Frequently asked.
Clearly answered.

How much will it cost?

The HomesteadWatch Community Preview will be available free of charge for permitted non-commercial use under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0.

There will be no HomesteadWatch subscription. Users provide their own hardware and cover any optional third-party service costs. Commercial use requires separate permission or licensing.

What is HomesteadWatch?

HomesteadWatch is a self-hosted RTSP camera viewer with live viewing, a motion timeline, snapshots, notifications, and family-friendly access. It runs on hardware you control instead of relying on a HomesteadWatch-operated camera cloud.

Who is HomesteadWatch for?

HomesteadWatch is primarily aimed at self-hosters and technically confident home users who are comfortable with Linux, networking, RTSP cameras, and command-line tools. It is not intended to be a plug-and-play consumer appliance.

What cameras can I use?

HomesteadWatch requires a camera that provides a usable local RTSP stream. This includes many older IP cameras and newer models that retain local RTSP access.

A camera that works only through its manufacturer's cloud service may not be compatible. Camera-specific compatibility information will grow as more models are tested.

Can I use an old laptop?

Yes. An unused laptop or small PC can run HomesteadWatch and the supporting services for a private home camera setup.

Does HomesteadWatch use a cloud service?

No mandatory HomesteadWatch camera cloud is required. HomesteadWatch is designed to run on hardware you control.

Optional features may use separate third-party infrastructure. For example, Web Push can involve a browser-vendor push service, and users may choose hosted Tailscale instead of self-hosted Headscale. These are not HomesteadWatch camera-cloud services.

Do I need to expose my camera to the public internet?

No. Cameras and supporting services should remain private, with remote access provided through an appropriately secured private network.

Directly exposing an RTSP camera to the public internet is not recommended.

Do I need Tailscale?

No. Tailscale is one convenient option for private remote access. Headscale provides a self-hosted control-plane alternative, and other suitably secured network designs may also be used.

Does HomesteadWatch record video?

No. HomesteadWatch itself does not record video.

A separate media tool such as FFmpeg can record the RTSP stream directly to storage you control, while HomesteadWatch handles viewing, events, users, snapshots, and notifications. Keeping recording separate also allows it to continue if HomesteadWatch is restarted.

Can I use HomesteadWatch from my phone?

Yes. HomesteadWatch works through a web browser and can be installed as a Progressive Web App on supported devices. Compatible platforms can also receive notifications; no traditional app store is required.

Where is my camera footage stored?

Your own installation controls storage. HomesteadWatch does not provide a central footage-storage service; recordings, snapshots, configuration, and application data remain on infrastructure chosen by the system operator.

Will HomesteadWatch work on every Linux distribution and homelab?

No universal compatibility guarantee is possible. The Community Preview will provide a tested reference installation, while other operating systems, cameras, networks, proxies, and storage layouts may require adaptation and troubleshooting.

How much technical support will be provided?

The free Community Preview will be primarily self-service, supported by documentation for the tested reference setup.

Bug reports, compatibility reports, and documentation feedback are welcome. Individual remote administration, guaranteed one-to-one setup help, and a support SLA are not included.

What licence will HomesteadWatch use?

The Community Preview is intended to use the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. The source code and exact licence terms will accompany the release.

Can HomesteadWatch be used commercially?

Not under the planned Community Preview licence. Commercial use requires separate permission or licensing from the project.

When can I download HomesteadWatch?

Not quite yet. The Community Preview is still being prepared and will be available from this website when it is ready.