Comparing two video surveillance programs: Xeoma and VideoNet
Supported Systems and Cameras
Interface
Downloading and Installation
Feature Overview
User Support
Cost
Conclusion and Summary Table
In the present age of burgeoning technology, video surveillance gains more importance than ever. Many examples of modern software that provide territory supervision and the management of interconnected and sophisticated surveillance systems offer a plethora of features, including video analytics and third-party tool integration, and both Xeoma and VideoNet are included in this list. In this article, we continue our series of comparing Xeoma with other VSS programs, and touch upon the differences and similarities between Xeoma and VideoNet, as well as their pros and cons.
Supported Systems and Cameras
Nowadays deploying large video surveillance systems is nigh impossible without extensive support of cross-platform equipment. We have observed what systems and cameras are supported in VideoNet and Xeoma.
Cameras
Xeoma can work with most cameras on the market: IP and Wi-Fi cameras, USB and analog cameras (incl. DVR/NVRs). The program supports a generous variety of video formats: H266, H265, H264, H265+, H264+, WEBM, MJPEG, MPEG4, JPEG, MPEG, RTSP; the list doesn’t end here. If a camera supports the ONVIF protocol, it’s usually the guarantee that the camera will connect to Xeoma without a hitch. Only little-known cameras can pose a problem, but that’s due to the fact they were intended to only recognize the software of the same brand.
VideoNet supports fewer cameras: IP and analog (incl. recorders). A more thorough support of IP cameras and such formats as MJPEG, MPEG-4, H.264 and H.265 is carried out by the means of a separate platform, Total.IP, that was specifically designed as part of the VideoNet brand. ONVIF compatible equipment can also work with VideoNet.
Operating systems
A distinctive feature of Xeoma is the fact the software supports all popular operating systems (Windows, Linux (incl. Linux ARM and Linux-based OSes like Astra Linux and Red OS), MacOS, Android, iOS). As such an exhaustive support list is unprecedented, Xeoma proves to be popular among users who prefer platforms other than Windows.
Unfortunately, the server part of VideoNet only works on Windows. Clients are available for such operating systems as Windows, Linux, MacOS and Android.
Interface
The visual part of a video surveillance program is a positively significant factor in choosing a supervision system. Convenience of usability and the absence of unnecessary visual load are some of the key conditions for a VMS performance that is both effective and efficient. Thanks to our analysis, we have highlighted the main aspects of Xeoma’s and VideoNet’s visuals.
One of Xeoma’s leading advantages is its easily comprehensible, intuitive interface. Xeoma is aimed to assist users with varying technical knowledge, which is why the interface was designed to meet the needs of professionals and beginners both. All the necessary functions are performed via modules – specialized icons inspired by cutting-edge sensor screens. These modules can be assembled into unique chains to meet all kinds of surveillance needs. As of the release of the beta ver. 24.10.1., Xeoma has acquired an even more minimalist look to ensure that its features appear even clearer, its work can begin off the bat, and the user’s actions are always anticipated by the software.
The design and features of the mobile versions of Xeoma practically mirror the desktop ones, so Xeoma can easily serve as a separate client or even a server (except for iOS) even on mobile devices.
The VideoNet interface, on the contrary, may come across somewhat intimidating to amateur users. Once the program is started, the user is immediately faced with a noteworthy bunch of windows, bars, and other panels that at times pop up simultaneously. Design-wise, this kind of display might be intended for managing large amounts of data, but it also requires a lengthy period of time to get used to; configuring all the signals and cameras to function as needed also has to be extremely meticulous. Furthermore, this kind of interface is considered rather outdated by 2025. Similarly to Xeoma, the color scheme of VideoNet’s design is muted and dark, which reduces the strain on the eyes and is definitely a plus.
Contrarily to Xeoma, the mobile version of VideoNet is not as developed, since the software centers primarily on bigger, immobile devices.
Downloading and Installation
Installing Xeoma is not necessary. All you need is the executable file that can be downloaded from the official website and will launch Xeoma, be it a server or a client, automatically – this rule applies to every supported system mentioned above. The application for mobile devices can also be found in the app stores corresponding to the OS – it’s downloaded and run as any other mobile application.
Once the download is complete, Xeoma will start in its default mode, which is Xeoma Trial. In this mode, you can test all the features of Xeoma editions up to Pro and connect an unlimited number of clients and cameras. Its only downside is that the settings and added cameras are reset every 8 hours and after you exit the program. If necessary, you can request a demo license – simply contact the technical support team and specify the e-mail to which a temporary license key will be sent.
With VideoNet, the process is a little bit more complicated. Firstly, the file that you download from the official website needs to be installed – secondly, the procedure itself requires the user to additionally adjust his or her system before as much as installing VideoNet, such as to check and add the drivers specified in the user manual. Thirdly, the user will have to manually oversee the installation and specify such data as the path, acceptable storage parameters, disk space, and many others – and it’s done in several steps, not just one. You may also need to add the software to your antivirus’ exceptions and the Microsoft SQL database.
The version of VideoNet that you download from the official website also allows to be tested in a trial mode. However, its features are noticeably limited: the user can only add up to 16 cameras and 4 clients. For a more in-depth testing involving every surveillance function of the software, you will need to contact the technical support and fill in a specialized form that must contain the user’s surname, organization name, and a detailed description of the project.
Feature Overview
Naturally, the arrange of functions of any video surveillance system is a vital constituent of its appeal. Since we have already reviewed the introductory steps and the visuals of both Xeoma and VideoNet, let us move on to comparing what these programs can do.
Archives and Remote Access
Viewing, storing and managing archived video files is indispensable for video surveillance. Xeoma and VideoNet offer their users an assortment of options precisely for that.
In Xeoma, video materials are archived automatically if the “Preview and Archive” module is added to the module chain. Video can be saved both to the server device and mounted directories. The parameters (e.g., the format) and storage time of the recorded video, as well as the archive size, can be selected as the user sees fit. The archive can be viewed directly in Xeoma (both the client and the server) or through the web interface. Archive search is easily conducted by time, cameras, and detected events (for example, motion). If needed, segments of the recorded video can be exported right from the archive in any format the user finds best (.mkv, .avi, .mp4, etc.)
“Preview and Archive” is not Xeoma’s only tool for saving video materials. Xeoma also has the “Save to File” module that allows you to save videos outside of Xeoma’s archives and later view them in other video players. It is also possible to archive videos in Xeoma Cloud: either as your main storage (for instance, if the server lacks sufficient disk space) or as a backup.
Other remote access options in Xeoma (incl. those for archive viewing) are built-in P2P connection, a separate “Repeater” service, third-party DDNS and VPN.
VideoNet also allows its users to automatically record videos to local or external devices with individual settings for the archive size and format. VideoNet’s archive management tools are largely the same as those presented in Xeoma: archive search is available by time, cameras, and events, while export (incl. export of specific segments) can be done in various formats (.mp4, .avi, etc.) Storing videos to a cloud service is only an option for third-party platforms if they are used in conjunction with the program, as VideoNet does not have its own cloud storage. Accessing the program and its archives via a web browser is also possible, but requires a special paid module (around $36 per module/user). This option is mainly ill-suited for private use (or entrepreneurs who prefer to avoid additional expenses).
Detection and Video Analytics
Another consequential part of any video surveillance and supervision system is its ability to process the video it receives. In other words, the tools for filtering and detecting various events.
Both programs reviewed in this analysis provide the user with a generous range of modules oriented towards assorted situations. The official list of VideoNet detection modules includes: face detector, vehicle number plate recognition, object detector (incl. the neural network based detector), motion detector, direction detector, object counter, queue detector, fire detector, smoke detector, cross-line detector, tamper detector, abandoned object detector.
The module list of Xeoma is longer: it both contains the modules mentioned above and supplements itself with other useful features, be it individual unique modules (for example, color recognition) or enhanced versions of preexisting modules aimed at solving even the most specific tasks (e.g., regular visitors counter of the “Face Recognition” module).
Basic modules such as the motion detector or a problem (sabotage) detector are included in all editions of both Xeoma and VideoNet, but further expansion of the system is significantly more convenient in Xeoma: no supplementary software is needed to add new features, and all the user needs to do is to purchase the necessary licenses for the number of detected objects or cameras (depending on the module).
Some of VideoNet additional modules, on the contrary, are closer to individual programs than modules as they are, each combined with the main software. The VideoNet temperature control complex, for instance, is officially described as a separate system. Another nuance of this and other similar “systems” is that they have to be purchased and installed with their own equipment, which is extremely impractical for small/medium business and often impossible for private users.
PTZ
PTZ cameras are indispensable to modern surveillance systems as they allow to cover wider areas, zoom in on the image when required, and react to potential alarms more efficiently in general. Both Xeoma and VideoNet offer their users a number of options for working with PTZ cameras.
Xeoma supports a variety of PTZ cameras regardless if they are compatible with the standard ONVIF protocol or their individual ones. Cameras can be configured and controlled via a specialized mini-interface (the “PTZ control”), with a PTZ joystick, or by using preconfigured tours and presets, including those that were set up outside the program. There is also a unique module called “Move to PTZ preset” – it allows you to imbue your PTZ tours with video analytics, fully automating the monitoring process and simplifying the security work. PTZ can be controlled both from computers and from mobile devices.
VideoNet also supports a broad range of PTZ cameras that recognize common protocols and can be controlled via a specialized interface (both in the Windows version and in the mobile client version) or separate remote devices – however, those mainly come from third-party manufacturers. The user can set the tours and presets manually or select them from preexisting lists. The cameras can be fully automated in a way that differs from Xeoma’s: instead of a separate module like “Move to PTZ preset”, VideoNet offers to create your own tour scenarios and algorithms, which usually takes additional time and effort.
As many other VideoNet features, the PTZ option is primarily aimed at working in conjunction with third-party systems, and therefore requires supplementary equipment – not only PTZ cameras, but other devices as well, such as access control terminals and the like. Xeoma’s approach to PTZ is less sophisticated: both integrated systems and amateur setups can thrive off of the advantages of PTZ.
Image Modification
Video surveillance systems can be refined in the simplest of ways: instead of reinstalling the cameras and meticulously fine-tuning the detection settings, it is sometimes enough to slightly adjust the video itself.
Xeoma, for example, offers such features as image cropping or rotation, as well as an incredibly handy “Fish-eye Dewarping” module. This module can change a fish-eye preview back to 180 degrees in just a couple of clicks, saving the fish-eye cameras (and your budget) from being replaced. The preview of cameras that don’t support PTZ can be modified with digital zoom – an option to select specific parts of the image to zoom them in or out.
VideoNet’s options for image modification are much more modest: not accounting for third-party devices the software allows to integrate, only digital zoom is present.
User Support
The VideoNet technical support can be contacted by Skype and phone, or by e-mail and fax in written form. To submit a support request, the user must fill in a specialized form by stating both the issues that need resolving and at least the following personal data: the user’s full name, organization name, and phone number. Only files up to 15 Mb in size can be sent for analysis at once, so the user will have to spend additional time either compressing his or her files or carefully planning the whole process of requesting tech support. These conditions will hardly suit those that hope for a timely resolution of their issue.
The Xeoma technical support can be requested with ease. All you need to do is contact the support team by e-mail, phone, in a chat or in a messenger – with the exception of e-mail due to its obvious limitations, issues are resolved in real time. No personal information is required – all the data requested by the support pertains to the technical side of the problem.
Xeoma provides its users with a specialized forum where they can discuss their projects or ideas with both the support team and each other, and an informative website with regularly updated articles, the FAQ section, and notes from the support team – all to help the users easily find the needed solutions on their own. Xeoma also has a detailed user manual (both online and as a PDF file) and short video tutorials for visual learners.
The VideoNet website is slightly harder to navigate: it has a news section where all the updates to the software are announced, as well as a separate PDF manual, but there are no articles on how to work with VideoNet. In addition to the tech support, related answers can be found on the forum or in the thematic video materials: tutorials and webinars. While there are no articles for self-education, VideoNet provides specialized courses on how to configure and manage the platform: they are held for free for the company’s partners and cost $116 per student for everyone else.
Both Xeoma and VideoNet can be configured remotely by their respective support teams as per the user’s optional request, which is helpful when the user cannot or does not want to do so on his or her own. This is a paid service; the cost of remote support in Xeoma is estimated based on the time of the session (from $25/15 minutes), while VideoNet presents it as service packages: the cheapest package includes 10 hours per month and costs $282). This kind of pricing is hardly applicable to issues that can be easily solved within one short session.
Another pro of Xeoma which is absent in VideoNet is an opportunity to customize the program to seamlessly incorporate it into your projects. You can change its visuals and interface for better representation of your brand, and even tweak its functions – both can be done with the help of a free-of-charge utility available on the official website. More complex changes and additions of completely new features can be ordered as a means of VIP support – all orders are processed and carried out individually to suit any client’s liking. Furthermore, you can customize and rebrand both the basic Xeoma and Xeoma Pro Your Cloud – a unique Xeoma Pro based service that allows the user to deploy their own cloud platform.
Cost
To conclude our analysis, let us overview the pricing and licensing policies of the programs. After all, cost is often the decisive factor in choosing anyone’s dream video surveillance system.
Xeoma’s licensing plans are flexible, as they are aimed at being convenient to any user regardless of his or her goals and tasks. Xeoma video surveillance software licenses are purchased per camera, thereby allowing to expand the system if necessary. Only two editions are not subject to this policy: Xeoma Starter (all the basic features just for $11, including an unlimited number of sources for preview and two sources for archive recording) and Xeoma Free (unlimited preview and four sources for archive recording). For especially large and adaptive systems, Xeoma supports combining such licenses as Standard and Pro, as well as additional modules – they involve boundless features for video analytics. These intelligent modules are sold per item, be it per camera or per detected object. Big purchases include discounts as they are cheaper per item.
Client versions of Xeoma are fully free and accessible directly from the trial version you can download from the official website.
VideoNet licensing is more complicated: software licenses are purchased not only per additional feature, but also per individual server and even client (particularly for VideoNet Light – the cheapest edition that only allows 1 server per license). Light only supports up to 32 video sources and costs $63 per client or server.
The bulk of VideoNet product cost is comprised of its countless additional modules meant for integrating various forms of third-party equipment (usually, a module per controller or manufacturer). The biggest edition of the program, VideoNet Corporate, lacks a defined price entirely – its cost is usually determined after the user’s request and consequent discussion with the team. This approach might prove fairly inconvenient when budget planning has to be done in advance and might not account for additional expenses pertaining to the final cost of the project. VideoNet also has a free version (also known as VideoNet Prime), but it is hardly different from the trial version and only supports up to 16 cameras.
It is worth noting that Xeoma licenses are perpetual: only the free updates period included in every license by default can expire. Contrarily, VideoNet licenses only remain valid until a new version of the program is released. After every official update, they automatically expire, and it is prohibited to use both the software and the related equipment until a new user agreement is made.
Conclusion and Summary Table
For the sake of convenience, we have arranged our comparative analysis of Xeoma and VideoNet into table form:
| Functions & Features | Xeoma | VideoNet |
|---|---|---|
|
Technical Limitations |
||
| Supported OSes |
|
|
| Supported cameras | IP, USB, Wi-Fi, analog | IP, analog |
| Installation | Not required | Required |
| PTZ camera support | Yes | Yes |
| Remote access | Client-server, web interface, built-in P2P, the Repeater service, third-party DDNS, VPN | Client-server, web interface |
|
Software Features |
||
| Startup | Easy & done in a few clicks | Complicated (supplementary software installation required) |
| Interface | Minimalist, module-based | Complicated, outdated |
| Web Client | Free of charge (the “Web Server” module) | Paid ($36 per module) |
| Mobile version | Works the same as the desktop version | Features are limited |
| Archive export | Yes | Yes |
| Image modification | Crop, rotation, fish-eye dewarping, digital zoom | Digital zoom |
| Detector modules |
|
|
| Support of PTZ tours and presets | Yes | Yes (additional equipment might be needed) |
| Flexibility in video analytics settings | Easy (module-based) | Complicated (slider- and syntax-based, often requires supplementary software) |
|
Licensing |
||
| Cost | From $0 From $11 for commercial editions |
From $0 From $63 for commercial editions |
| Editions |
|
|
| Camera number limitations | No (except for Xeoma Lite) |
|
| System expansion | Available for Xeoma Standard & Pro (unlimited) | Modules only (every module is purchased separately, average price is approx. $40) |
| Trial edition |
|
|
| License duration | Unlimited (only the free updates period can expire) | Valid until the next software update |
| Free edition | Yes | Yes |
|
Miscellaneous |
||
| Cloud service | Xeoma Cloud Xeoma Pro Your Cloud (the user’s own cloud) |
Integrated only |
| Technical support | Free of charge, no time or edition limitations | Free of charge, only for registered users |
| Software customization | Yes | No |
| Official website’s information support | Articles, FAQ, user forum, user manual, thematic videos | Manual, forum, thematic videos, paid courses |
| Paid software development | Available | Unavailable |
As the results of our comparative analysis show, such video surveillance programs as Xeoma and VideoNet might possess a certain degree of similarity in their functions, but nonetheless target utterly different audiences and perform contrasting tasks.
VideoNet as a utility is rather unwieldy. It is meant exclusively for large enterprises and exhibits fairly expensive pricing plans (especially due to the program’s support of numerous additional modules and other forms of software that it requires to operate as intended). Setting it up is an admittedly complicated process, which is extremely inconvenient in light of the mandatory registration the user has to undergo to receive technical support. Although VideoNet offers various possibilities for access control system integration (with many of its modules designed specifically to accommodate certain external devices), the list of supported cameras and systems of the program is limited while the licensing plans are quite strict. Consequently, a VideoNet purchase will require thorough planning of what the system must look like. In general, VideoNet would be a great solution for large organizations with a big budget and a very defined view of the system the user wishes to implement.
As such, Xeoma is the complete opposite of VideoNet. It combines all the needed features (and even both the server and the client) in just one program and doesn’t require any kind of installation – all additions can be made by simply purchasing the necessary licenses. Xeoma is very beginner-friendly and suits private users as well: the free edition functions as a standalone version, and the parameter configuration is simple and intuitive. Licensing plans are flexible and flawlessly adapt to any project, be it access control system integration or the most basic motion detection. Technical support is fully anonymous: excluding the account or address from which the support request is made, every other kind of information is only disclosed at the user’s discretion. Xeoma also provides its users with an opportunity to rebrand and customize the software or even create their own cloud service. Therefore, Xeoma is a solution for video surveillance systems of any scale: home use, corporate use, free or commercial use – the choice is yours.
All the data used in the article is taken from open sources and valid as of January 2025
Read also:
More examples of comparing Xeoma and other video surveillance programs
A detailed comparison: Xeoma vs. Zoneminder
How Xeoma can be used for businesses and enterprises
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