Home / LPR vs ANPR: what's the difference
LPR · TermsLPR vs ANPR: what's the difference?
Short answer: none. They are regional names for the same technology. Here is where each name comes from and what matters instead.
Free LPR software · one camera free for life · plate recognition included · about 100 MB
Four names, one technology.
| Term | Stands for | Where you will hear it |
|---|---|---|
| LPR | License Plate Recognition | United States, Canada, security and parking industry |
| ALPR | Automated (or Automatic) License Plate Recognition | US law enforcement and government |
| ANPR | Automatic Number Plate Recognition | UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, South Africa |
| CPR / VRN | Car Plate Recognition / Vehicle Registration Number | Parts of Asia; vehicle registration systems |
The difference is only the word for the plate: Americans say license plate, the British say number plate. The cameras, the algorithms and the results are the same.
Ignore the acronym. Compare these.
- Countries supported — plate layouts, fonts and characters differ. Check yours is covered.
- Speed — can it read vehicles at the speed they pass your camera?
- Night performance — does it work with infrared cameras?
- Cameras — does it need special hardware, or your existing IP cameras?
- Actions — can it alert, log and open gates, or only read?
- Cost model — per camera, per read, monthly, or one-time? Is there a free tier?
LPR vs ANPR: quick answers.
Is ANPR the same as LPR?
Yes. ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) is the British and European name; LPR (license plate recognition) is the American one. They describe the same technology.
What is ALPR?
Automated license plate recognition — the term US police and government agencies commonly use for the same technology.
Is there free ANPR software?
Yes. VISEC includes ANPR / LPR in its free one-camera license and reads plates in more than 80% of the world's countries.