iSpy vs Shinobi
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted video surveillance options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | iSpy | Shinobi |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Category | Video Surveillance | Video Surveillance |
| License | LGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | C# | JavaScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,624 | ★ 4,000 |
| First released | 2007 | 2017 |
| Replaces | Blue Iris | Blue Iris |
What are iSpy and Shinobi?
iSpy
iSpy is open-source video surveillance software for Windows that turns cameras and microphones into a monitoring system. It supports motion detection, alerts, and remote access through a companion service.
- Motion detection and alerts
- Audio monitoring
- Plugin support
- Remote access
Shinobi
Shinobi is an open-source network video recorder and CCTV solution that supports a wide range of IP cameras over RTSP, ONVIF, and other protocols. It offers motion detection, a web dashboard, and many integrations.
- Wide IP camera support
- Motion detection
- Web dashboard
- Multiple recording modes
iSpy vs Shinobi: key differences
ISpy is written in C#, while Shinobi is built with JavaScript. Licensing differs — LGPL-3.0 for iSpy versus GPL-3.0 for Shinobi. ISpy is the more established project (first released 2007), while Shinobi arrived in 2017. Shinobi has the considerably larger community, at 4,000 GitHub stars versus 1,624. Shinobi lists first-class Docker deployment; iSpy does not.
Why pick each one
Choose iSpy if…
- Long-established
- Many camera integrations
Watch out for
- Windows-only
- Superseded by Agent DVR
Choose Shinobi if…
- Flexible camera support
- Active community
Watch out for
- Configuration can be complex
- Documentation is scattered
Frequently asked questions
Is iSpy or Shinobi better?
Neither is universally better. Shinobi has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are iSpy and Shinobi free and open-source?
Yes. iSpy is licensed under LGPL-3.0 and Shinobi under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run iSpy and Shinobi with Docker?
iSpy: check the project docs for container support. Shinobi: yes.