Best NVR Recorders
The REOLINK RLN8-410 is the best standalone NVR for most homes, an 8 channel recorder with 8 built-in PoE ports for $349.99, so no separate PoE switch is needed.
An NVR, or network video recorder, is the box that stores footage from your cameras onto a local hard drive and runs the app you use to view and search that footage. It is a separate purchase from the cameras themselves unless you buy one of the bundled kits covered elsewhere on this site.
The recorders below were researched from published manufacturer specifications and verified owner reviews, compared on channel count, whether PoE ports are built in or a separate switch is required, whether a hard drive is included, and price.
Before buying a bare recorder, check whether it is built to work only with one camera brand or with any standards compliant PoE camera, since that decision limits which cameras you can add to it later.
| Recorder | Channels | Built-in PoE ports | Included drive | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REOLINK RLN8-410 | 8 | 8 | none, sold separately | $349.99 |
| REOLINK RLN16-410 | 16 | not listed | none, sold separately | $459.99 |
| ANNKE 12MP 8CH PoE NVR | 8 | 8 | none, sold separately | $159.99 |
| TRENDnet TV-NVR1508 | 8 | 8 | none, sold separately | $107.99 |
| Lorex V-Series 8Ch NVR | 8 | not listed | 1TB included | $399.99 |
Built-in PoE ports or a separate switch
A recorder with built-in PoE ports, such as the REOLINK RLN8-410 or the TRENDnet TV-NVR1508, powers each camera directly through the same cable that carries its video, so there is nothing extra to buy or wire. A recorder without built-in PoE ports needs a separate PoE switch or individual injectors, which adds cost and another device to keep powered.
Check the port count against your camera count before buying, since an 8 port recorder cannot power a ninth camera without adding an external switch regardless of how many recording channels it has.
Beginner picks
A first standalone recorder is easiest to set up when it already includes a hard drive, so there is no separate storage purchase to research before the system can record anything.
The Lorex V-Series 4K 8-Ch 1TB NVR ships with a 1TB drive already fitted, enough for roughly two weeks on four cameras, and is a sensible starting point to expand storage from later.
Intermediate picks
Once you know your camera count and preferred brand, matching the PoE port count of the recorder to that camera count avoids buying a separate switch.
The REOLINK RLN8-410 gives 8 built-in PoE ports for up to 8 REOLINK cameras with no separate switch needed, and it works with the REOLINK PoE camera lineup rather than one specific model.
Expert picks
A large property, or a buyer set on mixing camera brands, needs either more channels or a recorder built to open standards rather than one brand.
The REOLINK RLN16-410 doubles channel count to 16 for a property that has outgrown 8, while the TRENDnet TV-NVR1508 is built by a networking company rather than a camera company and is designed to accept standards compliant PoE cameras rather than locking to one brand.
How we chose
This comparison was researched from published manufacturer specifications and verified owner reviews on retail listings, not from recorders purchased and run in a live installation. We did not test any of these recorders ourselves, and nothing here should be read as a report on reliability over time.
We did check whether each recorder ships with a hard drive included, since that detail changes the real total price, and we noted where a recorder is locked to one camera brand versus built to accept standards compliant cameras from multiple makers.
The recorders we compared
REOLINK RLN8-410 8CH NVR Network Video Recorder PoE
$349.99Eight PoE ports built into the recorder, so the cameras get power and data from the same box and there is no separate switch to budget.
- Channels
- 8
- PoE ports
- 8
Prices change often.
REOLINK RLN16-410 16CH NVR Network Video Recorder PoE
$459.99Sixteen channels for a property that has outgrown eight, and the usual reason to buy one is a detached garage or a second building.
- Channels
- 16
Prices change often.
ANNKE 12MP 8CH PoE Network Video Recorder, No HDD
$159.99Supplied without a drive, which is the cheaper path when you are fitting a surveillance drive sized from your own retention calculation rather than accepting whatever came in the box.
- Channels
- 8
- Resolution
- 12 MP
- PoE ports
- 8
Check first:No hard drive is included. Budget for a surveillance rated drive separately.
Check price on AmazonPrices change often.
TRENDnet 8-Channel UHD PoE NVR, TV-NVR1508
$107.99TRENDnet is a networking company rather than a camera company, and this recorder takes standards compliant cameras rather than locking to one brand.
- Channels
- 8
- PoE ports
- 8
Prices change often.
Lorex V-Series 4K 8-Ch 1TB Network Video Recorder
$399.99Ships with a 1TB drive already fitted, which is enough for four cameras for about two weeks and is a sensible starting point to expand from.
- Channels
- 8
- Drive included
- 1 TB
Prices change often.
Common questions
What is the difference between an NVR and a DVR?
An NVR, or network video recorder, works with IP cameras that send already-digitized video over Ethernet, including PoE cameras that also draw power from that same cable. A DVR, or digital video recorder, works with older analog cameras connected over coaxial cable and needs separate power run to each camera. Every recorder in this roundup is an NVR built for PoE cameras.
Do I need a hard drive if I buy a bare NVR?
Yes, in every case in this roundup except the Lorex V-Series, which ships with a 1TB drive already installed. A bare recorder such as the REOLINK RLN8-410, the ANNKE 12MP NVR or the TRENDnet TV-NVR1508 requires you to buy and install a surveillance rated hard drive separately before it can record anything.
What does a built-in PoE port do that a regular network port does not?
A built-in PoE port sends both power and video data to a camera over the same Ethernet cable, so the camera needs no separate power adapter or outlet nearby. A regular network port only carries data, so a camera connected to it still needs its own power source or a separate PoE injector plugged in along the cable run.
Can I use a standalone NVR with cameras from a different brand?
It depends on the recorder. REOLINK and ANNKE recorders are generally built to work with their own brand of camera and may not fully support a different maker camera. A recorder built to open standards, such as the TRENDnet TV-NVR1508, is designed specifically to accept standards compliant PoE cameras from more than one brand.
How many channels do I need on a standalone NVR?
Match the channel count to your actual camera count plus a few spare channels for future additions, not to the largest number available. An 8 channel recorder covers most 4 to 8 camera households, while a 16 channel recorder is worth the extra cost only for a property with 9 or more planned camera positions.
Get the system planning sheet
The camera count, storage and PoE budget worksheet, plus the wiring checklist, as one printable page.
Keep going
Before you point a camera at anything. Aim cameras at your own property and your own boundary, never into a neighbour's windows or across their garden. Cameras in bedrooms, bathrooms, or anywhere else a person reasonably expects privacy are a serious legal problem, and that includes guests, lodgers and anyone who works in your home. Audio is legally different from video, many US states require the consent of every party to a recorded conversation, and several recorders capture audio by default, so check your own state before you enable it. Some places require visible notice that recording is taking place, and landlords and homeowner associations often impose their own rules on top. This is researched general information and not legal advice, and the law varies by state and by country.
And once it is installed. Change every default password, keep the firmware updated, and be clear with yourself about where the footage goes: a cloud camera means a third party holds recordings of your home, while a local recorder keeps them in your house. That is a genuine buying consideration, not a technicality.