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...a free, open source app that watches your driveway, your porch, your garage, entirely on hardware you already own. No cloud. No subscription. No footage anyone else can request.
September 14, 2026
| Yasir Ai @AiwithYasir
Posted on 09/14/2026 10:58:53 AM PDT by ransomnote
Yasir Ai
@AiwithYasir
·
10h
Amazon Ring has a serious problem, and it doesn't cost a dollar.
It's called Frigate: a free, open source app that watches your driveway, your porch, your garage, entirely on hardware you already own. No cloud. No subscription. No footage anyone else can request.
It's built by Blake Blackshear, and it's been quietly becoming the go-to alternative for people who got tired of renting access to their own front door.
Here's the math Ring doesn't want you doing:
You: "How much is Ring Protect Pro?"
Ring: "$20 a month. $200 a year. Per house."
You: "What do I actually get for that?"
Ring: "Cloud storage. Also, we paid the FTC $5.8 million in 2023 after employees and contractors accessed customer videos without consent."
You: "What does Frigate cost?"
Frigate: "Nothing. It runs locally. Your footage never leaves your house."
Ring sells you the camera. Then rents you access to your own footage, every month, indefinitely.
Frigate just gives it to you.
100% open source (MIT license).
100% local.
100% yours.
The smart camera industry bet you'd keep paying rent on hardware you already bought.
Free, local alternatives are quietly proving that bet wrong.
'
September 14, 2026
TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: cams; frigate; ohnoes; qanonsense; ringcameras; security
Possibly worth checking out....
To: ransomnote
To: ransomnote
"Nothing. It runs locally. Your footage never leaves your house."
Part of what I like about Ring is I can see who is AT my house while I'm away in real time.
To: mmichaels1970
More spyware clothed in a shiny offer
To: George from New England
More spyware clothed in a shiny offer
Yeah but I know when the Amazon guy comes.
To: ransomnote
6
posted on
09/14/2026 11:31:27 AM PDT
by
DugwayDuke
(Most pick the expert who says the things they agree with.)
To: mmichaels1970
mmichaels1970 wrote: “Part of what I like about Ring is I can see who is AT my house while I’m away in real time.”
I can do the same thing with Eufy. All my data is stored on my devices.
7
posted on
09/14/2026 11:36:45 AM PDT
by
DugwayDuke
(Most pick the expert who says the things they agree with.)
To: ransomnote
8
posted on
09/14/2026 11:44:19 AM PDT
by
frank ballenger
(There's a battle outside and it's raging. It'll soon shake your windows and rattle your walls. )
To: ransomnote
I scanned through the website, but can’t find a list of cameras it works with. I have an NVR with half a dozen cameras, but I would switch to this if it is feasible.
9
posted on
09/14/2026 11:45:23 AM PDT
by
E. Pluribus Unum
(The right of Democrats to embezzle elections shall not be infringed. )
To: DugwayDuke
I can do the same thing with Eufy. All my data is stored on my devices.
And that is definitely worth more looking into. Thanks!
To: George from New England
To: ransomnote
Related to these crazy cameras...
Everytime I put my new car in reverse it shows a video of someone being run over!
What’s with that??
To: George from New England
13
posted on
09/14/2026 12:18:21 PM PDT
by
bigbob
(We are all Charlie Kirk now)
To: aMorePerfectUnion
What’s with that?? Next time, stop and ask the guy under your car.
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