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Government · head to head

CentralSquare vs Dahua Technology

CentralSquare logo

CentralSquare

Government

Public Safety and Administration Software

From
$1500/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Dahua Technology logo

Dahua Technology

Cybersecurity

Large Chinese video platform that US federal buyers and federal contractors cannot lawfully use

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CentralSquare no pricing information is published on the website; Dahua Technology dahua is named under NDAA Section 889 and listed on the FCC Covered List, so the US federal government cannot procure its video surveillance equipment and cannot contract with entities that use it, which disqualifies most organisations with any federal contracting ambition regardless of how good the software is.
  • They diverge on capability: CentralSquare covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Dahua Technology covers DSS Pro V8.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CentralSquare and Dahua Technology actually diverge.

Attributes where CentralSquare and Dahua Technology differ
AttributeCentralSquareDahua Technology
Starting price$1500/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWeb, Desktop, Ios, AndroidWindows, Linux, Web, iOS, Android
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded2018Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in CentralSquare

  • Computer-Aided Dispatch
  • Records Management
  • Jail Management
  • Fire RMS
  • Community Development
  • Esri ArcGIS
  • FBI CJIS
  • NCIC

Only in Dahua Technology

  • DSS Pro V8
  • Distributed architecture
  • DeepXplore
  • Access management
  • Parking Lot application
  • Intelligent Analysis
  • Maintenance Center
  • DMSS mobile app

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

CentralSquare

  • Citizen Servicesnot Dahua Technology
  • Records Managementnot Dahua Technology
  • Public Safetynot Dahua Technology
  • Civic Engagementnot Dahua Technology

Dahua Technology

  • A private industrial site outside the United States with no federal or defence supply chain exposurenot CentralSquare
  • A large-channel-count deployment in a market where Section 889 and the FCC Covered List do not applynot CentralSquare
  • An existing Dahua estate authorised before February 2023 being maintained rather than expandednot CentralSquare
  • A buyer who has taken written legal advice confirming no federal contracting exposure now or in futurenot CentralSquare

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

CentralSquare

  • No pricing information is published on the website
  • Pricing model is not disclosed; visitors are directed to request a demo or contact sales

Dahua Technology

  • Dahua is named under NDAA Section 889 and listed on the FCC Covered List, so the US federal government cannot procure its video surveillance equipment and cannot contract with entities that use it, which disqualifies most organisations with any federal contracting ambition regardless of how good the software is.
  • Rules adopted by the FCC in late 2025 gave the Commission authority to revoke equipment authorisations already granted, so equipment that is legal to sell today may not be tomorrow and a multi-year rollout carries regulatory risk the vendor cannot indemnify.
  • Sourcing has degraded sharply: new equipment, replacement parts and system expansions are increasingly difficult to obtain through compliant US distribution and major retailers have removed listings, so an installed estate faces a spares problem long before end of life.
  • Any organisation that later wins or bids for federal work, or supplies a federal contractor, must audit and replace Dahua equipment across all its facilities under Section 889(a)(1)(B), turning a cheap installation into an expensive forced rip-out.
  • Beyond procurement law, insurers, auditors and enterprise customers increasingly treat Chinese-manufactured surveillance as a supply chain finding in its own right, so the reputational cost lands even where the legal prohibition does not.

Pricing, plan by plan

CentralSquare

$1500/month
  • Public Safety Suite$1500/month
    • CAD
    • Records Management
    • Mobile Solutions

Dahua Technology

On request
  • DSS Pro V8$undefined/year
    • Base video licence covering 16 channels, required before adding more
    • Additional video channel licences purchased per channel
    • Access control, video intercom and parking licensed separately

Which should you pick?

Choose CentralSquare if

  • You need computer-aided dispatch.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android.
  • You also want records management.
CentralSquare review

Choose Dahua Technology if

  • You need dss pro v8.
  • You work on Windows, Linux, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want distributed architecture.
Dahua Technology review

Questions people ask

Is CentralSquare or Dahua Technology better?
Neither clearly leads. CentralSquare starts at $1500/month and Dahua Technology at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CentralSquare or Dahua Technology?
CentralSquare starts at $1500/month and Dahua Technology at On request.
Does CentralSquare or Dahua Technology run on more platforms?
CentralSquare runs on Web, Desktop, Ios, Android. Dahua Technology runs on Windows, Linux, Web, iOS, Android.
What is CentralSquare best used for?
CentralSquare is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what Dahua Technology is typically brought in for.
What can CentralSquare do that Dahua Technology cannot?
CentralSquare covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Jail Management, Fire RMS. Dahua Technology covers DSS Pro V8, Distributed architecture, DeepXplore, Access management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CentralSquare: How much does CentralSquare cost?

CentralSquare does not publish pricing on its website. The company directs customers to request a demo or schedule a call with their sales team to discuss pricing.

Source
Dahua Technology: Can a US federal agency buy Dahua?

No. Dahua is explicitly named under NDAA Section 889, so federal agencies cannot procure or obtain its video surveillance equipment, including OEM-rebadged versions.

CentralSquare: What is CentralSquare's pricing model?

The pricing model is not disclosed. CentralSquare appears to use a custom quote or consultation-based approach, as the website does not mention subscription plans or tier-based pricing.

Source
Dahua Technology: Can a private US company use Dahua cameras?

Section 889 does not directly regulate private companies without federal contracts, and existing installations are not required to be removed. But the moment the company bids for federal work or supplies a federal contractor, Section 889(a)(1)(B) makes the installed equipment a problem.

CentralSquare: Is there a free tier or trial?

No information about free tiers or trials is available on the website.

Source
Dahua Technology: Is existing Dahua equipment banned?

No. The prohibition on new authorisations does not apply retroactively to equipment authorised before February 2023, and legacy systems may remain in use. New purchases and expansions are the restricted part.

CentralSquare: How do I get a pricing quote?

Contact CentralSquare through their website to request a demo or schedule a call with their sales team.

Source
Dahua Technology: Is Dahua available outside the United States?

Yes, and it remains one of the two largest manufacturers globally, though a number of other countries have introduced their own restrictions on government use.

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