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Cybersecurity · head to head

Envysion vs Ory Kratos

Envysion logo

Envysion

Cybersecurity

Managed video for restaurants and convenience stores that pairs camera footage with point of sale transaction data

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Ory Kratos logo

Ory Kratos

Cybersecurity

Headless identity and user management API

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Ory Kratos has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Envysion envysion now sits inside Motorola Solutions alongside Avigilon and Pelco, which overlap with it in retail video, so buyers should establish which platform Motorola intends to invest in before committing to a multi-year multi-site agreement.; Ory Kratos headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • They diverge on capability: Envysion covers Point of sale exception reporting, Ory Kratos covers Headless API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Envysion and Ory Kratos actually diverge.

Attributes where Envysion and Ory Kratos differ
AttributeEnvysionOry Kratos
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteOpen-source self-hosted, with a paid managed network
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidLinux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted

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

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 Envysion

  • Point of sale exception reporting
  • Cloud video review
  • Audio capture
  • Loss prevention case management
  • Operational auditing
  • Multi-site dashboards
  • Franchise access controls
  • Managed service model

Only in Ory Kratos

  • Headless API
  • Self-service flows
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Pluggable identity schemas

What people use each for

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

Envysion

  • A 300-store quick service chain where till voids and refunds are a known shrink channelnot Ory Kratos
  • A convenience retailer needing drive-through audio and video to settle a customer disputenot Ory Kratos
  • A franchisor auditing food safety and uniform compliance across franchisee sites remotelynot Ory Kratos
  • An investigator building an evidence package for a termination that will be challengednot Ory Kratos

Ory Kratos

  • Products needing complete control over the look and flow of authenticationnot Envysion
  • Applications that must not hand user identity data to a third partynot Envysion
  • Teams building identity as infrastructure across several servicesnot Envysion

Where each one falls short

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

Envysion

  • Envysion now sits inside Motorola Solutions alongside Avigilon and Pelco, which overlap with it in retail video, so buyers should establish which platform Motorola intends to invest in before committing to a multi-year multi-site agreement.
  • Point of sale integration is per till system, so a chain running two or three POS platforms across acquired brands may find exception reporting works properly in only some of its stores.
  • No pricing is published and it is sold as a per-site managed service, usually on a multi-year agreement, so a chain closing or refranchising stores mid-term can be paying for locations it no longer operates.
  • It is built specifically for till-level retail and restaurant loss prevention and is a poor fit for campus, industrial or office security, so an operator with a mixed estate needs a second platform for the head office.
  • Each site typically needs recording hardware installed, which makes rollout an install project per location rather than a software subscription, and refreshing that hardware is a periodic capital event the subscription does not cover.

Ory Kratos

  • Headless means you build every screen, which is significant work compared with a hosted login page
  • More moving parts than a monolithic IAM: Kratos handles identity, and OAuth2 needs Ory Hydra alongside
  • Documentation assumes real familiarity with identity concepts and is not a gentle introduction
  • Self-hosting identity carries the security and availability burden that hosted providers absorb

Pricing, plan by plan

Envysion

On request
  • Envysion managed video$undefined/year
    • Priced per site as a managed service
    • Recording hardware typically required in each location
    • Point of sale integration scoped per till system

Ory Kratos

Free
  • Self-hostedFree
    • Full identity server
    • All flows
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Envysion if

  • You need point of sale exception reporting.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want cloud video review.
Envysion review

Choose Ory Kratos if

  • You need headless api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
  • You also want self-service flows.
Ory Kratos review

Questions people ask

Is Envysion or Ory Kratos better?
Neither clearly leads. Envysion starts at On request and Ory Kratos at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Envysion or Ory Kratos?
Ory Kratos has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Envysion and Free for Ory Kratos.
Does Envysion or Ory Kratos run on more platforms?
Envysion runs on Web, iOS, Android. Ory Kratos runs on Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, Self-hosted.
Can I use Ory Kratos for free?
Yes. Ory Kratos has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Envysion starts at On request.
What is Envysion best used for?
Envysion is most often used for a 300-store quick service chain where till voids and refunds are a known shrink channel, a convenience retailer needing drive-through audio and video to settle a customer dispute, a franchisor auditing food safety and uniform compliance across franchisee sites remotely, an investigator building an evidence package for a termination that will be challenged. Of those, a 300-store quick service chain where till voids and refunds are a known shrink channel and a convenience retailer needing drive-through audio and video to settle a customer dispute are not what Ory Kratos is typically brought in for.
What can Envysion do that Ory Kratos cannot?
Envysion covers Point of sale exception reporting, Cloud video review, Audio capture, Loss prevention case management. Ory Kratos covers Headless API, Self-service flows, Multi-factor authentication, Pluggable identity schemas.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Envysion: Who owns Envysion?

Motorola Solutions. It sits in the same video security portfolio as Avigilon, Pelco and Openpath.

Ory Kratos: Is Ory Kratos free?

Yes, open source and free to self-host. Ory Network is a paid managed service.

Envysion: What makes it different from a cloud camera service?

The point of sale integration. Exception reports link a void, refund or discount directly to the clip of that transaction, which is what makes multi-site review practical.

Ory Kratos: What does headless mean here?

Kratos provides identity flows as APIs and no user interface. You build the login, registration and recovery screens yourself.

Envysion: Is pricing published?

No. It is quoted per site as a managed service, typically on a multi-year agreement.

Ory Kratos: Does Kratos do OAuth2?

No. Kratos handles user identity; OAuth2 and OpenID Connect provider functionality is Ory Hydra, a separate component.

Envysion: Will it work with my point of sale system?

Integration is built per POS platform, so confirm your specific system and version before buying, especially across acquired brands.

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