Cybersecurity · head to head
DTiQ vs Helm

DTiQ
Cybersecurity
Managed video loss prevention with human auditors for restaurants, convenience stores and retail
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
The short version
- Only Helm has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: DTiQ you are buying labour, so the cost per site is far higher than a self-service video licence and it does not fall as camera prices do.; Helm licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DTiQ and Helm actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 DTiQ
- SmartAudit
- POS transaction linking
- 360iQ platform
- Exception alerting
- Drive-through timing
- Food safety and compliance checks
- Managed installation
Only in Helm
Nothing recorded that DTiQ does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
DTiQ
- A multi-unit quick service franchisee who has no one available to review video across fifteen storesnot Helm
- A convenience store chain investigating till fraud by matching voids to what actually happened at the counternot Helm
- An operator enforcing drive-through service time standards across locations from evidence rather than anecdotenot Helm
- A brand auditing food safety and cleanliness compliance at franchise sites without sending a field managernot Helm
Helm
- Kubernetes package manager and deployment toolnot DTiQ
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
DTiQ
- You are buying labour, so the cost per site is far higher than a self-service video licence and it does not fall as camera prices do.
- Audits are sampled, not continuous, so a problem outside the reviewed window is invisible and the score is a statistical impression rather than a complete record.
- Nothing is published on price and the commercial shape is a multi-year managed service agreement, which is harder to exit than a software subscription and typically involves bundled hardware you do not own.
- Ownership changed in a $200 million Digital Alpha led investment tied to a Cisco Meraki partnership, so the hardware and network roadmap may shift under an existing estate.
- It is built around restaurant, convenience and retail operating models, so an organisation outside those verticals gets a generic video product and pays for an audit methodology that does not fit its work.
Helm
- Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (helm/helm LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
- Contributors must sign commits under the Developer Certificate of Origin to have them accepted, per helm.sh, a process requirement not all Kubernetes tools impose
Pricing, plan by plan
DTiQ
On request- DTiQ managed service$undefined/month
- Priced per location as a managed service, not per camera
- Audit frequency and scope determine the rate
- Hardware and installation bundled into the service agreement
Helm
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Helm review.
Which should you pick?
Choose DTiQ if
- You need smartaudit.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want pos transaction linking.
Questions people ask
- Is DTiQ or Helm better?
- Neither clearly leads. DTiQ starts at On request and Helm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, DTiQ or Helm?
- Helm has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for DTiQ and Free for Helm.
- Does DTiQ or Helm run on more platforms?
- DTiQ runs on Web, iOS, Android. Helm runs on Web.
- Can I use Helm for free?
- Yes. Helm has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. DTiQ starts at On request.
- What is DTiQ best used for?
- DTiQ is most often used for a multi-unit quick service franchisee who has no one available to review video across fifteen stores, a convenience store chain investigating till fraud by matching voids to what actually happened at the counter, an operator enforcing drive-through service time standards across locations from evidence rather than anecdote, a brand auditing food safety and cleanliness compliance at franchise sites without sending a field manager. Of those, a multi-unit quick service franchisee who has no one available to review video across fifteen stores and a convenience store chain investigating till fraud by matching voids to what actually happened at the counter are not what Helm is typically brought in for.
- What can DTiQ do that Helm cannot?
- DTiQ covers SmartAudit, POS transaction linking, 360iQ platform, Exception alerting.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
DTiQ: Is DTiQ a video management system?
Not primarily. It is a managed service where human auditors review your footage and deliver scored reports. The platform exists to support that service.
Helm: How much does Helm cost?
Helm is free and open-source. It is a graduated project in the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) with no commercial pricing model.
SourceDTiQ: How is it priced?
Per location as a managed service, based on audit scope and frequency, with hardware and installation bundled. Nothing is published.
DTiQ: Who owns DTiQ?
Digital Alpha holds a majority stake following a $200 million investment that bought out Bain Capital, BV Investment Partners and others, alongside a Cisco Meraki partnership.
DTiQ: Does it integrate with my POS?
Yes, with major restaurant and convenience store point of sale systems, which is what allows transaction exceptions to be replayed on video.
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