DOODS2 vs Pikrellcam
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted video surveillance options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | DOODS2 | Pikrellcam |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 50 · Fair | 9 · At risk |
| Category | Video Surveillance | Video Surveillance |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | C |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker | bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 277 | ★ 272 |
| First released | 2020 | 2015 |
| Replaces | Nest Cam | Nest Cam |
What are DOODS2 and Pikrellcam?
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
Pikrellcam
PiKrellCam is a motion-detecting video recorder for the Raspberry Pi camera with a built-in web interface. It records motion events, captures still images, and can overlay annotations on the video.
- Raspberry Pi camera recording
- Motion detection
- Web interface
- Annotation overlays
DOODS2 vs Pikrellcam: key differences
DOODS2 is written in Python, while Pikrellcam is built with C. Licensing differs — MIT for DOODS2 versus GPL-3.0 for Pikrellcam. Pikrellcam is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for DOODS2. Pikrellcam is the more established project (first released 2015), while DOODS2 arrived in 2020. DOODS2 lists first-class Docker deployment; Pikrellcam does not.
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 Pikrellcam if…
- Great for Pi camera modules
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- Raspberry Pi specific
- Single-camera focus
Frequently asked questions
Is DOODS2 or Pikrellcam better?
Neither is universally better. DOODS2 has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are DOODS2 and Pikrellcam free and open-source?
Yes. DOODS2 is licensed under MIT and Pikrellcam under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run DOODS2 and Pikrellcam with Docker?
DOODS2: yes. Pikrellcam: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, DOODS2 or Pikrellcam?
Pikrellcam has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for DOODS2. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.