Low latency live streaming for global audiences
Ingest via RTMP, SRT, or browser. Get low-latency HLS and MPEG-DASH delivery with built-in player and 210+ global PoPs.
Stream live without building your own infrastructure
Flexible ingest
Send live streams via RTMP, SRT, or WebRTC WHIP from any encoder. Gcore provides primary and backup ingest endpoints across the US, EU, and Asia for reliable uptime.
Low-latency delivery
Choose 2-3 second latency with LL-HLS and LL-DASH CMAF for real-time interactions, or traditional HLS MPEG-TS for maximum device compatibility. Adaptive bitrate adjusts quality automatically.
Live features included
Enable DVR for pause and rewind, create instant clips during a broadcast, restream to YouTube and Facebook simultaneously, record as VOD automatically, and add dynamic HTML overlays natively.
What the platform handles
Push or pull
Send live input from encoders, browsers, mobile devices, or existing origins, then let Gcore prepare it for delivery.
Protocol coverage
Use RTMP, SRT, or WebRTC WHIP for ingest and deliver in LL-HLS, LL-DASH, or legacy HLS MPEG-TS.
Managed ABR
Convert one live input into ABR for smooth playback. Includes qualities up to Full HD (1080p) with optional 2K and 4K.
Viewer playback
Publish with a built-in video player, or export URL and get audiences watching in the custom player you prefer.
Live controls
Turn on recording and DVR when you need replay, pause, and rewind in the same managed live workflow.
Global delivery
Use the integrated CDN to cache close to viewers and scale live audiences without loading your own origin.
Choose the right latency mode for your use case
- LL-HLS and LL-DASH with 2-3 second glass-to-glass latency for live auctions, sports betting, and interactive broadcasts
- Traditional HLS MPEG-TS with 10-15 second latency for reliable playback on legacy devices and smart TVs
- Adaptive bitrate automatically delivers the best quality for each viewer's connection speed
- No encoder changes required – select latency mode in Gcore dashboard per live stream
Go live from the browser without installing encoder software
- WebRTC WHIP protocol sends streams from browsers to Gcore, then transcodes to HLS/DASH for broad delivery
- No OBS or encoder installation required – users click a button and grant camera/microphone access to go live
- Combine browser ingest with low-latency delivery for 3-second glass-to-glass workflows
What you can build with live streaming
Sports and esports broadcasts
Deliver live sports, tournaments, and competitive gaming to global audiences with 3-second latency. Enable instant replays via DVR, recording, HTML overlays and widgets, and instant clip creation.
24/7 broadcast channels
Run always-on TV-style channels with reliable ingest failover, and traditional HLS delivery for maximum reliability and device compatibility including smart TVs and set-top boxes.
Live events and conferences
Stream webinars, corporate events, and conferences with secure token access control, real-time Q&A via low-latency modes, and automatic VOD conversion for on-demand replay after broadcast ends.
User-generated live content
Let creators broadcast from browsers or mobile apps using WebRTC WHIP ingest, then deliver to audiences worldwide. No encoder software needed—users click to go live from any device with a camera.
Advanced delivery with custom CDN
Deploy live streams through custom CDN resources for geo-blocking, referrer validation, and IP-based access control. Use branded domains, separate security policies per audience, and enforce broadcasting rights compliance for regional content.
Restreaming to social platforms
Broadcast simultaneously to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and custom RTMP destinations without managing separate encoders. One ingest point distributes to multiple platforms while maintaining full control.
Platform capabilities and feature tiers
- Encoder compatibility: software/mobile/hardware encoders via RTMP/RTMPS/SRT protocols or WebRTC WHIP for browser-based ingest
- Delivery protocols: HLS MPEG-TS for legacy compatibility, low-latency LL-HLS CMAF and MPEG-DASH CMAF with 2-4 second glass-to-glass
- Production features: recording, DVR time-shifting for live pause/rewind, multicamera stream switching, multi-platform restreaming, geographic ingest failover
- Premium transcoding: 2K (1440p) and 4K (2160p) output ladders, H.265/HEVC and AV1 codec encoding for bandwidth optimization
- Enterprise infrastructure: Real-time HTML overlay injection, instant clipping from live streams, custom CDN resources with geo-restriction and access policies, dedicated regional transcoding, extended datacenter coverage
FAQ
What ingest protocols does Gcore Live Streaming support?
Gcore accepts RTMP and RTMPS for compatibility with all standard encoders (OBS, vMix, hardware units, etc), SRT for reliable delivery over unreliable networks, and WebRTC WHIP for browser-based ingest without encoder software. You can also configure pull ingest to retrieve streams from your existing RTMP, SRT, or HLS servers.
What is the difference between low-latency and traditional HLS delivery?
Low-latency modes (LL-HLS and LL-DASH CMAF) deliver streams with 2-3 second glass-to-glass latency, ideal for interactive use cases like live auctions, sports betting, and real-time Q&A. Traditional HLS MPEG-TS has 9-10 second latency but offers maximum compatibility with legacy devices and smart TVs. You choose the mode per stream based on your use case.
Can I restream to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch simultaneously?
Yes. Gcore's restreaming feature sends your live stream to external platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and any custom RTMP/RTMPS destination simultaneously from a single ingest point. This eliminates the need to run multiple encoders or manage separate streams for each platform.
How does primary and backup ingest failover work?
Gcore provides primary and backup ingest endpoints located in different data centers across US, EU, and Asia. If your primary connection fails, the encoder automatically switches to the backup endpoint without interrupting the live stream. This ensures uptime even during network issues or data center failures.
Can I record live streams automatically and save them as VOD?
Yes. Enable automatic recording in the live stream settings, and Gcore will save the full broadcast as a VOD video. Recorded videos support all VOD features including subtitles, secure tokens, and adaptive bitrate playback.
What is WebRTC WHIP ingest and when should I use it?
WebRTC WHIP lets users broadcast live video directly from Chrome, Safari, or mobile browsers without installing OBS or encoder software. Gcore receives the WebRTC stream and transcodes it to HLS/DASH for delivery to broad audiences. Use this for user-generated content platforms, quick broadcasts, or when desktop encoder installation isn't practical.
Can I add overlays, scoreboards, or branding to live streams?
Yes. Gcore supports dynamic HTML overlays that are burned into the live stream natively. Add scoreboards, lower thirds, countdowns, or branding elements without modifying your encoder setup. This is ideal for sports broadcasts, live events, and branded channels.
What is low latency live streaming?
Does Gcore offer a live streaming API?
Can I use Gcore for mobile live streaming apps?
Estimate live streaming costs
- Start for free with no credit card required, test live workflows immediately
- Use the pricing calculator to estimate costs based on expected concurrent viewers
- Enterprise plans also offer per-gigabyte delivery pricing and custom architecture for high-volume broadcasts
Start live streaming
Go live in minutes with RTMP, SRT, or browser ingest. Get low-latency delivery, DVR, and restreaming included.