What Is H.264 Streaming Encoder?

If you stream video online, chances are you’re using an H.264 streaming encoder, whether you know it or not. In 2025, H.264 remains the most widely supported video codec for live and on-demand streaming. It delivers a solid balance of high video quality and low bandwidth use, making it ideal for everything from 4K live events to mobile and OTT delivery. It also plays well across nearly all devices and platforms, which helps you reach your viewers anywhere without compatibility issues.

In this article, we’ll break down what an H.264 streaming encoder is, how it works, and why it still matters today. We’ll look at its role in low-latency streaming, how it compares to newer codecs like H.265 and AV1, and how to choose the right encoder settings. We’ll also show how a professional platform like Dacast supports H.264 workflows and makes streaming smoother, whether you’re a creator, business, or broadcaster.

Table of Contents

• Streaming Encoders: What Is Video Encoding?
• Why H.264 Remains the Gold Standard in 2025
• H.264 Use Cases by Industry
• H.264 Encoder Best Practices (2025)
• H.264 Hardware vs. Software Encoder Decision Table
• Streaming Protocol Compatibility Table
• What Bitrate Settings Should You Choose?
• What Is the Best Video Encoder for Live Streaming?
• The Importance Of Using a Live Streaming Platform
• H.264 vs. H.265
• H.264 vs. H.265 vs. AV1 vs. H.266
• FAQs
• Conclusion

Streaming Encoders: What Is Video Encoding?

A streaming encoder, also known as a video encoder, is responsible for converting files from one format to another. The process involves compression, where usually a larger file is converted into a condensed, repackaged form that can be streamed effortlessly by the viewer.

The encoding process makes videos accessible to a wide pool of users, meaning your streaming content can reach millions of people regardless of their internet connection or other associated compatibility issues.

Encoding generally occurs via software, a stand-alone appliance, or within a browser or mobile app. For example, if you’re producing a promotional video for your website via video editing software, you can select an applicable encoding format like H.264 and the software will convert and compress your project into a widely playable format.

In the event of live streaming, the encoding process happens in real time. If you’re live streaming via a digital camera, an encoder like Open Broadcaster Studio (OBS) will encode your video using RTMP and convert it into a playable format like H.264 that’s perfect for streaming. OBS is a great place to start, but as you progress on your encoding journey, you can, by all means, invest in an encoder with more advanced capabilities.

Why H.264 Remains the Gold Standard in 2025

What is H.264 Streaming Encoder?

H.264 is one of the most frequently used compression formats in the video production world. It’s a codec that touches multiple platforms, whether you’re looking to embed a video onto a website or live stream.

In fact, the H.264 streaming encoder is the optimal format for live streaming. What’s great about encoding files into H.264 is that you can attain a fraction of the file size yet retain exceptional quality for your streaming endeavours. With this being said, H.264 is a fantastic way to distribute high-quality video that can be seamlessly streamed by the target viewer.

The decision to choose H.264 over other codecs will largely depend on the viewing audience in question. One of the biggest advantages of H.264 is it can be used to transmit high-quality images without consuming significant bandwidth. This is highly useful because you can either live stream or release video content that’s compatible with the internet connection of the device the content is being played. Therefore, H.264 is an especially useful format for individuals with lower bandwidth because it will enable them to view files at a resolution that suits them.

That said, you’ll have to select a suitable bitrate and resolution for your audience. What’s great about H.264 is that you can stream up to 4K resolution using RTMP.

In today’s advanced streaming age, you can use the H.264 format to offer various resolutions to viewers. They can either automatically receive the highest resolution available to them or they’ll have the option to manually select, for example, 720p or 480p. For reference, think about YouTube and the different qualities you can select from the settings icon.

It’s critical to stream with resolution and encoder settings that align with the connection speeds of your target audience. If you know your viewers are likely to have access to faster speeds, you can better establish your streaming settings in accordance with their connection.

But with all this being said and so much to consider, how do you go about selecting the best video format for your project?

Is H.264 the Best Video File Format?

In the wake of many emerging video file formats, H.264 is still as popular as ever. Though it might not be the most highly recommended codec for today’s streaming ecosystems, it has established itself as a cornerstone of file compression.

What’s great about H.264 is that it’s widely used and accepted across multiple devices. This means that regardless of how old the viewer’s device is, they can stream in clear quality without interruption.

H.264 is highly recommended for compressing and distributing video files to various streaming devices. It’s great because you can compress files to a small size for easier uploads, downloads, and all-around playback. It’s all about selecting an H.264 profile that matches your desired resolution. H.264 differentiates from other codecs due to its broad compatibility with multiple devices. It’s perfect for streaming content irrespective of bitrate or resolution, which brings us to an equally important consideration.

Furthermore, the codec’s lifecycle means that while newer codecs like AV1 and H.266 promise better compression, H.264 remains dominant in 2025 because it’s reliable, efficient, and widely supported. It runs smoothly on almost all devices, works with existing hardware, and is trusted by broadcasters. While adoption of newer codecs is growing, H.264 continues to offer the best balance of quality, compatibility, and ease of use.

Though your choice of compression format will make a difference to the overall outcome of your project, what’s equally important is selecting the right bitrate settings that work in perfect complement.

H.264 and AI-Based Transcoding

In 2025, AI is reshaping how H.264 streaming encoders work behind the scenes. With neural-based compression tools, broadcasters can now achieve better quality at lower bitrates. AI-enhanced encoding tools reduce CPU load, helping live streaming encoder software run more smoothly—especially important for real-time or low latency video streaming. These new models learn from video patterns, enabling more efficient encoding without sacrificing quality. Whether using OBS H.264 encoder presets or dedicated H.264 encoder software, AI is making encoding smarter, greener, and more adaptive to shifting bandwidth conditions.

Mobile and OTT Streaming with H.264

Even with newer codecs on the market, H.264 remains the most reliable option for mobile and OTT streaming in 2025. Its wide compatibility makes it ideal for mobile-first viewers in regions with inconsistent internet speeds. H.264’s balance of quality and compression keeps streams smooth, even on older devices or low-bandwidth connections. Whether you are running a sports broadcast, hybrid event, or educational live stream, an H.264 streaming encoder ensures your video is accessible to the widest possible audience, without requiring users to update hardware or apps.

Green Streaming: H.264’s Energy Footprint

As more businesses adopt green tech, energy efficiency is now part of the conversation around video compression codec comparison. While newer options like H.265 or AV1 offer better compression, they often require more processing power. H.264 remains a practical choice for sustainability-conscious organizations because it strikes a balance between quality and computational efficiency. Whether using a hardware encoder vs software encoder setup, H.264 tends to use less energy overall. For broadcasters looking to scale responsibly, an H.264 streaming encoder can support lower power consumption while still delivering reliable performance.

H.264 and Secure Streaming

H.264 continues to be a reliable choice in 2025 partly because it supports secure streaming. It works with protocols like RTMPS, SRT, and HLS with AES encryption to help protect your content during delivery. It also supports DRM, giving you control over who can view your videos and how they’re used. With H.264, you get both strong performance and dependable security for live and on-demand streaming.

H.264 Use Cases by Industry

H.264 streaming encoders are used across many industries in 2025 because they offer a strong mix of quality, efficiency, and device compatibility. Whether you’re streaming live or delivering video on demand, the H.264 encoder remains a reliable choice. Here’s how different sectors are using it today:

Education and e-learning

Schools, universities, and training platforms rely on H.264 streaming to deliver classes, lectures, and tutorials to students anywhere. Because it’s supported on almost all devices and browsers, students can watch without technical barriers. With the right video encoder for live streaming and the best H.264 encoder settings, educational content stays clear and stable, even on limited bandwidth.

Virtual and hybrid events

Whether it’s a small webinar or a global conference, H.264 helps ensure live video runs smoothly for every attendee. Hybrid events, which combine in-person and remote participation, benefit from the low latency and wide compatibility of H.264. It also simplifies integration with platforms like Dacast, where broadcasters can securely deliver streams using protocols like RTMP or HLS.

Fitness

Live and on-demand workout classes are booming, and many fitness professionals use H.264 encoders to stream in HD without buffering. Whether it’s yoga, HIIT, or dance sessions, using optimized H.264 streaming settings makes it easier to reach clients at home or on mobile. H.264 also works well with AI video encoding tools that can enhance clarity in fast-moving workouts.

Enterprise

Companies use H.264 for internal meetings, live product launches, and customer-facing webinars. It provides dependable streaming performance across corporate networks, even with firewalls or older devices in use. When comparing H.264 vs H.265 streaming, many enterprises still prefer H.264 for its simplicity, stability, and seamless integration with existing workflows.

Dacast supports H.264 streaming encoders, enabling high-quality live and on-demand video with optimized settings for smooth streaming.

It automatically transcodes H.264 streams into multiple bitrates and resolutions for adaptive streaming, improving viewer experience. Key protocols like RTMP, HLS, and SRT ensure flexible, secure delivery.

With AI-powered encoding, Dacast enhances video quality and optimizes bandwidth in real time. Ideal for education, events, fitness, and enterprise, Dacast simplifies H.264 streaming and ensures reliable global reach.

H.264 Encoder Best Practices (2025)

To get the most out of your H.264 encoder in 2025, it’s essential to match your resolution and bitrate to the type of content you’re streaming. Whether using live stream encoding software or a dedicated RTMP encoder, proper settings improve stream stability and viewer experience. Here’s a simple guide:

Always test settings on your live streaming encoder setup before going live, and adjust based on audience feedback and network conditions.

H.264 Hardware vs. Software Encoder Decision Table

Here’s a simple comparison table to help decide between hardware and software encoders for H.264 streaming:

Quick tip: Use a hardware encoder if you need stability and low latency for professional or mission-critical streams. Choose a software encoder if you want flexibility and are working with a tight budget.

Streaming Protocol Compatibility Table

Here’s a simple compatibility table showing how H.264 works with major streaming protocols in 2025. Each of these protocols supports H.264 video encoding and is commonly used for different stages of a live or on-demand streaming workflow.

Key takeaways:

• H.264 is compatible with all three protocols.
  RTMP is best for getting the stream into a platform like Dacast.
• HLS is best for playback across global audiences.
• SRT is best for secure, low-latency transmission between broadcast locations.

What Bitrate Settings Should You Choose?

When streaming H.264 video, selecting the right bitrate is key to maintaining quality and ensuring a smooth viewer experience. Bitrate controls how much data is used to transmit video and should match your desired resolution.

Higher resolutions require higher bitrates, but finding the right balance between quality and accessibility is essential. Multi-bitrate streaming helps by delivering different versions of the stream based on each viewer’s internet speed. Just make sure your upload speed is at least twice the total bitrate you’re streaming.

This approach gives viewers more flexibility—someone with fast internet might stream at 2Mbps, while others can still access the same content at 500kbps. And remember, video encoding is just as critical for live streaming as it is for on-demand content.

What Is the Best Video Encoder for Live Streaming?

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is free and open-source software for video recording and live streaming.

Streaming encoders play a key role in live streaming by converting video in real time for smooth delivery. Choosing the right one helps ensure quality and reliability.

If you’re new to streaming, OBS Studio is a solid free option. It lets you combine sources and adjust settings live with ease.

If you’re seeking something a bit more professional, you can use Teradek or a similar premium alternative. For more information on the best live streaming encoder software on the market, why not check our comprehensive comparison overview? What’s great about these live-streaming encoders is that they’re compatible with live-streaming platforms like Dacast.

But why exactly would you need a live-streaming platform?

The Importance Of Using a Live Streaming Platform

Live streaming is an impactful way to reach prospective clients. It can be a fantastic way to share announcements, promotions, upcoming events, and further information about your business offerings. It’s a great way to enhance live communication with other businesses, where you can interact with users irrespective of geographic location.

However, in order to host a live event, you’ll need to use a professional live-streaming solution like Dacast. By doing so, you’ll be positioned to better present live content to various audiences and to act with confidence as you operate the technology at your leisure.

Orchestrating your own live stream without the requisite technical skills and experience can be a challenge, to say the least. Generally speaking, the most affordable and easiest option is to use a professional live-streaming solution.

Using a professional platform makes it much easier to secure high-quality streaming. You can also ask as many people as you like to attend your live event, meaning you won’t be restricted by a limited audience pool and can thus succeed with greater audience potential.

By capitalising on the integrated nature of a live streaming platform, you can effortlessly initiate a live stream. The added convenience is appealing, as is the ability to track analytics pertaining to your stream. By analysing relevant metrics, you can more clearly identify your audience and customise your future streaming aspirations using feedback.

Live streaming platforms offer excellent customer support, are mobile-compatible, and promote reliable global delivery in a cost-effective way. If you’re looking to optimise compressed streams to the H.264 format, use a live streaming platform; it could be the best decision you make all year.

H.264 vs H.265

Though H.264 is more commonly used and more compatible with various devices, H.265 (also known as HEVC) is a new video compression format that could represent the future of encoding. The difference between the two is that H.264 uses macroblocks and H.265 processes information using coding tree units (CTUs). These process information more efficiently and thus enable the creation of smaller files that are compressed more efficiently.

H.265 is an advantageous compression format because the smaller the file size, the less bandwidth you’ll need to create it and the more easily it can be streamed by compatible devices. The only problem with H.265 is that it’s not always compatible with older devices and might give the user some serious playback issues.

If a device has the architecture to play H.265 files, viewers can play large files with less bandwidth and processing power, yet still take advantage of a high-quality stream. This is all thanks to the efficient nature of the H. 265 compression process.

H.264 vs. H.265 vs. AV1 vs. H.266

Here’s a 2025 codec roadmap comparing H.264, H.265 (HEVC), AV1, and H.266 (VVC). It highlights where each codec stands today, what they’re best used for, and how the transition between them is playing out in real-world streaming workflows.

Codec adoption timeline (simplified):

• 2003–2015: H.264 becomes global standard for streaming and video delivery.
• 2015–2020: H.265 gains ground for 4K, but adoption stalls due to complex licensing.
• 2020–2024: AV1 introduced and promoted by big tech; browser and device support rises.
• 2024–2025: H.266 begins limited trials for ultra-high-efficiency use cases; H.264 still widely used due to reliability and reach.

In short, H.264 remains the most practical choice in 2025 for live streaming due to universal compatibility and platform support. Alternatives like AV1 and H.265 offer better compression but may not be worth the 

FAQs

What is the best bitrate for H.264 streaming in 2025?
The ideal bitrate depends on resolution and frame rate. For 1080p at 30fps, 4,500–6,000 kbps is common. Adaptive bitrate streaming is recommended for flexibility.

Is H.264 still relevant in 2025?
Yes. H.264 remains the most widely used codec for streaming due to its broad compatibility, efficient compression, and stable performance across platforms.

What devices support H.264?
Almost all modern devices—including smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, and browsers—support H.264 natively, making it highly accessible for global audiences.

Can H.264 be used with secure streaming protocols?
Yes. H.264 works seamlessly with secure protocols like RTMPS, HLS with AES encryption, and SRT, enabling encrypted, DRM-compatible video delivery.

What’s the difference between H.264 and newer codecs like AV1 or H.265?
Newer codecs offer better compression and quality at lower bitrates, but they require more processing power and aren’t as universally supported as H.264.

Conclusion

In 2025, H.264 remains the most widely used video encoder for live and on-demand streaming. It strikes the right balance between video quality, low latency, and broad compatibility. While newer codecs like H.265, AV1, and H.266 are gaining ground, H.264 still leads due to its stability, efficiency, and ease of use.

For broadcasters, educators, event organizers, and businesses, H.264 offers a format that’s both reliable and future-ready. When paired with Dacast, it becomes even more effective.

Dacast fully supports H.264 and all major protocols like RTMP, HLS, and SRT. With secure delivery, monetization options, real-time analytics, and AI-enhanced encoding, Dacast helps you stream high-quality video without the hassle.

You can try Dacast completely free for a full 14 days. Signing up is quick and easy. Get started now and begin streaming better.

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