Number of Channels: When you are installing security cameras in any building, the chances are that you are going to install multiple. For the same, making sure that your network video recorder supports a large number of video channels is highly important. As a result, while most NVR units come with the support for up to 8 channels, higher end units can even work with up to 32 channels for 32 cameras. Maximum Resolution: In case the video offered by your security cameras is not clear enough, then installing them will go to waste. Because of this, it is always a great idea to go with network video recorders with a high maximum resolution support. You can primarily find a maximum resolution rating of either up to 5 MP or up to 8 MP which is the same as 4K video making it the better option. Storage Capacity: Other than being able to monitor video footage over the internet, you would also want to record your security footage. For the same, make sure to check the maximum storage capacity of your NVR unit. While entry level models may only support up to a 4 TB HDD, higher end models can even work with up to 12 HDDs allowing you to easily store a large amount of video footage.
Even though these features are highly important, there is still a lot to keep in mind before going with a network video recorder. Thus all the different network video recorders given down below also have their important details and important factors explained alongside an extensive “Buying Guide” to help you go with the best network video recorders as per your needs.
Best Network Video Recorders 2023: List
Best Network Video Recorders Reviews
1. Amcrest NV4108E-HS 4K 8CH POE NVR
Amcrest is a highly popular brand of network video recorders that is known for offering fairly high performance options when it comes to affordable network video recorders. The Amcrest NV4108E-HS network video recorder comes at the 1st position of this list since this can be a great entry level option for many thanks to its high value for money. Talking about its camera support, you can use a total of 8 camera channels at once. All of these cameras can be used along with a decently high camera resolution of up to 8 MP which is quite high. And to ensure that you can record such high quality footage easily, Amcrest supports up to a 6 TB hard drive. You also get a decent 1 year long warranty with this entry level NVR unit for reliability. Best Features:
Works with up to 8 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 8 MP Supports up to 6 TB of HDD storage Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Entry-level network video recorder High quality video recording and monitoring Decently large HDD support
Cons:
Slow USB 2.0 ports for connectivity
2. REOLINK 4K PoE NVR 8 Channel RLN8-410
If you are new to network video recorders and looking for something user friendly, then Reolink and its offerings can be a great option for many users. Reolin’s RLN8-410 network video recorder comes at the 2nd position of this listicle as this is an easy to install NVR unit since it comes included with a 2 TB hard drive out of the box. Such an included hard drive can be quite handy for recording the footage from its 8 camera channels. You also get the support for a fairly high resolution of up to 8 MP or 4K video with this NVR unit. Due to this, despite including a 2 TB hard drive in the box, you get the support for up to a 12 TB hard drive with this unit. Another great thing about this network video recorder is that you get a 2 year long warranty with it for your peace of mind. Best Features:
Works with up to 8 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 8 MP Supports up to 12 TB of HDD storage Comes with a 2 year warranty
Pros:
Perfect for beginners with included hard drive High quality video recording Fairly long warranty period
Cons:
A bit too large in size
3. Hiseeu 8Channel PoE Network Video Recorder
Hiseeu is a comparatively much smaller and a fairly new option out there when you are talking about network video recorders and looking for something budget friendly. This Hiseeu NVR network video recorder comes at the 3rd position of this article because it is one of the most affordable options available out there. And even at its given price tag, it supports a total of 8 camera channels which is fairly good. And for the given price, its given resolution support of up to 5 MP is quite good as well. Inside this network video recorder, you will find the support for both 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch hard drives of up to 6 TB capacity. While you do get a 1 year long warranty with this NVR, its build quality could have been certainly better. Best Features:
Works with up to 8 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 5 MP Supports up to 6 TB of HDD storage Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Quite an affordable NVR unit Standard number of channels with high resolution Compatible with large and small hard drives
Cons:
Average build quality
4. Synology 2 bay Network Video Recorder NVR1218 (Diskless)
Synology is one of the most popular brands out there when it comes to NAS storage systems that also happens to be making a few hybrid models that function both as a NAS as well as an NVR. The Synology NVR1218 network video recorder is the only option given here which can function both as a NAS drive as well as an NVR unit. Being a high end model, you get the support for a total of 12 cameras with this network video recorder which is quite high. Unfortunately, its video resolution support of up to 3 MP is quite low when compared with other options in its class. Thankfully, since Synology is known for making storage systems, this NVR supports up to 32 TB of HDD storage which is much higher than most others. And because this is a high end network video recorder, you also get a 3 year long warranty with it making it perfect for long term usage. Best Features:
Works with up to 12 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 3 MP Supports up to 32 TB of HDD storage Comes with a 3-year warranty
Pros:
Large number of supports channels Excellent storage capacity rating Quite a reliable unit for long term use
Cons:
Video resolution could have been higher
5. Anpviz 16CH Network Video Recorder
While you may have not heard about Anpviz in the past, its network video recorder units and other options can be a great pick for many who are looking for something powerful at a justified price tag. Anpviz’s NVR network video recorder is the best value for money option stated here because of its given price and performance numbers. Starting with its supported channels, this network video recorder can work with up to 16 cameras at once where all of them have network support making it perfect for large scale camera installations. Not only do you get a large number of channels, but its support for up to 8 MP video recording is also quite excellent. Because this unit supports such a large number of high resolution cameras, you get the support for up to 12 TB of HDD storage for easily storing a large amount of video footage. Just like most other brands, Anpviz also includes a 1 year long warranty with its NVR unit. Best Features:
Works with up to 16 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 8 MP Supports up to 12 TB of HDD storage Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Superb for large scale installations Quite a high storage capacity support High value for money NVR unit
Cons:
Limited physical connectivity ports
6. Lorex N841A82 4K Ultra HD 8-Channel Network Video Recorder
Lorex is another premium brand of network video recorders that can be considered if you are looking for something feature-rich and ideal for home usage due to its performance numbers. This Lorex N841A82 network video recorder is one of the best options out there for home-usage. Despite having such a compact and sleek form factor, you get the support for a total of 8 cameras. And since these cameras can work its smart motion detection and voice control, this NVR unit is the perfect option for home-usage. Similar to most other high end network video recorders, you get the support for a fairly high camera resolution of up to 4K or 8 MP. Other than including a handy 2 TB hard drive in the box, you also get the support for up to a 6 TB with this NVR. As you would expect from a premium network video recorder, it also comes with a 1 year long warranty for your peace of mind. Best Features:
Works with up to 8 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 8 MP Supports up to 6 TB of HDD storage Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Handy motion detection and automation features Quite high resolution for cameras Compact and sleek form factor for home usage
Cons:
A bit on the expensive side
7. Ubiquiti Networks UVC-NVR-2TB UniFi Network Video Recorder
Ubiquiti Networks is primarily a brand of network devices which also happens to be making a lineup of security cameras and high performance network video recorders to go along with them. The Ubiquiti Networks UVC-NVR-2TB network video recorder is one of the best options for industrial usage where you might want to install a large number of high quality cameras at your workplace. To be exact, you will find the support for a total of 20 cameras which should be plenty for most users. And since this NVR unit is made for Ubiquiti’s own cameras, you can use up to a 4K or 8 MP camera resulting in excellent video quality. Unfortunately, the included 2 TB hard drive of this NVR unit is the maximum storage capacity that it offers. And because Ubiquiti is a reputable brand of networking devices, its given warranty of 1 year long duration is to be expected. Best Features:
Works with up to 20 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 8 MP Supports up to 2 TB of HDD storage Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Perfect for heavy-duty usage Quite a high resolution support Inbuilt hard drive for easy installation and setup
Cons:
Slow USB 2.0 ports for connectivity
8. HDView 40CH Security DVR
Those of you who are looking for high end network video recorders for installing a large number of cameras can consider HDView and its offerings which are worth the high end price. HDView NVR network video recorder is the best performing option given here making it the perfect fit for large scale camera installation. This is primarily possible thanks to its support for a total of 40 camera channels where up to 24 of them support network connectivity for remote monitoring. As for its camera resolution support, all 40 of its camera channels can be used at a maximum resolution of 5 MP which is quite decent considering its channel count. Unfortunately, HDView does not mention a specific rating for its maximum storage capacity. Although, you do get a standard 1 year long warranty with it which is to be expected at such a premium price tag. Best Features:
Works with up to 40 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 5 MP Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Excellent for large scale camera installations Fairly high resolution for given camera channels Standard warranty with excellent build quality
Cons:
Not all camera channels support network connectivity Does not give a storage capacity rating
9. SUNBA 9-Channel Face Recognition 5MP
Sunba is one of the smallest and a fairly new options out there for those of you who are looking for a network video recorder system that can be an ideal budget option for many. This Sunba NVR-F8009SE network video recorder is the cheapest option given here in this listicle. And despite being highly affordable, you still get the support for a total of 9 camera channels with this NVR unit. Even though it might not be the highest, its given camera resolution support of up to 5 MP is quite good for most users. Similar to most other network video recorders out there, this one also supports up to a 6 TB hard drive. And unlike what you would expect, this budget-friendly NVR unit even offers a 1 year long warranty for your peace of mind. Best Features:
Works with up to 9 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 5 MP Supports up to 6 TB of HDD storage Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Extremely affordable network video recorder Quite a large number of supported channels Decent video resolution for the given price
Cons:
A bit large in size and form factor
10. Xenocam 8CH PoE Network Video Recorder
Xenocam is another brand of NVRs that can be a great option for those looking for something affordable but won’t compromise on performance. This Xenocam NVR-P-8 is one of the most budget-friendly options available out there. Despite its given price tag, it is on par with more expensive options that support a total of 8 camera channels. It supports a decent video resolution of up to 5 MP and supports 3.5-inch hard drive, which is quite good for the given price. It works with virtually compatible IP cameras and some third-party brand IP cameras, and it offers intelligent search, backup, and playback functions to improve security and ease of use. While the advanced H.265 compression technology will allow you to save on storage space for a longer time. Like most other NVRs out there, this one also supports up to a 6 TB hard drive. Furthermore, you get a 1-year long warranty with this plug-and-play NVR unit which is always great to have for easy access to remote areas. Best Features:
Works with up to 8 cameras Records at a maximum resolution of up to 5 MP Supports up to 6 TB of HDD storage Comes with a 1-year warranty
Pros:
Budget-friendly NVR unit with plug & play feature. Supports quite a large number of cameras Good video quality for the given price Features intelligent search, backup, motion detection, email alerts, and playback functions
Cons:
Limited physical connectivity ports (No HDD) A bit hard to set up the device.
Buying Guide for the Best Network Video Recorders
An NVR or network video recorder unit simply allows you to connect your security cameras to it for both recording purposes and connecting them to your network for remote monitoring. But because there are a lot of NVR units out there, we have given a few of the best network video recorders earlier to help you pick a high performance one. Even if you don’t know much about NVR units, you can simply check all their major features and options given above. But if you wish to know even more, considering going through this complete buying guide for the best network video recorders:
Number of Channels
Whether you are installing security cameras in your home or your workplace, the chances are that you are most likely going to install a large number of cameras. And even though you can get multiple network video recorders, you would want to be able to connect all of your cameras to a single network video recorder. But this is only possible when your NVR unit supports a large number of channels making it a highly important factor to consider. Taking a look at entry-level network video recorders, most of them support up to 8 channels which should be plenty for home installations. Although, if you are installing cameras in a large office, then there are a few network video recorders which support up to 32 channels for connecting 32 cameras at once.
Maximum Resolution
Apart from being able to connect a large number of cameras with your network video recorder, you would also want it to record or monitor video feed in high quality. To ensure the same, you can simply check the maximum resolution supported by your network video recorder. Some of the commonly supported resolutions that you can find out there primarily include up to 5 MP or up to 8 MP. And out of these two, the later resolution of up to 8 MP is the better one as a higher resolution always offers better quality. If a network video recorder has given its maximum resolution as 4K, then it is the same as 8 MP and should be more than enough for most security cameras.
Storage Capacity
If you are using a large number of cameras with your network video recorder at a high recording resolution, then it can quickly fill up a large amount of storage. Because of this, it is always a great idea to go with network video recorders which offer a high storage capacity in terms of the hard drive size that you can use along with it. Taking a look at entry-level models, they may only support up to 4 TB hard drives. Thankfully, higher end models can work with up to 12 TB HDDs making them the perfect option to be used with a large number of hard drives. In a few cases, your NVR unit may come included with a hard disk drive in the box. Not only does this offer a great value for money, but it also allows you to get started with your network video recorder right away.
Management and Playback
After you have connected all of your security cameras to your high performance network video recorder which supports both recording and monitoring, you would also want to manage it properly. For the same, checking its management portal or application is also quite important. While basic units only offer an online web portal for accessing your network video recorder, some units even offer companion smartphone apps. You can also find automated features like motion detection, alarms, e-mail notifications, and more in some network video recorders. While these features are handy for monitoring the video, you should also look out for inbuilt playback options to easily check all of your security footage by connecting a monitor to your network video recorder.
Connectivity Options
In order to connect your cameras, monitors, peripherals, and possible wireless accessories, you should also check the connectivity options offered by your network video recorder. This includes looking for ports like HDMI, VGA, USB, and others on the back of your network video recorder. You should always prefer going with NVR units which offer multiple connectivity ports for high versatility. Some network video recorders may even offer wireless connectivity options via WiFi for ease of use.
Warranty
Once the complete installation and management of your network video recorder has been done, you would want everything to stay functional for as long as possible so that you can monitor your security cameras whenever you like. To ensure the same, it is always a great idea to check the warranty offered by your network video recorder. Even though almost all of them offer a 1 year warranty. There are a few highly reliable units which may come with a 3 year long warranty making them perfect for long term usage.
Conclusion
While you can use any DVR or other recording unit to capture the video from your security cameras, most of them don’t offer remote monitoring. If you want to remotely monitor your IP security cameras, then you will need something that can be connected to the internet. For the same, you can simply go with one of the best network video recorders stated earlier in this listicle. To allow you to easily go with the right one, all these various network video recorders also have their important features and specifications as well as a detailed buying guide well explained. However, if you are still confused, then you can simply go with one of our favorite picks for the best network video recorders:
Starting with one of the most affordable network video recorders out there, the Sunba NVR-F8009SE is the cheapest option given above. And even for its given price, it supports a total of 9 video channels that can be used at a maximum resolution of 5 MP for decent video quality. You can use this NVR unit with up to a 6 TB HDD which should be plenty for most. Although, if budget is not an issue for you and you want a network video recorder for heavy duty usage, then the HDView NVR can be a great pick. Since it supports a total of 40 cameras, you can easily use it in a large location. These cameras can have a maximum resolution of 5 MP which is quite decent considering its number of channels. The Anpviz DVR can be a great value for money pick for many since it supports a total of 16 channels while having a justified price tag. These cameras can work at 8MP or 4K resulting in excellent video quality. And thanks to its dual SATA ports, you can install a total of 12 TB worth of hard drives in it which should be plenty for most.
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