RTSP vs ONVIF: What's the Difference and Which Should You Use?
RTSP streams video; ONVIF is a standard that also handles discovery, setup and PTZ. Learn how they differ, how they work together and which to use.
RTSP is a streaming protocol that delivers a camera's live video. ONVIF is a broader interoperability standard that lets software discover a camera, configure it, control PTZ and then fetch its video, usually over RTSP. They are not rivals: most ONVIF cameras use RTSP for the actual stream. Use ONVIF when available and RTSP as the fallback.
What is RTSP?
The Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) is a network protocol for starting, pausing and stopping a live media stream. An IP camera that supports RTSP publishes a URL such as rtsp://192.168.1.20:554/stream1. Any player that understands RTSP, from a security camera viewer to VLC, can open that URL and show the video.
RTSP only covers the video session. It does not tell software where cameras are on your network, what settings they have, or how to move a PTZ camera.
What is ONVIF?
ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) is an industry standard founded in 2008 so that security cameras and software from different manufacturers can work together. It defines how devices:
- announce themselves on the network (WS-Discovery),
- report their capabilities, streams and settings,
- accept configuration changes such as resolution and frame rate,
- respond to pan-tilt-zoom commands and events such as motion.
ONVIF groups features into profiles. Profile S covers video streaming, and Profile T adds newer capabilities including H.265. When a viewer asks an ONVIF camera for video, the camera replies with an RTSP address, so RTSP is still doing the streaming.
RTSP vs ONVIF compared
| RTSP | ONVIF | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A streaming protocol | An interoperability standard (set of specifications) |
| Main job | Deliver live video and audio | Discover, configure and control cameras |
| Automatic discovery | No | Yes (WS-Discovery) |
| PTZ control | No | Yes |
| Camera settings | No | Yes |
| Typical port | 554 | Often 80, 8000 or 8080 (varies) |
| Setup effort | Need the exact URL for your model | Usually automatic once enabled |
Which should you use?
- Use ONVIF whenever the camera supports it. You get discovery, PTZ and simpler setup, and your viewer still receives an RTSP stream.
- Use RTSP directly when a camera has no ONVIF support, or when ONVIF behaves badly on a particular firmware. Find the correct RTSP path in the manufacturer's documentation.
- Buying new cameras? Look for ONVIF Profile S or Profile T on the datasheet. It keeps you free to switch software later.
How SecureView uses both
SecureView finds ONVIF cameras on your network automatically, uses ONVIF for PTZ control, and plays each camera's RTSP stream with hardware-accelerated decoding. You can watch and record up to 8 cameras at once. To set one up, follow our step-by-step ONVIF connection guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is ONVIF the same as RTSP?
No. RTSP is a protocol for controlling a video stream. ONVIF is a set of specifications for discovering, configuring and controlling IP video devices, and it typically hands the actual video over RTSP.
Can a camera support RTSP but not ONVIF?
Yes. Some cameras only publish an RTSP URL. You can still view and record them in software that accepts RTSP, but you lose automatic discovery and standard PTZ control.
What port does RTSP use?
RTSP commonly uses TCP port 554, although many cameras let you change it. The exact RTSP URL path differs by manufacturer.
Which ONVIF profile do I need for live view?
Profile S covers basic video streaming and PTZ. Profile T adds support for newer features such as H.265 video. Most viewing software needs Profile S or T.
Does SecureView support RTSP and ONVIF?
Yes. SecureView can discover ONVIF cameras automatically and connects to their RTSP streams, and you can add cameras manually with their connection details.
