Comparison

CCTVplanner vs JVSG

JVSG IP Video System Design Tool is a paid desktop application for Windows. CCTVplanner is a free, browser-based alternative that works on any device. Design CCTV layouts instantly without installing software or buying licenses.

Before the feature comparison

Where these tools come from matters.

Software origin drives data residency, sanctions exposure, and procurement compliance. For EU and Western buyers in 2026, this is no longer a footnote.

JVSG · Origin: Russia

Developed in Russia. JVSG is a Russian-origin product. License validation, software updates, and vendor support route through Russian infrastructure.

Sanctions exposure. EU and US sanctions frameworks since 2022 expanded scrutiny of Russian-origin software in critical infrastructure, including physical security and surveillance.

Procurement red flag. Government, defence, finance, healthcare, and critical-infrastructure tenders increasingly exclude tools developed in Russia. Auditors will ask.

GDPR data flow. Any vendor telemetry, license activation, or cloud feature touching Russian servers is a third-country transfer that requires its own GDPR assessment.

CCTVPlanner · Origin: European Union

DEFENSAR. 100% Engineered and Hosted in the EU. No third-country transfers in the default stack.

GDPR-aligned by default. Built-in DPIA worksheet (Art. 35), data-subject controls, and processor agreements all within EU jurisdiction.

Procurement-ready. Passes EU public-sector and critical-infrastructure origin filters. NDAA §889 per-camera flags for US federal use cases.

Origin claims are publicly verifiable via the vendor websites and company registers. We are not asking you to take our word for it — we are asking you to check before you sign.

Receipts

JVSG calls our work "vibe-coded" and "limited". Here are the receipts.

A recent comparison page on jvsg.com makes specific claims about CCTVPlanner. Below — every claim we found, quoted exactly, with what is actually in our product.

JVSG says

“Limited database”

Reality

65,000 camera models — counted live from our catalog. JVSG advertises 21,000+. We are larger.

JVSG says

“Limited or simplified calculations”

Reality

Full DORI per EN 62676-4 (thresholds 25 / 62.5 / 125 / 250 px/m). HFOV, VFOV, IFOV, tilt correction, corridor mode. Obstacle-aware coverage with 3D shadow geometry. 4,270 unit tests on the math.

JVSG says

“Basic export”

Reality

Multi-page PDF with bill of materials, cable schedule, equipment list, elevation views, cost estimate. Full DXF export and import (BLOCK, INSERT, SPLINE, HATCH, DIMENSION). PNG export. Auto-generated GDPR DPIA worksheet (Art. 35).

JVSG says

“Cable routing and accurate cable length estimation”

Reality

We calculate cable length per route too. Visible directly in the route edit panel. Carries straight into the BOM and into the customer offer. JVSG implies this is theirs alone — it is not.

JVSG says

“Lack consistency in calculations”

Reality

4,270 unit tests cover DORI math, lens optics, topology graph, obstacle shadowing, multi-floor projection, currency conversion, datasheet validation. No claim — just numbers. JVSG provided no example to back this up.

JVSG says

“Vibe-coded product, limited proven capabilities”

Reality

26 standards validated (EN 62676 series, EN 50130-4/5, EN 62305 lightning, IEC 60529/62262, ISO/IEC 11801, IEEE 802.3 PoE, ONVIF, NDAA §889, GDPR, BS 8418, AS/NZS 4806, Garante 2010). 22 UI languages including RTL Arabic. Multi-floor topology with daisy-chain, NVR, WAP, multi-closet routing. Paying customers from all over the world.

JVSG says

“Cloud-based — requires internet”

Reality

Open the project from any device — laptop, tablet, phone — with no install. PWA caches the app for offline use after first load. Modern UI. JVSG: Windows install required, single machine only, UI essentially unchanged since 2015.

JVSG says

“3D visualization of camera coverage”

Reality

We do not render a 3D scene — yet. We calculate in 3D: mounting height per camera (1–20 m), tilt angle (0–60°), obstacles with Z-ranges, 3D shadow geometry for see-over checks, multi-floor elevation. The math is 3-dimensional. A pretty 3D demo without 3D-aware obstacle layers is a render, not engineering.

Quotes verified on jvsg.com/cctv-planner/ at time of publication. Numbers above are sourced from our live codebase: catalog count, test count, supported standards, language list. We will update this page if JVSG corrects theirs.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature	CCTVplanner	JVSG
Data Residency	EU (AWS eu-west, Ireland)	Desktop app, Russian origin
Price	Free (Standard from €4.17/mo)	Paid license (~$500+)
Platform	Browser-based (any device)	Windows desktop only
Camera Placement	Drag & drop on satellite/floor plans	Drag & drop on imported plans
FOV Visualization	Real-time FOV cones with DORI zones	3D FOV modeling with DORI
Floor Plan Import	Yes - upload custom floor plans	Yes - import CAD/image files
Satellite Map View	Yes - Google Maps integration	Limited - screenshot-based
PDF Export	Professional PDF reports	PDF/Word export
Storage Calculator	Built-in with bandwidth estimation	Built-in storage/bandwidth calc
Collaboration	Cloud-based project sharing	No - local files only
Installation Required	None - works in browser	Yes - Windows installer
Learning Curve	Intuitive - start in minutes	Steep - complex desktop software
Mobile Access	Yes - any device with a browser	No - desktop only
Standards compliance (cited + validated)	26 standards: EN 62676 series, EN 50130-4/5, EN 62305 lightning, IEC 60529/62262, ISO/IEC 11801, IEEE 802.3 PoE, ONVIF, NDAA §889, GDPR, BS 8418, AS/NZS 4806, Garante 2010 + more	Limited — DORI mentioned, no formal validators
Thermal cameras — Johnson Criteria (NATO STANAG 4347)	64 verified thermal models with datasheet DRI tables, dual-spectrum FOV cone	Basic thermal — no Johnson Criteria implementation
Lightning protection assessment (EN 62305)	Automatic LPZ classification + SPD requirements per camera	Not provided
NDAA §889 compliance flag (US Federal)	Per camera + mixed-compliance validator	Not flagged
Interface languages	20 (EN, PL, DE, ES, FR, IT, PT-BR, PT-PT, TR, AR, JA, KO, HI, VI, TH, FIL, ID, UK, CS, NL)	~3-5
Datasheet-verified specs (bitrate, lux, IP/IK, ONVIF, NDAA, env class)	171 verified flagship models with full compliance metadata	Large catalog but compliance metadata limited
GDPR DPIA worksheet (Art. 35)	Auto-generated in PDF per WP29 WP248	Not provided

Why Installers Switch to CCTVplanner

Works Everywhere

No Windows PC required. Access CCTVplanner from any device with a browser - Mac, tablet, phone, or Chromebook. Review designs on-site and make changes on the go.

Instant Start, No Setup

No downloads, no installation, no license keys. Sign up and start designing CCTV layouts immediately. JVSG requires downloading, installing, and activating a paid license before you can begin.

Cloud-Based Collaboration

Your projects are saved in the cloud and accessible from anywhere. Share designs with team members and clients instantly. JVSG stores files locally with no built-in sharing.

Mobile-Friendly Design

Review and edit CCTV layouts on your tablet or phone during site surveys. JVSG is locked to a Windows desktop, making on-site adjustments impossible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is CCTVplanner as powerful as JVSG?

CCTVplanner covers the essential features most installers need: camera placement on satellite maps and floor plans, FOV visualization with DORI zones, storage calculation, and professional PDF export. While JVSG offers advanced 3D modeling, CCTVplanner provides a faster, more accessible workflow that works on any device.

Can I import JVSG projects into CCTVplanner?

Direct JVSG project import is not currently supported. However, you can quickly recreate your layouts in CCTVplanner using satellite maps or by uploading the same floor plans. Most users find the process faster than working in JVSG.

Is CCTVplanner really free?

Yes! CCTVplanner offers a generous free tier that includes camera placement, FOV visualization, satellite map views, and basic PDF export. Pro plans start at $9/month for advanced features like unlimited projects and priority support.

Why switch from JVSG to CCTVplanner?

The main reasons installers switch are: no license cost to get started, works on any device (not just Windows), cloud-based project storage and sharing, and a simpler learning curve. CCTVplanner lets you design professional CCTV layouts without being tied to a specific computer.

Try CCTVplanner Free

Design professional CCTV layouts in minutes. No software to install, no license to buy. Just open your browser and start placing cameras.

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