Cybersecurity · head to head
Genetec Security Center vs PublicInput

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
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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.; PublicInput all three plans, Listen, Engage and Engage Plus, are listed as Request Pricing with no published rate, minimum or cost driver
- They diverge on capability: Genetec Security Center covers Omnicast video management, PublicInput covers Virtual Public Meetings.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Genetec Security Center and PublicInput actually diverge.
| Attribute | Genetec Security Center | PublicInput |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $400/month |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, Web, iOS, Android | Web, Ios, Android |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Government |
| Founded | Unknown | 2014 |
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 Genetec Security Center
- Omnicast video management
- Synergis access control
- AutoVu ALPR
- Security Desk
- Federation
- Genetec Clearance
- Mission Control
- Genetec Advantage
Only in PublicInput
- Virtual Public Meetings
- Online Surveys
- Comment Management
- Multi-language Support
- Engagement Analytics
- Zoom
- Microsoft Teams
- GovDelivery
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Genetec Security Center
- An airport unifying video, doors and licence plate recognition under one operator client and one audit trailnot PublicInput
- A city federating dozens of independently owned camera systems into a regional monitoring centre without taking ownership of themnot PublicInput
- A campus that refuses to be locked to one camera manufacturer over a fifteen-year refresh cyclenot PublicInput
- A transit authority needing evidence export with a chain of custody that will survive a court challengenot PublicInput
PublicInput
- Civic engagementnot Genetec Security Center
- Government consultationnot Genetec Security Center
- Public input collectionnot Genetec Security Center
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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.
PublicInput
- All three plans, Listen, Engage and Engage Plus, are listed as Request Pricing with no published rate, minimum or cost driver
- HTML and CSS customization, custom workflows and approvals, and external system integration with Accela and ESRI are listed as Enterprise Capabilities rather than core platform features
- Public meetings functionality is sold under a separate Meetings plan rather than being included with the Engagement plans
- Getting a plan requires booking a consultation and a tailored demo rather than self serve signup
Pricing, plan by plan
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
PublicInput
$400/month- Enterprise$400/month
- Virtual Meetings
- Surveys
- Comment Management
Which should you pick?
Choose Genetec Security Center if
- You need omnicast video management.
- You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want synergis access control.
Choose PublicInput if
- You need virtual public meetings.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want online surveys.
Questions people ask
- Is Genetec Security Center or PublicInput better?
- Neither clearly leads. Genetec Security Center starts at On request and PublicInput at $400/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Genetec Security Center or PublicInput?
- Genetec Security Center starts at On request and PublicInput at $400/month.
- Does Genetec Security Center or PublicInput run on more platforms?
- Genetec Security Center runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. PublicInput runs on Web, Ios, Android.
- What is Genetec Security Center best used for?
- Genetec Security Center is most often used for an airport unifying video, doors and licence plate recognition under one operator client and one audit trail, a city federating dozens of independently owned camera systems into a regional monitoring centre without taking ownership of them, a campus that refuses to be locked to one camera manufacturer over a fifteen-year refresh cycle, a transit authority needing evidence export with a chain of custody that will survive a court challenge. Of those, an airport unifying video, doors and licence plate recognition under one operator client and one audit trail and a city federating dozens of independently owned camera systems into a regional monitoring centre without taking ownership of them are not what PublicInput is typically brought in for.
- What can Genetec Security Center do that PublicInput cannot?
- Genetec Security Center covers Omnicast video management, Synergis access control, AutoVu ALPR, Security Desk. PublicInput covers Virtual Public Meetings, Online Surveys, Comment Management, Multi-language Support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
PublicInput: How much does PublicInput cost?
PublicInput does not publish pricing on their website. Customers must request a demo or book a meeting to receive a quote based on their specific needs.
SourceGenetec 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.
PublicInput: What pricing plans does PublicInput offer?
PublicInput offers Engagement Plans and Meetings Plans, but specific pricing for each plan is not publicly available and requires contacting their sales team.
SourceGenetec Security Center: Can I buy Genetec directly?
No. It is sold exclusively through certified integrators, who also do the design and commissioning.
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.
Related pages
More on Genetec Security Center
More on PublicInput
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