CP Plus vs Hikvision – Honest User Comparison Based on Real Use

Hey buddy,

You’ve asked all the right questions. I’ve been through the exact same confusion when setting up CCTV at my place (and later helped my cousin too), so I’ll try to break it down simply.

First off, both CP Plus and Hikvision are widely used in India. But the main difference comes in app reliability, night vision clarity, and how smart the cameras are. CP Plus is often pushed by dealers because of better local availability and cheaper pricing — and yeah, it's positioned as a more “Indian-friendly” brand. But Hikvision, despite being slightly more expensive, has better night vision tech, app stability, and long-term performance.

That said, CP Plus is not bad at all — especially if you’re not too fussed about advanced features. If you're looking at a basic 2MP or 4-camera setup, the difference won’t be massive unless you're very particular about clarity at night or using remote monitoring daily.

Let me break it down for you in this comparison table:

My Suggestion:

• If your usage is basic (watching gate/entrance, occasional remote check), and you have a trusted dealer offering CP Plus + installation — go for it.
• But if you want better night clarity, reliable mobile viewing, and smoother motion detection, Hikvision is worth spending the extra ₹1–2k.

Let me know if you want to see sample camera footage links or model suggestions for under ₹15k.

I had CP Plus installed in my home last year and I have to say, for the price, it does the job. The cameras are decent during the day, and the installation was pretty smooth — the local guy did it in a few hours. However, if you’re looking for anything fancy, like really sharp night vision or advanced features, you might be a bit disappointed.

For me, the biggest pain point was the mobile app. At first, it worked fine, but after a few months, it started lagging and the notifications became delayed. The IR night vision is okay, but sometimes in really low light, it just doesn’t capture enough detail. It’s okay for general use, but not something I’d trust for detailed recognition of faces or car plates at night.

For basic monitoring, CP Plus is good but if you're planning to have high security with a need to monitor activity closely at night, you might want to look at Hikvision.

I’ve been using Hikvision for about 2 years now, and I honestly think it’s a huge upgrade from CP Plus in terms of quality. My main reason for choosing it was the ColorVu technology. If you're someone who wants clear, colour video footage even at night, this is a game changer. At my house, we have a few cameras facing the garden and driveway, and even at 2 AM, you can see clear colours — not the grainy black-and-white images like CP Plus.

I also had issues with the mobile app on CP Plus, and the Hik-Connect app for Hikvision is far more responsive, with real-time alerts that don’t get delayed. I can check my cameras from anywhere without any lag. The motion detection is also far more accurate, especially if you get the AcuSense models, which can tell the difference between a car and an animal (very useful in a city like Delhi with stray dogs everywhere!).

For me, it was worth the extra money. The only downside is that Hikvision isn't as widely available in smaller cities, so installation might take a bit longer if you're not in a metro area.

I think it's important to also point out some downsides of both brands, just so that you have a balanced view.

1. CP Plus

   • Mobile App: Like I mentioned earlier, I used the gCMOB app with my CP Plus cameras, and the experience wasn't always smooth. It’s buggy at times, and notifications aren’t as reliable, especially with Wi-Fi connections that aren’t top-notch.

   • Night Vision: It's fine for basic surveillance, but if you need clear details at night, don’t expect much. The IR-based night vision works, but it’s often hard to distinguish between different objects in low light.

2. Hikvision

   • Expensive: While Hikvision offers superior clarity and night vision, the cost difference can be significant, especially if you’re planning to buy multiple cameras.

   • Availability: Not all regions in India have Hikvision dealers or experienced installers, so you might face challenges in Tier 2/3 cities for setup or after-sales support.

   • Complex Features: If you're a first-time user or someone who just needs a simple system, the extra features might be overkill. I found myself struggling a bit with configuring some of the advanced motion detection features.

Look, honestly speaking, both are solid for Indian home use, and a lot depends on who installs them for you. A skilled installer can tweak settings like motion zones, alerts, etc., and that makes a big difference in daily use.

In terms of cameras, CP Plus is everywhere because of price and availability. But Hikvision is slowly becoming the go-to for people who want better tech – like human detection, full-colour night view, and tighter security protocols.

One small thing – Hikvision app updates are more regular and stable. CP Plus, sometimes, just leaves bugs hanging for weeks. So if you're the kind who checks footage from office or when travelling, you’ll notice the difference.

I've got something different to add here...

CP Plus may be popular, but their customer support sucks sometimes. I had a camera stop working after 7 months. Took me 3 service calls, 1 dealer visit, and around 20 days to get it replaced. They kept asking me to reset, uninstall the app, reinstall it, try different Wi-Fi (which I did).

Whereas my brother-in-law had a similar issue with Hikvision – and the technician came in 2 days. I think CP Plus focuses more on mass affordability, but they compromise on quality control and response time.

Not saying Hikvision is perfect, but my experience with CP Plus was frustrating.

I've actually used both in different properties (one in my office, one at home). Here's a quick comparison from my side:

• CP Plus:

  • More affordable bundles

  • Better offline dealer support (especially in tier-2 cities)

  • Slight delay in app notifications

  • UI feels a bit outdated

• Hikvision:

  • Superb night vision (ColorVu is excellent)

  • Faster mobile app notifications

  • Slightly premium pricing

  • Local service can be hit or miss unless you're in a metro city

So if your priority is clarity, especially at night, go with Hikvision. If you're okay with basic performance and want post-sales service nearby, CP Plus is good enough.

Hey guys,

After reading through everything, I’ve decided to go with Hikvision. Although CP Plus is cheaper and offers decent quality for standard use, I think the extra money for Hikvision is worth it for the night clarity, better app performance, and overall long-term reliability. I’m planning to get the ColorVu series, and based on what I’ve read, it’ll be perfect for my home.

Thanks to everyone who contributed! Really helped me make a better decision. I’ll post updates once I’ve got everything set up!