Top 6 Automatic License Plate Recognition Software in 2024

Part 1: What is Automatic Number Plate Recognition

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) is a technology that uses optical character recognition (OCR) to read vehicle license plates. ANPR systems typically use cameras to capture images of plates, and then software to extract the alphanumeric characters from the image.

Part 2: 6 Best Automatic License Plate Recognition Software

Whether you are a homeowner, law enforcement agency or an organizer in a smart city, this part covers all the solutions you need.

1. OpenALPR (Open Source)

OpenALPR is a open source automatic license plate recognition software. It utilizes artificial intelligence to identify and read vehicles' license plate information in real time. It provides users with an ultimate solution to increase community safety and enhance automated business capabilities. From building a safer community and smarter city to fast controlling over the car parking and washing business, OpenALPR is capable of fulfilling all the needs. Additionally, it can offer a custom solution tailored to the specific requirement.

Pros:

• Allow users to view recognition data with any web browser
• Support API access
• Compatible with various system
• Integrated with existing apps
• Provide custom solutions

Cons:

• The basic version lacks advanced features, users need to upgrade to the pro plan to get forensic search and data destination configuration function

2. Plate Recognizer

Plate Recognizer is a online platform that includes automatic license plate recognition, plate recognizer blur services. Using the neural networks, the automatic license plate recognition tool works perfectly in all environments. It can recognize different kinds of license plates, such as multiple license plates, license plates in dark environment, blurry license plates, slanted view license plates at an angle, fast-moving license plates, even special license plates in two rows of text or unique font in some country like India.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Accurately detect license plates in different environments
• The API access is available
• Web-based, users can access it on any devices
• Offer extra functions, like plate recognizer blur, plate recognizer snapshot

Cons:

• Each function is standalone

3. Vaxtor VaxALPR

VaxALPR is a real-time automatic license plate recognition tool developed by Vaxtor, which supports Windows, Linux and Android devices. Powered by a platform-independent OCR engine, it can deliver a recognition rate above 99%. Compatible with Axis and Mobotix cameras, it is easy to install, which makes it a perfect solution to implementing license plate recognition systems at car parks, tolling or transportation logistics. Integrated with the plugins for speed, make, model, colour and classification of vehicles, it gives users the better experience.

Pros:

• Deliver real-time results showing license plate, date & time, country, state, type of plate, etc.,
• Up to 200kph speed operation
• High license plate recognition rate
• Support whitelists and blacklists management with notification alerts
• Based on neural networks, it runs fast and smoothly on any devices

Cons:

• It is incompatible with Mac OS

4. VehiScan

Like Vaxtor VaxALPR, VehiScan is also a powerful automatic license plate recognition system that helps users to detect and identify the moving vehicles' license plates in real time during day and light. Additionally, it can transform the real-time data on entry of the vehicles. What's more, users are allowed to install this system at different places like tollbooth, airports, government offices, highways, parking areas, bridges, tunnels, traffic junctions, etc. to capture and recognize the vehicle license plate information.

Pros:

• Real-time license plate information detection and transformation
• Offer 24*7 surveillance
• Multiple cameras management and remote-monitoring are supported
• Combination with the OCR system and artificial intelligence technology, it accurately detects the license plates in various colors, fonts
• Integrated with the access control system

Cons:

• Lack blacklists and whitelists management

5. PlateSmart Technologies

PlateSmart Technologies is a famous company specialized in AI-driven vehicle license plate recognition solutions. PlateSmart ALPR works perfectly with any surveillance cameras, meeting different users' needs in airports, vehicles' access control, law enforcement, healthcare, smart city organization and more. It also enables users to search and export vehicle data for further analysis. Integrated with VMS provides, it ensures higher security.

Pros:

• Provide real-time alerts
• Allow users to export the vehicle license plate information
• Leveraging the AI technology, it precisely recognize the license plate information
• Cooperating with the video management and secure system, it operates safely and reliably

Cons:

• Do not support API access

6. Folio3.ai

Folio3.ai is an all-in-one platform that provides ultimate detection solutions, including license plate recognition, vehicle detection, face recognition, AI object detection, logo recognition, person detection. The license plate recognition is one of the most popular tools. It results in real-time license plate recognition by using the OCR and computer vision technology. It gives users the ability to read the license plate information of all vehicles, such as bikes, boats, motorcycles. It can be used in vehicle monitoring and management systems.

Pros:

• Combing OCR and computer vision technology, achieving precise recognition
• Compatible with multiple cameras
• Customized features are available
• The API access is supported
• Built-in AI-powered add-ons to remove license plate numbers, blur license plates, even minimize false positives

Cons:

• The price varies, depending on custom solutions

Part 3: What is Automatic License Plate Recognition Software Used for?

Thanks to the capabilities of tracking, extracting, and recognizing the license plate information, the ALPR software assists users in enhancing operation efficiency, and safety across different industries. Here are the most common uses of the automatic license plate recognition software:

1. Law Enforcement

It helps the law enforcement agencies or officers to locate the stolen vehicle information, identify the criminal activities and persons of interests. It is an ideal tool for searching evidence and historical data in the criminal investigation. Due to the application of AI technology, the whole investigating process becomes easier and more effective.

2. Smart Parking Management

The ALPR software is also a good helper in dealing with unauthorized parking, like retail parking or parking on private road. It can be used to grant or deny access to parking facilities based on pre-approved license plates information, enhancing security. Real-time monitoring of parking lot occupancy helps in better space management and guiding drivers to available spots.

3. Journey Time Analysis

The authorities or highway agencies can use the license plate information recognition tool to analyze the public road system by capturing the license plates in multiple points, and then determine the journey time and identify traffic congestion areas. It does a great favor to plan routes for public transportation, saving travel time and getting rid of emergency.

4. Intelligent Traffic Management

ALPR is an intelligent solution that can detect high traffic volumes, helping to implement dynamic traffic strategies, like adjusting signal timings. Through analyzing the traffic data collected by ALPR systems, the officers are able to develop data-driven traffic policies, enhancing road safety.

5. Tollbooth Records

The automatic license plate recognition software can be used to automatically collect the toll according to the license plates, eliminating the need for manual toll collection.

Part 4: Best ALPR Software to Detect and Blur License Plates - AVCLabs Video Blur AI

To advance automatic license plate recognition, an AI-driven license plate detection and blurring software - AVCLabs Video Blur AI is worth taking into consideration. It enables users to automatically detect, track, and blur one or multiple still or moving license plates in a video to protect privacy. Multiple blur effects are available to cater to different needs.

In addition, it comes with other three robust AI models to help users to blur sensitive information, background, foreground, and faces in a video, protecting personal information and safety.

AVCLabs Video Blur AI

• Automatically detect and track faces in videos.
• Blur single face or multiple faces in a video.
• Blur or pixelate parts of a video.
• Blur background, object, and license plates.

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How to Recognize and Blur License Plates with AVCLabs Video Blur AI

It just takes 4 simple steps to blur license plates.

Step 1 Install and Launch AVCLabs Video Blur AI

Firstly, download and install AVCLabs Video Blur AI on your computer, then open it.

Step 2 Upload a Video

Now, click the Browse button to browse and import a video from the computer or directly drag and drop a video to the program.

Step 3 Choose an AI Model and Edit the Blur Task

Choose the License Plate Blur model, then navigate to the License Plate Blur Setting to edit the blur task by selecting the blur type, adjusting blur strength and size.

Step 4 Preview and Export the Edited Video

After modifying all the settings, click the "Eye" icon to preview the blurring effect.

If the result can satisfy the need, simply click the "Export" button to save the edited video to the computer.

Part 5: FAQs about the Automatic License Plate Recognition Software

Should you have any questions about the automatic license plate recognition software, you can refer to this part.

Which technology is used for automatic number plate recognition?

The artificial intelligence and computer vision technology are used for automatic number plate recognition, which have enhanced the accuracy and capability to detect a wide range of license plates, including those with varying designs and conditions.

What is the auto number plate recognition system?

An auto number plate recognition system is an AI-based system designed to capture, read and record the license plate information from vehicles.

What are the benefits of a license plate recognition system?

A license plate recognition system brings lots of benefits to users.

• Automated process, saving manual labor
• Using cutting-edge technology, generating high accuracy recognition results
• Effective in organizing the traffic, parking, significantly enhancing community and road safety

How do automated license plate readers work?

The automated license plate readers work through 4 process： image capturing, image processing, data matching, action and alerting.

How accurate is automatic number plate recognition?

The majority of automatic license plate recognition software utilizes advanced technology, enabling it to achieve an accuracy rate of 90% or above.

Conclusion:

The automatic license plate recognition software plays a vital role in traffic monitoring, smart parking and city management, law enforcement. Whether the businesses or organization can streamline the work process using these 6 tools listed in this article. From the open-source OpenALPR to the commercial software PlateSmart, Folio3.ai, each of them provides users with a professional and efficient solution to detect and identify the vehicle's license plate information. For users who are seeking for an easy way to blur license plates in a video, AVCLabs Video Blur AI is a good choice. It supports trimming the video and adding blur to the license plate in a specific clip.

Try AVCLabs Video Blur AI to protect privacy!

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