Why HLS Streaming is Better Than Traditional Video Hosting

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) has become the gold standard for delivering video content on the web. In this article, we explore why HLS streaming outperforms traditional video hosting methods and how it can benefit your website and your viewers.

What is HLS Streaming?

HLS is a streaming protocol developed by Apple that breaks video files into small segments and delivers them over HTTP. This allows for adaptive bitrate streaming, which means the video quality automatically adjusts to the viewer’s internet speed and device capabilities.

Key Advantages of HLS Over Traditional Hosting

• Adaptive Bitrate: Viewers get the best possible quality without buffering, even on slow connections.
• Cross-Device Compatibility: HLS works on all modern browsers, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
• Scalability: Uses standard HTTP servers and CDNs, making it easy to scale to millions of viewers.
• Security: Supports encryption and secure token-based access.
• Live & On-Demand: Suitable for both live streaming and on-demand video delivery.

Why Not Just Use MP4 Hosting?

Traditional MP4 hosting delivers a single video file, which can lead to buffering, slow start times, and poor experience on slow networks. There’s no adaptive quality, so users with limited bandwidth may struggle to watch your content smoothly.

How to Get Started with HLS

Platforms like Strimly.io make it easy to convert your MP4 files to HLS format. Simply upload your video, and you’ll get an embeddable HLS stream that works everywhere.