Oriel

What is Oriel?

Oriel is a free iOS app (iOS 12+) that turns any spare iPhone or tablet into a home security camera. It provides live peer-to-peer streaming, AI-powered motion and person alerts, and up to 48 hours of recording playback—all without requiring a subscription. Users monitor multiple rooms from a single app, with all processing happening on-device for privacy.

Application scenarios

Home security
Keep an eye on living rooms, nurseries, or front doors using old devices as cameras.
Pet monitoring
Check in on pets while away with live HD video and motion alerts.
Child supervision
Get person-detected alerts when kids enter monitored areas, plus event playback to review activity.
Multi-room surveillance
Monitor several rooms simultaneously from one app by adding multiple cameras.
Quick check-ins
Open the app for a glance to confirm a room is okay without digging through menus.
Event review
Scroll through a timeline of motion and person events to understand what happened, up to 48 hours back.

Core Features

Instant camera setup
Turn any spare iPhone or tablet into a security camera in seconds—no extra hardware needed.
AI-powered person recognition
Motion and person alerts are processed entirely on-device, keeping data private.
Peer-to-peer live view
Live streaming connects directly between your devices, staying on your network.
Free recording playback
Review up to 48 hours of event recordings with no subscription or paywall.
Multi-camera support
Monitor multiple rooms from one app, expanding your setup as needed.
Unified interface
Camera list, live view, and event playback sit together for quick navigation between checking in and reviewing events.
No disruptive popups
The free tier includes no 5-minute popups interrupting your feed.
Separate infrastructure for recordings
Recordings and notifications use separate infrastructure from live view for reliability.

Target users

Homeowners and renters who want affordable, no-subscription security monitoring. Parents monitoring kids or nurseries. Pet owners checking in on animals. Anyone with spare iOS devices (iOS 12+) looking to repurpose them into functional security cameras without buying new hardware.

How to use Oriel?

Download the app on both devices (the camera device and your monitoring device). Sign in with the same account on both. The setup takes about 5 minutes. Once signed in, you can start live viewing, receive motion and person alerts, and review event recordings from the unified interface.

Pricing and free trial

Oriel is completely free. Recording playback up to 48 hours is included with no subscription and no paywall. There are no 5-minute popups interrupting your feed.

Effect review

Oriel delivers exactly what it promises: a straightforward, free way to turn old iPhones into functional security cameras. The peer-to-peer live view keeps your video local, while on-device AI processing handles motion and person detection without cloud costs. The 48-hour free recording playback is a standout feature—most competitors lock this behind a subscription. The unified interface makes checking in and reviewing events fast, though the app is currently iOS-only. For anyone with spare iOS devices, this is a practical, no-strings-attached security solution that works as advertised.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Oriel and how does it work?

Oriel is a free app that turns your iPhone (iOS 12+) into a home security camera. It uses P2P live streaming for real-time viewing, stores 48-hour recordings for playback, and sends motion alerts—all without a subscription.

Is Oriel really free? Are there any hidden charges?

Yes, Oriel is completely free with no subscription fees. There are no hidden charges for live streaming, 48-hour recording playback, or motion alerts.

How long does Oriel store recorded footage?

Oriel stores up to 48 hours of recorded footage for playback. Older recordings are automatically overwritten.

Does Oriel work with Android devices?

No, Oriel is currently only available for iPhones running iOS 12 or later.

How do I get motion alerts from Oriel?

Oriel detects motion in the camera's view and sends push notifications to your iPhone. You can enable or customize these alerts in the app settings.

Is my video stream secure with Oriel?

Oriel uses P2P (peer-to-peer) streaming, which means your video data goes directly between your iPhone and your viewing device, reducing reliance on external servers. However, as with any connected device, ensure your network is secure.