RTMP
The standard ingest protocol for live streaming to any platform. Mature, widely supported, TCP-based.
FeaturesStreaming Protocols
Streaming Protocols
Compare RTMP, WebRTC and SRT for live video ingest and delivery.
Latency Overview
Latency Spectrum
Each protocol operates at a different latency tier. Choose based on how fast your viewers need to see the content.
Lower LatencyHigher Latency
Lower LatencyHigher Latency
<500msWebRTCReal-time
0.5 - 2sSRTNear Real-time
3 - 5sRTMPLow Latency
10 - 30sHLS/DASHStandard ABR
Comparison
Protocol Comparison
How different streaming protocols compare across key technical dimensions.
RTMP | WebRTC | SRT | |
|---|---|---|---|
Primary role | Ingest | Delivery + P2P | Ingest / contribution |
Transport | TCP | UDP (DTLS/SRTP) | UDP (ARQ) |
Latency | 3–5s | <500ms | 0.5–2s |
Encryption | RTMPS (TLS) | DTLS + SRTP | AES-128/256 |
Error correction | TCP retransmit | NACK-based | ARQ (configurable) |
Firewall friendly | Moderate (port 1935) | Poor (STUN/TURN) | Good (Rendezvous) |
Maturity | Mature (2000s) | Mature (2011+) | Mature (2017+) |
Qencode role | Ingest endpoint | — | Ingest endpoint |
Choose RTMP or SRT for reliable ingest, WebRTC for ultra-low-latency delivery.
Decision Guide
Which Streaming Protocol Should I Use?
RTMP
Streaming to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook Live?
It's what they accept for ingest. Mature, reliable, universally supported by streaming platforms.
WebRTC
Building a video call or watch party?
Sub-second latency with peer-to-peer capability for interactive experiences.
SRT
Sending contribution feeds across unreliable networks?
Built-in encryption and error correction for remote production workflows.
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