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Government · head to head

CKAN vs Vigilant Solutions

CKAN logo

CKAN

Government

Open Source Data Portal Platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vigilant Solutions logo

Vigilant Solutions

Government

License Plate Recognition Analytics

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CKAN has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CKAN the package install path requires Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 64-bit specifically; other operating systems must use the source install; Vigilant Solutions vigilant Solutions' product line, as captured before its Motorola Solutions acquisition (Internet Archive capture, 8 January 2020), was named Vigilant PlateSearch, FaceSearch, BallisticSearch and CrimeSearch, sold to law enforcement with no published pricing
  • They diverge on capability: CKAN covers Dataset Management, Vigilant Solutions covers License Plate Recognition.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CKAN and Vigilant Solutions actually diverge.

Attributes where CKAN and Vigilant Solutions differ
AttributeCKANVigilant Solutions
Starting priceFree$1000/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebWeb, Desktop, Mobile
Founded20061928

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Government).

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 CKAN

  • Dataset Management
  • Data Harvesting
  • API Access
  • Visualization
  • Extensions
  • DataPusher
  • Harvester
  • Third-party Tools

Only in Vigilant Solutions

  • License Plate Recognition
  • Vehicle Database
  • Real-time Alerts
  • Analytics
  • Mobile LPR
  • CAD Systems
  • RMS
  • Federal Databases

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

CKAN

  • Publishing open government datasets in a searchable public data portalnot Vigilant Solutions
  • Self-hosting a data catalogue with harvesting and an APInot Vigilant Solutions

Vigilant Solutions

  • Citizen Servicesnot CKAN
  • Records Managementnot CKAN
  • Public Safetynot CKAN
  • Civic Engagementnot CKAN

Where each one falls short

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

CKAN

  • The package install path requires Ubuntu 20.04 or 22.04 64-bit specifically; other operating systems must use the source install
  • Only Solr 9 and Solr 8 are supported, and from CKAN 2.10 they are the only Solr versions supported at all
  • A working deployment requires PostgreSQL, Solr, Redis, nginx, supervisor and uWSGI to be installed and maintained separately
  • Python 3.10 or later is required

Vigilant Solutions

  • Vigilant Solutions' product line, as captured before its Motorola Solutions acquisition (Internet Archive capture, 8 January 2020), was named Vigilant PlateSearch, FaceSearch, BallisticSearch and CrimeSearch, sold to law enforcement with no published pricing

Pricing, plan by plan

CKAN

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Data Management
    • API Access
    • Visualization

Vigilant Solutions

$1000/month
  • LPR Analytics$1000/month
    • LPR Cameras
    • Database Access
    • Analytics

Which should you pick?

Choose CKAN if

  • You need dataset management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want data harvesting.
CKAN review

Choose Vigilant Solutions if

  • You need license plate recognition.
  • You work on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
  • You also want vehicle database.
Vigilant Solutions review

Questions people ask

Is CKAN or Vigilant Solutions better?
Neither clearly leads. CKAN starts at Free and Vigilant Solutions at $1000/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CKAN or Vigilant Solutions?
CKAN has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CKAN and $1000/month for Vigilant Solutions.
Does CKAN or Vigilant Solutions run on more platforms?
CKAN runs on Web. Vigilant Solutions runs on Web, Desktop, Mobile.
Can I use CKAN for free?
Yes. CKAN has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Vigilant Solutions starts at $1000/month.
What is CKAN best used for?
CKAN is most often used for publishing open government datasets in a searchable public data portal, self-hosting a data catalogue with harvesting and an api. Of those, publishing open government datasets in a searchable public data portal and self-hosting a data catalogue with harvesting and an api are not what Vigilant Solutions is typically brought in for.
What can CKAN do that Vigilant Solutions cannot?
CKAN covers Dataset Management, Data Harvesting, API Access, Visualization. Vigilant Solutions covers License Plate Recognition, Vehicle Database, Real-time Alerts, Analytics. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CKAN: Is CKAN open-source and what license is it available under?

Yes, CKAN is an open-source data management system built on Python and available on GitHub. The license terms are available on their GitHub repository.

Source
Vigilant Solutions: How do I get pricing information for Vigilant Solutions?

Vigilant Solutions does not publish pricing on their website. Customers must contact Motorola Solutions' sales team directly to request a pricing estimate or discuss their specific requirements.

Source
CKAN: Does CKAN offer commercial support for organizations?

Yes, CKAN offers commercial support through certified providers including Link Digital and Datopian. Support includes advisory services, application development, integration, managed hosting, and web development.

Source
Vigilant Solutions: Is there a free demo or trial available?

Yes, Motorola Solutions (which now owns Vigilant Solutions) offers a free customized demo conducted by security experts. Users can request a demo on the product page without obligation.

Source
CKAN: Who is responsible for hosting costs when running CKAN?

Organizations deploying CKAN are responsible for their own hosting infrastructure. Commercial providers like Datopian and Link Digital offer managed hosting services if organizations prefer not to self-host.

Source
Vigilant Solutions: Can I get a pricing estimate without committing?

Yes, customers can provide details about their requirements through the website to receive a no-obligation pricing estimate from Motorola Solutions. This allows evaluation of potential costs before making any commitment.

Source
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