RTMP and SRT are the two main protocols for sending live video from an encoder to a streaming platform or relay server. Here is how they compare in 2026.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | RTMP | SRT |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 2002 (Adobe) | 2017 (Haivision, open source) |
| Latency | 1-5 seconds | 0.5-2 seconds |
| Error correction | None (TCP-based) | Built-in FEC and ARQ (UDP-based) |
| Connection bonding | Not native | Yes, via SRTLA |
| OBS support | Full | Full (since OBS 27+) |
| Twitch ingest | Yes | No (RTMP only) |
| YouTube ingest | Yes | No (RTMP/HLS only) |
| Kick ingest | Yes | No |
| Firewall friendly | Yes (TCP 1935) | Moderate (UDP, needs port config) |
| Encryption | RTMPS (TLS) | Built-in AES-128/256 |
| IRL streaming | Basic | Preferred (handles packet loss) |
| CPU overhead | Low | Low |
When to Use RTMP
- Streaming directly to Twitch, YouTube, or Kick (they only accept RTMP)
- Streaming from OBS to a platform with no relay server
- Simple setups with stable wired internet
RTMP runs over TCP, which means lost packets cause the stream to stall while data is retransmitted. On stable connections, this is rarely noticeable.
When to Use SRT
- IRL streaming over cellular (4G/5G)
- Streaming to a relay server or VPS that re-encodes to RTMP
- High-latency or lossy connections
- Multi-camera setups
- Connection bonding via SRTLA
SRT runs over UDP with its own error correction. It handles packet loss gracefully without stalling, making it ideal for mobile and unstable connections.
The VPS Relay Setup
Most professional streamers use both protocols together:
- Encoder (Belabox, OBS, hardware encoder) sends SRT to a VPS
- The VPS receives SRT, optionally processes the video
- The VPS outputs RTMP to Twitch, YouTube, or Kick
This architecture provides:
- Reliable transport from encoder to VPS (SRT)
- Compatible delivery to platforms (RTMP)
- Option for SRTLA bonding of multiple cellular connections
SRTLA: Connection Bonding
SRTLA (SRT Link Aggregation) extends SRT to bond multiple internet connections. IRL streamers use Belabox hardware with 2-4 cellular modems, each on different carriers. SRTLA splits packets across all connections and reassembles them on the VPS.
This requires a Linux VPS with the SRTLA receiver installed.
FAQ
Is SRT better than RTMP? For transport reliability, yes. SRT handles packet loss better. But platforms only accept RTMP, so you often need both.
Does OBS support SRT? Yes. OBS supports both RTMP and SRT output natively since version 27.
Can I stream to Twitch with SRT? Not directly. Twitch only accepts RTMP. Use a VPS relay: SRT to VPS, RTMP from VPS to Twitch.
What is SRTLA? SRT Link Aggregation. It bonds multiple internet connections for reliable IRL streaming. Requires a VPS as the receiver endpoint.