RTMP vs RTSP: Complete Protocol Comparison for Video Streaming Developers

Choosing between RTMP and RTSP often comes down to one question: what are you building? If you’re developing a live streaming application that broadcasts to YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook, you need RTMP. If you’re working with IP cameras and surveillance systems, RTSP is your protocol. Understanding this fundamental distinction saves developers hours of research and implementation headaches.

The core difference between RTMP and RTSP: RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) is a TCP-based streaming protocol designed for transmitting audio, video, and data from encoders to streaming servers. RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) is a network control protocol that establishes and manages media sessions, primarily used for IP camera streams and surveillance applications. RTMP pushes content to servers, while RTSP typically pulls content from cameras.

RTMP remains the dominant ingest protocol for live streaming in 2024, accepted by every major social platform and streaming service. RTSP controls the surveillance and security camera market, serving as the standard for network video devices. Most modern streaming architectures use RTMP for getting video from encoders to servers, then convert that stream to HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) for delivery to viewers in web browsers.

This guide breaks down the technical differences, use cases, latency characteristics, and implementation approaches for both protocols. You’ll learn when to choose each protocol and how modern streaming infrastructure handles protocol conversion automatically—so you can focus on building your application rather than managing video infrastructure.

What Is RTMP? (Real-Time Messaging Protocol Explained)

RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) is a TCP-based protocol originally developed by Adobe for transmitting audio, video, and data over the internet with low latency. It maintains a persistent connection between encoder and server, making it the standard ingest protocol for live streaming to platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook.

Adobe created RTMP in the early 2000s to power Flash-based video streaming. When Flash died in 2020, many assumed RTMP would follow. Instead, RTMP survived and thrived as an ingest protocol. Every major streaming platform still accepts RTMP because it works reliably and every professional encoder supports it.

How RTMP Works

RTMP operates over TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) using port 1935 by default. The protocol establishes a persistent connection between the encoder (OBS Studio, Wirecast, vMix, or hardware encoders) and the streaming server. This connection stays open for the entire broadcast duration.

The RTMP handshake follows a straightforward process:

1. Connect: Client establishes TCP connection and sends connection request
2. Create Stream: Server acknowledges and creates a stream instance
3. Publish: Client begins sending audio/video data in FLV container format

RTMP uses Action Message Format (AMF) for metadata and chunks large messages into smaller packets for efficient transmission. Because TCP guarantees delivery through retransmission, RTMP streams arrive reliably—though packet loss can introduce latency as the protocol waits for retransmissions.

RTMP Variants

Several RTMP variants address specific deployment needs:

• RTMPS (RTMP Secure): RTMP over TLS/SSL encryption. Required by Facebook and recommended for all production streams to prevent stream key interception.
• RTMPE (Encrypted RTMP): Adobe’s proprietary encryption layer. Less common now that RTMPS provides standard TLS security.
• RTMPT (Tunneled RTMP): RTMP tunneled through HTTP on port 80 or HTTPS on port 443. Solves firewall issues in corporate environments where port 1935 is blocked.

Popular encoders supporting RTMP include OBS Studio (free and open-source), Wirecast (professional broadcasting), vMix (live production), and countless hardware encoders from Blackmagic, Teradek, and others. Streaming APIs like LiveAPI accept RTMP from any of these encoders, then handle the conversion to delivery formats automatically.

What Is RTSP? (Real-Time Streaming Protocol Explained)

RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) is a network control protocol used to establish and manage media sessions between clients and servers. Unlike RTMP, RTSP itself doesn’t transmit media data—it works alongside RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) to control playback of audio and video streams, primarily used for IP cameras and surveillance systems.

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) standardized RTSP in RFC 2326 in 1998. The protocol was designed for controlling media servers and establishing streaming sessions—functioning like a “network remote control” for video streams.

How RTSP Works

Understanding RTSP requires recognizing that it’s a control protocol, not a transport protocol. Think of RTSP as the remote control and RTP as the actual video signal:

• RTSP (port 554): Handles session control commands
• RTP (dynamic ports): Carries the actual audio and video data
• RTCP: Provides synchronization and quality feedback

RTSP uses familiar HTTP-like commands to control media sessions:

• DESCRIBE: Requests media description (returns SDP – Session Description Protocol)
• SETUP: Specifies transport mechanism for media streams
• PLAY: Starts media playback
• PAUSE: Temporarily halts playback
• TEARDOWN: Ends the session and releases resources

RTP typically uses UDP for media delivery, which allows lower latency than TCP but may lose packets. When UDP is blocked by firewalls, RTSP can interleave RTP data over the TCP connection (called “TCP interleaving”), though this adds overhead.

RTSP in Practice

IP cameras, DVRs (Digital Video Recorders), NVRs (Network Video Recorders), and video management systems (VMS) all speak RTSP. The ONVIF standard for security cameras mandates RTSP support, making it the universal language for surveillance equipment.

A typical RTSP URL looks like: rtsp://camera-ip:554/stream1

RTSP streams can be pulled into modern streaming infrastructure for rebroadcasting to the web. LiveAPI supports RTSP as a pull-based input, allowing developers to ingest IP camera feeds and convert them to browser-compatible formats like HLS for live viewing on any device.

RTMP vs RTSP: Key Differences Compared

The following table summarizes the critical differences between RTMP and RTSP for quick reference:

The most important distinction: RTMP pushes video from encoders to servers for live broadcasting, while RTSP pulls video from cameras for monitoring and recording. Your use case determines which protocol fits.

Protocol Architecture and Transport Layer

The architectural differences between RTMP and RTSP affect everything from latency to firewall behavior.

RTMP Architecture:

• TCP-based with a single persistent connection
• Multiplexes audio, video, and data over one connection
• Chunks large messages into smaller packets for efficiency
• Guarantees delivery through TCP retransmission
• Connection-oriented with three-way handshake

RTMP’s TCP foundation means every packet arrives in order. If packet loss occurs, TCP automatically retransmits. This guarantees stream integrity but can introduce latency under poor network conditions as the protocol waits for lost packets.

RTSP Architecture:

• Separates control (RTSP) from data (RTP)
• Control channel uses TCP for reliability
• Media typically flows over UDP via RTP
• RTCP provides synchronization and quality feedback
• Stateful protocol maintaining session state

RTSP’s separation of control and data channels provides flexibility. UDP-based RTP delivery can achieve lower latency because it doesn’t wait for retransmissions—packets that don’t arrive simply get skipped. This works well for surveillance where a dropped frame matters less than latency.

For developers, the implication is clear: RTMP’s TCP approach delivers reliability at the cost of potential latency spikes. RTSP+RTP’s UDP option offers lower latency but may occasionally lose data. Modern video encoding and error correction techniques minimize the impact of either trade-off.

Latency Characteristics

Latency comparisons between RTMP and RTSP require understanding what “latency” actually measures in a streaming context.

RTMP Latency Reality:

• Encoder-to-server (ingest): Sub-second to 2 seconds
• End-to-end with HLS delivery: Typically 10-30 seconds
• TCP retransmission can add latency under packet loss
• Encoding settings significantly impact latency

Pure RTMP connections between an encoder and server achieve low latency—often under 2 seconds. However, most viewers don’t watch RTMP directly. The stream gets converted to HLS for browser delivery, and HLS’s segment-based approach adds significant latency (typically 10-30 seconds with standard settings).

RTSP Latency Reality:

• Direct viewing: Sub-second in LAN environments
• UDP/RTP delivery minimizes protocol overhead
• No buffering required for reliable delivery
• Network conditions directly impact quality

RTSP with UDP-based RTP achieves very low latency, especially on local networks. Surveillance applications benefit from this—security personnel need to see events as they happen, not seconds later. However, this low latency comes with the trade-off of potential frame drops under poor network conditions.

Important developer insight: Protocol ingest latency is only part of the equation. The delivery format (HLS, DASH) often adds more latency than the ingest protocol. For ultra-low latency requirements, consider WebRTC for interactive applications or SRT for reliable low-latency contribution. Modern streaming platforms can accept RTMP or SRT ingest while optimizing CDN delivery to minimize total end-to-end latency.

Firewall Traversal and Port Requirements

Firewall behavior often determines which protocol you can actually use in enterprise environments.

RTMP Firewall Behavior:

• Single port (1935) simplifies firewall configuration
• RTMPT tunnels through HTTP (port 80) or HTTPS (port 443)
• RTMPS uses standard TLS on port 443
• Corporate-friendly once port is opened

RTMP’s single-port architecture makes firewall configuration straightforward. If port 1935 is blocked, RTMPT provides an escape route through standard web ports. Most corporate firewalls allow HTTPS traffic on port 443, making RTMPS an excellent option for enterprise deployments.

RTSP Firewall Challenges:

• Control traffic on port 554
• RTP data on dynamic ports (major firewall problem)
• NAT traversal issues with UDP
• TCP interleaving as workaround (adds overhead)

RTSP’s multi-port architecture creates significant firewall challenges. The control channel on port 554 is straightforward, but RTP’s dynamic port allocation causes problems. Each stream negotiates different ports, making it nearly impossible to configure restrictive firewalls without opening wide port ranges.

TCP interleaving (sending RTP over the RTSP TCP connection) solves the firewall problem but adds protocol overhead and can increase latency. STUN and TURN servers can help with NAT traversal but add infrastructure complexity.

Developer takeaway: RTMP deploys significantly easier in enterprise and corporate environments. RTSP often requires additional infrastructure for reliable traversal across firewalls and NAT. Cloud-based streaming APIs handle these networking complexities for developers, accepting streams from behind corporate firewalls and delivering globally.

Browser and Player Support

Here’s a reality check that surprises many developers: neither RTMP nor RTSP works natively in modern web browsers.

RTMP’s browser history:

• Required Adobe Flash Player for browser playback
• Flash was discontinued in December 2020
• No modern browser supports RTMP natively
• Must convert to HLS or DASH for browser delivery

RTSP’s browser status:

• Never had native browser support
• Requires plugins, extensions, or native applications
• VLC and dedicated surveillance software support it
• Must convert to HLS or DASH for web viewing

The modern streaming workflow looks like this:

1. Encoder sends RTMP (or SRT) to streaming server
2. Server transcodes and packages into HLS/DASH
3. HTML5 video player (using MSE or native HLS) plays to viewer
4. Adaptive bitrate adjusts quality based on connection

This is why understanding the ingest vs. delivery distinction matters. RTMP handles the first mile (encoder to server). HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) handles the last mile (server to viewer).

Streaming APIs handle this conversion automatically—accepting RTMP or RTSP ingest and generating browser-ready HLS streams. LiveAPI provides an embeddable HTML5 player with complete customization options, delivering playback across all browsers and screen sizes without requiring developers to build transcoding pipelines.

RTMP Use Cases: When to Choose RTMP

RTMP excels in specific scenarios. Use RTMP when building live streaming applications, broadcasting to social platforms, or connecting encoders to streaming servers. RTMP is the industry standard for live video ingest due to its reliability, widespread encoder support, and low-latency contribution capabilities.

1. Live Streaming to Social Platforms

YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitch, LinkedIn Live, and virtually every social streaming platform accept RTMP. When you click “Go Live” on these platforms, you receive an RTMP URL and stream key. OBS Studio, the most popular free streaming software, defaults to RTMP output for this exact reason.

2. Building Custom Live Streaming Applications

If you’re developing a live streaming feature for your application—whether that’s a fitness platform, educational site, or entertainment service—RTMP provides the standard ingest mechanism. Every professional encoder supports it, so your users can stream from their preferred software.

3. Multistreaming and Simulcasting

Broadcasting to multiple platforms simultaneously requires a protocol that all platforms understand. RTMP is that universal language. Platforms like LiveAPI can take a single RTMP feed and rebroadcast to 30+ social platforms simultaneously, handling all the complexity of multiple outputs.

4. Professional Broadcasting and Contribution

Television studios, production facilities, and remote production workflows use RTMP for contribution feeds. The protocol’s reliability over long durations makes it suitable for hours-long broadcasts. Sports venues, news organizations, and event production companies rely on RTMP for getting video from cameras to broadcast centers.

5. Webinars and Virtual Events

Corporate webinars, virtual conferences, and online events typically use RTMP for ingest. The presenter’s encoder (often OBS or a hardware device) sends RTMP to the streaming platform, which then delivers to attendees via HLS. This architecture provides quality control at the source while enabling scalable delivery.

6. OTT Platform Content Ingestion

Over-the-top streaming services—from niche sports platforms to large entertainment networks—use RTMP as a foundation for content ingestion. Whether accepting feeds from studios or enabling user-generated live content, RTMP provides the consistent protocol that makes integration predictable.

LiveAPI accepts RTMP from any encoder, including OBS Studio, Wirecast, vMix, and hardware encoders from manufacturers like Blackmagic and Teradek. The API handles transcoding, adaptive bitrate streaming, and global CDN delivery, letting developers focus on their application rather than video infrastructure.

RTSP Use Cases: When to Choose RTSP

RTSP dominates specific domains. Use RTSP when working with IP cameras, surveillance systems, or security applications. RTSP is the standard protocol for controlling and streaming from network cameras, DVR/NVR systems, and video management platforms where low-latency monitoring is critical.

1. IP Camera Streaming

Nearly every IP camera on the market outputs RTSP. From consumer-grade home security cameras to professional broadcast-quality PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) units, RTSP is the common language. When integrating IP cameras into any application, you’ll work with RTSP URLs.

2. Surveillance and Security Systems

CCTV installations, security monitoring centers, and physical security infrastructure all rely on RTSP. The protocol’s low-latency characteristics matter when security personnel need to see events as they happen. DVRs and NVRs record RTSP streams for later review.

3. Video Management Systems (VMS)

Enterprise security platforms like Milestone, Genetec, and Avigilon use RTSP to communicate with cameras. These systems aggregate feeds from hundreds or thousands of cameras, all speaking RTSP. Building integrations with existing VMS infrastructure requires RTSP support.

4. ONVIF-Compliant Devices

The ONVIF standard (Open Network Video Interface Forum) ensures interoperability between IP-based security products. ONVIF mandates RTSP for video streaming, making it the required protocol for any device claiming ONVIF compliance. This industry standardization means RTSP isn’t going anywhere in the security market.

5. Local Network Monitoring

Factory floor monitoring, warehouse surveillance, and campus security often use RTSP streams directly within local networks. The low latency achievable on LANs makes RTSP ideal for real-time monitoring where delays of even a few seconds are unacceptable.

6. IoT and Machine Vision

Industrial cameras used for quality control, automated inspection, and machine vision applications often support RTSP. Manufacturing automation, logistics sorting, and process monitoring leverage RTSP streams for computer vision analysis.

Modern streaming platforms can pull RTSP feeds from IP cameras and rebroadcast them to the web. LiveAPI’s RTSP pull-based input support allows developers to ingest IP camera feeds, convert them to HLS, and deliver to viewers in standard web browsers. This bridges the gap between traditional surveillance infrastructure and modern web-based monitoring applications.

RTMP and RTSP in Modern Streaming Architecture

Understanding how RTMP and RTSP fit into contemporary streaming workflows clarifies why developers don’t need to choose just one protocol. Modern architecture uses different protocols for different stages of the streaming pipeline.

The Modern Streaming Pipeline

A typical live streaming workflow follows this path:

1. Capture: Camera or screen capture
2. Encode: Compression using H.264/H.265 codecs
3. Ingest: RTMP or SRT to streaming server
4. Transcode: Create multiple quality renditions
5. Package: Segment into HLS/DASH format
6. Distribute: CDN delivers to edge servers worldwide
7. Playback: HTML5 player in viewer’s browser

RTMP enters at step 3 (ingest) and gets converted at step 5 (packaging). The stream that reaches viewers looks nothing like the RTMP that left the encoder.

RTMP’s Role in Modern Architecture

Despite being designed in the Flash era, RTMP remains the dominant ingest protocol for several reasons:

• Universal encoder support: Every streaming encoder speaks RTMP
• Platform acceptance: All major platforms accept RTMP ingest
• Proven reliability: Decades of production use
• Simple configuration: Just a URL and stream key

RTMP no longer reaches viewers directly. It serves purely as a contribution protocol—getting video from the source to the processing infrastructure.

RTSP’s Role in Modern Architecture

RTSP serves as a source protocol for IP camera integration:

• Camera connectivity: Pulling streams from surveillance devices
• Format conversion: Bridging security infrastructure to web delivery
• Hybrid applications: Combining IP cameras with live broadcasting

Applications that need to display IP camera feeds to web browsers must convert RTSP to HLS. This conversion typically happens in the streaming server layer.

Protocol-Agnostic Infrastructure

Modern streaming APIs accept multiple ingest protocols and deliver via optimized formats regardless of the input:

• Accept: RTMP, SRT, RTSP, HLS pull
• Process: Transcode, create adaptive bitrate renditions
• Deliver: HLS via global CDN network
• Present: Embeddable HTML5 player

LiveAPI exemplifies this architecture. The platform accepts RTMP from encoders, SRT for professional contribution, or RTSP from IP cameras. It handles transcoding, adaptive bitrate encoding, and delivers via partnerships with Akamai, Cloudflare, and Fastly CDNs. Developers get protocol flexibility without building the infrastructure—launching streaming features in days rather than spending months on video engineering.

The key insight: the protocol you use for ingest matters less than having infrastructure that handles conversion, transcoding, and delivery at scale. Focus on your application, not your video pipeline.

Alternative Protocols: SRT, HLS, WebRTC, and DASH

RTMP and RTSP aren’t the only options. Understanding the broader protocol landscape helps developers make informed architecture decisions.

SRT (Secure Reliable Transport)

Haivision developed SRT as an open-source alternative to RTMP for contribution and ingest. SRT provides:

• Similar role to RTMP (encoder to server)
• Superior packet loss recovery using ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request)
• Built-in AES encryption
• Better performance over unreliable networks

SRT is gaining adoption for professional contribution, especially when streams must traverse unpredictable internet connections. LiveAPI supports SRT ingest alongside RTMP, giving developers flexibility based on their source infrastructure.

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)

Apple created HLS for delivery to viewers. Key characteristics:

• HTTP-based protocol using standard web infrastructure
• Segments video into small chunks (typically 2-6 seconds)
• Adaptive bitrate built-in via quality rendition manifests
• Works in every modern browser (native on Safari, via hls.js elsewhere)
• Industry standard for last-mile delivery

HLS is NOT an ingest protocol. It’s what your RTMP stream becomes after processing. LiveAPI generates HLS URLs automatically, ready for any platform including OTT devices like Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP)

MPEG’s DASH provides similar capabilities to HLS:

• Open standard (not proprietary like HLS)
• HTTP-based with adaptive bitrate
• Used by many OTT platforms
• Requires JavaScript player for browser playback

Many platforms support both HLS and DASH, letting clients choose based on device capabilities.

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication)

WebRTC serves a different purpose than the other protocols:

• Browser-native (no plugins required)
• Ultra-low latency (sub-500ms possible)
• Designed for real-time interactive communication
• Best for video calls, not broadcast to many viewers
• Peer-to-peer architecture limits scale

Use WebRTC for video conferencing, real-time collaboration, or interactive applications where latency below one second is essential. For broadcasting to large audiences, stick with RTMP ingest and HLS delivery.

Quick Protocol Selection Guide

• Ingest protocols (encoder to server): RTMP, SRT, RTSP
• Delivery protocols (server to viewer): HLS, DASH
• Real-time interactive: WebRTC
• Low-latency delivery: LL-HLS, LL-DASH, WebRTC

How to Implement RTMP and RTSP Streaming

Implementing streaming protocols presents a classic build-versus-buy decision. Understanding both paths helps developers choose the right approach for their situation.

Build vs. Buy Decision Framework

Build your own infrastructure when:

• You have specialized requirements no platform supports
• Video is your core product and differentiation
• You have dedicated video engineering resources
• You need complete control over every component

Use a streaming API when:

• Time-to-market matters (launch in days, not months)
• Video is a feature, not your core product
• You want to focus on your application, not infrastructure
• You need global scale without building CDN relationships

DIY Approach Overview

Building your own streaming infrastructure requires assembling multiple components:

Media Servers:

• Nginx-RTMP module (open source, requires configuration expertise)
• Wowza Streaming Engine (commercial, feature-rich)
• Ant Media Server (open source and commercial options)

Transcoding:

• FFmpeg for video processing
• GPU-accelerated encoding for scale
• Multiple output renditions for adaptive streaming

Challenges to solve:

• Scaling beyond a single server
• CDN integration for global delivery
• Monitoring and alerting
• Failover and redundancy
• Storage for recordings

Building production-grade streaming infrastructure typically takes 3-6 months of dedicated engineering work.

API-Based Approach with LiveAPI

Streaming APIs provide complete infrastructure through simple API calls:

• Accept RTMP from any encoder
• Automatic transcoding and adaptive bitrate encoding
• Global CDN delivery included
• Analytics and monitoring built-in
• Recording and VOD conversion automatic

Example: Creating a livestream with LiveAPI

const sdk = require('api')('@liveapi/v1.0#5pfjhgkzh9rzt4');

// Create a new livestream
sdk.post('/livestreams', {
  name: 'My Live Stream',
  record: true // Enable automatic VOD recording
})
.then(res => {
  console.log('Stream Key:', res.data.stream_key);
  console.log('RTMP URL:', res.data.rtmp_url);
  console.log('Playback URL:', res.data.playback_url);
})
.catch(err => console.error(err));

This code creates a complete livestream with RTMP ingest credentials and an HLS playback URL—ready for production use.

RTSP Integration for IP Cameras

For IP camera streaming, LiveAPI supports pull-based RTSP input. Point the API at your camera’s RTSP URL, and it handles conversion to HLS for web delivery. This bridges surveillance infrastructure with modern streaming applications.

Best Practices

• Always use RTMPS (encrypted) in production: Prevent stream key interception
• Implement stream key authentication: Rotate keys and validate sources
• Monitor ingest health: Track bitrate, frame rate, and connection stability
• Plan for failover: Redundant ingest points for critical broadcasts
• Test at scale: Verify infrastructure handles peak concurrent viewers

Getting started with LiveAPI takes minutes. The documentation provides complete API references, code examples in multiple languages, and guides for common use cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can RTMP be converted to RTSP (or vice versa)?

Yes, both conversions are possible using tools like FFmpeg or media servers. FFmpeg can accept an RTMP stream and output RTSP, or pull RTSP and push to an RTMP destination. The conversion involves repackaging the media data rather than re-encoding, so quality loss is minimal. Streaming APIs handle these conversions automatically—you provide the source, and the platform outputs whatever format you need.

Is RTMP still relevant in 2024?

Absolutely—for ingest. RTMP remains the dominant protocol for getting video from encoders to streaming servers. Every major platform (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, LinkedIn) accepts RTMP. What’s dead is RTMP for delivery—browsers no longer support it since Flash’s end. The modern workflow uses RTMP for ingest, then converts to HLS for delivery. RTMP is alive for ingest, dead for delivery.

Which protocol has lower latency, RTMP or RTSP?

RTSP with UDP-based RTP generally achieves lower latency for direct connections, often sub-second on local networks. RTMP over TCP typically adds 2-5 seconds of ingest latency. However, end-to-end latency depends on the entire pipeline—delivery format (HLS adds 10-30 seconds) often matters more than ingest protocol. For ultra-low latency needs, consider WebRTC or SRT.

Can I stream an IP camera to YouTube or Twitch?

Not directly. YouTube and Twitch accept RTMP; IP cameras output RTSP. You need protocol conversion in between. Options include FFmpeg running locally, a media server, or a streaming API with RTSP pull support. LiveAPI can pull your camera’s RTSP stream and output to any RTMP destination, effectively bridging surveillance equipment to social streaming platforms.

Do I need RTMP to stream to Facebook/YouTube/Twitch?

Yes, all major social streaming platforms require RTMP for ingest. You’ll configure your encoder (OBS, Wirecast, etc.) with the platform’s RTMP URL and your unique stream key. Some platforms also accept SRT, but RTMP remains the universal option. For multistreaming to multiple platforms simultaneously, send one RTMP stream to a service that rebroadcasts to all destinations.

Is RTSP secure?

Base RTSP transmits data unencrypted, which is a security concern—especially for surveillance systems. RTSPS (RTSP over TLS) exists but has limited adoption among IP camera manufacturers. For secure deployments, consider VPN tunnels for camera traffic, network segmentation to isolate surveillance systems, and access controls on RTSP URLs. When converting RTSP to web delivery, the HLS output can use HTTPS for encrypted delivery to viewers.

What’s the difference between RTMP and HLS?

RTMP is an ingest protocol (encoder to server); HLS is a delivery protocol (server to viewer). They serve different stages of the streaming pipeline and work together in modern architectures. RTMP provides the reliable, low-latency connection from your encoder to the streaming server. HLS segments that stream for HTTP-based delivery to viewers’ browsers. You typically need both: RTMP to get your stream in, HLS to get it out.

Can I use RTSP for live streaming to the web?

Not directly to browsers—no web browser natively supports RTSP playback. You must convert RTSP streams to HLS or DASH for web delivery. This conversion can happen through FFmpeg, a media server, or streaming APIs. The workflow: RTSP pull from camera → transcode/package → HLS output → CDN delivery → browser playback. Streaming platforms automate this entire chain.

Conclusion: Choosing Between RTMP and RTSP

The RTMP vs RTSP decision comes down to your use case:

Choose RTMP when:

• Building live streaming applications
• Broadcasting to social platforms (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook)
• Connecting encoders like OBS or Wirecast to streaming servers
• Developing OTT platforms or streaming services
• Enabling multistreaming to multiple destinations

Choose RTSP when:

• Working with IP cameras and surveillance equipment
• Integrating with existing security infrastructure
• Building video management systems
• Requiring sub-second latency on local networks
• Developing IoT or machine vision applications

Use both when:

• Building platforms that ingest IP camera feeds AND broadcast live to web
• Converting surveillance streams for public or authenticated web viewing

The most important insight from this comparison: protocol choice matters less than having the right infrastructure to handle conversion, transcoding, and delivery. Modern streaming platforms abstract away protocol complexity, accepting whatever input you have and delivering optimized output to viewers worldwide.

If you’re building a streaming application and want to focus on your product rather than video infrastructure, LiveAPI handles RTMP and RTSP ingest while delivering via global CDN. Start streaming in days, not months—explore the documentation at docs.liveapi.com and begin with just a few lines of code.