What is Frigate NVR?
Frigate is an open-source NVR built for Home Assistant and self-hosted smart homes. It runs in Docker or as a Home Assistant OS add-on and focuses on efficient, local-first camera processing.
Its headline feature is AI object detection using Google Coral or CPU-based inference, making it possible to detect people, cars, animals, and more without relying on a cloud service.
Frigate stores recordings locally, integrates deeply with Home Assistant automations, and re-streams your cameras as both RTSP and WebRTC through built-in go2rtc.
Project: github.com/blakeblackshear/frigate
Frigate RTSP Stream URLs
Frigate exposes each camera as an RTSP stream using its built-in go2rtc integration:
- IP = your Frigate server's IP address
- CAMERA_NAME = the camera name from
frigate.yml, such asfront_doororbackyard - Port 8554 = the embedded go2rtc RTSP server port in Frigate 0.12+
Example: rtsp://192.168.1.50:8554/front_door
How to View Frigate Cameras on iPhone
- Find your Frigate server's IP address in Home Assistant or on your Docker host.
- Open SmartRTSP on iPhone.
- Tap Add Camera → Manual Entry.
- Enter the RTSP URL:
rtsp://192.168.1.50:8554/CAMERA_NAME. - No username/password is usually required because Frigate go2rtc is LAN-only by default.
- Tap Connect and the live stream appears.
Multi-camera tip: add each Frigate camera as a separate RTSP source, then use SmartRTSP's 2×2 grid view to monitor multiple feeds at once.
Frigate go2rtc Configuration
Frigate 0.12+ uses go2rtc internally for re-streaming. A typical frigate.yml section looks like this:
Frigate will re-stream those sources at URLs such as rtsp://frigate_ip:8554/front_door.
Accessing Frigate Remotely on iPhone
By default, Frigate's RTSP output is intended for local network use. Inside your home, SmartRTSP can connect directly to rtsp://frigate_ip:8554/CAMERA_NAME.
For remote viewing, the safest option is Tailscale. Install Tailscale on the Frigate server and your iPhone, then connect using the server's Tailscale IP:
See the Tailscale RTSP guide for a secure remote-access setup.
Frigate vs Direct RTSP
| Feature | Frigate RTSP | Direct Camera RTSP |
|---|---|---|
| AI detection | ✅ Person/car/animal | ❌ |
| Recording | ✅ Local storage | ❌ (separate NVR needed) |
| RTSP re-stream | ✅ go2rtc built-in | ✅ Direct |
| Home Assistant | ✅ Native integration | Partial |
| iPhone viewing | ✅ via SmartRTSP | ✅ via SmartRTSP |
| Setup complexity | Medium | Low |
Frigate Hardware Requirements
Suitable for 2–4 cameras without a Coral if you're conservative with detection workloads.
Greatly reduces CPU usage for AI detection and is the best upgrade for Frigate performance.
Recommended for 8+ cameras or heavier recording and detection workloads.
Supported through the add-on path and ideal for users already running Home Assistant as the hub.
Frigate NVR FAQ
What is the Frigate NVR RTSP URL?
Frigate streams cameras at rtsp://frigate_ip:8554/CAMERA_NAME using its built-in go2rtc server.
Can I view Frigate cameras on iPhone?
Yes. Add the Frigate RTSP URL in SmartRTSP, for example rtsp://IP:8554/camera_name, and view the stream live on iPhone.
Does Frigate support ONVIF?
Frigate itself doesn't expose ONVIF, but its go2rtc re-streams are standard RTSP endpoints that any RTSP viewer can open.
How do I access Frigate cameras remotely on iPhone?
Use Tailscale on both the Frigate server and your iPhone, then connect to the RTSP URL with the Tailscale IP instead of the local LAN IP.
Watch Frigate Feeds Anywhere SmartRTSP Runs
If Frigate can re-stream it as RTSP, SmartRTSP can play it on iPhone, iPad, and Mac — perfect for Home Assistant users who want a clean native viewer.
Download SmartRTSP Free