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Government · head to head

Mark43 vs VIVOTEK VAST Security Station

Mark43 logo

Mark43

Government

Modern Public Safety Software

From
$2000/month
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite
VIVOTEK VAST Security Station logo

VIVOTEK VAST Security Station

Cybersecurity

Camera-vendor video management software with a free 32-channel tier for VIVOTEK devices

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mark43 no published pricing on homepage; sales contact required for all cost details; VIVOTEK VAST Security Station vAST 2 has entered end of maintenance with technical support and software files withdrawn, yet distributors still list VAST 2 licences, so a buyer can be quoted unsupported software without realising it.
  • They diverge on capability: Mark43 covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, VIVOTEK VAST Security Station covers VSS Lite free tier.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mark43 and VIVOTEK VAST Security Station actually diverge.

Attributes where Mark43 and VIVOTEK VAST Security Station differ
AttributeMark43VIVOTEK VAST Security Station
Starting price$2000/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionOne-time purchase per camera channel
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWindows, Web, iOS, Android
CategoryGovernmentCybersecurity
Founded2012Unknown

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 Mark43

  • Computer-Aided Dispatch
  • Records Management
  • Evidence Management
  • Analytics
  • Mobile
  • FBI CJIS
  • NCIC
  • State Systems

Only in VIVOTEK VAST Security Station

  • VSS Lite free tier
  • Per-channel licensing
  • Third-party camera support
  • Failover and TV matrix
  • Vision object analytics
  • Embedded NVR licensing
  • NDAA and TAA compliance

What people use each for

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

Mark43

  • Citizen Servicesnot VIVOTEK VAST Security Station
  • Records Managementnot VIVOTEK VAST Security Station
  • Public Safetynot VIVOTEK VAST Security Station
  • Civic Engagementnot VIVOTEK VAST Security Station

VIVOTEK VAST Security Station

  • A school or small public building with fewer than 32 VIVOTEK cameras that needs a VMS at no licence costnot Mark43
  • A United States public sector site that must meet NDAA and TAA procurement restrictionsnot Mark43
  • An existing VAST 2 site that needs to migrate before the software falls further out of maintenancenot Mark43
  • A mid-sized site standardising on VIVOTEK hardware with a handful of third-party cameras to absorbnot Mark43

Where each one falls short

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

Mark43

  • No published pricing on homepage; sales contact required for all cost details
  • Only reference to pricing is 'early bird pricing' for 2027 conference registration
  • No transparent pricing structure visible for public evaluation

VIVOTEK VAST Security Station

  • VAST 2 has entered end of maintenance with technical support and software files withdrawn, yet distributors still list VAST 2 licences, so a buyer can be quoted unsupported software without realising it.
  • The free Lite tier is hard capped at 32 cameras and VIVOTEK devices only, so a site that grows to 33 cameras or adds one third-party camera moves straight to paid Standard licensing.
  • VSS Professional includes no camera licences at all, so the edition that large deployments need starts from a higher effective price than the tier comparison suggests.
  • It is a camera manufacturer's VMS, so the third-party device list, analytics ecosystem and integration catalogue are all narrower than an independent platform like Milestone or Salient.
  • No pricing is published for Standard or Professional channels; everything runs through distribution, which makes budgeting a phased expansion difficult without repeated quotes.

Pricing, plan by plan

Mark43

$2000/month
  • Public Safety Suite$2000/month
    • CAD
    • RMS
    • Analytics

VIVOTEK VAST Security Station

On request
  • VSS LiteFree
    • Free of charge
    • Up to 32 VIVOTEK cameras per server
    • No third-party camera support
  • VSS Standard$undefined/one-time
    • Up to 256 cameras per server
    • Eight camera licences included for VIVOTEK or third-party devices
    • Additional channel licences purchased individually
  • VSS Professional$undefined/one-time
    • Large scale deployments with failover and TV matrix
    • No camera licences included at all
    • Every channel purchased or upgraded from Standard

Which should you pick?

Choose Mark43 if

  • You need computer-aided dispatch.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want records management.
Mark43 review

Choose VIVOTEK VAST Security Station if

  • You need vss lite free tier.
  • You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want per-channel licensing.
VIVOTEK VAST Security Station review

Questions people ask

Is Mark43 or VIVOTEK VAST Security Station better?
Neither clearly leads. Mark43 starts at $2000/month and VIVOTEK VAST Security Station at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mark43 or VIVOTEK VAST Security Station?
Mark43 starts at $2000/month and VIVOTEK VAST Security Station at On request.
Does Mark43 or VIVOTEK VAST Security Station run on more platforms?
Mark43 runs on Web, Ios, Android. VIVOTEK VAST Security Station runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
What is Mark43 best used for?
Mark43 is most often used for citizen services, records management, public safety, civic engagement. Of those, citizen services and records management are not what VIVOTEK VAST Security Station is typically brought in for.
What can Mark43 do that VIVOTEK VAST Security Station cannot?
Mark43 covers Computer-Aided Dispatch, Records Management, Evidence Management, Analytics. VIVOTEK VAST Security Station covers VSS Lite free tier, Per-channel licensing, Third-party camera support, Failover and TV matrix.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mark43: Does Mark43 publish pricing online?

No, Mark43 pricing is not published on the public website. The only pricing reference is early bird conference registration. Prospective customers must contact Mark43 through 'Book A Demo' or 'Let's Connect' for pricing consultation.

Source
VIVOTEK VAST Security Station: Should I still buy VAST 2?

No. VAST 2 has entered end of maintenance with support and software files withdrawn. VSS is the current product, and any VAST 2 licence still on a distributor price list should be questioned.

Mark43: What payment methods or financing options does Mark43 offer?

No information about payment methods or financing options is disclosed on the public homepage. Pricing and payment details are handled through direct sales consultations.

Source
VIVOTEK VAST Security Station: Is VSS Lite really free?

Yes, for up to 32 VIVOTEK cameras per server. It does not support third-party cameras and cannot exceed 32 channels.

Mark43: Are there volume discounts or specialized pricing for different agency sizes?

Mark43 website does not disclose any volume pricing, per-user costs, or specialized rates for agencies of different sizes. All pricing inquiries require direct contact with sales team.

Source
VIVOTEK VAST Security Station: How many licences come with Standard?

Eight camera licences, usable for VIVOTEK or third-party devices. Professional includes none.

VIVOTEK VAST Security Station: Is VIVOTEK NDAA compliant?

VIVOTEK publishes an NDAA and TAA compliant product list, which is why it appears in United States public sector specifications where Section 889 excludes several other manufacturers.

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