DOODS2 vs Frigate Notify
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted video surveillance options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | DOODS2 | Frigate Notify |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 50 · Fair | 59 · Fair |
| Category | Video Surveillance | Video Surveillance |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | Python | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker | docker, binary |
| GitHub stars | ★ 277 | ★ 413 |
| First released | 2020 | 2023 |
| Replaces | Nest Cam | Nest Cam |
What are DOODS2 and Frigate Notify?
DOODS2
DOODS2 is a dedicated open object detection service written in Python. It exposes REST and gRPC APIs for running detection on images and video streams, supports Coral EdgeTPU and GPU acceleration, and is commonly paired with NVR software rather than being an NVR itself.
- Standalone object detection service
- REST and gRPC APIs
- Coral and GPU support
- Integrates with NVR software
Frigate Notify
Frigate Notify is a small standalone application that sends alerts for events detected by a Frigate NVR. It supports many notification channels and works without depending on Home Assistant.
- Notifications for Frigate events
- Many alert channels
- No Home Assistant needed
- Tiny footprint
DOODS2 vs Frigate Notify: key differences
DOODS2 is written in Python, while Frigate Notify is built with Go. Frigate Notify is the lighter option, starting around 64 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for DOODS2. DOODS2 is the more established project (first released 2020), while Frigate Notify arrived in 2023.
Why pick each one
Choose DOODS2 if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Watch out for
- Detection service only
- Needs an NVR to pair with
Choose Frigate Notify if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Go
Watch out for
- Companion tool only
- Requires Frigate
Frequently asked questions
Is DOODS2 or Frigate Notify better?
Frigate Notify is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider DOODS2 if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are DOODS2 and Frigate Notify free and open-source?
Yes. DOODS2 is licensed under MIT and Frigate Notify under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run DOODS2 and Frigate Notify with Docker?
DOODS2: yes. Frigate Notify: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, DOODS2 or Frigate Notify?
Frigate Notify has the smaller minimum footprint at 64 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for DOODS2. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.