The Red5 Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Red5 in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Red5
The Insider’s Guide
Self-hosted ultra-low latency streaming server and SDKs
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among webinar and live streaming tools, read from Red5’s own pages.
Made by Infrared5, Inc. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Red5’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Red5’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 9 of the 60 other webinar and live streaming tools we grade
Red5 Pro is licensed streaming server software that developers deploy on their own cloud accounts to deliver live and on-demand video over WebRTC and other protocols. It is a building block for custom apps such as webinars, auctions and surveillance viewers, with a separate managed option, Red5 Cloud.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Red5, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is developer infrastructure that you deploy and configure.
- 1
Best for developers building low-latency streaming
Red5 is self-hosted, ultra-low latency streaming infrastructure with SDKs, aimed at developers.
- 2
Paid plans start at $29.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $29.99 per month for 100 connections.
- 3
You can try it first
30-day free trial of Red5 Pro
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Low-latency streaming
Delivers live video over WebRTC, RTMP, RTSP and HLS, with recording and video on demand on every listed plan.
- 6
Autoscaling
Startup and above autoscale across AWS, Google Cloud, Azure or DigitalOcean; Developer Pro has no clustering.
- 7
Instance-based licensing
The FAQ says there is no charge per minute, viewer or bandwidth; price follows the license and number of running instances.
- 8
A 1.8 GPA, above 9 of 60
That is against the other webinar and live streaming tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Red5 you would be making live video to hundreds of people at once. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Red5 at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $29.99 per month for 100 connections
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30-day free trial of Red5 Pro
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Infrared5, Inc.
- Category
- Webinars & Live Streaming
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for developers building low-latency streaming
Red5 is self-hosted, ultra-low latency streaming infrastructure with SDKs, aimed at developers. It is not a finished webinar product, hosting is separate, and the plan that scales starts at $109 a month.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | Developer Pro is $29.99 for 100 connections with no clustering; unlimited connections start at $109, over the $99 dearer-quarter mark. |
| Free plan and trial | C | 30-day trial of Red5 Pro. The listing does not say whether it needs a card. |
| Features | C | Low-latency streaming, autoscaling, SDKs and an open-source server. No registration or reminders. |
| Ease of use | D | It is developer infrastructure that you deploy and configure. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web and mobile SDKs, with AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean and Akamai. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Red5 is for
- Fits if you have developers building a live product
- Works for teams that need autoscaling on their own cloud
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a ready webinar tool, as there is no registration
- Tight on Developer Pro: 100 connections with no clustering or autoscaling
- Watch out: hosting and data transfer are billed by your cloud provider
- Pricey if you want mobile SDKs: $349 a month per launched project
- Watch out: extra fees may apply for Castaway, custom SLAs and custom development
Good to know
Good for
- Developers who need real-time video inside their own app
- Teams that want predictable licensing instead of per-viewer fees
- Organizations that need offline or on-premises streaming
Worth knowing
- It is developer infrastructure, not a finished webinar product with registration or email reminders.
- Hosting is separate: you pay your cloud provider for servers and data transfer.
- Developer Pro is capped at 100 connections with no clustering or autoscaling.
- Pricing says additional fees may apply for services such as Castaway, custom SLAs and custom development.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$29.99
A month to start
Red5 is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $29.99 per month for 100 connections.
The listing does not say whether it needs a card.
Developer Pro
$29.99
per month, up to 100 connections
Live streaming, recordings and VOD with no clustering or autoscaling; email support.
Startup
$109
per month, billed annually ($119 billed monthly)
Unlimited connections, adaptive bitrate and autoscaling on AWS, Google Cloud, Azure or DigitalOcean.
Growth Pro
$279
per month, billed annually ($299 billed monthly)
Adds transcoding and a private Slack channel to the Startup features.
Enterprise
$3,499
per month and up
Adds offline deployments, 24/7 support and phone support to Growth Pro.
Mobile SDKs
$349
per month per launched project, billed annually ($419 monthly)
One fee covers the iOS, Android and Linux SDKs for a single project.
Trying it first
30-day free trial of Red5 Pro
Read from red5.net on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Self-hosted ultra-low latency streaming server and SDKs. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: self-hostable, public API, video calls, webinars.
Low-latency streaming, autoscaling, SDKs and an open-source server.
- Low-latency streaming
- Delivers live video over WebRTC, RTMP, RTSP and HLS, with recording and video on demand on every listed plan.
- Autoscaling
- Startup and above autoscale across AWS, Google Cloud, Azure or DigitalOcean; Developer Pro has no clustering.
- Instance-based licensing
- The FAQ says there is no charge per minute, viewer or bandwidth; price follows the license and number of running instances.
- Client SDKs
- SDKs for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Unreal Engine and Unity are sold per launched project.
- Open-source server
- Red5 also publishes an open-source media server and TrueTime tools such as WatchParty and Studio, including a webinar variant.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- AWS
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud
- DigitalOcean
- Akamai
- Zixi
- PubNub
- Unity
Red5 is made by Infrared5, Inc.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
9/60
Other webinar and live streaming tools it is graded above
Red5's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 9 of the 60 other webinar and live streaming tools we grade, and level with 16.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 20 of 60) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $29.99 a month, against a middle price of $47 for the category: 15 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 10 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 61 webinar and live streaming tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Red5’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 1 of 60
- CFree plan and trialAbove 24 of 60
- CFeaturesAbove 4 of 60
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 60
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 20 of 60
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 47 webinar and live streaming tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Red5 is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Red5 you would be making live video to hundreds of people at once. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 35 of the 60 other webinar and live streaming tools grade higher. It costs $359.88 a year.
What you could not
- Live video to hundreds of people at once.
- Video calls.
- It plugs into other products, AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud among them, and has an API.
What this rests on. Red5’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Ant Media Server, Wowza, Flussonic, Nimble Streamer and Dacast
The 5 tools Red5 is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Ant Media Server
Free trial · from $109/mo
Low-latency WebRTC streaming server you run or rent by the hour.
- 1.4GPA
Wowza
Free trial · from $195/mo
Streaming server software you run yourself, plus a cloud platform.
- Red5 also covers video calls and webinars.
- 1.2GPA
Flussonic
Paid
Streaming media server for IPTV, CCTV and corporate video.
- Only Red5 lists a web app.
- Only Flussonic lists a Linux app.
- 1.8GPA
Nimble Streamer
Free trial · from $70/mo
Software media server for live and VOD streaming, billed per server.
- Only Nimble Streamer lists a Linux app.
- Red5 also covers video calls.
- Nimble Streamer also covers transcription.
- 2.2GPA
Dacast
Free trial · from $39/mo
Live streaming and video hosting with bandwidth-based plans.
- Red5 is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Red5 also covers video calls.
- Dacast also covers reports and multistreaming.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Red5 free?
No, Red5 is a paid product, but you can try it first. 30-day free trial of Red5 Pro.
How much does Red5 cost?
Red5 lists 5 plans. Developer Pro: $29.99 per month, up to 100 connections.
What platforms does Red5 work on?
Red5 is available on Web.
Does Red5 have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Red5 is listed for Web.
Does Red5 have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Red5 is listed for Web.
Is Red5 open source?
Red5 is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
Can Red5 be self-hosted?
Yes. Red5's own site says it can be run on a server of your own.
Does Red5 have an API?
Yes. Red5 offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Red5 integrate with?
Red5's listing names AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Akamai, Zixi, PubNub and Unity.
Who makes Red5?
Red5 is made by Infrared5, Inc.
What are the alternatives to Red5?
The closest alternatives to Red5 in our directory are Ant Media Server, Wowza, Flussonic, Nimble Streamer and Dacast.
How does Red5 compare with other webinar and live streaming tools?
Red5's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 9 of the 60 other webinar and live streaming tools we grade, and level with 16.
Is Red5 good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Red5 D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $29.99 a month, against a middle price of $47 for the category: 15 of the 45 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Red5?
To replace Red5 you would be making live video to hundreds of people at once.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Red5’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Red5's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Infrared5, Inc. Prices change, so check red5.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Red5, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/red5
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Red5: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/red5
Know someone choosing between webinar and live streaming tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/red5/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded webinar and live streaming tools after Red5, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Webinars & Live Streaming Insider's GuideEvery one of the 61 webinar and live streaming tools we grade, compared
- PRISM Live Studio Insider's GuideFree streaming app for desktop and mobile with a paid Plus tier3.0 GPA
- Lightstream Insider's GuideBrowser-based live streaming studio, built for console streamers2.8 GPA
- ClickMeeting Insider's GuideWebinars and online meetings with paid events and automation2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Red5’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Red5 is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Infrared5, Inc. Prices and plans change: check red5.net before you buy.