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LPR · Open sourceOpen source LPR software: what you get.
Open-source plate recognition libraries are powerful, but they are parts, not a finished system. Here is what building with them involves.
Free LPR software · one camera free for life · plate recognition included · about 100 MB
A library, not a finished system.
Open-source LPR projects — the best known is OpenALPR's open-source library, alongside many OpenCV and deep-learning projects on GitHub — give developers the recognition step: send an image in, get plate text out.
That is one stage of a working system. To watch a real gate you still have to build the rest.
What you still have to build.
| Piece | Open-source library | Ready-made free program (VISEC) |
|---|---|---|
| Plate recognition | Yes | Yes, deep-learning, 80%+ of countries |
| Connecting to cameras | You write it (RTSP/ONVIF) | Press scan |
| Picking frames from live video | You write it | Built in |
| Log, search and pictures | You build a database and UI | Built in |
| Alerts and gate control | You write it | Email, HTTP post, camera outputs |
| Video recording | Separate software | Included |
| Maintenance | Yours, including model updates | Vendor updates |
| Cost | Free, plus your time | Free on one camera, for life |
When each makes sense.
- Choose open source if you are a developer building LPR into your own product, need to run on unusual hardware, or want full control of the code.
- Choose a ready-made program if you want to read plates on your cameras this week, with recording, a searchable log and gate control, and without writing code.
Many people start with a free ready-made program to prove the camera position works, then decide whether a custom build is worth it.
Open source LPR: quick answers.
Is there open source license plate recognition software?
Yes. Several open-source libraries do plate recognition, OpenALPR's being the best known. They give you the recognition engine; camera handling, logging and alerts are up to you.
Is open source LPR free?
The code is free to use under its licence. The cost is development time and maintenance. A free ready-made alternative is VISEC, free on one camera for life.
Do I need to program to use LPR?
Not with a ready-made program. VISEC finds your cameras with a scan button and reads plates without any code.