CompreFace vs DeepStack
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted video surveillance options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
CompreFace
Self-hosted face recognition service with REST API
VS
DeepStack
Self-hosted AI server for object and face detection
| Feature | CompreFace | DeepStack |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 23 · At risk | 13 · At risk |
| Category | Video Surveillance | Video Surveillance |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Java | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 4,096 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,328 | ★ 818 |
| First released | 2020 | 2019 |
| Replaces | Amazon Rekognition | Amazon Rekognition |
What are CompreFace and DeepStack?
CompreFace
CompreFace is a self-hosted face recognition service that can be set up without machine-learning expertise. It exposes a REST API for face detection, verification, and identification used by surveillance and access systems.
- Face detection and recognition
- Simple REST API
- No ML expertise required
- Docker-based deployment
DeepStack
DeepStack is a self-hosted AI server providing object detection, face recognition, and scene analysis through a simple REST API. It is widely used to add AI detection to surveillance tools like Blue Iris and Home Assistant.
- Object and face detection
- Scene recognition
- Simple REST API
- GPU acceleration support
CompreFace vs DeepStack: key differences
CompreFace is written in Java, while DeepStack is built with Python. DeepStack is the lighter option, starting around 2,048 MB of RAM against 4,096 MB for CompreFace. CompreFace has the considerably larger community, at 8,328 GitHub stars versus 818.
Why pick each one
Choose CompreFace if…
- Easy to integrate
- Good accuracy
Watch out for
- High memory requirements
- Recognition service only
Choose DeepStack if…
- Easy AI integration
- Works with many NVRs
Watch out for
- Detection only, not an NVR
- Heavier with GPU models
Frequently asked questions
Is CompreFace or DeepStack better?
Neither is universally better. CompreFace has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CompreFace and DeepStack free and open-source?
Yes. CompreFace is licensed under Apache-2.0 and DeepStack under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CompreFace and DeepStack with Docker?
CompreFace: yes. DeepStack: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, CompreFace or DeepStack?
DeepStack has the smaller minimum footprint at 2,048 MB of RAM, compared to about 4,096 MB for CompreFace. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.