A practical Verkada alternative for operations teams.
Verkada is a polished, vertically integrated camera platform — and a great fit for security-led enterprises that want one vendor for cameras, access control and alarms. Gobi takes a different shape: keep your existing RTSP cameras, pay flat per node, and add the operations + public-camera layer on top.
Takes 2–3 minutes · No credit card required
- Works with existing RTSP cameras
- Flat pricing — no per-camera fees
- Setup typically under 1 hour
Used by: construction sites, municipalities, farms, and multi-site operations.
Why people leave Verkada
The five reasons we hear most from operators who actively look for an alternative:
- Cost growth. Per-camera, multi-year licensing punishes scale. Adding a site means adding a contract.
- Hardware lock-in. Cameras are proprietary. The day you stop paying, the cameras stop working.
- No public webcam features. Tourism boards, downtowns and construction marketing teams need RTMP/YouTube push and embeddable snapshots. Verkada isn't built for that.
- Operations workflows are an afterthought. Verkada is a security platform. Daily timelapses, jobsite progress documentation and operations dashboards aren't native.
- BYO cameras isn't supported. You can't bring the cameras you already paid for.
When Verkada is the right call (honestly)
If your priority is enterprise physical security with proprietary cameras, mature access control integration and a single sales contact for the whole stack — Verkada is built for that. We won't pretend otherwise.
When Gobi is the better fit
- You already own cameras and don't want to replace them
- You want flat per-node pricing as the camera count grows
- You need public-facing webcams or YouTube live streams
- You need camera + sensor automation on the same platform
- You're focused on operations visibility, not security alarming
Cost breakdown over 3 years (20 cameras, 1 site)
| Verkada (typical) | Gobi | |
|---|---|---|
| Camera hardware (20 × ~$700) | ~$14,000 | $0 — use existing |
| Year 1 software licenses | ~$4,000–$10,000 | ~$1,800 (Pro $149/mo × 12) |
| Years 2–3 licenses | ~$8,000–$20,000 | ~$3,600 |
| 3-year total | ~$26,000–$44,000 | ~$5,400 + node hardware |
| Lock-in | Proprietary cameras + multi-year contracts | Month-to-month, RTSP standard |
Numbers are illustrative — Verkada pricing varies by tier and bundle. Send your actual quote and we'll model the same scenario for you.
Camera compatibility
Gobi works with any camera that exposes RTSP on the local network. That includes Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview, Axis, Bosch, Hanwha, Reolink, most ONVIF cameras, and most NVRs that re-stream RTSP. Verkada-branded cameras are not compatible — they don't expose RTSP. If you're considering switching from Verkada, plan to keep using Verkada cameras as long as you have them, and add new sites with standard cameras + Gobi.
Lock-in comparison
Verkada
- Cameras are proprietary
- Multi-year contracts standard
- If you stop paying, cameras stop working
- Migration off requires new hardware
Gobi
- Cameras stay yours, RTSP is standard
- No long-term contracts required
- If you stop paying, cameras keep working
- Export your data anytime
When NOT to use Gobi
Use Verkada (or similar) instead if
- You need integrated access control + alarm
- Your team wants a single security vendor for the whole stack
- You require certified life-safety monitoring
- You're standardizing on a proprietary security platform across the company
Gobi is better if
- You're an operations team, not a security team
- You already have cameras and don't want to replace them
- You need public webcams, daily timelapses, plate logs or sensor dashboards
- Per-camera pricing doesn't fit how you grow
Side-by-side
| Gobi | Verkada | |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras | Any RTSP camera you own | Verkada-branded only |
| Pricing model | Flat per node | Per camera, multi-year |
| Hardware lock-in | None — RTSP standard | Proprietary ecosystem |
| Public webcam / RTMP | First-class | Limited |
| License-plate recognition | Built-in | Add-on / specific cameras |
| Sensor + automation layer | Node-RED + MQTT included | Limited |
| Setup | ~1 hour, outbound only | Hardware install per camera |
| Live stream & archive | Yes | Yes |
What it costs to switch
If your existing cameras already speak RTSP, switching is mostly software. The edge node sits beside the network, ingests the streams and starts producing event logs the same day. Cameras you bought from Verkada won't move over — they don't expose RTSP — but everything else usually does.
Sample event log
The five things people ask first.
Will this work with my cameras?
If they expose RTSP on the local network — yes, almost always. Run the compatibility check.
Do I need IT to install it?
No. One small node, plugged into power and the network. Outbound-only — no port forwarding, no VPN, no static IPs.
Is it expensive?
Flat per node, not per camera. Most single-site deployments land between $49 and $199/month. See pricing.
What happens to my data?
You own it. Cameras stay private by default. Data lives in your tenant. Export anytime. Privacy & security overview.
How long does setup take?
A typical single-site deployment is under one hour from node power-on to live dashboard.
Frequently asked questions
Can Gobi import Verkada cameras?
No — Verkada cameras don't expose RTSP. Gobi runs on the broader RTSP camera ecosystem.
Does Gobi do access control?
No. Gobi is a camera + sensor operations platform, not an access control system. It can trigger relays for gates via Node-RED.
Does Gobi work with my existing cameras?
Yes. If your cameras stream RTSP (most IP cameras and NVRs do), Gobi can usually pull them in without replacing hardware.
Is Gobi priced per camera?
No. Gobi uses flat per-node pricing. You can grow your camera footprint without growing the bill.
How fast do AI events appear?
AI motion events typically appear in the searchable log within 5–12 seconds of being captured.
Do I need port forwarding or special IT setup?
No. The Gobi node creates an outbound connection to the cloud. No inbound ports, no VPN, no static IPs required.
How long does setup take?
A typical single-site deployment is under one hour once the node has internet and the cameras are reachable on the local network.