Learn everything you need to know about the RTMP streaming protocol from this extensive guide: what RTMP is, its history, how it works, how to choose and set up an RTMP server, how to troubleshoot common issues, debunk RTMP latency myths, and explore emerging trends. Use the table of contents to navigate between sections more easily.
Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) remains one of the most reliable and widely-used streaming protocols in 2025, despite being over two decades old. While newer protocols have emerged, RTMP continues to power millions of live streams worldwide, from Twitch broadcasts to enterprise video applications.
But here’s what most people don’t know: Red5 was the first company to reverse engineer RTMP and make it available to the world. Today, major streaming platforms like Ant Media and countless others build their servers on the foundation we created. That gives us unique insight into what makes RTMP servers truly effective.
Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) is a streaming protocol originally developed by Macromedia (later acquired by Adobe) for transmitting audio, video, and data over the internet. Initially designed for Flash applications, RTMP has evolved far beyond its original scope to become a cornerstone of modern streaming infrastructure.
RTMP operates on TCP port 1935 (this is configurable) and uses a chunk-based data transmission method that ensures reliable delivery of streaming content. The protocol’s robust handshake process and error handling have made it a main-stay for professional broadcasting applications where stream reliability is paramount.
RTMP emerged in the early 2000s as part of Macromedia/Adobe’s Flash ecosystem. However, the protocol was proprietary and closed-source, until Red5 changed everything. We were the first to reverse engineer RTMP and create an open-source implementation, democratizing access to professional-grade streaming technology.
This breakthrough laid the groundwork for the streaming revolution we see today. Other groups such as Wowza learned how to implement RTMP based on our work, and today companies across the industry, including players like Ant Media, continue to build their solutions on the RTMP foundation that Red5 pioneered.
Key Milestones:
RTMP operates on a client-server architecture where streaming software (like OBS Studio) connects to an RTMP server to deliver live content. The protocol uses TCP for reliable data transmission and typically operates on port 1935.
Here’s the basic workflow:
While traditional RTMP has served the industry well, the landscape demanded improvements. Enter Enhanced RTMP (ERTMP), a modernized version that addresses many of the original protocol’s limitations.
Red5 Pro supports e-RTMP, bringing features like:
This enhancement ensures RTMP remains relevant and competitive in today’s streaming ecosystem.
| Codec | Traditional RTMP | Enhanced RTMP | WebRTC | Notes |
| H.264 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Universal support |
| H.265 | ❌ | ✅ | 🟡 * | Better compression |
| AV1 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Future-proof |
| VP8 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Google-developed |
| VP9 | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | Advanced compression |
Codec support comparison across RTMP, ERTMP, and WebRTC
* This is only partially supported at this time. It’s currently behind a flag in Chrome and only works when hardware acceleration is enabled.
| Protocol | Latency | Reliability | Browser Support |
| RTMP | 250ms-3s | High | None |
| WHIP | <100ms | High | Native |
| SRT | 200ms-2s | Very High | None |
| WebRTC | <100ms | High | Native |
| RTSP | <100ms | High | None |
| HLS | 5-30s | Very High | Native |
| RTMPS | 250ms-3s | High | None |
Protocol Comparison Sheet: RTMP vs Other Protocols
RTMP and RTSP are both low-latency ingest protocols, but as a general rule, are used in very different use cases. RTMP is popular for live streaming to platforms like YouTube, while RTSP is a standard for IP cameras and drone streams. RTSP uses RTP (Real-Time Protocol) under the hood, making it more similar to WebRTC in transport. Another key difference is codec support: RTMP is limited to H.264, while RTSP supports multiple codecs, including H.265. RTSP is ideal for direct device-to-device workflows, while RTMP offers broader support for CDN and cloud streaming.
WHIP (WebRTC-HTTP Ingestion Protocol) represents the future of ultra-low latency streaming. Unlike RTMP’s TCP foundation, WHIP uses WebRTC for sub-second latency delivery.
Major platforms already support WHIP:
The OBS WHIP streaming guide even references Red5 as a recommended solution for WHIP implementation.
SRT provides improved reliability over challenging network conditions, making it ideal for contribution workflows where quality cannot be compromised.
RTMP is primarily used for ingest, while HLS is strictly an egress (playback) protocol. You’ll rarely see HLS used for ingest, it’s designed for delivery only. HLS segments streams into chunks and uses playlists, which introduces high latency but enables massive scalability through CDNs. RTMP, by contrast, offers lower latency but isn’t supported by most CDNs anymore. It was once used for both ingest and playback in the Flash era, but that role has shifted to WebRTC for real-time delivery. Today, RTMP remains dominant for contribution, while HLS powers large-scale, on-demand playback.
RTMPS is simply the secure version of RTMP, using SSL/TLS to encrypt the stream. The “S” stands for “secure,” making it a variant of RTMP with added protection for sensitive data. Both perform the same in terms of latency and reliability. RTMPS is often required by platforms like Facebook Live to ensure secure transmission. Setting it up involves enabling HTTPS and using valid certificates. If your stream involves personal or confidential content, RTMPS is the better choice.
For applications requiring the lowest possible latency, direct WebRTC connections offer millisecond-level performance but with increased complexity.
RTMP servers have unfairly earned a reputation for high latency, often cited as having 2+ seconds of delay. This misconception stems from historical implementation choices, not inherent protocol limitations.
The latency myth originated from:
The reality: Properly implemented RTMP servers can achieve sub-second latency. Red5’s RTMP implementation delivers sub-250 millisecond performance through:
| Component | Default Latency | Optimized Latency | Optimization Method |
| Encoder Buffer | 2000ms | 100ms | Reduce buffer size |
| Network Transit | 50ms | 50ms | CDN optimization |
| Server Processing | 200ms | 50ms | Real-time processing |
| Player Buffer | 1000ms | 100ms | Low-latency player |
| Total | 3250ms | 300ms | Comprehensive optimization |
Reducing RTMP Latency: Breakdown by Stream Component
| Feature | Red5 Pro / Cloud | Wowza | Ant Media | SRS | Comments |
| Default Latency | <250ms | ~2-3 seconds | <500ms | ~1 second | Red5 optimized for real-time |
| Enhanced RTMP | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Modern codec support |
| WebRTC Integration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Native WHIP support |
| Auto-scaling | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Red5 advantage |
| Multi-cloud Deploy | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Deployment flexibility |
| Custom Development | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Tailored solutions |
| Phone/Slack Support | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Enterprise support |
RTMP Server Comparison Sheet: Red5 Pro and Red5 Cloud vs Wowza, Ant Media, and SRS
As the pioneers of open-source RTMP, Red5 Pro offers:
Read this blog to learn how to set up a free RTMP server using our open-source software, or explore the RTMP extended capabilities in Red5 Pro and Red5 Cloud. Visit our product comparison page to see the feature differences between Red5 streaming solutions.
Select a server that meets your latency, scalability, and budget requirements. Red5 Pro offers both cloud and on-premises solutions.
Download and install OBS Studio or your preferred encoder. Read this blog to install OBS studio, configure it, and optimize for lowest latency.
Issue: Cannot connect to RTMP server Solutions:
Issue: Frequent disconnections Solutions:
Issue: Poor video quality Solutions:
Issue: Audio/video sync problems Solutions:
Issue: High CPU usage Solutions:
Issue: Dropped frames Solutions:
While newer protocols like WHIP and WebRTC offer compelling advantages, RTMP’s future remains bright. Its universal compatibility, mature tooling, and proven reliability ensure continued relevance.
The evolution continues with Enhanced RTMP addressing modern requirements while maintaining backward compatibility. For many applications, RTMP provides the perfect balance of performance, reliability, and ease of implementation.
RTMP latency varies based on configuration. With default settings, expect 2-3 seconds. Red5 Pro achieves sub-250ms latency through optimized configurations and real-time processing.
No, RTMP is not obsolete. It’s still widely used as the primary ingest protocol for major platforms like Twitch and YouTube Live. With Enhanced RTMP adding support for modern codecs and improved performance, the protocol continues to evolve and remains a reliable option for many live streaming workflows today.
While RTMP can work on mobile, newer protocols like WebRTC are better optimized for mobile streaming. Red5 Pro supports both for maximum flexibility.
RTMPS is RTMP over SSL/TLS, providing encrypted transmission. It’s essential for secure streaming applications.
Optimize buffer sizes, use hardware encoding, set keyframe intervals to 2 seconds, and choose a server optimized for low latency like Red5 Pro.
For HD streaming, use 3000-6000 kbps. For 4K, consider 8000-12000 kbps. Always pick a bitrate within your bandwidth limitations.
Yes, you can. While traditional RTMP is known for higher latency, Red5 Pro’s optimized implementation reduces delay to under 250 milliseconds. This makes it suitable for interactive use cases like live auctions, virtual classrooms, and real-time gaming, where low latency is critical for maintaining a seamless two-way user experience.
Enhanced RTMP (ERTMP) is a modernized version supporting new codecs like H.265 and AV1, better error handling, and improved security features.
RTMP is the protocol used to transmit your live video from an encoder to a streaming server. A stream key is a unique identifier that tells the server where to send your specific stream. Think of RTMP as the delivery method and the stream key as the address that routes your broadcast correctly.
To watch an RTMP stream, you need a compatible media player or video platform that supports RTMP playback. This typically requires a third-party player like VLC or integration into a video player with RTMP support. RTMP is not natively supported in modern browsers, so direct playback often involves using custom or embedded players.
An RTMP encoder is software or hardware that captures audio and video, compresses it, and sends it to an RTMP server using the RTMP protocol. Tools like OBS Studio let you configure video settings, add stream keys, and go live. It’s essential for turning raw media into a streamable format.
Traditional RTMP uses single bitrate streaming, which means all viewers receive the same video quality regardless of their bandwidth. To support adaptive playback, you’ll need to set up multiple encoders or use a server-side transcoding solution. Red5 Pro can help implement strategies to improve stream accessibility even with single bitrate RTMP inputs.
Looking for a server software designed for ultra-low latency streaming at scale? Start Red5 Pro 30-day trial today!
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