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MistServer
by MistServer
What MistServer is
MistServer is a free, public-domain open-source streaming media toolkit for OTT and internet streaming. It is designed for developers and system integrators, and is maintained and supported by OptiMist Video B.V.; the maker lists DDVTech B.V. in Leiden, Netherlands. MistServer captures media sources, coordinates workflows, and delivers streams through a media gateway and server. Listed protocols include WHIP, SRT, HLS, DASH, RTMP, RTMPS, E-RTMP, and RTSP. Its processing features include a hardware-accelerated libav pipeline, recording, clipping, live DVR, thumbnails, and SCTE-35 cue insertion. Operations tools cover telemetry, analyzers, monitoring statistics, load balancing, clustering, and automated failover. APIs support clipping, access control, automation, and integrations. Listed connections include OBS, Docker, Grafana, Prometheus, and ONVIF, VISCA, and Axis devices. The maker says the quickstart needs no license keys or forced accounts and collects no data. Downloads cover Linux, Windows, Macintosh, source code, and Docker.
Who it suits
MistServer fits developers, system integrators, OTT and broadcast teams, enterprise video users, and monitoring or QA workflows. It also suits organizations that need self-managed streaming protocols, processing, operations tools, and APIs.
What it does well
- Free for any purpose, including commercial use
- Broad contribution and delivery protocol list
- Recording, clipping, live DVR, and thumbnails
- Clustering and automated failover tools
- Linux, Windows, Macintosh, source, and Docker downloads
What to know first
- Browser-based studio is not provided
- Cloud recording is not provided
- Unified chat is not provided
- Paid support is separate
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Open source | Free software with best-effort community support | On request |
| Basic support | €500 / month · Most questions answered within one business day · guidance · discounted custom development | €500 a month |
| Advanced support | €1,000 / month · Includes Basic · private branch maintenance · minor custom development or integration tweaks | €1,000 a month |
| Developer support | €5,000 / month · Includes Advanced · reserved engineering time · weekly meetings or office hours | €5,000 a month |
| MistServer | Free to use for any purpose, including commercial purposes · All versions are full-featured · no restrictions stated · support and services are separate | Free |
| Open source support | Free · Best-effort answers by mail or community platforms · fixes and updates follow major releases | Free |
| Custom support | Custom · Bespoke SLAs · communication channels · dedicated engineering pods | On request |
As mistserver.org lists them, read 23 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
MistServer offers a broad self-managed toolkit for capturing, processing, operating, and delivering streams. The software is free and full-featured according to the listed plan, while engineering and operational support are paid separately.
Facts from MistServer's own pages
- APIs
- MistServer offers APIs for clipping, access control, automation, and integrations with other systems. · docs.mistserver.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Browser-based studio
- No · mistserver.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Cloud recording
- No · mistserver.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Company history
- The maker says the MistServer project began in 2009 and is maintained and supported by OptiMist Video B.V. · mistserver.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Downloads are listed for Linux x86 and ARM, Windows 64-bit, Macintosh x86_64 and ARM64, source code, and Docker. · mistserver.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · mistserver.com, 23 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- The maker lists DDVTech B.V. at Amphoraweg 5, 2332 ED Leiden, The Netherlands. · mistserver.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists OBS workflows, Docker, Grafana monitoring, Prometheus visibility, and integrations for ONVIF, VISCA, and Axis devices. · mistserver.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker describes it for developers, system integrators, OTT and broadcast teams, enterprise video, and monitoring and QA workflows. · mistserver.org, 11 Oct 2026
- License and data
- The maker describes MistServer as public-domain open source and says its quickstart has no license keys, forced accounts, or data collection. · mistserver.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Media gateway
- MistServer captures media sources, orchestrates workflows, and delivers streams to devices through a media gateway and server. · mistserver.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Operations
- It provides telemetry, analyzers, monitoring statistics, load balancing, clustering, and automated failover tools. · mistserver.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Processing
- Features include a hardware-accelerated libav pipeline, recording, clipping, live DVR, thumbnailing, and SCTE-35 cue insertion. · mistserver.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Protocols
- The product lists WHIP, SRT, HLS, DASH, RTMP, RTMPS, E-RTMP, and RTSP for contribution and delivery. · mistserver.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- MistServer is a streaming media toolkit for OTT and internet streaming, designed for developers and system integrators. · mistserver.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Security
- The documentation covers access control, stream keys, and securing the interface and media endpoints with HTTPS. · docs.mistserver.org, 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Paid support can include direct engineer access, custom development, managed operations, training, and service-level agreements. · mistserver.com, 11 Oct 2026
- Unified chat
- No · mistserver.com, 23 Sept 2026
Where MistServer stands on Freedom251
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