Guide · Open source
How to use Frigate: setup, detection and recording guide
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
Frigate is an open-source network video recorder (NVR) that connects to IP cameras and runs object detection on their video locally. It is built to work with Home Assistant. This guide explains what Frigate does, what you need before you start, how to get the code, and which features to configure so you can run it on your own hardware.
Frigateblakeblackshear/frigate · ★ 37.1k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Install Docker. Frigate's listed prerequisite is Docker. Install it on the machine that will run Frigate.
- 2Plan your hardware. Check whether you have a GPU or AI accelerator, since the README highly recommends one for detection.
- 3Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/blakeblackshear/frigate to get the source code.
- 4Read the documentation. Open https://docs.frigate.video for setup and configuration steps.
- 5Connect your IP cameras. Point Frigate at your camera streams so it can record and run object detection.
- 6Set up zones and retention. Use the built-in mask and zone editor and retention settings to control what is detected and kept.
- 7Integrate with Home Assistant. Install the Home Assistant custom component to connect Frigate to your Home Assistant setup.
What Frigate does and who it suits
Frigate records footage from IP cameras and uses OpenCV and TensorFlow to detect objects in the video in realtime. The README says detection runs locally rather than in the cloud, so camera footage does not have to go to a third-party service.
The README describes a technical setup. It is a good fit if you have IP cameras, use Home Assistant, or want to keep footage on your own hardware. It is a poor fit if you have no cameras or want a plug-and-play consumer system.
- Good fit: people with IP cameras who want local recording and detection
- Good fit: Home Assistant users who want camera integration
- Poor fit: anyone without IP cameras, since Frigate needs camera streams to be useful
What you need before installing Frigate
The install method listed for Frigate is Docker, so Docker is the prerequisite. You also need IP cameras that can supply video streams to Frigate.
The README says a GPU or AI accelerator is highly recommended, and that accelerators will outperform even the best CPUs with very little overhead. If you have no spare hardware, plan for slower detection. Frigate's supported object detectors are listed in its documentation at https://docs.frigate.video.
- Docker
- One or more IP cameras
- A GPU or AI accelerator is highly recommended (see the supported object detectors in the docs)
Get the Frigate source code
The README's install command clones the repository from GitHub. Run it in the folder where you want the project to live. Full setup and configuration steps are in the documentation at https://docs.frigate.video.
git clone https://github.com/blakeblackshear/frigateUnderstand Frigate's main features
Frigate limits detection work to where it is needed. It uses a low-overhead motion detection step to decide where to run object detection, and it runs TensorFlow detection in separate processes for maximum FPS.
Recording keeps footage based on what was detected. Frigate supports 24/7 recording, re-streams via RTSP to reduce the number of connections to your camera, and offers WebRTC and MSE for low-latency live view. It also communicates over MQTT for integration with other systems.
- Realtime object detection on local hardware
- Motion detection used to decide where to run object detection
- Retention settings based on detected objects
- 24/7 recording
- RTSP re-streaming
- WebRTC and MSE live view
- MQTT integration
- Home Assistant custom component
Use the web interface: live view, review and zones
The README includes screenshots of a live dashboard, a review workflow, multi-camera scrubbing, and a built-in mask and zone editor. Use the zone editor to define the areas of each camera view that matter to you.
Frigate's documentation at https://docs.frigate.video covers configuration in detail. Check it for the exact settings for your cameras and detector.
- Live dashboard for current camera views
- Review workflow for recorded events
- Multi-camera scrubbing
- Built-in mask and zone editor
Connect Frigate to Home Assistant
Frigate is designed for Home Assistant. The README points to a custom component that provides tight integration. Install the component from its repository, then connect it to your running Frigate instance.
What people use it for
- Recording 24/7 footage from IP cameras on your own hardware
- Detecting objects in camera views and reviewing recorded events
- Feeding camera events into Home Assistant automations
- Sending detection events to other systems over MQTT
- Re-streaming camera feeds over RTSP to reduce connections to the camera
Frequently asked questions
Is Frigate free?
Frigate's code is licensed under the MIT License, which lets you use, modify and distribute the code as long as you keep the original copyright notice. The README notes that the Frigate name and logo are trademarks of Frigate, Inc. and are not covered by the MIT License.
What do I need to run Frigate?
The listed install method is Docker, and Docker is the listed prerequisite. You also need IP cameras, since Frigate is built to process their streams. The README highly recommends a GPU or AI accelerator for detection.
How do I install Frigate?
The README's install command is git clone https://github.com/blakeblackshear/frigate. Install Docker first, then follow the setup steps in the documentation at https://docs.frigate.video.
Does Frigate need a GPU?
The README says a GPU or AI accelerator is highly recommended, and that accelerators outperform even the best CPUs with very little overhead. Frigate can be used without one, but detection will depend on your hardware.
Does Frigate send my camera footage to the cloud?
The README says Frigate processes video locally for realtime object detection. It is intended to keep footage off third-party cloud services.
Does Frigate work with Home Assistant?
Yes. The README says Frigate is designed for Home Assistant and provides tight integration through a custom component.
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Our verdict
Frigate suits people with IP cameras who want local recording and object detection, especially Home Assistant users. It is best if you can add a GPU or AI accelerator and are comfortable with a technical setup. If you want a simple plug-and-play consumer camera system, or you have no IP cameras, pick something else.
Install options & downloads