SRT vs RTMP: Which Protocol Should You Use for Live Streaming?
RTMP and SRT are the two protocols you will meet most often when sending live video. They solve different problems, and many professional workflows use both.
RTMP in short
RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) runs over TCP and has been the standard way to send live video to social platforms for years. YouTube, Twitch, Facebook and many others accept RTMP or its encrypted version, RTMPS. Its strength is compatibility: almost every encoder and platform supports it.
SRT in short
SRT (Secure Reliable Transport) is an open-source protocol designed for contribution over the public internet. It runs over UDP, recovers lost packets, supports AES encryption and lets you tune latency to the quality of the network. It carries an MPEG transport stream, which means SCTE-35 ad markers can travel with the video.
How they compare
- Platform support: RTMP is accepted by social platforms; SRT is common between broadcasters, FAST platforms and ad partners.
- Unstable networks: SRT handles packet loss and jitter better.
- Security: SRT has built-in encryption; RTMP needs RTMPS.
- Ad markers: SRT with MPEG-TS can carry SCTE-35 cues for monetization.
Use both
A common setup sends RTMP to social platforms for reach and SRT to partners that monetize the stream. Fast Monkey Creator does exactly that from a single live: RTMP to YouTube, Twitch, Instagram and TikTok, plus two SRT outputs with SCTE-35.