The DVR Wars: TiVo and Comcast Face Off in a Battle of Features and Price

TiVo vs Comcast, Who Wins the DVR Battle?

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cable, satellite, over the air broadcast, streaming internet video – never before have we had so many choices of how to receive television programming. DVR, PVR, computer hard drive, external storage device; now we have choices in how to store programs for viewing later to consider as well. So what is true and what is hype when it comes to what’s the best device? Let’s peel back the layers and look at the information.

First, what is a DVR? A DVR, or digital video recorder, is a device that records video from a source for playback at another time. It often comes with a television programming guide included so you can easily locate shows you want to record. Most DVRs come with large capacity hard drives, though some have flash memory cards as their storage medium. There are a variety of types that range from small storage capacity and two tuners, up through several tuners and massive hard drive storage ability. You also can pause and rewind live TV, which is great when you want to create your own sports instant replays. Most DVRs also allow you to watch one program that was previously recorded while two others are recording, though some have greater capacity.

A TiVo is a particular kind of DVR that was first introduced in 1999. It requires a subscription to its own programming guide that can be purchased month to month, or as a “lifetime” subscription (that means the life of the TiVo, not your life, by the way). TiVos, like cable company DVRs, can record just one show or an entire season. TiVos have a smart feature which notices which shows you are watching and recommends similar ones to you based on how you rate current programs. It also uses these ratings to suggest shows to other viewers.

Let’s look at a few of the main features of both so you can do a comparison. We’ll look at five factors.

1. TiVo vs Comcast: Cost and rent versus own

With a Comcast DVR, you are renting it from the cable company at a cost of $10 to $16 a month, depending on your market. There are no upfront costs, and should the device fail, you can swap it at no cost at your local Comcast service center. Some folks have found that the new X1 boxes are prone to crashes, so that free swap is handy.

A TiVo is yours to keep as long as it lasts or as long as you want it, whichever comes first. It has an initial cost of between $200 and $600, depending on the model. Plus, you have the subscription cost on top of the unit price, which is $15 a month or $500 for a “lifetime” subscription, which TiVo may or may not give you partial credit for should your device fail and you need a new one. Like the Comcast DVRs, some TiVo boxes are less than stable. It’s the nature of electronics. TiVos also have advertising on them, which some Comcast channels do also, like MusicChoice, but not on all of them.

2. TiVo vs Comcast: Services available

With a DVR from Comcast, you can only record shows that are broadcast on one of Comcast’s channels or play shows that are loaded into its On Demand section. A TiVo can be connected to a number of sources, including cable via a cable card, and allow you to combine all of your viewing sources into the one box. It even connects to a high definition antenna.

The TiVo with cable card has access to all of the cable On Demand services, so in that sense it can replace all of the Comcast DVRs. However, the cable card is not free. It typically runs $1.50 per card per month, up to $2.50 per card on the Frontier system.

The menus are slightly different, as you can see below.

Comcast interface

TiVo interface

TiVos also recognize SD and HD as just different versions of the same show, instead of different channels like Comcast does, so you can set your DVR to just record HD. This makes it somewhat harder to just record HD on a TiVo.

Down the road, Comcast is planning the X2 system which would have cloud recording capacity, thus ending the need for a box in your house at all. TiVo has not yet announced such a plan.

3. TiVo vs Comcast: Connection to a network

TiVos can be connected to your home computer network, and the newest one, the Roamio, comes with built-in wifi, for total freedom of use. Because it’s on the network, you can stream shows from your computer through the TiVo box for later playback. It supports channels like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant. You can also stream shows to your Apple portable devices and then take the shows with you on the plane or to the gym, or use the device as a remote control. (Android devices will have the same capacity soon.) The network capacity also means you can use your computer to control the TiVo box and view content wherever you are.

Some reviewers have also noted that the network set up is not as simple as it might be, and it requires some computer knowledge and ability. Unless you have a tech person nearby, novice computer users may not wish to set up the network.

The iPhone app remote screen looks like this:

A TiVo does have limitations of who can access which channels. For instance, it does not stream HBOGo, nor does it interface with Apple’s TV programming. For that you still need an AppleTV device.

Comcast boxes simply do not network well. They are designed to broadcast the cable signals through your TV, but not on a home network. They are often easier to connect, however, just requiring a cable from the box to be plugged into the TV.

4. TiVo vs Comcast: Recording capacity

The new TiVo, the Roamio, has as many as six tuners that can record at the same time with up to 150 hours of high definition programming. You’ll never have another scheduling conflict again!

TiVos have recording capacities that range from 75 to 450 hours, depending on whether it is standard definition or high definition, and which device you are using. You can choose from three models of the Roamio. The base model costs $200 and has 75 hours of capacity. The menu and features are more limited on this one than on the others. There is a middle model priced at $400 that has the same six tuners as the high-end one but can only hold 150 hours of recordings. Then the top tier model costs $600 and has 450 hours of recording capacity, all of it in high definition.

The Comcast X1 DVR has four tuners and it can record them simultaneously. You can watch a prerecorded program while it’s recording, too. It can hold 120 hours of HD or 600 hours of SD programming.

5. TiVo vs Comcast: User interface

The Comcast X1 DVR system has a voice-activated interface and a completely different look and layout than their standard system has.

The basic Comcast remote is a multi-function remote and capable of controlling all functions, but it does not have the ability to connect to a portable device like a tablet or a smartphone to have connectivity that way like a TiVo can through an app. The remote has to be line of sight in order to work.

The TiVo device menu is in standard definition, so for those who have a high definition set up, you may find this a bit distraction or fuzzy. It does come with apps for extending what the box can do, including games for kids.

Many reviewers liked the interface on the TiVo better than the grid used on the Comcast service. The TiVo programming guide allows you to delete channels you don’t watch so you’re only looking at the channels you like. Comcast’s guide covers every channel they offer, even ones that are not available on your tier of service.

With the TiVo Roamio, connecting to a tablet allows you to be in another room and still operate the “remote” for the TiVo DVR. Download the app onto your device and you’re ready to go.

TiVo’s device remote has a sleek layout called the “peanut”.

Summary

What it all comes down to is looking at how you use your TV, where you get your sources from, and what your budget is. Each device has its own set of things that are appealing, and its own drawbacks. For flexibility of being able to use multiple sources and devices, the TiVo is the clear winner. For cost in the long run, it’s almost a draw. For ease of connection to a TV, the Comcast box comes out on top. No matter which one you pick, you’ll never run out of great programs to watch.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

The Best Free Video Surveillance Software : A Comprehensive Guide

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Figuring out which is the best security camera software is never easy. This is because most of the software you find online says it is free…until you download their software and it tries to charge you.

Here is a review of the best security camera software, and every single one has a free option. Share this article on social media if you find the right camera software for you.

But if you are new in this field, then you might want to know some basic technique terms introduced following, before we jump to choose the best security camera software.

What Is an IP Camera?

When people say, “IP camera,” they usually mean a camera that uses the Internet in some way so that it may do its job. A typical CCTV camera connects a camera to a computer via a wire. An IP camera can connect over the Internet.

Sometimes, the connection is remote. This means that the camera may be in one location and still be connected to another computer that is miles away.

However, many IP cameras are installed in a home and only travel a few feet/meters to the nearest computer. In short, an IP camera doesn’t need a local recording device because the signal can be sent over the Internet or with a Wi-Fi connection.

What Is Camera Software Used for?

Most people and businesses use camera software to connect their cameras to their computers or their Smartphones. This is often cheaper than buying dedicated recording hardware. The camera and its software are usually used to monitor camera feeds that are life, and to records them onto a hard drive or to the Cloud.

How Do You Pick the Best Security Camera Software?

In most cases, the best software is simply the software that works with your cameras, and that offers all the functions you need. Compatibility is the first concern, but you also want it to work well with your device. For example, if your cameras have a zoom function, but your software doesn’t allow zooming, then that piece of software is not the best one for you.

For example, if you are using Linux, then you want Linux security camera software. And, some people insist that their software allows them to monitor their cameras from their Smartphones. The great thing about free security camera software is that you can test it out first without the risk of losing your money.

If You Need to Edit Your Videos , Which Is the Best Video Editor?

Exporting or downloading content from your camera software is a messy job. You often need a good video editor and trimmer to make your video clips usable.

This is especially true when video recordings can go on for as long as 90 days at a time. If you are looking for a high-quality and flexible video editor, then Filmora is your only real and viable choice. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

Filmora takes users’ needs into consideration and comes up with a variety of useful features to make editing easy for people of different levels. Let’s have a look at the useful features of Filmora to better understand how powerful Filmora is.

• Auto Synchronization: This allows you to sync video and audio easily.
• Plenty of transitions, effects, elements make your videos more interesting.
• Audio Ducking: Automatically reduce the volume of the background music to make the dialogue stand out.
• Wondershare Drive: Upload video or project to Wondershare Drive and download it to complete anywhere you want.
• Motion Tracking: Attach an element to a moving object in your video easily with auto motion tracking.
• Keyframing: Customize animation by adding keyframes to change the position, rotation, scale, and opacity of a clip.
• Color Match: Match the color of selected clips to another frame from another clip.

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Now let’s have a look at the 10 best free security camera software with very comprehensive choosing details.

1. NetCam Studio

There is a free version of NetCam Studio, but if you want something more powerful, then you can buy one of their licenses. These licenses allow you to use the software for as long as you like, and they will update the software for up to two years after purchase.

After the two-year period, you can keep the software running as normal, but if you want upgrades, then you will have to buy them. Upgrades shouldn’t be needed unless you buy a new piece of camera hardware and it requires a new type of camera software.

The NetCam Studio Features

If you go for the free version of NetCam Studio, then you get to use a camera feed from two sources. There is a watermark added to the camera images, and you get five-day notifications. There is also community support.

The paid features include up to 64 sources, no watermarks, 250-day notifications, and you get priority support. After the 250 days is up, you may buy upgrades in order to keep the notification system going.

Pros

The free version does not expire in any way besides the notifications

You are able to use this software with a wide variety of camera brands

Updates are frequent enough to tackle most system-breaking bugs

Cons

The interface needs updating to make it more user friendly

They need to better explain the “Add Source” procedure

Troubleshooting audio problems is very difficult

2. Security Eye

The reason Security Eye ranks so highly is that it is a professional piece of software that somebody decided should be free. It is not open source security camera software, but the developers have decided that it should be free. There used to be a free version where you would get 2 hours of free surveillance per day for free, but in 2019 the company removed its payment system. Will they keep it up or go back to paid subscriptions? Who knows, but you should get it while it is still free (if you can).

Security Eye Features

You can use a timer to determine when the video feed should start. You can capture images as JPEGs and then compress them. The system also allows you to receive alerts via a loudspeaker. It works with motion-detection devices too.

Pros

It comes with the Xvid MPEG-4 Codec

The full version has no nag screen or recording limit

The Security Eye interface is pretty modern for what is essentially a free piece of software

Cons

Demands 1GB of RAM and 2GB of HHD space

Requires at least an Intel Pentium 1.8 processor

The icons should be more intuitive

3. Perfect Surveillance

There are three types of free security camera software for you to choose from. There is one for IP cameras, one for web cameras, and there is a piece of viewing software that people may use if they do not have something like VLC video viewer installed.

Perfect Surveillance Features

Simple icons and a clear interface is a great benefits. Determine when the cameras start monitoring and set up your own layouts to suit your viewing style.

Pros

A simple program that works in a very uncomplicated manner

Most of its icons are intuitive to where you can guess what they do

The Perfect Surveillance system has motion detection and allows you to monitor up to 64 devices

Cons

Installing seems overly long and bloated

There are not enough instructions on how to get your cameras connected

They do not explain how to capture and export screenshots

4. iVideon

There are times when a piece of free software simply does its job good enough to warrant no complaints, and that is exactly what iVideon offers. There are plenty of ways it can be improved, but there is nothing about it that demands harsh criticism.

iVideon Features

One of its most advertised features is facial recognition, but it is not very accurate. It does allow for very good mobile usage. You can view live and recorded footage on your desktop or mobile device. It is also available for Mac OS X and Linux.

Pros

Online home use and access is completely full-featured and freeware

It has smart notifications and has its own desktop and mobile apps

it doesn’t take long to learn how to use the iVideon interface

Cons

Seems rather light on features

Installing and connecting cameras requires a better tutorial

Embedding live video on your website is trickier than it first seems

5. Xeoma

This program has plenty of features, but most of them are locked off to free users. It takes over too long to learn how to use the system, but it may be worth it if you have many cameras. The paid version has all sorts of perks from SMS texts to system health monitoring.

Xeoma Features

The lite version is the free version. It allows you to add four cameras with up to six modules in each chain. You can test out and use the lite version as long as you like, or you can get a free trial of the larger fully-featured program.

Pros

Record and monitor from four cameras

Updates are very frequent

This software works with mostly every type of camera

Cons

Around 90% of features are locked off to free users.

Xeoma is difficult to learn and set up

Connecting many cameras is difficult because the system is difficult to learn as a whole

6. Genius Vision

The Genius Vision system is a fairly advanced piece of software that is probably best used for businesses. If used at home, then there are many features that may never be used. It also works on mobile devices too.

Genius Vision Features

There are plenty of features to play with, including a massive array of settings to fit the many types of camera that this program can be used with. You can even support the company through Patreon and get more extensions on the program.

Pros

Works in-depth with many types of camera

The tools are very sophisticated and accurate

The drop-down menus are complicated while also being thoughtfully laid out

Cons

Getting paid upgrades is trickier than just buying on their website

Setting up the remote features is difficult

You have to figure out most of how to use the program based on which camera you have connected

7. Deskshare IP Camera Viewer

The Deskshare IP Camera Viewer company has a great piece of security camera software that they repackage into many different names and then give away on their website. They do this because the software comes with lots of unwanted bloatware that the company is paid to promote. The sad part is that many other websites will replace this bloatware with Trojan viruses, which means it is difficult to get a clean version of this program.

Deskshare IP Camera Viewer Features

Live recording, playback, and split-screen is all available. You can use up to 4 cameras at a time, and it works with 2200 different camera models. If your hardware allows it, then you can pan, tilt and zoom your camera.

Pros

It is compatible with many types of camera brand

You can set up floating surveillance windows if you want

Adjust the properties of each camera individually

Cons

Installing is very difficult to do correctly

Comes with bloatware and/or unwanted content

The IP software has the least features of all the Deskshare camera software

8. Anycam

The Anycam system is a very average piece of software, but it works with most any type of camera. The interface is basic but easy to use and easy to set up. You will discover that the free version is only limited in terms of record time, you can still use all its features.

Anycam Features

Anycam is mostly featureless. It works with motion-detection cameras. It allows for video recording and playback. Plus, you can watch a live feed. Other than that, there is very little you can do with this basic-but-effective piece of software.

Pros

The program seems to work with any type of camera

Anycam has a paid version where you only make a one-time payment and get free lifetime updates

Installing and setup is very easy

Cons

Trying to find specific events on the timeline is very fiddly

The free version only allows two cameras to be linked

The recording is very limited with the free version

9. ContaCam

In the strictest terms, this piece of software is not free. The developers ask you for a donation, but there is nothing forcing you to give them one. Plus, you can try the software, and then if it turns out to be brilliant, then you can always go back and donate to them.

ContaCam Features

Despite seeming very complicated, the interface is actually very self-explanatory. At first glance, it looks overly condensed and full of features, but each explains itself very well. You can configure the cameras very precisely to the point where you can even specify within which seconds it starts and stops.

Pros

A rather advanced piece of software

The interface layout is very condensed without being confusing

You can use web servers, the Internet, or intranet to receive live feeds

Cons

The interface has no aesthetic decoration at all

ContaCam takes a long time to learn through trial and error testing

The developers say this will never work with mobile devices

10. Agent DVR

The great thing about Agent DVR is that it is completely free because it is freeware. The sad part is that it was created by a developer who went on to finer things and left the program lodged on a few high-use servers. It is now being passed around freeware websites, which means it is sometimes difficult to find a clean version. Nevertheless, it is a fine piece of camera software that still works for many types of cameras.

Agent DVR Features

The Agent DVR software allows for video surveillance with a live feed, and for recording. You can use it with motion-detection software, and it still works for many different types of cameras. It uses a reliable SSL algorithm for its signal encryption, and it is very lightweight, which means it is not a big drain on your device’s CPU.

Pros

A very simple and lightweight piece of software

Works all the way back to Windows 7

It still works with motion detection systems

Cons

Agent DVR will become more obsolete as newer cameras appear over the coming years

Updates will never occur beyond Windows 10

The interface looks very dated compared to the modern camera software

Conclusion

As you can tell by this article, getting good security camera software is difficult because there is so much to choose from. Plus, installing is often an issue, as is companies trying to nag-free users into paying. There is also the issue of connecting cameras and the problem with tagged-on viruses and bloatware.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to try without having to pay, so that is a positive. What do you think?

Have any of these worked for you? Ask your friends on social media, start a discussion, and share this article to help others discover the best free security camera software.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Figuring out which is the best security camera software is never easy. This is because most of the software you find online says it is free…until you download their software and it tries to charge you.

Here is a review of the best security camera software, and every single one has a free option. Share this article on social media if you find the right camera software for you.

But if you are new in this field, then you might want to know some basic technique terms introduced following, before we jump to choose the best security camera software.

What Is an IP Camera?

When people say, “IP camera,” they usually mean a camera that uses the Internet in some way so that it may do its job. A typical CCTV camera connects a camera to a computer via a wire. An IP camera can connect over the Internet.

Sometimes, the connection is remote. This means that the camera may be in one location and still be connected to another computer that is miles away.

However, many IP cameras are installed in a home and only travel a few feet/meters to the nearest computer. In short, an IP camera doesn’t need a local recording device because the signal can be sent over the Internet or with a Wi-Fi connection.

What Is Camera Software Used for?

Most people and businesses use camera software to connect their cameras to their computers or their Smartphones. This is often cheaper than buying dedicated recording hardware. The camera and its software are usually used to monitor camera feeds that are life, and to records them onto a hard drive or to the Cloud.

How Do You Pick the Best Security Camera Software?

In most cases, the best software is simply the software that works with your cameras, and that offers all the functions you need. Compatibility is the first concern, but you also want it to work well with your device. For example, if your cameras have a zoom function, but your software doesn’t allow zooming, then that piece of software is not the best one for you.

For example, if you are using Linux, then you want Linux security camera software. And, some people insist that their software allows them to monitor their cameras from their Smartphones. The great thing about free security camera software is that you can test it out first without the risk of losing your money.

If You Need to Edit Your Videos , Which Is the Best Video Editor?

Exporting or downloading content from your camera software is a messy job. You often need a good video editor and trimmer to make your video clips usable.

This is especially true when video recordings can go on for as long as 90 days at a time. If you are looking for a high-quality and flexible video editor, then Filmora is your only real and viable choice. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

Filmora takes users’ needs into consideration and comes up with a variety of useful features to make editing easy for people of different levels. Let’s have a look at the useful features of Filmora to better understand how powerful Filmora is.

• Auto Synchronization: This allows you to sync video and audio easily.
• Plenty of transitions, effects, elements make your videos more interesting.
• Audio Ducking: Automatically reduce the volume of the background music to make the dialogue stand out.
• Wondershare Drive: Upload video or project to Wondershare Drive and download it to complete anywhere you want.
• Motion Tracking: Attach an element to a moving object in your video easily with auto motion tracking.
• Keyframing: Customize animation by adding keyframes to change the position, rotation, scale, and opacity of a clip.
• Color Match: Match the color of selected clips to another frame from another clip.

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Now let’s have a look at the 10 best free security camera software with very comprehensive choosing details.

1. NetCam Studio

There is a free version of NetCam Studio, but if you want something more powerful, then you can buy one of their licenses. These licenses allow you to use the software for as long as you like, and they will update the software for up to two years after purchase.

After the two-year period, you can keep the software running as normal, but if you want upgrades, then you will have to buy them. Upgrades shouldn’t be needed unless you buy a new piece of camera hardware and it requires a new type of camera software.

The NetCam Studio Features

If you go for the free version of NetCam Studio, then you get to use a camera feed from two sources. There is a watermark added to the camera images, and you get five-day notifications. There is also community support.

The paid features include up to 64 sources, no watermarks, 250-day notifications, and you get priority support. After the 250 days is up, you may buy upgrades in order to keep the notification system going.

Pros

The free version does not expire in any way besides the notifications

You are able to use this software with a wide variety of camera brands

Updates are frequent enough to tackle most system-breaking bugs

Cons

The interface needs updating to make it more user friendly

They need to better explain the “Add Source” procedure

Troubleshooting audio problems is very difficult

2. Security Eye

The reason Security Eye ranks so highly is that it is a professional piece of software that somebody decided should be free. It is not open source security camera software, but the developers have decided that it should be free. There used to be a free version where you would get 2 hours of free surveillance per day for free, but in 2019 the company removed its payment system. Will they keep it up or go back to paid subscriptions? Who knows, but you should get it while it is still free (if you can).

Security Eye Features

You can use a timer to determine when the video feed should start. You can capture images as JPEGs and then compress them. The system also allows you to receive alerts via a loudspeaker. It works with motion-detection devices too.

Pros

It comes with the Xvid MPEG-4 Codec

The full version has no nag screen or recording limit

The Security Eye interface is pretty modern for what is essentially a free piece of software

Cons

Demands 1GB of RAM and 2GB of HHD space

Requires at least an Intel Pentium 1.8 processor

The icons should be more intuitive

3. Perfect Surveillance

There are three types of free security camera software for you to choose from. There is one for IP cameras, one for web cameras, and there is a piece of viewing software that people may use if they do not have something like VLC video viewer installed.

Perfect Surveillance Features

Simple icons and a clear interface is a great benefits. Determine when the cameras start monitoring and set up your own layouts to suit your viewing style.

Pros

A simple program that works in a very uncomplicated manner

Most of its icons are intuitive to where you can guess what they do

The Perfect Surveillance system has motion detection and allows you to monitor up to 64 devices

Cons

Installing seems overly long and bloated

There are not enough instructions on how to get your cameras connected

They do not explain how to capture and export screenshots

4. iVideon

There are times when a piece of free software simply does its job good enough to warrant no complaints, and that is exactly what iVideon offers. There are plenty of ways it can be improved, but there is nothing about it that demands harsh criticism.

iVideon Features

One of its most advertised features is facial recognition, but it is not very accurate. It does allow for very good mobile usage. You can view live and recorded footage on your desktop or mobile device. It is also available for Mac OS X and Linux.

Pros

Online home use and access is completely full-featured and freeware

It has smart notifications and has its own desktop and mobile apps

it doesn’t take long to learn how to use the iVideon interface

Cons

Seems rather light on features

Installing and connecting cameras requires a better tutorial

Embedding live video on your website is trickier than it first seems

5. Xeoma

This program has plenty of features, but most of them are locked off to free users. It takes over too long to learn how to use the system, but it may be worth it if you have many cameras. The paid version has all sorts of perks from SMS texts to system health monitoring.

Xeoma Features

The lite version is the free version. It allows you to add four cameras with up to six modules in each chain. You can test out and use the lite version as long as you like, or you can get a free trial of the larger fully-featured program.

Pros

Record and monitor from four cameras

Updates are very frequent

This software works with mostly every type of camera

Cons

Around 90% of features are locked off to free users.

Xeoma is difficult to learn and set up

Connecting many cameras is difficult because the system is difficult to learn as a whole

6. Genius Vision

The Genius Vision system is a fairly advanced piece of software that is probably best used for businesses. If used at home, then there are many features that may never be used. It also works on mobile devices too.

Genius Vision Features

There are plenty of features to play with, including a massive array of settings to fit the many types of camera that this program can be used with. You can even support the company through Patreon and get more extensions on the program.

Pros

Works in-depth with many types of camera

The tools are very sophisticated and accurate

The drop-down menus are complicated while also being thoughtfully laid out

Cons

Getting paid upgrades is trickier than just buying on their website

Setting up the remote features is difficult

You have to figure out most of how to use the program based on which camera you have connected

7. Deskshare IP Camera Viewer

The Deskshare IP Camera Viewer company has a great piece of security camera software that they repackage into many different names and then give away on their website. They do this because the software comes with lots of unwanted bloatware that the company is paid to promote. The sad part is that many other websites will replace this bloatware with Trojan viruses, which means it is difficult to get a clean version of this program.

Deskshare IP Camera Viewer Features

Live recording, playback, and split-screen is all available. You can use up to 4 cameras at a time, and it works with 2200 different camera models. If your hardware allows it, then you can pan, tilt and zoom your camera.

Pros

It is compatible with many types of camera brand

You can set up floating surveillance windows if you want

Adjust the properties of each camera individually

Cons

Installing is very difficult to do correctly

Comes with bloatware and/or unwanted content

The IP software has the least features of all the Deskshare camera software

8. Anycam

The Anycam system is a very average piece of software, but it works with most any type of camera. The interface is basic but easy to use and easy to set up. You will discover that the free version is only limited in terms of record time, you can still use all its features.

Anycam Features

Anycam is mostly featureless. It works with motion-detection cameras. It allows for video recording and playback. Plus, you can watch a live feed. Other than that, there is very little you can do with this basic-but-effective piece of software.

Pros

The program seems to work with any type of camera

Anycam has a paid version where you only make a one-time payment and get free lifetime updates

Installing and setup is very easy

Cons

Trying to find specific events on the timeline is very fiddly

The free version only allows two cameras to be linked

The recording is very limited with the free version

9. ContaCam

In the strictest terms, this piece of software is not free. The developers ask you for a donation, but there is nothing forcing you to give them one. Plus, you can try the software, and then if it turns out to be brilliant, then you can always go back and donate to them.

ContaCam Features

Despite seeming very complicated, the interface is actually very self-explanatory. At first glance, it looks overly condensed and full of features, but each explains itself very well. You can configure the cameras very precisely to the point where you can even specify within which seconds it starts and stops.

Pros

A rather advanced piece of software

The interface layout is very condensed without being confusing

You can use web servers, the Internet, or intranet to receive live feeds

Cons

The interface has no aesthetic decoration at all

ContaCam takes a long time to learn through trial and error testing

The developers say this will never work with mobile devices

10. Agent DVR

The great thing about Agent DVR is that it is completely free because it is freeware. The sad part is that it was created by a developer who went on to finer things and left the program lodged on a few high-use servers. It is now being passed around freeware websites, which means it is sometimes difficult to find a clean version. Nevertheless, it is a fine piece of camera software that still works for many types of cameras.

Agent DVR Features

The Agent DVR software allows for video surveillance with a live feed, and for recording. You can use it with motion-detection software, and it still works for many different types of cameras. It uses a reliable SSL algorithm for its signal encryption, and it is very lightweight, which means it is not a big drain on your device’s CPU.

Pros

A very simple and lightweight piece of software

Works all the way back to Windows 7

It still works with motion detection systems

Cons

Agent DVR will become more obsolete as newer cameras appear over the coming years

Updates will never occur beyond Windows 10

The interface looks very dated compared to the modern camera software

Conclusion

As you can tell by this article, getting good security camera software is difficult because there is so much to choose from. Plus, installing is often an issue, as is companies trying to nag-free users into paying. There is also the issue of connecting cameras and the problem with tagged-on viruses and bloatware.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to try without having to pay, so that is a positive. What do you think?

Have any of these worked for you? Ask your friends on social media, start a discussion, and share this article to help others discover the best free security camera software.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Figuring out which is the best security camera software is never easy. This is because most of the software you find online says it is free…until you download their software and it tries to charge you.

Here is a review of the best security camera software, and every single one has a free option. Share this article on social media if you find the right camera software for you.

But if you are new in this field, then you might want to know some basic technique terms introduced following, before we jump to choose the best security camera software.

What Is an IP Camera?

When people say, “IP camera,” they usually mean a camera that uses the Internet in some way so that it may do its job. A typical CCTV camera connects a camera to a computer via a wire. An IP camera can connect over the Internet.

Sometimes, the connection is remote. This means that the camera may be in one location and still be connected to another computer that is miles away.

However, many IP cameras are installed in a home and only travel a few feet/meters to the nearest computer. In short, an IP camera doesn’t need a local recording device because the signal can be sent over the Internet or with a Wi-Fi connection.

What Is Camera Software Used for?

Most people and businesses use camera software to connect their cameras to their computers or their Smartphones. This is often cheaper than buying dedicated recording hardware. The camera and its software are usually used to monitor camera feeds that are life, and to records them onto a hard drive or to the Cloud.

How Do You Pick the Best Security Camera Software?

In most cases, the best software is simply the software that works with your cameras, and that offers all the functions you need. Compatibility is the first concern, but you also want it to work well with your device. For example, if your cameras have a zoom function, but your software doesn’t allow zooming, then that piece of software is not the best one for you.

For example, if you are using Linux, then you want Linux security camera software. And, some people insist that their software allows them to monitor their cameras from their Smartphones. The great thing about free security camera software is that you can test it out first without the risk of losing your money.

If You Need to Edit Your Videos , Which Is the Best Video Editor?

Exporting or downloading content from your camera software is a messy job. You often need a good video editor and trimmer to make your video clips usable.

This is especially true when video recordings can go on for as long as 90 days at a time. If you are looking for a high-quality and flexible video editor, then Filmora is your only real and viable choice. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

Filmora takes users’ needs into consideration and comes up with a variety of useful features to make editing easy for people of different levels. Let’s have a look at the useful features of Filmora to better understand how powerful Filmora is.

• Auto Synchronization: This allows you to sync video and audio easily.
• Plenty of transitions, effects, elements make your videos more interesting.
• Audio Ducking: Automatically reduce the volume of the background music to make the dialogue stand out.
• Wondershare Drive: Upload video or project to Wondershare Drive and download it to complete anywhere you want.
• Motion Tracking: Attach an element to a moving object in your video easily with auto motion tracking.
• Keyframing: Customize animation by adding keyframes to change the position, rotation, scale, and opacity of a clip.
• Color Match: Match the color of selected clips to another frame from another clip.

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Now let’s have a look at the 10 best free security camera software with very comprehensive choosing details.

1. NetCam Studio

There is a free version of NetCam Studio, but if you want something more powerful, then you can buy one of their licenses. These licenses allow you to use the software for as long as you like, and they will update the software for up to two years after purchase.

After the two-year period, you can keep the software running as normal, but if you want upgrades, then you will have to buy them. Upgrades shouldn’t be needed unless you buy a new piece of camera hardware and it requires a new type of camera software.

The NetCam Studio Features

If you go for the free version of NetCam Studio, then you get to use a camera feed from two sources. There is a watermark added to the camera images, and you get five-day notifications. There is also community support.

The paid features include up to 64 sources, no watermarks, 250-day notifications, and you get priority support. After the 250 days is up, you may buy upgrades in order to keep the notification system going.

Pros

The free version does not expire in any way besides the notifications

You are able to use this software with a wide variety of camera brands

Updates are frequent enough to tackle most system-breaking bugs

Cons

The interface needs updating to make it more user friendly

They need to better explain the “Add Source” procedure

Troubleshooting audio problems is very difficult

2. Security Eye

The reason Security Eye ranks so highly is that it is a professional piece of software that somebody decided should be free. It is not open source security camera software, but the developers have decided that it should be free. There used to be a free version where you would get 2 hours of free surveillance per day for free, but in 2019 the company removed its payment system. Will they keep it up or go back to paid subscriptions? Who knows, but you should get it while it is still free (if you can).

Security Eye Features

You can use a timer to determine when the video feed should start. You can capture images as JPEGs and then compress them. The system also allows you to receive alerts via a loudspeaker. It works with motion-detection devices too.

Pros

It comes with the Xvid MPEG-4 Codec

The full version has no nag screen or recording limit

The Security Eye interface is pretty modern for what is essentially a free piece of software

Cons

Demands 1GB of RAM and 2GB of HHD space

Requires at least an Intel Pentium 1.8 processor

The icons should be more intuitive

3. Perfect Surveillance

There are three types of free security camera software for you to choose from. There is one for IP cameras, one for web cameras, and there is a piece of viewing software that people may use if they do not have something like VLC video viewer installed.

Perfect Surveillance Features

Simple icons and a clear interface is a great benefits. Determine when the cameras start monitoring and set up your own layouts to suit your viewing style.

Pros

A simple program that works in a very uncomplicated manner

Most of its icons are intuitive to where you can guess what they do

The Perfect Surveillance system has motion detection and allows you to monitor up to 64 devices

Cons

Installing seems overly long and bloated

There are not enough instructions on how to get your cameras connected

They do not explain how to capture and export screenshots

4. iVideon

There are times when a piece of free software simply does its job good enough to warrant no complaints, and that is exactly what iVideon offers. There are plenty of ways it can be improved, but there is nothing about it that demands harsh criticism.

iVideon Features

One of its most advertised features is facial recognition, but it is not very accurate. It does allow for very good mobile usage. You can view live and recorded footage on your desktop or mobile device. It is also available for Mac OS X and Linux.

Pros

Online home use and access is completely full-featured and freeware

It has smart notifications and has its own desktop and mobile apps

it doesn’t take long to learn how to use the iVideon interface

Cons

Seems rather light on features

Installing and connecting cameras requires a better tutorial

Embedding live video on your website is trickier than it first seems

5. Xeoma

This program has plenty of features, but most of them are locked off to free users. It takes over too long to learn how to use the system, but it may be worth it if you have many cameras. The paid version has all sorts of perks from SMS texts to system health monitoring.

Xeoma Features

The lite version is the free version. It allows you to add four cameras with up to six modules in each chain. You can test out and use the lite version as long as you like, or you can get a free trial of the larger fully-featured program.

Pros

Record and monitor from four cameras

Updates are very frequent

This software works with mostly every type of camera

Cons

Around 90% of features are locked off to free users.

Xeoma is difficult to learn and set up

Connecting many cameras is difficult because the system is difficult to learn as a whole

6. Genius Vision

The Genius Vision system is a fairly advanced piece of software that is probably best used for businesses. If used at home, then there are many features that may never be used. It also works on mobile devices too.

Genius Vision Features

There are plenty of features to play with, including a massive array of settings to fit the many types of camera that this program can be used with. You can even support the company through Patreon and get more extensions on the program.

Pros

Works in-depth with many types of camera

The tools are very sophisticated and accurate

The drop-down menus are complicated while also being thoughtfully laid out

Cons

Getting paid upgrades is trickier than just buying on their website

Setting up the remote features is difficult

You have to figure out most of how to use the program based on which camera you have connected

7. Deskshare IP Camera Viewer

The Deskshare IP Camera Viewer company has a great piece of security camera software that they repackage into many different names and then give away on their website. They do this because the software comes with lots of unwanted bloatware that the company is paid to promote. The sad part is that many other websites will replace this bloatware with Trojan viruses, which means it is difficult to get a clean version of this program.

Deskshare IP Camera Viewer Features

Live recording, playback, and split-screen is all available. You can use up to 4 cameras at a time, and it works with 2200 different camera models. If your hardware allows it, then you can pan, tilt and zoom your camera.

Pros

It is compatible with many types of camera brand

You can set up floating surveillance windows if you want

Adjust the properties of each camera individually

Cons

Installing is very difficult to do correctly

Comes with bloatware and/or unwanted content

The IP software has the least features of all the Deskshare camera software

8. Anycam

The Anycam system is a very average piece of software, but it works with most any type of camera. The interface is basic but easy to use and easy to set up. You will discover that the free version is only limited in terms of record time, you can still use all its features.

Anycam Features

Anycam is mostly featureless. It works with motion-detection cameras. It allows for video recording and playback. Plus, you can watch a live feed. Other than that, there is very little you can do with this basic-but-effective piece of software.

Pros

The program seems to work with any type of camera

Anycam has a paid version where you only make a one-time payment and get free lifetime updates

Installing and setup is very easy

Cons

Trying to find specific events on the timeline is very fiddly

The free version only allows two cameras to be linked

The recording is very limited with the free version

9. ContaCam

In the strictest terms, this piece of software is not free. The developers ask you for a donation, but there is nothing forcing you to give them one. Plus, you can try the software, and then if it turns out to be brilliant, then you can always go back and donate to them.

ContaCam Features

Despite seeming very complicated, the interface is actually very self-explanatory. At first glance, it looks overly condensed and full of features, but each explains itself very well. You can configure the cameras very precisely to the point where you can even specify within which seconds it starts and stops.

Pros

A rather advanced piece of software

The interface layout is very condensed without being confusing

You can use web servers, the Internet, or intranet to receive live feeds

Cons

The interface has no aesthetic decoration at all

ContaCam takes a long time to learn through trial and error testing

The developers say this will never work with mobile devices

10. Agent DVR

The great thing about Agent DVR is that it is completely free because it is freeware. The sad part is that it was created by a developer who went on to finer things and left the program lodged on a few high-use servers. It is now being passed around freeware websites, which means it is sometimes difficult to find a clean version. Nevertheless, it is a fine piece of camera software that still works for many types of cameras.

Agent DVR Features

The Agent DVR software allows for video surveillance with a live feed, and for recording. You can use it with motion-detection software, and it still works for many different types of cameras. It uses a reliable SSL algorithm for its signal encryption, and it is very lightweight, which means it is not a big drain on your device’s CPU.

Pros

A very simple and lightweight piece of software

Works all the way back to Windows 7

It still works with motion detection systems

Cons

Agent DVR will become more obsolete as newer cameras appear over the coming years

Updates will never occur beyond Windows 10

The interface looks very dated compared to the modern camera software

Conclusion

As you can tell by this article, getting good security camera software is difficult because there is so much to choose from. Plus, installing is often an issue, as is companies trying to nag-free users into paying. There is also the issue of connecting cameras and the problem with tagged-on viruses and bloatware.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to try without having to pay, so that is a positive. What do you think?

Have any of these worked for you? Ask your friends on social media, start a discussion, and share this article to help others discover the best free security camera software.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Figuring out which is the best security camera software is never easy. This is because most of the software you find online says it is free…until you download their software and it tries to charge you.

Here is a review of the best security camera software, and every single one has a free option. Share this article on social media if you find the right camera software for you.

But if you are new in this field, then you might want to know some basic technique terms introduced following, before we jump to choose the best security camera software.

What Is an IP Camera?

When people say, “IP camera,” they usually mean a camera that uses the Internet in some way so that it may do its job. A typical CCTV camera connects a camera to a computer via a wire. An IP camera can connect over the Internet.

Sometimes, the connection is remote. This means that the camera may be in one location and still be connected to another computer that is miles away.

However, many IP cameras are installed in a home and only travel a few feet/meters to the nearest computer. In short, an IP camera doesn’t need a local recording device because the signal can be sent over the Internet or with a Wi-Fi connection.

What Is Camera Software Used for?

Most people and businesses use camera software to connect their cameras to their computers or their Smartphones. This is often cheaper than buying dedicated recording hardware. The camera and its software are usually used to monitor camera feeds that are life, and to records them onto a hard drive or to the Cloud.

How Do You Pick the Best Security Camera Software?

In most cases, the best software is simply the software that works with your cameras, and that offers all the functions you need. Compatibility is the first concern, but you also want it to work well with your device. For example, if your cameras have a zoom function, but your software doesn’t allow zooming, then that piece of software is not the best one for you.

For example, if you are using Linux, then you want Linux security camera software. And, some people insist that their software allows them to monitor their cameras from their Smartphones. The great thing about free security camera software is that you can test it out first without the risk of losing your money.

If You Need to Edit Your Videos , Which Is the Best Video Editor?

Exporting or downloading content from your camera software is a messy job. You often need a good video editor and trimmer to make your video clips usable.

This is especially true when video recordings can go on for as long as 90 days at a time. If you are looking for a high-quality and flexible video editor, then Filmora is your only real and viable choice. Learn more from Wondershare Video Community .

Filmora takes users’ needs into consideration and comes up with a variety of useful features to make editing easy for people of different levels. Let’s have a look at the useful features of Filmora to better understand how powerful Filmora is.

• Auto Synchronization: This allows you to sync video and audio easily.
• Plenty of transitions, effects, elements make your videos more interesting.
• Audio Ducking: Automatically reduce the volume of the background music to make the dialogue stand out.
• Wondershare Drive: Upload video or project to Wondershare Drive and download it to complete anywhere you want.
• Motion Tracking: Attach an element to a moving object in your video easily with auto motion tracking.
• Keyframing: Customize animation by adding keyframes to change the position, rotation, scale, and opacity of a clip.
• Color Match: Match the color of selected clips to another frame from another clip.

10 Best Free Security Camera Software

Now let’s have a look at the 10 best free security camera software with very comprehensive choosing details.

1. NetCam Studio

There is a free version of NetCam Studio, but if you want something more powerful, then you can buy one of their licenses. These licenses allow you to use the software for as long as you like, and they will update the software for up to two years after purchase.

After the two-year period, you can keep the software running as normal, but if you want upgrades, then you will have to buy them. Upgrades shouldn’t be needed unless you buy a new piece of camera hardware and it requires a new type of camera software.

The NetCam Studio Features

If you go for the free version of NetCam Studio, then you get to use a camera feed from two sources. There is a watermark added to the camera images, and you get five-day notifications. There is also community support.

The paid features include up to 64 sources, no watermarks, 250-day notifications, and you get priority support. After the 250 days is up, you may buy upgrades in order to keep the notification system going.

Pros

The free version does not expire in any way besides the notifications

You are able to use this software with a wide variety of camera brands

Updates are frequent enough to tackle most system-breaking bugs

Cons

The interface needs updating to make it more user friendly

They need to better explain the “Add Source” procedure

Troubleshooting audio problems is very difficult

2. Security Eye

The reason Security Eye ranks so highly is that it is a professional piece of software that somebody decided should be free. It is not open source security camera software, but the developers have decided that it should be free. There used to be a free version where you would get 2 hours of free surveillance per day for free, but in 2019 the company removed its payment system. Will they keep it up or go back to paid subscriptions? Who knows, but you should get it while it is still free (if you can).

Security Eye Features

You can use a timer to determine when the video feed should start. You can capture images as JPEGs and then compress them. The system also allows you to receive alerts via a loudspeaker. It works with motion-detection devices too.

Pros

It comes with the Xvid MPEG-4 Codec

The full version has no nag screen or recording limit

The Security Eye interface is pretty modern for what is essentially a free piece of software

Cons

Demands 1GB of RAM and 2GB of HHD space

Requires at least an Intel Pentium 1.8 processor

The icons should be more intuitive

3. Perfect Surveillance

There are three types of free security camera software for you to choose from. There is one for IP cameras, one for web cameras, and there is a piece of viewing software that people may use if they do not have something like VLC video viewer installed.

Perfect Surveillance Features

Simple icons and a clear interface is a great benefits. Determine when the cameras start monitoring and set up your own layouts to suit your viewing style.

Pros

A simple program that works in a very uncomplicated manner

Most of its icons are intuitive to where you can guess what they do

The Perfect Surveillance system has motion detection and allows you to monitor up to 64 devices

Cons

Installing seems overly long and bloated

There are not enough instructions on how to get your cameras connected

They do not explain how to capture and export screenshots

4. iVideon

There are times when a piece of free software simply does its job good enough to warrant no complaints, and that is exactly what iVideon offers. There are plenty of ways it can be improved, but there is nothing about it that demands harsh criticism.

iVideon Features

One of its most advertised features is facial recognition, but it is not very accurate. It does allow for very good mobile usage. You can view live and recorded footage on your desktop or mobile device. It is also available for Mac OS X and Linux.

Pros

Online home use and access is completely full-featured and freeware

It has smart notifications and has its own desktop and mobile apps

it doesn’t take long to learn how to use the iVideon interface

Cons

Seems rather light on features

Installing and connecting cameras requires a better tutorial

Embedding live video on your website is trickier than it first seems

5. Xeoma

This program has plenty of features, but most of them are locked off to free users. It takes over too long to learn how to use the system, but it may be worth it if you have many cameras. The paid version has all sorts of perks from SMS texts to system health monitoring.

Xeoma Features

The lite version is the free version. It allows you to add four cameras with up to six modules in each chain. You can test out and use the lite version as long as you like, or you can get a free trial of the larger fully-featured program.

Pros

Record and monitor from four cameras

Updates are very frequent

This software works with mostly every type of camera

Cons

Around 90% of features are locked off to free users.

Xeoma is difficult to learn and set up

Connecting many cameras is difficult because the system is difficult to learn as a whole

6. Genius Vision

The Genius Vision system is a fairly advanced piece of software that is probably best used for businesses. If used at home, then there are many features that may never be used. It also works on mobile devices too.

Genius Vision Features

There are plenty of features to play with, including a massive array of settings to fit the many types of camera that this program can be used with. You can even support the company through Patreon and get more extensions on the program.

Pros

Works in-depth with many types of camera

The tools are very sophisticated and accurate

The drop-down menus are complicated while also being thoughtfully laid out

Cons

Getting paid upgrades is trickier than just buying on their website

Setting up the remote features is difficult

You have to figure out most of how to use the program based on which camera you have connected

7. Deskshare IP Camera Viewer

The Deskshare IP Camera Viewer company has a great piece of security camera software that they repackage into many different names and then give away on their website. They do this because the software comes with lots of unwanted bloatware that the company is paid to promote. The sad part is that many other websites will replace this bloatware with Trojan viruses, which means it is difficult to get a clean version of this program.

Deskshare IP Camera Viewer Features

Live recording, playback, and split-screen is all available. You can use up to 4 cameras at a time, and it works with 2200 different camera models. If your hardware allows it, then you can pan, tilt and zoom your camera.

Pros

It is compatible with many types of camera brand

You can set up floating surveillance windows if you want

Adjust the properties of each camera individually

Cons

Installing is very difficult to do correctly

Comes with bloatware and/or unwanted content

The IP software has the least features of all the Deskshare camera software

8. Anycam

The Anycam system is a very average piece of software, but it works with most any type of camera. The interface is basic but easy to use and easy to set up. You will discover that the free version is only limited in terms of record time, you can still use all its features.

Anycam Features

Anycam is mostly featureless. It works with motion-detection cameras. It allows for video recording and playback. Plus, you can watch a live feed. Other than that, there is very little you can do with this basic-but-effective piece of software.

Pros

The program seems to work with any type of camera

Anycam has a paid version where you only make a one-time payment and get free lifetime updates

Installing and setup is very easy

Cons

Trying to find specific events on the timeline is very fiddly

The free version only allows two cameras to be linked

The recording is very limited with the free version

9. ContaCam

In the strictest terms, this piece of software is not free. The developers ask you for a donation, but there is nothing forcing you to give them one. Plus, you can try the software, and then if it turns out to be brilliant, then you can always go back and donate to them.

ContaCam Features

Despite seeming very complicated, the interface is actually very self-explanatory. At first glance, it looks overly condensed and full of features, but each explains itself very well. You can configure the cameras very precisely to the point where you can even specify within which seconds it starts and stops.

Pros

A rather advanced piece of software

The interface layout is very condensed without being confusing

You can use web servers, the Internet, or intranet to receive live feeds

Cons

The interface has no aesthetic decoration at all

ContaCam takes a long time to learn through trial and error testing

The developers say this will never work with mobile devices

10. Agent DVR

The great thing about Agent DVR is that it is completely free because it is freeware. The sad part is that it was created by a developer who went on to finer things and left the program lodged on a few high-use servers. It is now being passed around freeware websites, which means it is sometimes difficult to find a clean version. Nevertheless, it is a fine piece of camera software that still works for many types of cameras.

Agent DVR Features

The Agent DVR software allows for video surveillance with a live feed, and for recording. You can use it with motion-detection software, and it still works for many different types of cameras. It uses a reliable SSL algorithm for its signal encryption, and it is very lightweight, which means it is not a big drain on your device’s CPU.

Pros

A very simple and lightweight piece of software

Works all the way back to Windows 7

It still works with motion detection systems

Cons

Agent DVR will become more obsolete as newer cameras appear over the coming years

Updates will never occur beyond Windows 10

The interface looks very dated compared to the modern camera software

Conclusion

As you can tell by this article, getting good security camera software is difficult because there is so much to choose from. Plus, installing is often an issue, as is companies trying to nag-free users into paying. There is also the issue of connecting cameras and the problem with tagged-on viruses and bloatware.

Nevertheless, there is plenty to try without having to pay, so that is a positive. What do you think?

Have any of these worked for you? Ask your friends on social media, start a discussion, and share this article to help others discover the best free security camera software.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Benjamin Arango

Join AVI Files for Free: Top 10 Reliable Freeware Options

Top 10 Best AVI Joiner Freeware to Join AVI Video Files

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Do you have many AVI videos and want to join them into one video file with an AVI joiner freeware? AVI video joiner software allows you to join your AVI video files in an easy way. You just need to add the videos you want to join to the program and hit the “Join” button. There are actually many free AVI joiners out there and here we made a comparison table of the ten free AVI joiners for you.

---

Before we start, important question. If you are looking for more video editing features besides video joining, we strongly recommend an easy yet powerful video editing software named Wondershare Filmora . With it, you can freely crop, rotate, join, split, trim videos, etc. and add video transition effects. Most importantly, you can join AVI videos easily. Below is the steps to let you know how to join AVI files. Download and try it for free.

• Import the targeted AVI videos into Filmora.
• Drag them into timeline. Here, you can arrange the sequence of videos to get what you want.
• After it is done, just click export to join the videos. If your videos are not AVI format, you can also change video format to AVI. Now, the whole steps are finished.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

Comparison Table

Price	Windows	Mac	Easy to Use
Media.io Video Merger	Free	Y	N	Y
Easy Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y
Free Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y
Blaze Media Pro	$50	Y	N	Y
Ultra Video Joiner	$25	Y	N	Y
ImTOO Video Joiner	$19.95	Y	N	Y
AVS Video Editor	$39/$59	Y	N	N
AVI Joiner	$19.99	Y	N	Y
Boilsoft Video Joiner	$29.95	Y	Y	Y
Freemore Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y

---

Top 10 Best AVI Joiner Freeware

2.Easy Video Joiner

Easy Video Joiner can not only help you join AVI files, but also MPEG (MPG), RM (Real Media) or WMV/ASF (Window Media) files. It is very easy to use and can join videos fast. You can add as many AVI files as you like and arrange the video order freely. In just a few clicks, you can turn multiple AVI videos into a large movie file.

3.Free Video Joiner

Free Video Joiner is a video joiner freeware that enables you to combine videos with ease. It supports joining AVI, WMV, MOV, MPEG, MPG, etc., so it is can be considered as an AVI joiner freeware. What you need to do is to select the AVI videos you want to join and add them to the program, then specify the destination folder and choose the output format, hit “Join” to start joining AVI videos for free. You can also join different video formats into one video format. Just note that the output video will have the same height and width of the first added video.

4.Blaze Media Pro

This easy Windows based tool offers a total video editing and enhancement solution that also allows you to work with other media such as audio recordings. With this tool you are able to combine WMV, AVI, MPEG and other video formats into one complete movie file. Blaze Media Pro is a powerful multipurpose editing software that will allow you to convert videos and audio files, edit videos as well as audio, burn videos and copy audio as well as capture video and record audio. With Blaze Media Pro you can create video effects, manage various media, create and manipulate playlists, and play full screen videos.

5.Ultra Video Joiner

Professionals use this robust video joining tool to join different video formats to produce final movies in any of a number of popular media formats. With Ultra Video Joiner you too can merge diverse video files and produce a large file such as AVI, WMV, MP4, RM (Real Media), and MPEG. This powerful joiner works well with a wide range of file formats including Divx, ASF, Xvid, MOV, 3GP, MKV and FLV. You can add any number of files to your selection and reorganize them in different ways as you desire. Ultra Video Joiner already includes every video encoder and decoder so you do not need any other codec download for your video joiner to function.

6.ImTOO Video Joiner

This is a powerful video joining tool that allows you to join multiple video formats into one single format that works. This editing and joining tool comes with a 30 days money back guarantee so that you can try this product risk free. The ImTOO Video Joiner is capable of joining formats like MKV, AVI, WMV, MPEG, FLV, ASF, DAT, MOV, HD Video, and other formats. Users of Windows will be happy with this tool as it works perfectly on Windows platforms and covers a wider range of file formats than other joiners on the market. A key feature of this tool is the ability to preview the original video file, set video sizes, and set up the frame rate for perfect video quality, which is tremendously helpful for both experienced and new users. ImTOO Video Joiner is speedy and operates easily.

7.AVS Video Editor

This versatile tool offers capabilities both in video joining and video splitting. This multipurpose tool for Windows allows you to operate like a Pro as you can use it to split and join videos in many different formats. These formats include WMV, MPEG, MOV, Quicktime, MPEG2, FLV, MP4, 3GP, YouTube, and Flash. Your final outputs can be placed in any of a wide range of video formats and you can enjoy your edited videos even more.

8.AVI Joiner

With this amazing tool you can combine split videos quickly and easily with few clicks. It is simple to use and all you need to do is to drag and drop your files into the pane designated for joining files. Once you place them in the order you want, select the “Run AVI Joiner” button. You will need to clearly instruct the application to save the final video output at a place you can retrieve it and remember to keep the .avi extension.

9.Boilsoft Video Joiner

This video joiner was previously known as the AVI/MPEG/RM/WMV Joiner but it continues to provide users with the ability to merge or join numerous video formats into one uninterrupted video easily and quickly. Boilsoft works well with RM (Real Media), MP4, ASF/WMV, 3GP, AVI, and MPEG. With just a few clicks of the mouse you can quickly produce a full length clip that has all the sequences you wanted.

10.Freemore Video Joiner

This video joiner can put more than two videos together into a single file using the most popular video formats including Xvid, MPEG, RM, 3GP, AVI, and DivX. This program is easy to use as all you need is to drag your clips into the interface and join them in the chosen output format. This freeware is a fast and easy tool for novice users.

Conclusion

That completes this list of ten useful video joiners you can get started with. Some are freely available while others are available at a cost. You may find a trial version of the joiners you may need to purchase that will allow you to try the software out first. Just take your time to find the right tool that suits your video merging needs.

You may also like: Tutorial of How to Convert YouTube to AVI Using Best Converters >>

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Do you have many AVI videos and want to join them into one video file with an AVI joiner freeware? AVI video joiner software allows you to join your AVI video files in an easy way. You just need to add the videos you want to join to the program and hit the “Join” button. There are actually many free AVI joiners out there and here we made a comparison table of the ten free AVI joiners for you.

---

Before we start, important question. If you are looking for more video editing features besides video joining, we strongly recommend an easy yet powerful video editing software named Wondershare Filmora . With it, you can freely crop, rotate, join, split, trim videos, etc. and add video transition effects. Most importantly, you can join AVI videos easily. Below is the steps to let you know how to join AVI files. Download and try it for free.

• Import the targeted AVI videos into Filmora.
• Drag them into timeline. Here, you can arrange the sequence of videos to get what you want.
• After it is done, just click export to join the videos. If your videos are not AVI format, you can also change video format to AVI. Now, the whole steps are finished.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

Comparison Table

Price	Windows	Mac	Easy to Use
Media.io Video Merger	Free	Y	N	Y
Easy Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y
Free Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y
Blaze Media Pro	$50	Y	N	Y
Ultra Video Joiner	$25	Y	N	Y
ImTOO Video Joiner	$19.95	Y	N	Y
AVS Video Editor	$39/$59	Y	N	N
AVI Joiner	$19.99	Y	N	Y
Boilsoft Video Joiner	$29.95	Y	Y	Y
Freemore Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y

---

Top 10 Best AVI Joiner Freeware

2.Easy Video Joiner

Easy Video Joiner can not only help you join AVI files, but also MPEG (MPG), RM (Real Media) or WMV/ASF (Window Media) files. It is very easy to use and can join videos fast. You can add as many AVI files as you like and arrange the video order freely. In just a few clicks, you can turn multiple AVI videos into a large movie file.

3.Free Video Joiner

Free Video Joiner is a video joiner freeware that enables you to combine videos with ease. It supports joining AVI, WMV, MOV, MPEG, MPG, etc., so it is can be considered as an AVI joiner freeware. What you need to do is to select the AVI videos you want to join and add them to the program, then specify the destination folder and choose the output format, hit “Join” to start joining AVI videos for free. You can also join different video formats into one video format. Just note that the output video will have the same height and width of the first added video.

4.Blaze Media Pro

This easy Windows based tool offers a total video editing and enhancement solution that also allows you to work with other media such as audio recordings. With this tool you are able to combine WMV, AVI, MPEG and other video formats into one complete movie file. Blaze Media Pro is a powerful multipurpose editing software that will allow you to convert videos and audio files, edit videos as well as audio, burn videos and copy audio as well as capture video and record audio. With Blaze Media Pro you can create video effects, manage various media, create and manipulate playlists, and play full screen videos.

5.Ultra Video Joiner

Professionals use this robust video joining tool to join different video formats to produce final movies in any of a number of popular media formats. With Ultra Video Joiner you too can merge diverse video files and produce a large file such as AVI, WMV, MP4, RM (Real Media), and MPEG. This powerful joiner works well with a wide range of file formats including Divx, ASF, Xvid, MOV, 3GP, MKV and FLV. You can add any number of files to your selection and reorganize them in different ways as you desire. Ultra Video Joiner already includes every video encoder and decoder so you do not need any other codec download for your video joiner to function.

6.ImTOO Video Joiner

This is a powerful video joining tool that allows you to join multiple video formats into one single format that works. This editing and joining tool comes with a 30 days money back guarantee so that you can try this product risk free. The ImTOO Video Joiner is capable of joining formats like MKV, AVI, WMV, MPEG, FLV, ASF, DAT, MOV, HD Video, and other formats. Users of Windows will be happy with this tool as it works perfectly on Windows platforms and covers a wider range of file formats than other joiners on the market. A key feature of this tool is the ability to preview the original video file, set video sizes, and set up the frame rate for perfect video quality, which is tremendously helpful for both experienced and new users. ImTOO Video Joiner is speedy and operates easily.

7.AVS Video Editor

This versatile tool offers capabilities both in video joining and video splitting. This multipurpose tool for Windows allows you to operate like a Pro as you can use it to split and join videos in many different formats. These formats include WMV, MPEG, MOV, Quicktime, MPEG2, FLV, MP4, 3GP, YouTube, and Flash. Your final outputs can be placed in any of a wide range of video formats and you can enjoy your edited videos even more.

8.AVI Joiner

With this amazing tool you can combine split videos quickly and easily with few clicks. It is simple to use and all you need to do is to drag and drop your files into the pane designated for joining files. Once you place them in the order you want, select the “Run AVI Joiner” button. You will need to clearly instruct the application to save the final video output at a place you can retrieve it and remember to keep the .avi extension.

9.Boilsoft Video Joiner

This video joiner was previously known as the AVI/MPEG/RM/WMV Joiner but it continues to provide users with the ability to merge or join numerous video formats into one uninterrupted video easily and quickly. Boilsoft works well with RM (Real Media), MP4, ASF/WMV, 3GP, AVI, and MPEG. With just a few clicks of the mouse you can quickly produce a full length clip that has all the sequences you wanted.

10.Freemore Video Joiner

This video joiner can put more than two videos together into a single file using the most popular video formats including Xvid, MPEG, RM, 3GP, AVI, and DivX. This program is easy to use as all you need is to drag your clips into the interface and join them in the chosen output format. This freeware is a fast and easy tool for novice users.

Conclusion

That completes this list of ten useful video joiners you can get started with. Some are freely available while others are available at a cost. You may find a trial version of the joiners you may need to purchase that will allow you to try the software out first. Just take your time to find the right tool that suits your video merging needs.

You may also like: Tutorial of How to Convert YouTube to AVI Using Best Converters >>

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Do you have many AVI videos and want to join them into one video file with an AVI joiner freeware? AVI video joiner software allows you to join your AVI video files in an easy way. You just need to add the videos you want to join to the program and hit the “Join” button. There are actually many free AVI joiners out there and here we made a comparison table of the ten free AVI joiners for you.

---

Before we start, important question. If you are looking for more video editing features besides video joining, we strongly recommend an easy yet powerful video editing software named Wondershare Filmora . With it, you can freely crop, rotate, join, split, trim videos, etc. and add video transition effects. Most importantly, you can join AVI videos easily. Below is the steps to let you know how to join AVI files. Download and try it for free.

• Import the targeted AVI videos into Filmora.
• Drag them into timeline. Here, you can arrange the sequence of videos to get what you want.
• After it is done, just click export to join the videos. If your videos are not AVI format, you can also change video format to AVI. Now, the whole steps are finished.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

Comparison Table

Price	Windows	Mac	Easy to Use
Media.io Video Merger	Free	Y	N	Y
Easy Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y
Free Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y
Blaze Media Pro	$50	Y	N	Y
Ultra Video Joiner	$25	Y	N	Y
ImTOO Video Joiner	$19.95	Y	N	Y
AVS Video Editor	$39/$59	Y	N	N
AVI Joiner	$19.99	Y	N	Y
Boilsoft Video Joiner	$29.95	Y	Y	Y
Freemore Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y

---

Top 10 Best AVI Joiner Freeware

2.Easy Video Joiner

Easy Video Joiner can not only help you join AVI files, but also MPEG (MPG), RM (Real Media) or WMV/ASF (Window Media) files. It is very easy to use and can join videos fast. You can add as many AVI files as you like and arrange the video order freely. In just a few clicks, you can turn multiple AVI videos into a large movie file.

3.Free Video Joiner

Free Video Joiner is a video joiner freeware that enables you to combine videos with ease. It supports joining AVI, WMV, MOV, MPEG, MPG, etc., so it is can be considered as an AVI joiner freeware. What you need to do is to select the AVI videos you want to join and add them to the program, then specify the destination folder and choose the output format, hit “Join” to start joining AVI videos for free. You can also join different video formats into one video format. Just note that the output video will have the same height and width of the first added video.

4.Blaze Media Pro

This easy Windows based tool offers a total video editing and enhancement solution that also allows you to work with other media such as audio recordings. With this tool you are able to combine WMV, AVI, MPEG and other video formats into one complete movie file. Blaze Media Pro is a powerful multipurpose editing software that will allow you to convert videos and audio files, edit videos as well as audio, burn videos and copy audio as well as capture video and record audio. With Blaze Media Pro you can create video effects, manage various media, create and manipulate playlists, and play full screen videos.

5.Ultra Video Joiner

Professionals use this robust video joining tool to join different video formats to produce final movies in any of a number of popular media formats. With Ultra Video Joiner you too can merge diverse video files and produce a large file such as AVI, WMV, MP4, RM (Real Media), and MPEG. This powerful joiner works well with a wide range of file formats including Divx, ASF, Xvid, MOV, 3GP, MKV and FLV. You can add any number of files to your selection and reorganize them in different ways as you desire. Ultra Video Joiner already includes every video encoder and decoder so you do not need any other codec download for your video joiner to function.

6.ImTOO Video Joiner

This is a powerful video joining tool that allows you to join multiple video formats into one single format that works. This editing and joining tool comes with a 30 days money back guarantee so that you can try this product risk free. The ImTOO Video Joiner is capable of joining formats like MKV, AVI, WMV, MPEG, FLV, ASF, DAT, MOV, HD Video, and other formats. Users of Windows will be happy with this tool as it works perfectly on Windows platforms and covers a wider range of file formats than other joiners on the market. A key feature of this tool is the ability to preview the original video file, set video sizes, and set up the frame rate for perfect video quality, which is tremendously helpful for both experienced and new users. ImTOO Video Joiner is speedy and operates easily.

7.AVS Video Editor

This versatile tool offers capabilities both in video joining and video splitting. This multipurpose tool for Windows allows you to operate like a Pro as you can use it to split and join videos in many different formats. These formats include WMV, MPEG, MOV, Quicktime, MPEG2, FLV, MP4, 3GP, YouTube, and Flash. Your final outputs can be placed in any of a wide range of video formats and you can enjoy your edited videos even more.

8.AVI Joiner

With this amazing tool you can combine split videos quickly and easily with few clicks. It is simple to use and all you need to do is to drag and drop your files into the pane designated for joining files. Once you place them in the order you want, select the “Run AVI Joiner” button. You will need to clearly instruct the application to save the final video output at a place you can retrieve it and remember to keep the .avi extension.

9.Boilsoft Video Joiner

This video joiner was previously known as the AVI/MPEG/RM/WMV Joiner but it continues to provide users with the ability to merge or join numerous video formats into one uninterrupted video easily and quickly. Boilsoft works well with RM (Real Media), MP4, ASF/WMV, 3GP, AVI, and MPEG. With just a few clicks of the mouse you can quickly produce a full length clip that has all the sequences you wanted.

10.Freemore Video Joiner

This video joiner can put more than two videos together into a single file using the most popular video formats including Xvid, MPEG, RM, 3GP, AVI, and DivX. This program is easy to use as all you need is to drag your clips into the interface and join them in the chosen output format. This freeware is a fast and easy tool for novice users.

Conclusion

That completes this list of ten useful video joiners you can get started with. Some are freely available while others are available at a cost. You may find a trial version of the joiners you may need to purchase that will allow you to try the software out first. Just take your time to find the right tool that suits your video merging needs.

You may also like: Tutorial of How to Convert YouTube to AVI Using Best Converters >>

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Do you have many AVI videos and want to join them into one video file with an AVI joiner freeware? AVI video joiner software allows you to join your AVI video files in an easy way. You just need to add the videos you want to join to the program and hit the “Join” button. There are actually many free AVI joiners out there and here we made a comparison table of the ten free AVI joiners for you.

---

Before we start, important question. If you are looking for more video editing features besides video joining, we strongly recommend an easy yet powerful video editing software named Wondershare Filmora . With it, you can freely crop, rotate, join, split, trim videos, etc. and add video transition effects. Most importantly, you can join AVI videos easily. Below is the steps to let you know how to join AVI files. Download and try it for free.

• Import the targeted AVI videos into Filmora.
• Drag them into timeline. Here, you can arrange the sequence of videos to get what you want.
• After it is done, just click export to join the videos. If your videos are not AVI format, you can also change video format to AVI. Now, the whole steps are finished.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

Comparison Table

Price	Windows	Mac	Easy to Use
Media.io Video Merger	Free	Y	N	Y
Easy Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y
Free Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y
Blaze Media Pro	$50	Y	N	Y
Ultra Video Joiner	$25	Y	N	Y
ImTOO Video Joiner	$19.95	Y	N	Y
AVS Video Editor	$39/$59	Y	N	N
AVI Joiner	$19.99	Y	N	Y
Boilsoft Video Joiner	$29.95	Y	Y	Y
Freemore Video Joiner	Free	Y	N	Y

---

Top 10 Best AVI Joiner Freeware

2.Easy Video Joiner

Easy Video Joiner can not only help you join AVI files, but also MPEG (MPG), RM (Real Media) or WMV/ASF (Window Media) files. It is very easy to use and can join videos fast. You can add as many AVI files as you like and arrange the video order freely. In just a few clicks, you can turn multiple AVI videos into a large movie file.

3.Free Video Joiner

Free Video Joiner is a video joiner freeware that enables you to combine videos with ease. It supports joining AVI, WMV, MOV, MPEG, MPG, etc., so it is can be considered as an AVI joiner freeware. What you need to do is to select the AVI videos you want to join and add them to the program, then specify the destination folder and choose the output format, hit “Join” to start joining AVI videos for free. You can also join different video formats into one video format. Just note that the output video will have the same height and width of the first added video.

4.Blaze Media Pro

This easy Windows based tool offers a total video editing and enhancement solution that also allows you to work with other media such as audio recordings. With this tool you are able to combine WMV, AVI, MPEG and other video formats into one complete movie file. Blaze Media Pro is a powerful multipurpose editing software that will allow you to convert videos and audio files, edit videos as well as audio, burn videos and copy audio as well as capture video and record audio. With Blaze Media Pro you can create video effects, manage various media, create and manipulate playlists, and play full screen videos.

5.Ultra Video Joiner

Professionals use this robust video joining tool to join different video formats to produce final movies in any of a number of popular media formats. With Ultra Video Joiner you too can merge diverse video files and produce a large file such as AVI, WMV, MP4, RM (Real Media), and MPEG. This powerful joiner works well with a wide range of file formats including Divx, ASF, Xvid, MOV, 3GP, MKV and FLV. You can add any number of files to your selection and reorganize them in different ways as you desire. Ultra Video Joiner already includes every video encoder and decoder so you do not need any other codec download for your video joiner to function.

6.ImTOO Video Joiner

This is a powerful video joining tool that allows you to join multiple video formats into one single format that works. This editing and joining tool comes with a 30 days money back guarantee so that you can try this product risk free. The ImTOO Video Joiner is capable of joining formats like MKV, AVI, WMV, MPEG, FLV, ASF, DAT, MOV, HD Video, and other formats. Users of Windows will be happy with this tool as it works perfectly on Windows platforms and covers a wider range of file formats than other joiners on the market. A key feature of this tool is the ability to preview the original video file, set video sizes, and set up the frame rate for perfect video quality, which is tremendously helpful for both experienced and new users. ImTOO Video Joiner is speedy and operates easily.

7.AVS Video Editor

This versatile tool offers capabilities both in video joining and video splitting. This multipurpose tool for Windows allows you to operate like a Pro as you can use it to split and join videos in many different formats. These formats include WMV, MPEG, MOV, Quicktime, MPEG2, FLV, MP4, 3GP, YouTube, and Flash. Your final outputs can be placed in any of a wide range of video formats and you can enjoy your edited videos even more.

8.AVI Joiner

With this amazing tool you can combine split videos quickly and easily with few clicks. It is simple to use and all you need to do is to drag and drop your files into the pane designated for joining files. Once you place them in the order you want, select the “Run AVI Joiner” button. You will need to clearly instruct the application to save the final video output at a place you can retrieve it and remember to keep the .avi extension.

9.Boilsoft Video Joiner

This video joiner was previously known as the AVI/MPEG/RM/WMV Joiner but it continues to provide users with the ability to merge or join numerous video formats into one uninterrupted video easily and quickly. Boilsoft works well with RM (Real Media), MP4, ASF/WMV, 3GP, AVI, and MPEG. With just a few clicks of the mouse you can quickly produce a full length clip that has all the sequences you wanted.

10.Freemore Video Joiner

This video joiner can put more than two videos together into a single file using the most popular video formats including Xvid, MPEG, RM, 3GP, AVI, and DivX. This program is easy to use as all you need is to drag your clips into the interface and join them in the chosen output format. This freeware is a fast and easy tool for novice users.

Conclusion

That completes this list of ten useful video joiners you can get started with. Some are freely available while others are available at a cost. You may find a trial version of the joiners you may need to purchase that will allow you to try the software out first. Just take your time to find the right tool that suits your video merging needs.

You may also like: Tutorial of How to Convert YouTube to AVI Using Best Converters >>

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Resize and Reframe: How to Crop Videos in Avidemux for Better Storytelling

How to Crop a Video with Avidemux

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cropping a video, to bring focus onto the important aspects and remove the extraneous parts of the scene, is one of the most valuable tools available to a video editor. It can be used as mentioned to ensure the viewer focuses on what is important, but also to magnify objects on the screen, such as with footage of nature. It has many uses, and one of the best tools available for cropping video is the free program Avidemux. Here we are going to go through the process of getting Avidemux running on your system and cropping some video.

---

If Avidemux is too complicate for you, you can consider Wondershare Filmora , which is an easy-to-use video editing tool to crop videos within several click. Download the free trial version blow.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

How to Crop a Video with Avidemux

1. Installation

You can find Avidemux for download here , it is available for a wide range of platforms, just download the version that fits your needs. Once downloaded, install in the standard way for your platform, this is the Wndows version (64bit).

One point of note during installation is that you can choose which parts of the program you wish to install. It is a very small footprint and for the best performance it is wise to simply install everything.

Once installed you will be presented with the program as seen here.

2. Importing Video

The next step is importing video. This can be done in two ways, by clicking the file folder icon at the top left you open a standard file browser to navigate to, and select your chosen video file, or alternatively you can simply drag you video into the main panel to import it.

Whichever route you take, you will end up with your video file loaded in like this.

Now you can edit the video as you need, Avidemux contains a wealth of features to enable the full spectrum of editing tasks to be completed. However, here we are going to look at the cropping tool, so on to the next step.

3. Editing Video

Avidemux has some idiosyncrasies in terms of operation, one of those is that to be able to edit any video, you have to choose your output format. Don’t worry though, this is easy, just use the dropdown at the side to choose the output format you want as can be seen here.

Once that is set you are free to start editing your footage.

4. Cropping

It is important to understand how the editing process works in Avidemux, everything is accessed via the filters menu Video>Filters and from here you are faced with a new interface that enables you to choose the component you wish to use.

Selecting ‘Crop’ from the menu and pressing the green plus symbol at the bottom activated the crop tool and presents you with yet another view that allows you to adjust the crop to your tastes.

5. Cropping controls

There are two options for cropping, you can use the Auto crop feature, which will detect any black lines and crop the footage between them, or if you are using the crop tool for something else, or just want to do it manually, you can set the crop via the left right top and bottom boxes. Values input here are the number of pixels from that edge the crop extends, as you are setting it, this is displayed with a green block signifying the area of the image that will be removed.

You can adjust this independently for all 4 edges as you wish.

Once you are happy with the crop, you click Ok and it takes you back to the familiar filter menu where you can use other components to perform more editing if you need.

6. Saving the crop

One of the most common points of confusion with Avidemux comes at this point, as your video will look no different to when you started, and many think they have done something wrong, but this is another part of Avidemux workflow. These filters can only be applied when the video is reencoded, and you do that through the file>save menu.

Selecting this presents the familiar export dialogue and allows you to choose the name and destination of the file. Once that is done you click OK and you will see Avidemux processing your file and re-rendering it in this dialogue box.

How long it takes will depend on a few factors, how many other effects have been added, how fast a processor your computer has, and how large and what resolution the video is. Format also plays a part in the process too, with some formats taking less time to encode than others. Once it has finished, you can view your video and see the crop in action.

As we can see, although there are a few aspects of the workflow that are a little unintuitive, cropping video in Avidemux is a straightforward process that anyone can accomplish with a bit of patience.

One of the key things to remember with Avidemux is that you apply all of your filters before re-encoding, this again is a question of patience and a bit of organization to ensure everything you wish to do is completed in order.

Avidemux is a great piece of software, it lacks the polish of some of its commercial rivals of course, but behind the sometimes clunky interface there is a very broad range of features that allow you to accomplish more or less any editing task you may want. In terms of free programs this is about as good as it gets, and the output is, without a doubt, great quality. For anyone looking for a free solution to video editing problems, and who do not mind a learning process Avidemux provides a useful tool.

An Easier Way to Crop a Video with Filmora

Filmora Video Editor is a powerful program that allows you to create stunning video clips in only a few clicks. This video editing software provides users with a variety of tools for editing videos. It also includes a user-friendly interface for editing home films on Windows PCs, Macs, and Linux devices. To crop a video, these are to follow:

Step 1: Open a video that you want to edit. Go to “Import” and choose the file that you want to upload and put it in the Media Library.

Step 2: Select the “Crop and Zoom” icon in the Filmora editing tool.

Step 3: To alter the size of the crop frame, drag the pointer from any corner of your video preview window.

Step 4: When you’ve changed it to your liking, click the green “OK” button. As a result, you may effortlessly add or remove any element of a video clip on Filmora.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cropping a video, to bring focus onto the important aspects and remove the extraneous parts of the scene, is one of the most valuable tools available to a video editor. It can be used as mentioned to ensure the viewer focuses on what is important, but also to magnify objects on the screen, such as with footage of nature. It has many uses, and one of the best tools available for cropping video is the free program Avidemux. Here we are going to go through the process of getting Avidemux running on your system and cropping some video.

---

If Avidemux is too complicate for you, you can consider Wondershare Filmora , which is an easy-to-use video editing tool to crop videos within several click. Download the free trial version blow.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

How to Crop a Video with Avidemux

1. Installation

You can find Avidemux for download here , it is available for a wide range of platforms, just download the version that fits your needs. Once downloaded, install in the standard way for your platform, this is the Wndows version (64bit).

One point of note during installation is that you can choose which parts of the program you wish to install. It is a very small footprint and for the best performance it is wise to simply install everything.

Once installed you will be presented with the program as seen here.

2. Importing Video

The next step is importing video. This can be done in two ways, by clicking the file folder icon at the top left you open a standard file browser to navigate to, and select your chosen video file, or alternatively you can simply drag you video into the main panel to import it.

Whichever route you take, you will end up with your video file loaded in like this.

Now you can edit the video as you need, Avidemux contains a wealth of features to enable the full spectrum of editing tasks to be completed. However, here we are going to look at the cropping tool, so on to the next step.

3. Editing Video

Avidemux has some idiosyncrasies in terms of operation, one of those is that to be able to edit any video, you have to choose your output format. Don’t worry though, this is easy, just use the dropdown at the side to choose the output format you want as can be seen here.

Once that is set you are free to start editing your footage.

4. Cropping

It is important to understand how the editing process works in Avidemux, everything is accessed via the filters menu Video>Filters and from here you are faced with a new interface that enables you to choose the component you wish to use.

Selecting ‘Crop’ from the menu and pressing the green plus symbol at the bottom activated the crop tool and presents you with yet another view that allows you to adjust the crop to your tastes.

5. Cropping controls

There are two options for cropping, you can use the Auto crop feature, which will detect any black lines and crop the footage between them, or if you are using the crop tool for something else, or just want to do it manually, you can set the crop via the left right top and bottom boxes. Values input here are the number of pixels from that edge the crop extends, as you are setting it, this is displayed with a green block signifying the area of the image that will be removed.

You can adjust this independently for all 4 edges as you wish.

Once you are happy with the crop, you click Ok and it takes you back to the familiar filter menu where you can use other components to perform more editing if you need.

6. Saving the crop

One of the most common points of confusion with Avidemux comes at this point, as your video will look no different to when you started, and many think they have done something wrong, but this is another part of Avidemux workflow. These filters can only be applied when the video is reencoded, and you do that through the file>save menu.

Selecting this presents the familiar export dialogue and allows you to choose the name and destination of the file. Once that is done you click OK and you will see Avidemux processing your file and re-rendering it in this dialogue box.

How long it takes will depend on a few factors, how many other effects have been added, how fast a processor your computer has, and how large and what resolution the video is. Format also plays a part in the process too, with some formats taking less time to encode than others. Once it has finished, you can view your video and see the crop in action.

As we can see, although there are a few aspects of the workflow that are a little unintuitive, cropping video in Avidemux is a straightforward process that anyone can accomplish with a bit of patience.

One of the key things to remember with Avidemux is that you apply all of your filters before re-encoding, this again is a question of patience and a bit of organization to ensure everything you wish to do is completed in order.

Avidemux is a great piece of software, it lacks the polish of some of its commercial rivals of course, but behind the sometimes clunky interface there is a very broad range of features that allow you to accomplish more or less any editing task you may want. In terms of free programs this is about as good as it gets, and the output is, without a doubt, great quality. For anyone looking for a free solution to video editing problems, and who do not mind a learning process Avidemux provides a useful tool.

An Easier Way to Crop a Video with Filmora

Filmora Video Editor is a powerful program that allows you to create stunning video clips in only a few clicks. This video editing software provides users with a variety of tools for editing videos. It also includes a user-friendly interface for editing home films on Windows PCs, Macs, and Linux devices. To crop a video, these are to follow:

Step 1: Open a video that you want to edit. Go to “Import” and choose the file that you want to upload and put it in the Media Library.

Step 2: Select the “Crop and Zoom” icon in the Filmora editing tool.

Step 3: To alter the size of the crop frame, drag the pointer from any corner of your video preview window.

Step 4: When you’ve changed it to your liking, click the green “OK” button. As a result, you may effortlessly add or remove any element of a video clip on Filmora.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cropping a video, to bring focus onto the important aspects and remove the extraneous parts of the scene, is one of the most valuable tools available to a video editor. It can be used as mentioned to ensure the viewer focuses on what is important, but also to magnify objects on the screen, such as with footage of nature. It has many uses, and one of the best tools available for cropping video is the free program Avidemux. Here we are going to go through the process of getting Avidemux running on your system and cropping some video.

---

If Avidemux is too complicate for you, you can consider Wondershare Filmora , which is an easy-to-use video editing tool to crop videos within several click. Download the free trial version blow.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

How to Crop a Video with Avidemux

1. Installation

You can find Avidemux for download here , it is available for a wide range of platforms, just download the version that fits your needs. Once downloaded, install in the standard way for your platform, this is the Wndows version (64bit).

One point of note during installation is that you can choose which parts of the program you wish to install. It is a very small footprint and for the best performance it is wise to simply install everything.

Once installed you will be presented with the program as seen here.

2. Importing Video

The next step is importing video. This can be done in two ways, by clicking the file folder icon at the top left you open a standard file browser to navigate to, and select your chosen video file, or alternatively you can simply drag you video into the main panel to import it.

Whichever route you take, you will end up with your video file loaded in like this.

Now you can edit the video as you need, Avidemux contains a wealth of features to enable the full spectrum of editing tasks to be completed. However, here we are going to look at the cropping tool, so on to the next step.

3. Editing Video

Avidemux has some idiosyncrasies in terms of operation, one of those is that to be able to edit any video, you have to choose your output format. Don’t worry though, this is easy, just use the dropdown at the side to choose the output format you want as can be seen here.

Once that is set you are free to start editing your footage.

4. Cropping

It is important to understand how the editing process works in Avidemux, everything is accessed via the filters menu Video>Filters and from here you are faced with a new interface that enables you to choose the component you wish to use.

Selecting ‘Crop’ from the menu and pressing the green plus symbol at the bottom activated the crop tool and presents you with yet another view that allows you to adjust the crop to your tastes.

5. Cropping controls

There are two options for cropping, you can use the Auto crop feature, which will detect any black lines and crop the footage between them, or if you are using the crop tool for something else, or just want to do it manually, you can set the crop via the left right top and bottom boxes. Values input here are the number of pixels from that edge the crop extends, as you are setting it, this is displayed with a green block signifying the area of the image that will be removed.

You can adjust this independently for all 4 edges as you wish.

Once you are happy with the crop, you click Ok and it takes you back to the familiar filter menu where you can use other components to perform more editing if you need.

6. Saving the crop

One of the most common points of confusion with Avidemux comes at this point, as your video will look no different to when you started, and many think they have done something wrong, but this is another part of Avidemux workflow. These filters can only be applied when the video is reencoded, and you do that through the file>save menu.

Selecting this presents the familiar export dialogue and allows you to choose the name and destination of the file. Once that is done you click OK and you will see Avidemux processing your file and re-rendering it in this dialogue box.

How long it takes will depend on a few factors, how many other effects have been added, how fast a processor your computer has, and how large and what resolution the video is. Format also plays a part in the process too, with some formats taking less time to encode than others. Once it has finished, you can view your video and see the crop in action.

As we can see, although there are a few aspects of the workflow that are a little unintuitive, cropping video in Avidemux is a straightforward process that anyone can accomplish with a bit of patience.

One of the key things to remember with Avidemux is that you apply all of your filters before re-encoding, this again is a question of patience and a bit of organization to ensure everything you wish to do is completed in order.

Avidemux is a great piece of software, it lacks the polish of some of its commercial rivals of course, but behind the sometimes clunky interface there is a very broad range of features that allow you to accomplish more or less any editing task you may want. In terms of free programs this is about as good as it gets, and the output is, without a doubt, great quality. For anyone looking for a free solution to video editing problems, and who do not mind a learning process Avidemux provides a useful tool.

An Easier Way to Crop a Video with Filmora

Filmora Video Editor is a powerful program that allows you to create stunning video clips in only a few clicks. This video editing software provides users with a variety of tools for editing videos. It also includes a user-friendly interface for editing home films on Windows PCs, Macs, and Linux devices. To crop a video, these are to follow:

Step 1: Open a video that you want to edit. Go to “Import” and choose the file that you want to upload and put it in the Media Library.

Step 2: Select the “Crop and Zoom” icon in the Filmora editing tool.

Step 3: To alter the size of the crop frame, drag the pointer from any corner of your video preview window.

Step 4: When you’ve changed it to your liking, click the green “OK” button. As a result, you may effortlessly add or remove any element of a video clip on Filmora.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

Cropping a video, to bring focus onto the important aspects and remove the extraneous parts of the scene, is one of the most valuable tools available to a video editor. It can be used as mentioned to ensure the viewer focuses on what is important, but also to magnify objects on the screen, such as with footage of nature. It has many uses, and one of the best tools available for cropping video is the free program Avidemux. Here we are going to go through the process of getting Avidemux running on your system and cropping some video.

---

If Avidemux is too complicate for you, you can consider Wondershare Filmora , which is an easy-to-use video editing tool to crop videos within several click. Download the free trial version blow.

Download Mac Version ](https://tools.techidaily.com/wondershare/filmora/download/ )

---

How to Crop a Video with Avidemux

1. Installation

You can find Avidemux for download here , it is available for a wide range of platforms, just download the version that fits your needs. Once downloaded, install in the standard way for your platform, this is the Wndows version (64bit).

One point of note during installation is that you can choose which parts of the program you wish to install. It is a very small footprint and for the best performance it is wise to simply install everything.

Once installed you will be presented with the program as seen here.

2. Importing Video

The next step is importing video. This can be done in two ways, by clicking the file folder icon at the top left you open a standard file browser to navigate to, and select your chosen video file, or alternatively you can simply drag you video into the main panel to import it.

Whichever route you take, you will end up with your video file loaded in like this.

Now you can edit the video as you need, Avidemux contains a wealth of features to enable the full spectrum of editing tasks to be completed. However, here we are going to look at the cropping tool, so on to the next step.

3. Editing Video

Avidemux has some idiosyncrasies in terms of operation, one of those is that to be able to edit any video, you have to choose your output format. Don’t worry though, this is easy, just use the dropdown at the side to choose the output format you want as can be seen here.

Once that is set you are free to start editing your footage.

4. Cropping

It is important to understand how the editing process works in Avidemux, everything is accessed via the filters menu Video>Filters and from here you are faced with a new interface that enables you to choose the component you wish to use.

Selecting ‘Crop’ from the menu and pressing the green plus symbol at the bottom activated the crop tool and presents you with yet another view that allows you to adjust the crop to your tastes.

5. Cropping controls

There are two options for cropping, you can use the Auto crop feature, which will detect any black lines and crop the footage between them, or if you are using the crop tool for something else, or just want to do it manually, you can set the crop via the left right top and bottom boxes. Values input here are the number of pixels from that edge the crop extends, as you are setting it, this is displayed with a green block signifying the area of the image that will be removed.

You can adjust this independently for all 4 edges as you wish.

Once you are happy with the crop, you click Ok and it takes you back to the familiar filter menu where you can use other components to perform more editing if you need.

6. Saving the crop

One of the most common points of confusion with Avidemux comes at this point, as your video will look no different to when you started, and many think they have done something wrong, but this is another part of Avidemux workflow. These filters can only be applied when the video is reencoded, and you do that through the file>save menu.

Selecting this presents the familiar export dialogue and allows you to choose the name and destination of the file. Once that is done you click OK and you will see Avidemux processing your file and re-rendering it in this dialogue box.

How long it takes will depend on a few factors, how many other effects have been added, how fast a processor your computer has, and how large and what resolution the video is. Format also plays a part in the process too, with some formats taking less time to encode than others. Once it has finished, you can view your video and see the crop in action.

As we can see, although there are a few aspects of the workflow that are a little unintuitive, cropping video in Avidemux is a straightforward process that anyone can accomplish with a bit of patience.

One of the key things to remember with Avidemux is that you apply all of your filters before re-encoding, this again is a question of patience and a bit of organization to ensure everything you wish to do is completed in order.

Avidemux is a great piece of software, it lacks the polish of some of its commercial rivals of course, but behind the sometimes clunky interface there is a very broad range of features that allow you to accomplish more or less any editing task you may want. In terms of free programs this is about as good as it gets, and the output is, without a doubt, great quality. For anyone looking for a free solution to video editing problems, and who do not mind a learning process Avidemux provides a useful tool.

An Easier Way to Crop a Video with Filmora

Filmora Video Editor is a powerful program that allows you to create stunning video clips in only a few clicks. This video editing software provides users with a variety of tools for editing videos. It also includes a user-friendly interface for editing home films on Windows PCs, Macs, and Linux devices. To crop a video, these are to follow:

Step 1: Open a video that you want to edit. Go to “Import” and choose the file that you want to upload and put it in the Media Library.

Step 2: Select the “Crop and Zoom” icon in the Filmora editing tool.

Step 3: To alter the size of the crop frame, drag the pointer from any corner of your video preview window.

Step 4: When you’ve changed it to your liking, click the green “OK” button. As a result, you may effortlessly add or remove any element of a video clip on Filmora.

Ollie Mattison

Ollie Mattison is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Ollie Mattison

Also read: