Daily
Build real-time video, voice, and AI applications with Daily's WebRTC APIs and global infrastructure.
Free·Free · from $200/mo
About Ant Media
Ant Media Server is a real-time video streaming platform that enables developers and enterprises to build, deploy, and scale live video applications with ultra-low latency (300ms) and support for multiple protocols including WebRTC, RTMP, HLS, and SRT. It solves the challenge of delivering high-quality, low-latency video at scale without relying on third-party infrastructure.
What it does
Ant Media provides both self-hosted and cloud-based solutions for live and on-demand video streaming. It handles encoding, transcoding, recording, adaptive bitrate streaming, and multi-platform playback. The platform also supports advanced features like live subtitling (Scribe plugin), MoQ (Media over QUIC), and IP camera monitoring.
Who it is for
Ideal for developers building live streaming apps or video conferencing tools, media companies needing broadcast-grade low latency, and enterprises that require private video infrastructure for security or compliance. It is less suited for casual users seeking a plug-and-play streaming service without technical setup.
Use cases
Common applications include live shopping broadcasts, telehealth consultations, auction/bidding streams, real-time video surveillance, and large-scale virtual events. The platform supports from small prototypes to millions of concurrent viewers.
Key features
- WebRTC streaming — Real-time video with ultra-low latency (≈300ms)
- Multi-protocol support — WebRTC, RTMP, HLS, LL-HLS, CMAF, SRT, RTSP, WHIP/WHEP, Zixi, MoQ
- Adaptive bitrate — Automatic quality adjustment based on viewer connection
- Recording & playback — Capture streams and serve on-demand content
- Multi-platform SDKs — Native support for iOS, Android, Web, React Native, Flutter, Unity, JavaScript
- Scalable clustering — Horizontal auto-scaling for large audiences
- Security & IP camera monitoring — Enterprise-grade security protocols and live surveillance via IP cameras
Ant Media Pricing
Ant Media pricing: from $0.24/hr. Billing model: Freemium.
Hourly License (Enterprise)
$0.24 per instance per hour, plus $1 sign-up fee. Includes Enterprise Edition features, no connection limits, transcoding, SDKs, standard support, and free software upgrades.
Monthly License (Enterprise)
$109 per instance per month. Includes Enterprise Edition, no connection limits, transcoding (flex scalability), SDKs, standard support, and free software upgrades.
Annual License (Enterprise)
$89 per instance per month (billed annually). Includes Enterprise Edition, no connection limits, transcoding (advanced scalability), SDKs, standard support, and free software upgrades.
Perpetual License (Enterprise)
$2,799 per instance (lifetime usage). Includes Enterprise Edition, no connection limits, transcoding (advanced scalability), SDKs, and standard support for the first year. Standard support/upgrade after Year 1: $449/year. Offline license support available.
All plans offer a 7-day free trial for cloud solutions. Support plans are available separately for priority or dedicated assistance.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ant Media have a free plan or free trial?
Ant Media offers a 7-day free trial for its cloud solutions (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). There is no permanent free plan, but the trial lets you test all Enterprise features.
How much does Ant Media cost?
Pricing starts at $0.24 per instance per hour for the hourly Enterprise license. Monthly licenses are $109/instance/month, annual is $89/instance/month, and perpetual licenses cost $2,799/instance.
What is Ant Media best used for?
It is best for developers building live streaming apps, media companies needing ultra-low latency broadcasts, and enterprises requiring private video infrastructure for telehealth, live shopping, auctions, or surveillance.
Does Ant Media support WebRTC?
Yes, WebRTC is a core feature, enabling real-time streaming with sub-500ms latency (≈300ms). It also supports multiple protocols including RTMP, HLS, SRT, and the newer MoQ.
What are the main alternatives to Ant Media?
Top alternatives include Wowza Streaming Engine, Red5 Pro, Mux, and Amazon IVS. Ant Media differentiates with its self-hosted option, ultra-low latency, and flexible pricing models.
Can I deploy Ant Media on-premises?
Yes, Ant Media offers self-hosted licenses (hourly, monthly, annual, perpetual) that run on your own servers, private cloud, or air-gapped networks for full data sovereignty.
