Yawcam

What Yawcam is

Yawcam offers two free camera products: Yawcam Classic and Yawcam Ai. Classic provides video streaming, image snapshots, motion detection, FTP upload, overlays, password protection, scheduling, and time-lapse movies through a built-in webserver. It supports DirectX-compatible webcams and video capture devices, as well as DV cameras and network cameras. Classic requires Windows, Java Runtime Environment 6 or later, and DirectX 9 or later; its download page lists Windows 2000 through 11. Router port forwarding may be needed to make its webserver and stream reachable over the internet. Yawcam Ai adds real-time AI detection that distinguishes people, vehicles, and animals, with detection running on the user's hardware. Recordings are saved to the user's own disks, with no cloud connection required. Ai runs on Windows, Linux, or in a Docker container, and its responsive web app works on smartphones and tablets and can be installed to a mobile home screen as a PWA. Ai also lists ONVIF support, MQTT integration for Home Assistant and Node-RED, direct streaming to YouTube, and multi-user role-based access controls. Both plans are free; Ai is offered for personal and commercial use without subscription fees.

Who it suits

Yawcam Classic suits Windows users who want camera streaming, snapshots, motion detection, and scheduled or time-lapse recording. Yawcam Ai suits people who want local detection and disk-based recordings, with mobile access and listed integrations such as Home Assistant and Node-RED.

Limits

Both plans are free. Classic requires Windows, Java Runtime Environment 6 or later, and DirectX 9 or later; internet reachability for its webserver and stream may require router port forwarding.

Getting started

1. Open https://www.yawcam.com/.
2. Choose Yawcam Classic for Windows or Yawcam Ai for Windows, Linux, or Docker.
3. For Classic, install Java Runtime Environment 6 or later and DirectX 9 or later.
4. Connect a supported camera; Classic supports DirectX-compatible devices, DV cameras, and network cameras.
5. For Classic internet access, forward router ports if needed.
6. For Ai mobile access, open its responsive web app or install it to a phone or tablet home screen as a PWA.

Verdict

Choose Classic for a free Windows camera tool with streaming, motion detection, and scheduled recording. Choose Ai for local AI detection, disk-based recordings, mobile web access, and its listed integrations; Classic requires Windows and may need router port forwarding for internet access.