RTMP streaming
A managed RTMP server for the encoders your team already uses.
Connect established production tools to managed ingest, distribution, recording, and playback without operating an RTMP server yourself.
Built for operators using standard software and hardware encoders in recurring production workflows.
Trusted across professional media, enterprise, and public organizations
Business outcomes
The workflow should create value, not more operational risk.
01Keep the production stack
Use familiar encoder tools and contribution settings.
02Remove server maintenance
Let Castr manage the ingest and distribution layer.
03Extend the output
Add multistreaming, embedding, recording, hosting, and analytics.
Capabilities that matter
Everything a hosted RTMP server handles for you.
Connect a standard encoder to a managed RTMP server and let Castr handle ingest, delivery, recording, and distribution. Ingest locations, recording, and destination limits vary by plan.
RTMP ingest
Send RTMP or RTMPS from your encoder straight into Castr.
Global ingest locations
Choose from 40+ ingest locations worldwide, so your encoder connects to a nearby point.
Custom destinations
Send the stream on to any endpoint that accepts a custom RTMP URL.
Embedded playback
Play the stream back through your own embedded player on your website.
Cloud recording
Capture the broadcast for replay and VOD.
RTMP to SRT
Receive RTMP from your encoder and hand the stream off to any SRT destination you configure.
Need the complete matrix? See capability availability and plan tiers in one place.
Compare plans and capabilities →How a managed RTMP server works
What an RTMP server is, and how a hosted one works.
An RTMP server accepts a live feed from your encoder over the RTMP protocol, then prepares it for playback and distribution to other platforms or streaming endpoints. You can self-host one, or send your encoder to a managed RTMP server like Castr and skip the setup.
What an RTMP server does
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Accepts an RTMP push
Receives the live video your encoder publishes over RTMP or RTMPS.
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RTMP server URL + stream key
You paste a server URL (in the form rtmp://…) and a stream key into OBS, vMix, Wirecast, or a hardware encoder to connect.
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RTMPS encryption
Publish over RTMPS (RTMP over TLS) so the link between your encoder and the server is encrypted in transit, which matters on shared or public networks. RTMPS usually uses port 443 while plain RTMP uses port 1935.
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Transcodes and packages
A bare RTMP server receives or relays the feed, while a managed platform like Castr also transcodes it into adaptive HLS for playback across devices.
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Multistreams to RTMP and SRT
Fans one incoming RTMP feed out to supported social platforms and compatible custom RTMP or SRT destinations.
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Delivers to viewers
Serves the packaged HLS stream through an embedded player on your website.
Managed vs self-hosted
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Self-hosted (nginx, others)
Free RTMP server software such as the nginx-rtmp module runs on your own machine, but you configure, secure, scale, and maintain it yourself.
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Managed RTMP server
Castr operates the ingest, delivery, and recording layer, so you connect an encoder without running a server.
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Global ingest options
Choose a contribution location suited to the production instead of hosting one box in one region.
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Try before committing
Start with a 7-day trial to validate your encoder and workflow.
Free RTMP server software remains an option if you prefer to self-host.
Castr runs the RTMP server for you, so there’s nothing to download or install. Ingest locations, recording, and destination limits vary by plan.
RTMP streaming protocol explainedFree RTMP server vs managed
Free RTMP server software vs a managed RTMP streaming server.
You can run a free RTMP server yourself with open-source software, or send your encoder to a managed RTMP server and skip the setup. A free RTMP server costs nothing in licensing but you own every operational task. The managed route trades a plan fee for reliability and built-in delivery.
Free RTMP server (self-hosted)
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nginx-rtmp module
The most common free RTMP streaming server is the nginx-rtmp module, which turns an nginx install into an RTMP ingest endpoint.
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Your own free RTMP stream URL
You generate a free RTMP server URL (in the form rtmp://your-server/live) and point OBS or another encoder at it.
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You run everything
You provision the machine, secure it, scale it for audience spikes, and maintain uptime yourself.
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Capable, but you operate it
A well-configured nginx-rtmp install can ingest, relay, record, and generate HLS, but everything around it is still yours to build and run: redundancy, monitoring, CDN integration, and the player workflow.
Managed RTMP server (Castr)
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Hosted ingest, no setup
Castr operates the RTMP ingest layer, so you get an RTMP server URL and stream key without installing or securing server software.
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Delivery included
Ingest connects to multi-CDN delivery, an embedded player on your own site, recording, and multistreaming with no extra setup.
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Global ingest options
Choose from 40+ ingest locations spread across multiple continents instead of hosting one box in one region.
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Try free for 7 days
Validate your encoder and workflow on a 7-day trial before committing.
Plan limits and pricing apply after the trial.
Free RTMP server software such as the nginx-rtmp module remains a valid option if you want to self-host and operate the server yourself. Castr is a managed alternative that runs the RTMP server for you, with nothing to download or install.
RTMP streaming protocol explainedSeen enough to test it? Start a 7-day trial with no credit card, or talk through your exact setup first.
Customer workflows
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Read the storyOperator fit
Designed for recurring, accountable video work.
Operational complexity matters more than company size. The strongest fit is a team with a named owner, a repeatable schedule, and a real consequence if delivery fails.
Review your workflow with CastrStrong qualification signals
- OBS, vMix, Wirecast, and hardware encoders
- Established broadcast contribution workflows
- Managed cloud distribution
- Automatic recording and replay
Switching to Castr
Move off your current platform without dropping a broadcast.
You do not have to cut over blind. Run Castr in parallel with your current provider while you test, and let our video team confirm the fit before anything switches.
Run in parallel
Point a test encoder at Castr while your current platform keeps serving viewers. Nothing changes for your audience until you are ready.
Map the workflow
Our video team reviews your ingest, player embeds, video library, security, and monetization setup, then confirms plan fit for your concurrency and destinations.
Cut over with support
Switch your embeds and destinations when you are confident, with 24/7 human support on hand during your first live events on Castr.
Build the complete workflow
Connect this capability to the rest of your operation.
Questions before you choose
Evaluate the workflow with confidence.
Feature and plan availability changes by tier. Use the full matrix for comparison, or let our team validate a complex setup.
What is an RTMP server?
An RTMP server receives or relays a live video feed pushed from an encoder over the RTMP protocol. A managed platform like Castr then transcodes that feed into adaptive-bitrate HLS, records it, and distributes it, which lets you connect OBS, vMix, Wirecast, or a hardware encoder without operating server software yourself.
How do I set up an RTMP server?
You can self-host one with RTMP streaming software such as the nginx-rtmp module, or use a managed RTMP server. With Castr you create a stream, copy the RTMP server URL and stream key into your encoder, and start publishing, with no server installation or configuration required.
Is there a free RTMP server?
Open-source RTMP server software such as the nginx-rtmp module is free to run, but you host, secure, scale, and maintain it yourself. Castr is a managed alternative with a 7-day trial if you would rather not operate a server. Plan limits and pricing apply after the trial.
What is an RTMP server URL?
An RTMP server URL is the address your encoder publishes to, usually in the form rtmp://… paired with a stream key. In Castr both the server URL and stream key are generated for each stream, so you can paste them straight into OBS, vMix, or a hardware encoder.
Which encoders can publish RTMP to Castr?
Any encoder that can publish to a custom RTMP URL works with Castr, including OBS, vMix, Wirecast, and most hardware encoders.
What port does RTMP use?
RTMP uses TCP port 1935 by default. RTMPS (RTMP over TLS) typically uses port 443. If a firewall blocks 1935, confirm the port and protocol your encoder and network allow before going live.
RTMP vs SRT: which should I use?
RTMP is a long-established, widely supported protocol for straightforward encoder publishing and is a dependable default. SRT is often chosen when the network is unreliable, because it recovers from packet loss and can encrypt the feed. Castr accepts both, so you can match the protocol to the production. See the SRT streaming page to compare.
Can I restream an RTMP feed?
Yes. Once your RTMP feed reaches Castr you can restream it to multiple destinations at once through multistreaming, sending one contribution feed to social platforms, custom RTMP endpoints, and your own player on your website.
Does Castr provide playback from the RTMP source?
Yes. Castr transcodes your RTMP feed into HLS and delivers it to viewers through an embedded player on your own website, or as a direct playback URL.
Can the stream also be recorded?
Yes. Cloud recording and live-to-VOD are included, though recording length and retention vary by plan.
Can I evaluate Castr before subscribing?
Yes. Castr offers a 7-day Starter trial with no credit card required. Advanced workflows and higher limits may require a paid tier or a technical consultation.
Move from evaluation to a working broadcast
Map Castr to the workflow your team runs today.
Discuss protocols, concurrency, destinations, bandwidth, storage, security, monetization, migration, and support with a video expert.