Low Latency Streaming for Real-Time Video Delivery
Stream delivery with unparalleled speed and reliability.
Low-Latency Streaming for Every Use Case
With a wide variety of features, projects, and protocol-compatibilities, Wowza delivers low latency streaming solutions for every use case. We can get your streams from camera to screen with unmatched speed, reliability, quality and resiliency.
Learn more about how low-latency technologies are the key to interactive streaming by downloading our free report.
Apple Low-Latency HLS
The same simplicity, scalability, and quality of HLS — but faster. Wowza Streaming Engine with Apple Low-Latency HLS enables low-latency video streaming coupled with the high-quality of traditional HLS. Stream live and on-demand content to play natively on Apple mobile devices in 3 seconds or less while offering backward compatibility to existing clients. Deliver real-time streaming experiences with reduced delay and improved interactivity, no matter the audience size.
WebRTC
At sub-500ms delivery, WebRTC provides real-time communications (RTC) capabilities via simple APIs. While WebRTC is traditionally known for peer-to-peer communications, Wowza gives users the ability to scale beyond one-to-one or one-to few connections, instantly distributing to viral audiences with the real-time experience necessary for interactive streaming.
Secure Reliable Transport
Wowza supports the ingest of streams via SRT (Secure Reliable Transport)—an open-source technology designed to help you deliver secure, high-quality low latency video streaming even in unpredictable network conditions. SRT accounts for packet loss, jitter and fluctuating bandwidth, maintaining the integrity and quality of your stream.
What is considered good latency?
Latency tolerance varies widely across use cases. Linear OTT programming can run 45 seconds behind live without affecting the viewer experience, while live auctions and remote camera control require sub-second response for the workflow to function. For deployments that span multiple tiers (a sports producer ingesting from remote venues over SRT and delivering to fans via Low-Latency HLS or DASH, for example), Wowza Streaming Engine transmuxes between protocols in a single workflow.
| Use Case | Latency | Protocols |
| Linear OTT, large-audience live events, video on demand catch-up | 18 to 45+ seconds | Apple HLS, MPEG-DASH |
| OTT news, religious services, corporate communications | 5 to 18 seconds | HLS Tuned, DASH Tuned, RTMP Contribution |
| OTT live sports and news at broadcast TV parity | 5 to 6 seconds | RTMP, Low-Latency HLS/DASH |
| Esports, gaming, user-generated live content | 1 to 5 seconds | Low-Latency HLS, Low-Latency CMAF for DASH, RTMP Tuned |
| Sports betting, live auctions, interactive fan engagement | 1 to 3 seconds | Low-Latency HLS/DASH, SRT Contribution, RTSP/RTP |
| Remote video monitoring and surveillance | 500ms to 2 seconds | SRT, RTSP/RTP, WebRTC |
| Two-way video conferencing, telemedicine, telepresence | Under 500ms | WebRTC, MoQ |
| PTZ camera control, drone piloting, industrial automation | Under 200ms | WebRTC, MoQ |
Traditional Streaming Protocols
Traditional streaming protocols such as RTSP and RTMP can be used for low-latency streaming, but they don’t scale well and are not natively supported on all endpoints (e.g., iOS devices). They work best for transporting an encoded stream to the media server and repackaging into a more playback-friendly alternative.
Adaptive Streaming Protocols
Protocols such as HLS, HDS, HSS, and MPEG-DASH work well for streaming to large audiences on a wide range of devices at once, and are easily scalable. Historically, HTTP-Based Adaptive Streaming Protocols were not well suited for low-latency streaming, but with the release of Low-Latency HLS, reduced-latency is now achievable.
Emerging Technologies
Emerging technologies like SRT and WebRTC are designed for near-real-time audio, video, and data delivery — even over less-reliable connections. These formats are are ideal for use cases that require a high degree of interactivity and lightning-fast delivery. Solutions like Real-Time Streaming at Scale are bringing these capabilities to the masses.
Low latency streaming FAQs
How is low latency streaming achieved?
Low latency streaming is achieved by reducing delays across the video workflow, including encoding, segment size, buffering, and delivery. Techniques like chunked transfer encoding, shorter GOP sizes, and optimized protocols such as WebRTC and low latency HLS help minimize end-to-end latency.
What is the difference between low latency and real-time streaming?
Low latency streaming typically delivers video within a few seconds, while real-time streaming (such as WebRTC) achieves sub-second latency. Real-time streaming is required for highly interactive applications like video calls, while low latency is sufficient for scalable live streaming.
What is end-to-end latency in video streaming?
End-to-end latency is the total delay from when a video is captured to when it is displayed to the viewer. It includes encoding, packaging, network transmission, buffering, and playback latency.
How does Low Latency HLS reduce delay?
Low latency HLS reduces delay by using smaller segment sizes, partial segment delivery (chunked transfer), and faster playlist updates. This allows video players to start playback sooner and stay closer to the live edge.
What is low latency streaming?
Low latency streaming is the delivery of live video with end-to-end delay typically under 5 seconds, and often under 1 second for real-time interactive use cases. It shortens the gap between source capture and viewer playback, enabling applications like sports betting, live auctions, esports, video conferencing, and remote camera operation. Common low latency protocols include WebRTC, Low-Latency HLS, SRT, as well as tuned versions of RTMP Contribution and Low-Latency HLS/DASH.
What is the best protocol for low latency streaming?
The best protocol for low latency streaming depends on the use case. WebRTC delivers sub-500ms latency for real-time interactive applications like video conferencing and remote camera control. Low-Latency HLS/DASH achieves 2 to 3 seconds at scale across browsers and Apple devices for live events and OTT delivery. SRT provides reliable, encrypted contribution at roughly 1 second over unpredictable networks. Wowza Streaming Engine supports all three protocols in a single workflow.
What is the difference between low latency and ultra-low latency streaming?
Low latency streaming refers to end-to-end delays in the 1 to 5 second range, while ultra-low latency streaming delivers video in under 1 second, often under 500 milliseconds. Low latency suits scalable live events, sports broadcasting, and OTT streaming where a slight delay does not break the viewer experience. Ultra-low latency suits applications where sub-second response is critical, including video conferencing, live auctions, sports betting, and remote device control.