Softwr

Government · head to head

CityView vs Genetec Security Center

CityView logo

CityView

Government

Community Development Software

From
$10000/year
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
Genetec Security Center logo

Genetec Security Center

Cybersecurity

Unified video, access control and licence plate platform sold in perpetual channel licences plus an annual maintenance contract

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CityView high implementation and licensing costs for smaller municipalities; Genetec Security Center genetec publishes no pricing and sells only through certified integrators, so buyers cannot benchmark a quote and the same 500-camera design can vary widely in price between integrators.
  • They diverge on capability: CityView covers Building Permits, Genetec Security Center covers Omnicast video management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CityView and Genetec Security Center actually diverge.

Attributes where CityView and Genetec Security Center differ
AttributeCityViewGenetec Security Center
Starting price$10000/yearOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
PlatformsWebWindows, Web, iOS, Android
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded1976Unknown

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 CityView

  • Building Permits
  • Business Licensing
  • Code Enforcement
  • Inspections Management
  • Online Citizen Portal
  • Esri ArcGIS
  • Microsoft Office
  • Payment Gateways

Only in Genetec Security Center

  • Omnicast video management
  • Synergis access control
  • AutoVu ALPR
  • Security Desk
  • Federation
  • Genetec Clearance
  • Mission Control
  • Genetec Advantage

What people use each for

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

CityView

  • Citizen Servicesnot Genetec Security Center
  • Records Managementnot Genetec Security Center
  • Public Safetynot Genetec Security Center
  • Civic Engagementnot Genetec Security Center

Genetec Security Center

  • An airport unifying video, doors and licence plate recognition under one operator client and one audit trailnot CityView
  • A city federating dozens of independently owned camera systems into a regional monitoring centre without taking ownership of themnot CityView
  • A campus that refuses to be locked to one camera manufacturer over a fifteen-year refresh cyclenot CityView
  • A transit authority needing evidence export with a chain of custody that will survive a court challengenot CityView

Where each one falls short

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

CityView

  • High implementation and licensing costs for smaller municipalities
  • Complex setup and customization requiring expert assistance

Genetec Security Center

  • Genetec publishes no pricing and sells only through certified integrators, so buyers cannot benchmark a quote and the same 500-camera design can vary widely in price between integrators.
  • Genetec Advantage is an annual maintenance agreement commonly quoted at 18 to 22 percent of licence value, so a perpetual licence is not a one-off cost, and letting it lapse freezes the system on its current version and stops support.
  • Licensing is per camera channel, so adding cameras is a licence purchase every time and organisations that expand a site by a hundred cameras discover the software line grows in step with the hardware.
  • It is a Windows server platform that has to be sized, patched, backed up and eventually migrated, so the real cost includes an IT estate and an integrator, which puts it out of reach of organisations without a security team.
  • Operator competence is a genuine dependency: Security Desk is dense, and sites that deploy it without training end up using a fraction of the platform they paid for while still paying full maintenance on all of it.

Pricing, plan by plan

CityView

$10000/year

No published plan breakdown. See the CityView review.

Genetec Security Center

On request
  • Security Center$undefined/year
    • Perpetual video channel licences, priced per camera
    • Standard, Professional and Enterprise editions
    • Access control and ALPR modules licensed separately

Which should you pick?

Choose CityView if

  • You need building permits.
  • You also want business licensing.
CityView review

Choose Genetec Security Center if

  • You need omnicast video management.
  • You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want synergis access control.
Genetec Security Center review

Questions people ask

Is CityView or Genetec Security Center better?
Neither clearly leads. CityView starts at $10000/year and Genetec Security Center at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CityView or Genetec Security Center?
CityView starts at $10000/year and Genetec Security Center at On request.
Does CityView or Genetec Security Center run on more platforms?
CityView runs on Web. Genetec Security Center runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
What is CityView best used for?
CityView is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what Genetec Security Center is typically brought in for.
What can CityView do that Genetec Security Center cannot?
CityView covers Building Permits, Business Licensing, Code Enforcement, Inspections Management. Genetec Security Center covers Omnicast video management, Synergis access control, AutoVu ALPR, Security Desk.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CityView: Is CityView cloud-based or on-premise?

CityView offers both cloud-based SaaS deployments and on-premise options depending on municipality preference and requirements.

Source
Genetec Security Center: How much does Genetec cost per camera?

Genetec does not publish prices. Independent estimates put on-premises video channel licences in the region of 150 to 250 US dollars per camera by edition, plus annual Advantage maintenance at roughly 18 to 22 percent of licence value.

CityView: What modules are included?

CityView Suite includes Property Information, Permits and Inspections, Planning, Code Enforcement, Licensing, Animal Licensing, Service Requests, Rental Housing, Cemetery Management, Parking Management, and Cashiering modules.

Source
Genetec Security Center: Is Genetec Advantage optional?

Technically yes, but without it you get no version upgrades and no support, and reinstating it later usually means paying for the lapsed period.

CityView: How long has CityView been in the market?

CityView has over 40 years of experience serving local governments with community development and municipal land management solutions.

Source
Genetec Security Center: Can I buy Genetec directly?

No. It is sold exclusively through certified integrators, who also do the design and commissioning.

CityView: What is the pricing structure?

CityView pricing ranges from $10,000 to $75,000+ per year for mid-sized municipalities, or approximately $100 to $250 per user per month for SaaS deployments, depending on modules selected.

Source
Genetec Security Center: Does it work with any camera?

It supports thousands of models across manufacturers, which is its core advantage over camera-maker software, though NDAA-restricted brands should be checked against your own procurement rules.

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