CamWatch

Will it work with my system?

CamWatch works with NVRs and cameras that support ONVIF or RTSP, the standard ways security systems share video on your local network. Most well-known brands do.

The easiest way to know for sure: download CamWatch free and try it. You can watch your cameras 10 times before you pay anything, and setting up never uses a try.

What you need

  • An NVR, or cameras, on your local network (Wi-Fi or cable).
  • ONVIF or RTSP turned on. Many systems have it on already; some need a switch flicked in their settings.
  • The NVR's address (for example 192.168.1.20), a username and the password.
  • Video in H.264 or H.265, which is what almost every system uses.

CamWatch shows one NVR or camera system, with up to 16 cameras.

Should work

These brands support ONVIF and RTSP. We've tested CamWatch on Vivotek; the others use the same standards, and we'll mark them as tested as owners confirm them.

  • VivotekTested and working (ND9426P NVR with IB9383 cameras).
  • HikvisionTurn on ONVIF in the NVR's network settings and create a separate ONVIF user, then use that user in CamWatch.
  • DahuaIncluding rebrands such as Amcrest and many Lorex models.
  • UniviewMake sure ONVIF is turned on.
  • Hanwha (Wisenet)
  • Axis
  • Bosch
  • Milesight
  • ReolinkWired cameras and NVRs, with RTSP and ONVIF turned on in the Reolink app.

Check first

These depend on the model, and on whether RTSP can be turned on.

  • Ubiquiti UniFi ProtectTurn on RTSP for each camera in UniFi Protect, then add each camera to CamWatch manually with its RTSP link.
  • SwannSome NVRs support RTSP; many battery and Wi-Fi cameras don't.
  • EufySome models have an RTSP option in the Eufy app.
  • Lorex (newer models)Older Lorex systems are usually Dahua-based and work; some newer ones don't offer RTSP.

Won't work

These cameras only send video through their maker's cloud, so there's nothing on your local network for CamWatch to show.

  • RingCloud only.
  • ArloCloud only.
  • Google NestCloud only.
  • BlinkCloud only.
  • SimpliSafeCloud only.
  • WyzeCloud only on current firmware.
  • Most battery camerasThey sleep to save power, so they can't stream continuously.

Brand not listed?

If your NVR or cameras mention ONVIF or RTSP in their manual or settings, there's a good chance CamWatch will work. Try it free, and if it works for you, we'd love to hear which system you have. Let us know and we'll add it to this list.