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Amazon Interactive Video Service
Amazon Interactive Video Service · Seattle, Washington, USA · founded 2006
What it is
Amazon Interactive Video Service (IVS) is a managed service for delivering live video to viewers worldwide through low-latency or real-time streaming. AWS lists real-time latency under 300 milliseconds and low-latency streaming at 3–5 seconds. Real-time streams use RTMPS or WHIP input with WebRTC output; low-latency streams use RTMPS or SRT input with HLS output.
Applications can use chat and timed metadata APIs for features such as polls, graphics, and synchronized elements. A stage lets multiple hosts exchange audio and video in real time, and can be broadcast to an IVS channel. Standard and advanced channels can transcode video into multiple resolutions and bitrates. Streams can be recorded to customer-owned Amazon S3 storage for archiving and on-demand playback, with recordings usable in AWS Elemental MediaConvert. AWS says channels can scale to millions of concurrent viewers. Broadcast and Player SDKs support web, iOS, and Android. A Free Tier is listed for new AWS customers, and channel-input plans start at $0.20 a month.
For and against
For
- Offers real-time and low-latency streaming options.
- Chat and timed metadata APIs support interactive elements.
- Stages let multiple hosts exchange audio and video.
- Recording to customer-owned Amazon S3 is supported.
Against
- Basic channels have lower input limits than standard and advanced channels.
- Customers are responsible for security in the cloud.
- Usage-based pricing varies by service, resolution, region, and tier.
The verdict
IVS combines live delivery, interactive APIs, stages, and recording options. Buyers should consider its channel input limits and the customer’s security responsibilities.
Who it suits
IVS suits developers and teams building live video applications that need real-time or low-latency delivery, interactive APIs, or multi-host stages. Its SDKs support web, iOS, and Android.
Plans and prices
Advanced SD channel input
Low-latency streaming video input
Read 20 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Advanced HD channel input
Low-latency streaming video input
Read 20 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Real-Time Streaming participant hours
10,000 participant hours per month
Read 20 Sep 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Free Tier
5 basic-channel input hours · 100 audio-only/SD output hours · 20 participant-hours · 5 server-side composition hours
Read 14 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Basic channel input
Basic channel · maximum input 1.5 Mbps at 480p or 3.5 Mbps at 720p/1080p
Read 14 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Advanced SD input
Advanced SD channel
Read 14 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Standard Multitrack input
Standard channel with Multitrack Video
Read 14 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Advanced HD input
Advanced HD channel
Read 14 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
Standard channel input
Standard channel · input metered to the nearest minute
Read 14 Oct 2026 · aws.amazon.com
On the record
- Adaptive bitrate
- Standard and advanced channels create multiple renditions so playback can adapt to device and network conditions.aws.amazon.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Adaptive playback
- For standard or advanced channels, IVS can transcode incoming video into multiple resolutions and bitrates for different devices and network conditions.aws.amazon.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- API and documentation
- AWS publishes Low-Latency, Real-Time and Chat user guides plus control-plane and data-plane API references and SDK documentation for Android, iOS, web and JavaScript.docs.aws.amazon.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Broadcast SDKs
- Broadcast SDKs let iOS, Android and browser applications publish live video using cameras, microphones, screens or custom sources.aws.amazon.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Collaboration
- A stage lets multiple hosts exchange audio and video in real time and can be broadcast to an IVS channel for a larger audience.aws.amazon.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Collaborative stages
- Stage resources combine audio and video from multiple hosts and can be broadcast to a larger low-latency channel audience.aws.amazon.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Company size and founding
- AWS's LinkedIn page lists Seattle headquarters, 10,001-plus employees and a 2006 founding year.linkedin.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Developer resources
- AWS provides user guides and API references for real-time streaming, low-latency streaming, and the chat feature, along with AWS re:Post resources.aws.amazon.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Encryption limitation
- IVS playback uses HTTPS and ingest can use RTMPS, but AWS states streams are not end-to-end encrypted internally and IVS does not provide DRM or stream-content encryption.docs.aws.amazon.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Interactive features
- The service provides chat APIs and timed metadata APIs that applications can use for chat rooms, polls, graphics, and synchronized elements.aws.amazon.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Latency
- AWS lists real-time streaming latency as under 300 milliseconds and low-latency streaming as 3–5 seconds.aws.amazon.com · read 30 Sep 2026
- Latency modes
- The feature comparison lists real-time latency below 300 milliseconds and low-latency streaming at about 3–5 seconds.aws.amazon.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Launch news
- AWS announced general availability of Amazon IVS on July 15, 2020, describing Twitch-based technology, sub-three-second latency and pay-as-you-go input/output billing.aws.amazon.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Legal entity and owner
- AWS legal pages identify Amazon Web Services, Inc. at 410 Terry Avenue North in Seattle and describe it as wholly owned by Amazon.com, Inc.aws.amazon.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Licence
- The Web Broadcast SDK page states Amazon copyright and AWS Customer Agreement terms; it is not presented as open-source software, although bundled libraries have separate Apache-2.0, BSD or MIT licenses.aws.github.io · read 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: browser and interactivity gaps
- An Ex Machina review reported higher and variable latency on iOS Safari, lack of low-latency support in some third-party players, and one-way metadata without built-in poll result handling.medium.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: cost complaints
- Reddit users reported unexpectedly high test bills and said IVS streaming costs prompted consideration of building or using another stack.reddit.com · read 14 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Amazon Web Services says it launched in 2006 and is part of Amazon.aws.amazon.com · read 30 Sep 2026
