FTP vs RTSP for Security Cameras: Which is Best for Live Viewing and Cloud Recording?

Live viewing security cameras and recording footage to the cloud has become increasingly important. As users seek access to their camera streams from anywhere in the world, they’re moving away from outdated local storage solutions in favor of cloud storage, which offers greater flexibility and security. With the growing need for reliable remote access, cloud storage has become a vital part of modern security systems. There are several methods available to stream and record security camera footage online, each offering unique benefits for users.

In this blog post, we’ll explore two primary methods for connecting security cameras to the cloud: FTP and RTSP.

FTP: Affordable and Easy Solution for Cloud Storage & Live Watch

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a standard network protocol used to transfer files between computers over a TCP/IP network. It’s widely used for exchanging files across the internet or within a local network. FTP allows users to upload, download, and manage files on remote servers with ease.

Almost all security cameras support the FTP protocol, allowing you to configure your camera through its firmware panel to upload frames at set intervals, such as every second, to a platform like IP Camera Master. This setup enables you to watch live frames through a player or download them to your local computer by filtering based on date and time.

Advantages of FTP

1. Cost-Effective

FTP cloud storage offers an affordable solution for security camera footage. You can configure it to upload frames at specific intervals or trigger uploads based on motion detection. This approach helps save bandwidth by only transferring relevant footage, making it both efficient and cost-effective.

2. Widely Available

FTP is supported by virtually all IP cameras, making it a versatile and reliable option for a wide range of security systems. This widespread compatibility ensures that it can be used in almost any setup, regardless of the camera brand or model.

3. Easy to Setup

Setting up FTP is simple: just enter the FTP credentials from your IP Camera Master dashboard into your camera's configuration panel. Once saved, you’re ready to stream live frames and access recordings without any complicated setup.

Disadvantages of FTP

1. Potential for High Latency

FTP-based cloud recording and live viewing do not rely on continuous streaming but instead involve the camera uploading frames at set intervals. As a result, latency can be as high as 10 seconds, which may make it less suitable for time-sensitive applications where real-time monitoring is critical.

2. Lower Quality Stream

FTP-based cloud recording and live viewing upload frames at intervals, such as every second. As a result, the playback may have a low frame rate (FPS), leading to a choppy or lower-quality viewing experience compared to continuous streaming methods.

RTSP: High-Quality Streaming for Real-Time Viewing & Cloud Recording

RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) is a network protocol designed for streaming media over the internet. It enables real-time delivery of video and audio streams from security cameras to viewing platforms, ensuring low-latency and high-quality live feeds. Unlike FTP, which uploads files at intervals, RTSP provides continuous streaming, making it ideal for live viewing and monitoring. RTSP is widely used in surveillance systems for seamless integration and real-time video access, offering a smooth and dynamic viewing experience.

Advantages of RTSP

1-) High Quality Streaming

With RTSP, IP Camera Master connects directly to your camera to stream the entire footage in real time. This ensures optimal video quality, allowing you to watch high-definition streams, such as 1080p at 60 fps, with minimal loss in visual fidelity.

2-) Low Latency

Due to the real-time nature of RTSP, you can view camera streams with as low as 100 ms latency directly through your IP Camera Master dashboard, ensuring near-instant access to live footage.

3-) Widely Supported

Like FTP, RTSP is supported by nearly all IP cameras, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of security systems. This broad compatibility ensures that you can easily integrate RTSP streaming across various camera brands and models.

Disadvantages of RTSP

1-) More Complex Configuration

RTSP cameras often require additional setup, such as port forwarding, to be accessed remotely over the internet. This can make the configuration process more complex compared to simpler protocols like FTP.

2-) Higher Bandwidth and Potential Costs

When IP Camera Master connects to your camera via RTSP, it pulls the entire high-quality footage in real time, which can result in higher bandwidth consumption compared to FTP. This increased data usage may lead to higher costs, especially if you're streaming multiple cameras or using high-definition video.

Choosing Between FTP and RTSP: When to Use Each Protocol

When deciding between FTP and RTSP for your security camera system, it’s essential to consider your specific needs for live viewing, cloud storage, and bandwidth requirements.

Use FTP when you need a cost-effective and easy solution for cloud storage with minimal setup. FTP is ideal for archiving footage or recording images at set intervals. If live streaming isn’t a priority and you’re focused on secure, long-term storage, FTP is a great choice. It’s also suitable for scenarios where lower bandwidth usage is required, such as when storing footage without continuous streaming.

Use RTSP when real-time video streaming and high-quality live viewing are essential. RTSP is perfect for situations where you need a smooth, continuous stream for active monitoring, with low latency and higher frame rates. It’s ideal for scenarios like live security monitoring, where seeing real-time footage is critical. However, RTSP does require more bandwidth and may involve a bit more setup due to its need for port forwarding and network configuration.

In conclusion, choose FTP for secure cloud storage and cost-effective solutions when live viewing is secondary, and opt for RTSP when high-quality, low-latency live streaming is a priority.