MediaMTX is a free, open-source media server supporting RTSP, RTMP, WebRTC, SRT and HLS. See its features, how it works, licensing and top alternatives.
Category
Media & Audio/Video Tools
Pricing
Open Source, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
APIOpen SourceSelf-Hosted
Overview
MediaMTX is an open-source media server and proxy that acts as a router for real-time video and audio streams, letting streams published in one protocol be read back in another. It began life as rtsp-simple-server, a lightweight RTSP-focused server, and was renamed to MediaMTX once its protocol support and use cases grew well beyond RTSP.
The project is maintained on GitHub under the bluenviron organization and released under the MIT License, making it free to use and modify, including in commercial deployments.
Key Features
MediaMTX supports a wide range of streaming protocols including Media-over-QUIC, SRT, WebRTC, RTSP, RTMP, LL-HLS, MPEG-TS, and RTP, and can automatically convert a stream from one protocol to another so a single source can serve clients with different requirements.
The server can record streams in fMP4 or MPEG-TS formats, exposes a Control API for programmatic management, and provides Prometheus-compatible metrics for monitoring, along with configurable internal, HTTP, or JWT-based authentication.
Pricing
MediaMTX is completely free and open source under the MIT License, with no paid tiers, licensing fees, or commercial entity behind it.
Because it ships as a single, dependency-free binary, operating costs are limited to the infrastructure running it, making it an inexpensive option compared to commercial media server products.
Key Features
Multi-protocol streaming support — Supports Media-over-QUIC, SRT, WebRTC, RTSP, RTMP, LL-HLS, MPEG-TS, and RTP in a single server.
Automatic protocol conversion — Converts streams published in one protocol into any other supported protocol automatically.
Stream recording — Records incoming streams to disk in fMP4 or MPEG-TS format.
Control API — Provides an API for programmatically managing streams and server configuration.
Prometheus metrics — Exposes server and stream metrics in a format compatible with Prometheus monitoring.
Flexible authentication — Supports internal, HTTP-based, and JWT authentication for securing publish and read endpoints.
Zero-dependency single binary — Distributed as a single executable with no external dependencies, running on Linux, Windows, and macOS.
Broad tool compatibility — Works with FFmpeg, OBS Studio, GStreamer, and standard web browsers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free and open source under the permissive MIT License
Supports an unusually wide range of streaming protocols in one server
Zero-dependency single binary, simple to deploy on Linux, Windows, or macOS
Automatic protocol conversion reduces the need for separate transcoding tools
Actively maintained with an API and Prometheus metrics for production use
Cons
No commercial support contracts or SLAs available
Requires familiarity with streaming protocols and server configuration
No built-in graphical management dashboard out of the box
Community-driven support only, via GitHub issues and documentation
Scaling to very high concurrent stream counts requires manual infrastructure planning
Pricing
Open Source Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
What is MediaMTX used for?
MediaMTX is used as a media server and proxy to publish, read, record, and convert real-time video and audio streams across protocols like RTSP, RTMP, WebRTC, SRT, and HLS.
Is MediaMTX free?
Yes, MediaMTX is free and open source under the MIT License, with no paid tiers or licensing fees.
What was MediaMTX previously called?
MediaMTX was originally released as rtsp-simple-server before being renamed once its protocol support expanded beyond RTSP.