Virtual patrolling cost
By Muhammad Talha · Product Manager and CTONine years building computer vision and automated surveillance systemsVirtual patrolling cost is typically structured as a per-camera, per-month subscription. The total cost depends on the number of cameras monitored, the AI features activated per camera, and the storage retention period. For most facilities, it represents a fraction of the cost of equivalent manned guard coverage.
How virtual patrolling is priced
Camzify uses per-camera instance licensing. Each camera can have one or more AI features activated — zone intrusion detection, line intrusion detection, motion detection, and others. The virtual patrolling system itself (patrol sequences, checklists, scheduling, reports) is included with the camera license. See the pricing page for current tier details.
Cost comparison with manned guarding
Around-the-clock coverage of one post takes several people once shifts, breaks, leave and relief are counted, so the annual cost of a staffed post is a multiple of one hourly rate. A scheduled camera round covers the same stops at whatever frequency you set and is priced per instance per month, with a report per round. Camzify starts from $5 per camera per month; the pricing page turns your counts into a quote request and the quote comes in lower for an annual term. Use the ROI calculator to model your specific scenario.
What affects the price
The primary cost drivers are: camera stream instances (one per connected camera), AI detection instances per camera, the cloud storage that retention draws from, and number of sites. Multi-site operations typically see the strongest ROI because the per-camera cost scales linearly while guard costs multiply per location.
Hidden costs to consider
Upstream internet bandwidth for the cameras you stream, which is the sum of their bitrates (see the bandwidth guide), the Camzify Connector for sites with local-only cameras, and any additional camera hardware if existing cameras lack ONVIF/RTSP support. These are typically minor compared to the guard cost savings.