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What are the pros and cons of RTMP vs HLS for live streaming?

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If you're into live streaming, you've probably heard of RTMP and HLS. These are two of the most common protocols for delivering live video over the internet. But what are the differences between them, and how do they affect your live streaming experience? In this article, we'll compare the pros and cons of RTMP vs HLS for live streaming, and help you decide which one suits your needs better.

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1 What is RTMP?

RTMP stands for Real-Time Messaging Protocol. It was developed by Adobe as a way to stream flash-based video and audio. RTMP is a low-latency protocol, which means it delivers the video and audio data as quickly as possible, with minimal buffering and delay. This makes it ideal for interactive live streaming, such as gaming, sports, or webinars. RTMP also supports encryption and authentication, which can enhance the security and privacy of your live stream.

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Traci Ruether

Content marketing for B2B tech brands ? Expertise in video streaming and ad tech ???
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RTMP has been around since the days of Adobe Flash Player, and was once the primary protocol used to stream live videos over the internet. It remains in use today for video contribution, meaning that many content distributors encode their video in RTMP and then repackage the content into adaptive bitrate HLS once it reaches a streaming server or service. If you're an individual streamer broadcasting to YouTube, Facebook, and the like, this step isn't necessary. Major social media platforms accept RTMP and then take care of video transcoding for you. RTMP is low-latency and reliable, but it isn't as advanced as new alternatives like SRT. It remains in use nonetheless because so many encoders and platforms accept it.

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2 What is HLS?

HLS stands for HTTP Live Streaming. It was developed by Apple as a way to stream video and audio over HTTP, the same protocol that powers the web. HLS is an adaptive bitrate protocol, which means it adjusts the quality of the video and audio data according to the network conditions and the device capabilities. This makes it ideal for delivering live streaming to a wide range of devices, such as smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, or browsers. HLS also supports encryption and DRM, which can protect your live stream from unauthorized copying or distribution.

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David Ketchen

Pastel Pieces on Substack
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For streaming via OBS to YouTube I use HLS which has a con of introducing a delay for interacting but has a pro content can be upscaled to 1440p. This is useful for me as I allow YouTube to save the stream as a 1440p recording for later playback and the codec YouTube uses for this enables a higher quality experience for viewers.

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3 Pros and cons of RTMP

RTMP has a few pros and cons to consider when it comes to live streaming. Low latency can improve interactivity and engagement, while encryption and authentication can increase security and privacy. RTMP is widely supported by live streaming software and platforms, such as OBS, Wirecast, or Twitch. However, RTMP requires a dedicated media server or a cloud-based service to handle the streaming, which can be costly and complex. Additionally, RTMP is not compatible with most mobile devices or browsers, potentially limiting audience reach. Lastly, RTMP can consume more bandwidth and CPU resources than HLS, which can affect the performance and quality of your live stream.

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4 Pros and cons of HLS

HLS has some advantages and disadvantages when it comes to live streaming. Adaptive bitrate, encryption, and DRM are all benefits of using HLS, as they can optimize the quality and reliability of your live stream, while also preventing it from being pirated or stolen. Additionally, HLS is compatible with most mobile devices and browsers, and can leverage existing HTTP infrastructure to improve scalability and efficiency. However, HLS has higher latency than RTMP, which can reduce interactivity and engagement. Furthermore, HLS requires more processing and storage on the server side, as well as being more vulnerable to network congestion or fluctuations, which can cause buffering or lagging issues for your live stream.

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Boluwatife Sokunbi

Senior Product Designer | Product Strategist | AI & Automation Specialist
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One advantage of HLS is that all Internet-connected devices support HTTP, making it simpler to implement than streaming protocols that require the use of specialized servers. Another advantage is that an HLS stream can increase or decrease video quality depending on network conditions without interrupting playback. This is why video quality may get better or worse in the middle of a video as a user is watching it. This feature is known as "adaptive bitrate video delivery" or "adaptive bitrate streaming," and without it, slow network conditions can stop a video from playing altogether.

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5 How to choose between RTMP and HLS?

Choosing between RTMP and HLS for live streaming is dependent on several factors, such as the target audience and device, desired latency and interactivity, budget, and technical expertise. For instance, if you want to reach a wide range of devices, especially mobile ones, HLS might be a better option. On the other hand, if you need real-time or near-real-time communication with your viewers, RTMP might be a better option. Additionally, if you have a limited budget or technical knowledge, HLS might be a better option. Ultimately, it is important to consider all of these factors when making a decision about which protocol to use for live streaming.

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Amir Faghihi

Software Engineer at Finofo
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Both RTMP and HLS are viable options for live streaming applications. For enhanced performance and usability, RTMP or RTMPS can be utilized for pulling the stream. Conversely, when considering delivery, HLS is preferred for its sustainability and scalability, while LHLS (Low-Latency HLS) is recommended for interactive streams, ensuring minimal delays and fostering real-time engagement with the audience.

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Akash Kandari

Data-Driven Marketer | SEO | Product Marketing
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Generally speaking RTMP is known for low latency streaming but lacks support on modern browsers without Flash. HLS, on the other hand, is widely supported on browsers and offers better scalability and compatibility but typically has higher latency. You can take this info into account while choosing between these two.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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What are the pros and cons of RTMP vs HLS for live streaming?

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1 What is RTMP?

2 What is HLS?

3 Pros and cons of RTMP

4 Pros and cons of HLS

5 How to choose between RTMP and HLS?

6 Here’s what else to consider

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