Worst NVR / VMS Manufacturers 2020

By IPVM Team, Published Feb 10, 2020, 08:54am EST (Info+)

For the second time in a row, a global manufacturer has been selected by integrators.

IPVM Image

200+ integrators answered:

In the past year, what VMS / NVR system have you had the worst experience with? What happened?

While the #1 repeated, a VMS moved into the second spot. Multiple NVR and software providers were in the third tier of negative results. The results include a breakdown of responses from inside vs outside the US.

In this report, we share detailed feedback from integrators and examine key themes impacting the overall market.

Executive *******

********* ********* *** ***** ***/*** ******** both ****** *** ******* *** **, with, ******* *** **, ****** *** number ** ********* ** *** **** 2 ************* *** **** **** ****** inside *** **.

***** ******** *** **** ******* ******** responses ** *** **. *******, *** minimally ***** ******** **** ***** ******* of *** **. ***** *** ******* still * *** ******** **** *********** when ********* ** *********** *** / *** ************* ****, *** ************* ***** **** ***** VMSes.

***** ******** *** *** **** ******** responses ******* *** **, *** **** than **** ** ***** ****** *** US. *******, *****'* ************ *** *******.

#1 ********* - ******* ************* / ** ******

******** ********* *** ********* ******** ***** issues **** ******* ************* **** *** NVR, ******** ******* ******** *** ******** interface ******:

  • "*********. ***** ******** ** *** *** thankfully ***** **** **** *** ** our ****** ********* “******” ** ** use ****. *** ********* ****** ** terrible. ****’** ***** ********* *** ***** where ** * ****** ** ************ you ***’* ****** ***** ******* ** the ****** ***"
  • "********* *** **** ****** *** ******* substream ******** ***. ********** **** **** fine, *** *** ***** **** ****** does *** ******* ********* ******** ** has *** *****."
  • "***** *** ********* *** ******** ***** for ****, ** ** ******* ** secure **** *** ******* ***** ** a ***** *********** *** ** **** others ******* ** *** **** ************ and ********* ** *** ******* ***"
  • "*********. ******** *** ********* **** ******* vendor *** ****** *** * ***** commercial ******** *** ** ****'* ******* the *********** **** ****** *** ** had ** ******* **"
  • "*********. ** * ****** ** ****, there *** ** ******* *** **** might ** **. ******* ******* *** to ******** **** ***** ** ****** equals *** ******** ******* ** *** clients ***** *****'* ***** * ***** taste ** ***** ******."
  • "* ******** ***** (*-****) ********* ***'*. We **** *** ******** ** ******* - **** ****** ** ******. **** have ** ***** **** *** *** something ****"
  • "*********, **** ******* **** **** **** installed * *** *** ******* ******* and ****** ***** ***"
  • "********* ********. ******* ***** *** **** with *** ******. ********..."
  • "*********. ***** *** ** ****** *** difficult ** ***, **** *** *** installers."
  • "********* ********. **'* *****, *** ** user ********, **** **** **** *********"
  • "********** *** *** ***** **** **** headaches *** ********* ********"
  • "*********, ********* *** * **** **** using *** ********"
  • "*********, ******** ******* ***** ** **** over"
  • "*********, *** ******** ** ****** *** hard ** ***. "
  • "********* - **** ***. ********** ********"
  • "*********, ******* ************"
  • "*********, ***** ******"

Why ********* ****?

***** ********* **** *** ****** ****, this ** ********* ****** ** ***** relative ******** ** *** ****** **** and *** *** ****** ** ***** recorders. *** *********** ** ***** ******, along **** *********'* ******** **** ** focus ** *** ***********, ** * core ****** ** ***** **************.

********, ** *** **** *** *****, Hikvision *** ******* *********** ******** * paid *** / ***,**********, ***** *** ** ***, **** a ********* *** ** *** ******. While ********** ** **** ********* **** enterprise *****, **** ********* *** *******, that **** *****************************, ********** **** ***, ** ***** yet, ***** *** **** ***** *** breadth ** ***************. *** ** *** SMB ****, ***** ********* *** **** best ** *** ****, ********** ** far **** ********* **** ********* ****.

#2 ***** - **** *******, ******* ******, ********* ********

***** *** * *** ******** ***** in ****, *** **************'* ********** ************ ******* ** ****, **** *** **** ******** ********* than *** ***** ***.

*********** ******** ****** **** ******* *** product ***********:

  • "*****. ****** *******. ******* **** ** to ******* *** ******* ***** ** did. ******* *****. **** *** **** to ***** *** ******. ***** ******* 4 ***** *** ****** ** *********** the ******* *** ** ******* *****. Ripped ** ******** ******* * *** one *** ***** *** **** ***** just ******** *** ******* ***** ***** we *** ******* **** **** ************** before ******* ** ** ****. **** news: ***** ******** * *** ***. Bad ****, ******** *** ****** ******* of *** *** ****** *** ********"
  • "*****. ********* *** *** ******** ***** systems ** ********* *********. ***** ****** app ** ********** *** ********* *** very ********** **** ** *** ******* consistently. **** ** ************ *** * system **** ****** '***********' **** *** being **** **. **** ******* ** unhelpful *** *************. * ***** ****** talk ** ** ******** **** ******."
  • "***** ******* *** ******* ******* ********* to *********** ***** ***** ***********. ** have ******* **** ****** **** **** loose *** ************ ******** **********. *** vendors *** *********** ********** **** *** product. *** **** *** **** ** respond *** ****. **** ******* ***** a ******** **** ****."
  • "*****, ******* * **** **** ** many ** ****, * ***'* ****** leave. ***** *** *** ** ** deleted *** *********** ** ******* ******, and **** ***'* **** ** ***** time **** *** **** ********* *** exact **** ***** ** ***** ***** to **** ** **** ******* **** it ***."
  • "*****. **** ** ******* ******* ** newer ****** ******. ********* ***** ******** to ******** ******* ********** ******** *******. Updating ********* ** *******."
  • "*****, **** *** ******* ******* *** never *** ******* ********** ***. *** bounced ****** ***** *** **** **** finally ******** **** **."
  • "***********. * *** *** ********* **** year **** ****** ** *** ******* to ***** ****** *** ** *** to ********* **********."
  • "*****, **** **** ** *** **** up **** ******* ****** ******* ** Arecont ******* ****** **** ***********"
  • "*****, ******** *******. ****** ** *** an *** ** **** ******* *****."
  • "*****. **** * *** ********** **** licensing *** ******* *********"
  • "***** ** **********."

#3 ***** - *********** / ****** ******* ******

***** *** * *** *******, ********* slightly **** ******** ******** ** *** US ******** ** ******* *** **. There *** ** ****** ***** **** integrators, **** *******, *********** *** *********** issues *****:

  • "****, ** ***** ********** *** **** Dahua's ******** ******** ** ***** ***** and ***** ****** *** ** **** have **** ***** *******. ** ******* customer ****** *** ** **** **** connection ** **** ** *** *****/ Audio ********* *******. ** **** *** to **** ****-******* ** *** ******* back ** *** *******."
  • "*****. **** ***'* **** ***** ******** grade ***** **** ******. ** **** warranty ******* ******** *** **** ******* it ** **** **** *** **** drive. ******* ****** *************"
  • "***** ******* *** ****** *** ***** favorite ******* ** *******. ** ** not ******* ****, *** **** ******* for *********"
  • "*****. *** * ********* ******* **** burn *** ** * ***** *** nvr. * **** ******* **** ** software ***** *** ***************."
  • "***** ***. ****** ************* **** ***** compliance *** ****** *****."
  • "*****, *********** ** **** *********"
  • "***** ***** ** **** *** *****."
  • "***** **** - **** ***'* **** as **** ******."

************, ********* *** *****, ******** ** negative **** **** *******, ********** *** cybersecurity ***** ********* *************** ** **** *********** ****** *********** ** **** ******* their ****.

#4 *** **** / ********* ******

*** **** **** ******** * *********** number ** *********, ** **** *****, integrators ***** *** *** (*.*. *********, Dahua), *******, ********* ******** *** **** negative ********* ** *** ********, ****** issues **** *********** *** *******:

  • "******! ** ******** ********* * ***** system ***** **** *********** *******/******* ***** cameras. * **** ******* * ****** to ********* ** ****, *** **** reported **** ********** ****** ****. ** installed **** ** **** *** *** PTZ ******* ****'* ****"
  • "********* ****** *** ****** ** ****** resulting ** ******* *** ***** ******* loss"
  • "******* ******* *********. *** **** **** backs. **** *** *** ** *** future."
  • "*** ***** ***, ****** *********** *** not ******** *** *** ***********, ****** to ****** ******** **** ******** ***** FW"
  • "* **** *** ********** **** **** a ********* ***. **** ** ********* from ****** *******. * ***** ***** install ****. *** ******* ** **** but ***** **** ******* *** ******** is **** *****"
  • "*********- ******** ** ***** "**********" ******* do *** **** **** ***** "**********" NVR/VMS. ************ *** ***** ****** *******."
  • "*********.. **** **** * ****** **** another ****** *** ** ** * mess *** **********"

3rd **** ** ********* - *********, *****

*** *** **** ** ******** ********* included ******** *****, *** *** *** 2 ********** **** ***** *** *********. Milestone ******** *** *** **** ******** responses ** *** ***, ***** ********* a *** ******** *******. ***** ******** moderately ***** ******** ********, *** ** favorable *********.

******** ********* *** ********* ******** ********* issues, *** ******** *******/********* **********:

  • "*********. ******** ******** **** *********** ********** causing ******** ***** ** ****** *********** until * ****** ******* ** *********. The ******* *** **** ******* ****, and ********* ****** ****** *** ***** after * ******** ********."
  • "*********. ** *** ******* ** *** the **** *********** ************ *** ********* capacity. ** *** *** ******* **** at *** **** *** *****. ** is **** ********* ** *** ********* and ********. * **** *** ********* stop ******* ** ***** ********* *** installed. "
  • "*********. **** ***** ****** *****. ******* kept ******** ***. ***** **** *** users *** **** ********. ****** *** to ** ******* ******. *** **** user ********."
  • "*********. ** ******* ******* *** ********* services ***/** *** ****** ******* ********* and ** **** ********* ** *** them ******* ********"
  • "*********, ***** ** * ******* ******* and ********* **** ** **** **** an ***** ******* ** *** ******* version."
  • "*********. *** *********, ********* ** ********, too **** **** ** ** *** same *****"
  • "*********, ******* (*** **** *** ********* support *** *******, ** ****)"

***** ********* ********* ********* *** ***********, related ** *** ******* ******* *** software *******:

  • "*****....**** *** **** ** ***** ** with ****. **** *****'* **** *** partners **** ** ***** ** ******, no **** ***, ** ****** ** the *** ******* ***... ***** **** not *** ** ***** ** ******* products, ****** *** *********/********* ** **** support ********* ** *** **** *******"
  • "***** (*******); *** **** ****** **** system ******** ******** *** *** ****** flexibility ****** *** ****** (****** ******* between ******* ***** ** ********, ***)."
  • "***** ******** ******* **** **** *** not ********** ****** ************* ******** ******* as ******* ** ****** *** ******** by *******"
  • "*****, ******** ********"

No ******

**** ***********, ****** */* ** *** responses, ****** **** *** ** ******** negative ***********. ** **** ********, * few *********** **** ******** ******* *** they *** *** **** ******* ***** experiences, *********** *** ********** ** ********* specifications *** ******* **** * ******* number ** *************:

  • "********, ** *** *** ******* *** support *** ********* ** **** ****** and *** ******* **. ******** **** manufacturers ** *** ******** **** ****** issues *** "***** **********" *********. ** the **** ****, ** **** *** run **** *** ***** ****** **** any ** *** *** ********."
  • "** *****'* ****** *** * *** experience **** ***. ** *** ********* more ******** ***** ****"
  • "** ****** *****’* *** *** ***** issues. ** **** ** ****-**** *** NVR *** ********* *** ************ ** the ********* ************ *** *** *** of **** **** *******."
  • "*** ****** ********** **** *** ********** platform ** ****. ** ***'* **** hardly ******** **** *** ********."
  • "** **** ** ******** ****** *** XProtect. **** *** **** ****-********, *** are ****** **********"
  • "**** ** **** ******, ** * said ** ****** **** **** *** Genetec *** **** **** ***** *****."
  • "****: ** ******* *** ****** ******** in ****. ***** **** * *** bugs *** ******* *****"
  • "**** ******. *'* ********* ** **** I ******* **** **** * **** with, ** ** **** *** ******* mfgs"
  • "**** ******, ** **** *** ******** / ******** *** ****** ****'* **** any *********."
  • "*/* *** *********** ********** **** *** product ***** ****** **** *** **********."
  • "*/*, ** *** *********** **** ****"

Comments (28)

Undisclosed Manufacturer #1

02/10/20 03:55pm

No surprises here. These results are in line with the feedback I receive within a much smaller geographic footprint.

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed Integrator #2

02/10/20 04:18pm

Agree that Hik's NVR interface is poor, especially direct off the unit. I always encourage people to log in via the web interface, it is far more intuitive and user friendly (relatively speaking).

Agree: 2
Disagree: 1
Informative: 2
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Avatar

Kyle Folger

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 02/11/20 02:15am

This is always my big complaint with Dahua, Hikvision, etc. NVRs. The interface should be the same on the device and the web page so you aren't learning two different interfaces. I used to use Nuvico recorders for SD, and when the new interface came out, it was easy to use, but the only issue was that it was slow on the recorder itself. The web page interface was faster, but it was also very similar to the interface on the unit.

Another gripe I have is when certain features are available in the unit, but not from the web page. Many of those issues have gone away, but I know the DW Spot Monitor had that issue. I'm not sure if the issue is still present, but I couldn't setup everything from the interface. That unit was basically a stripped down recorder interface.

Agree: 2
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Undisclosed End User #8

In reply to Kyle Folger | 02/12/20 08:25pm

I've seen that on Speco. 9000 dedicated buttons on the unit and no way to access them remotely.

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Undisclosed Distributor #3

02/10/20 05:09pm

Just wondering, I was told exacq oem from promise NVR. How accurate is this information ? Also, any feedback on AxxonSoft VMS?

Agree
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #3 | 02/10/20 11:09pm

I can guarantee you that they do not OEM from Promise NVR.

Agree: 2
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Informative: 1
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Avatar

Sean Patton

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #3 | 02/11/20 04:03am

Axxon was only mentioned 3 times; 2 favorable mentions and one negative.

None of the responses were very detailed or descriptive, with pros for analytics, and the single con for LPR performance.

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Informative: 3
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Avatar

Ryan Hulse

In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #3 | 02/11/20 08:10pm

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 is correct. Exacq does not OEM NVRs from Promise. I am the sr. product manager for the exacqVision product line.

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Undisclosed Distributor #3

In reply to Ryan Hulse | 02/12/20 07:12am

Good morning Ryan. Thank you for your confirmation. We had noticed a huge price difference with Promise NVR's and wondered why the substantial difference ourselves. At some point in time same a fellow distributor for another product line had heard of this so we thought it might make sense with the pricing difference especially it coming with the storage mandatory. The camera licensing price is very high as well nowdays.

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Robert Fuller

02/10/20 07:20pm

we need a group plan now to see these reports?

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Robert Fuller | 02/10/20 07:21pm

No. Where did you get that from? The whole report is above the comments for all logged in members, like yourself.

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Robert Fuller

In reply to John Honovich | 02/10/20 07:42pm

Does the PDF report have more info that the above? When I try to DL the PDF I am prompted to upgrade to a group plan

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Robert Fuller | 02/10/20 07:54pm

No it is just a copy in a well formatted PDF.

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Undisclosed Manufacturer #5

In reply to Robert Fuller | 02/11/20 05:19am

There is a workaround, makes me feel a little like Bashis.

Agree
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Informative
Unhelpful: 1
Funny: 4

Samer Alkila

In reply to Robert Fuller | 02/11/20 05:10am

I got same message here too!

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Undisclosed #6

02/12/20 12:51am

and on top of all that raised prices by 32%!!"

Is this true? I would like the details.

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 02/12/20 01:26am

Good catch / question. I removed that section pending confirmation / feedback from the manufacturer since it is a specific directly verifiable claim.

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Tony Perrone

In reply to Undisclosed #6 | 02/12/20 01:08pm

I've been buying Dahua for years - my prices did not rise at all.

Agree: 1
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Tony Perrone

02/12/20 01:07pm

You guys are so biased. It's funny that I didn't need to log in to read this post, but I need to log in to read most others. It's like, you love to bash Dahua and other brands and really want others to see it. Dahua recently released a new firmware that makes the user interface on the NVR really nice and very friendly. The apps are all my customers favorite.

I do think it's crap that most of the articles are for paid members, but articles that bash Dahua and Hikvision specifically are always free.

Agree: 6
Disagree: 9
Informative
Unhelpful: 2
Funny: 1

Christopher Wargo

In reply to Tony Perrone | 02/12/20 04:04pm

This site is very anti-Hikvision but you just have to take it with a grain of salt. I for one welcome the criticism that they get because it creates a lot of business for my company. Since everyone is afraid to use Hik they have no idea that they are actually a couple years ahead of any other manufacturer out there in terms of performance, while also being a third of the price.

Agree: 4
Disagree: 7
Informative
Unhelpful: 2
Funny: 5

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Christopher Wargo | 02/12/20 05:32pm

Since everyone is afraid to use Hik they have no idea that they are actually a couple years ahead of any other manufacturer out there in terms of performance

We test Hikvision all the time so we know very well where Hikvision stacks up, e.g. in the past month: Integrated IR Camera Shootout 2020 - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Panasonic, Uniview, Vivotek, Camera Analytics Shootout 2020 - Avigilon, Axis, Bosch, Dahua, Hanwha, Hikvision, Uniview, Vivotek, etc.

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Christopher Wargo | 02/12/20 07:59pm

I agreed with your post but I think some context is in order.

IPVM is "anti-Hikvision" in the sense that Hikvision is a CCP-controlled entity, provides product domestically for human rights abuses, and has had various security concerns. Those are all legitimate and serious problems that deserve attention and is where a lot of the Hik hate stems from.

On the other hand, IPVM has favorably reviewed many Hikvision products, e.g. more recently the ColorVu line was lauded for its ultra-low light performance and is arguably the best bang for your buck right now. When their hardware and software are good, IPVM does a good job of saying so.

Now believe me, I love Hik products for the very reason you mentioned. The performance to price ratio is outstanding. But saying they're a "couple years ahead of any other manufacturer" is a bit of a stretch. They have a sampling of excellent products that unquestionably perform better than anything out there.

BUT. Their NVR interface is atrocious. Their web interfaces use confusing terminology (e.g. enable "Rules" to view dynamic motion analysis WTF??) and there is ZERO help built in; I have to make do watching DVS tutorials on YouTube to figure a lot of stuff out. There are bugs in firmware like increasing WDR beyond 40 makes the image go black. Their analytics in anything but the DeepInMind series are below par compared with lots of other manufacturers. AND, after all this time they STILL haven't figured out how to export clips in a format that is usable by most players.

Agree: 5
Disagree
Informative: 4
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Dave Davies

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 03/07/20 10:25pm

Glad you like the YouTube channel , we hope to keep helping where we can 🙏

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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Tony Perrone | 02/12/20 05:31pm

You guys are so biased. It's funny that I didn't need to log in to read this post, but I need to log in to read most others.

Tony, thanks for your first comment!

This post is member's only. If you don't believe me, try clicking the link to this post in incognito mode and you will hit the paywall. Here is what it looks like:

You may have been logged in already and therefore did not need to log in again but it's a member's only post.

This is a survey, so it is a reflection of integrators, we run what they say, e.g., far more integrators complained about Hikvision than Dahua, so Hikvision got the bulk of the criticism.

Agree: 3
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Undisclosed Integrator #7

In reply to John Honovich | 02/12/20 06:42pm

> 50% of the time I can click on the link in the emails and it opens my Firefox web browser and shows the entire article without me having to first login. Below shows what it looked like today. If I click on a link to a new article only then does it tell me that I need to login to read it. So I can see where people may be able to read an article without ever logging in.

Agree: 1
Disagree
Informative: 1
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John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #7 | 02/12/20 06:45pm

> 50% of the time I can click on the link in the emails and it opens my Firefox web browser and shows the entire article without me having to first login.

Yes, that's a convenience feature we offer for member's only. New Feature: First Click From Newsletter And New Article Email - No Login Required

Agree
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Informative: 2
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Larry Tracy

02/12/20 01:47pm

I have had no issues with Dahua since I started with them a year ago. Now Hikvision is another story , too many problems and we are the beta testers for every product, lots of bugs.

Agree: 2
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Mike Fahey

06/18/21 07:04pm

I disagree with some of the Qognify comments.

People were on edge about the transition sure. I have never seen the services crash ever.

They do not crash in 5.8

The software is not outdated. I personally feel development /release got better after the acquisition. They have spent the time to improve what needs to be improved. (I.E. The web gui isn't flash and actually works!)

If I move a camera from one DM to another it doesn't use another license. The system goes by how many cameras are licensed period.

I just balanced out cameras across 4 VM's running as Device managers and i'm using the same amount of licenses.

Agree
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