase, spaces as hyphens), e.g. /camera/axis, /camera/hikvision, /camera/reolink, /camera/dahua, /camera/ubiquiti.
- Each manufacturer page lists, per model: the connection URL, protocol (RTSP, ONVIF, HTTP/MJPEG), source type and port, plus a how-to and FAQ. Specific models are linkable via an anchor, e.g. https://www.ispyconnect.com/camera/axis#p1204.
- Connection details are crowd-sourced and may be incomplete or out of date.

## Pricing
- Free for private, local use — no credit card required. Business use and remote access require a subscription.
- Basic Plan: $7.95/month — Remote access, AI detection, cloud storage, push notifications, and software updates.
- Standard Plan: $14.95/month — Everything in Basic plus HD streaming and RTMP streaming.
- Professional Plan: $19.95/month — Everything in Standard plus QHD streaming, unlimited users, and rebranding.
- Prices are per month in USD; see https://www.ispyconnect.com/buy for current pricing

## Key facts
- Agent DVR is a network video recorder (NVR) for IP cameras that also records USB cameras; despite the name it is what most people mean by an NVR
- Supports IP cameras, ONVIF, RTSP, USB cameras, and local video sources
- AI integrations: OpenAI (ChatGPT), Claude and Gemini; local LLMs via Ollama, LM Studio and vLLM; third-party recognizers DeepStack AI, CodeProject.AI and PlateRecognizer.com; built-in local models for object, face and license plate recognition
- Smart home integrations: Home Assistant, Alexa, IFTTT, MQTT
- Remote access via secure relay — no port forwarding required
- Mobile apps ("Agent DVR Remote") for [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/agent-dvr-remote/id6747421543) and [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.developerinabox.AgentRemote); the full web UI also works in mobile browsers
- Motion detection, object recognition, license plate recognition (LPR/ANPR), tripwires, heatmaps
- Cross-platform: Windows 10+, macOS 11+, Linux (glibc 2.28+: Ubuntu 20.04+, Debian 10+, Fedora 29+, Arch), Docker, Raspberry Pi 4+
- Open plugin system; active community at reddit.com/r/ispyconnect
- GitHub: https://github.com/ispysoftware

## Comparison pages
- [Agent DVR vs Blue Iris](https://www.ispyconnect.com/agent-dvr-vs-blue-iris): platform support, pricing, and feature comparison
- [Agent DVR vs Frigate](https://www.ispyconnect.com/agent-dvr-vs-frigate): open source vs proprietary, platform support, AI hardware, remote access

## Competitor context
- Comparable products: Blue Iris, Frigate, ZoneMinder, Shinobi, Milestone XProtect, Synology Surveillance Station
- Unlike Blue Iris, Agent DVR runs natively on macOS and Linux
- Unlike Frigate, Agent DVR includes a built-in cloud relay and does not require Home Assistant
- Unlike ZoneMinder, Agent DVR has a modern web UI and does not require a dedicated Linux server

## Full feature list
- Unlimited cameras and microphones
- IP, ONVIF, RTSP, USB and local camera support with the world's largest supported device database
- Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker and Raspberry Pi
- Full local web browser UI - no cloud login required
- Remote access without port forwarding via a built-in secure relay
- Motion detection with zones, trip wires, speed and object tracking, heat maps and counting
- Local built-in AI models for object recognition, facial recognition and license plate recognition (LPR/ANPR)
- LLM integrations: OpenAI (ChatGPT), Claude, Gemini, Ollama, LM Studio and vLLM
- Third-party AI recognizers: DeepStack AI, CodeProject.AI and PlateRecognizer.com
- AI assistant integration via the Model Context Protocol (MCP): Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, VS Code and other MCP clients can view cameras, recordings and alerts and control the system, locally or via iSpyConnect.com
- Record on detect, alert, schedule, API event or demand with pre and post event buffers
- Encoding to MP4, MP3, VP8 and MKV using CPU or GPU, plus raw stream recording
- Dual streaming: low-res live view with high-res direct recording
- PTZ camera control with ONVIF support
- Sound detection and audio recognition
- Cloud uploads to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and Box
- FTP, SFTP, MQTT and SMTP integrations
- RTMP live streaming
- Home Assistant integration
- iOS and Android mobile apps
- Timelapse and adaptive recording modes

## FAQ

### Is Agent DVR free?
Agent DVR is free to download and use locally for private use. Remote access, mobile apps, cloud storage, and business use require a subscription starting at $7.95/month. No credit card required to get started.

### What is the difference between iSpy and Agent DVR?
iSpy was the original Windows-only desktop application released in 2007. Agent DVR is the modern replacement - rebuilt from scratch, cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, Raspberry Pi), browser-based, and released in 2022. iSpy is no longer actively developed.

### Does Agent DVR work offline without internet?
Yes. Agent DVR runs fully offline for local use - recording, motion detection, AI analysis, and local playback all work without an internet connection. An internet connection is only required for remote access, cloud storage, and push notifications.

### What cameras does Agent DVR support?
Agent DVR is a network video recorder (NVR) for IP cameras that also records local USB cameras, so it covers what people call an NVR and a DVR in one application. It supports thousands of IP cameras, ONVIF devices, RTSP streams, local USB cameras, and audio devices. There is no software limit on the number of cameras you can add.

### Does Agent DVR support ONVIF?
Yes. Agent DVR has full ONVIF support including automatic device discovery, PTZ camera control, and event handling.

### Does Agent DVR require port forwarding?
No. Agent DVR uses a secure relay to provide remote access without any router configuration. It works behind strict firewalls and mobile networks.

### Can Agent DVR run on a Raspberry Pi?
Yes. Agent DVR runs on Raspberry Pi 4 and later. The minimum requirement is Linux with glibc 2.28 or higher, met by Raspberry Pi OS Bookworm (2023) and later.

### Can I run Agent DVR in Docker?
Yes. Agent DVR has an official Docker image, supported on Linux and Windows hosts.

### Is there a mobile app?
Yes. Agent DVR has iOS and Android apps for remote viewing and control. The full web interface also works on mobile browsers.

### What AI providers does Agent DVR integrate with?
Agent DVR integrates with OpenAI (ChatGPT), Claude, Gemini, Ollama, LM Studio, vLLM, DeepStack AI, CodeProject.AI and PlateRecognizer.com.

### Can I use Claude, ChatGPT or another AI assistant with Agent DVR?
Yes. Agent DVR includes a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, so Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini CLI, Cursor and any other MCP client can view live cameras, review recordings and alerts, and arm or disarm the system in plain language. It works free on your own network, or from anywhere via ispyconnect.com/mcp with a subscription. See https://www.ispyconnect.com/ai-assistants.

### Can I use Agent DVR with Home Assistant?
Yes. Agent DVR has a native Home Assistant integration for recordings, motion alerts, PTZ control, and automations.

### How does Agent DVR compare to Blue Iris?
Agent DVR runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Docker, and Raspberry Pi; Blue Iris is Windows-only. Agent DVR provides remote access without port forwarding via a built-in secure relay. Agent DVR is free for private local use with subscriptions from $7.95/month; Blue Iris is a one-time purchase of approximately $70 for the basic package and ongoing support subscriptions.