Red5
Red5 2.2.0 makes JDK 25 the minimum after a run of thinly documented patches.
Comparison · Meetings
Ant Media Server vs Fourwaves
A side-by-side editorial comparison of Ant Media Server and Fourwaves — release velocity, themes, recent moves, and the top alternatives to consider.
Ant Media Server vs Fourwaves: at a glance
What is Ant Media Server?
Ant Media Server 3.1 rebuilds its management panel and adds multi-audio SRT.
Ant Media Server is a self-hosted streaming server spanning WebRTC, RTMP, SRT, HLS and LL-HLS. The 2026 releases added server-side ad insertion with SCTE-35, a second WebRTC Web SDK, AV1 support and SRT restreaming, then 3.1.0 in September shipped a rebuilt management panel, an RTSP output plugin, multiple audio tracks from SRT ingest into HLS and WebRTC, and a move to Java 21. Most point releases also carry batches of dependency CVE fixes.
What is Fourwaves?
Fourwaves adds reusable email templates for paid plans in a week of small fixes.
Fourwaves ships small dated updates most days. In the first week of November, Advanced and Pro organizers gained saved email templates, Australia/Sydney became a reference timezone, custom domains are trusted only when every address they resolve to serves the event site, and participant pages now show organizers what participants see.
Ant Media Server vs Fourwaves: editorial side-by-side
Ant Media Server
0.0MEETINGS
Ant Media Server 3.1 rebuilds its management panel and adds multi-audio SRT.
◆ Current state
Ant Media Server is a self-hosted streaming server spanning WebRTC, RTMP, SRT, HLS and LL-HLS. The 2026 releases added server-side ad insertion with SCTE-35, a second WebRTC Web SDK, AV1 support and SRT restreaming, then 3.1.0 in September shipped a rebuilt management panel, an RTSP output plugin, multiple audio tracks from SRT ingest into HLS and WebRTC, and a move to Java 21. Most point releases also carry batches of dependency CVE fixes.
◆ Where it's heading
The 3.x line is about protocol coverage and broadcast workflows: SRT in and out, RTSP out, multi-language audio, ad markers and MOQ experiments. Removing deprecated APIs in 3.0.1 and moving to Java 21 in 3.1.0 show a willingness to break old integrations to modernise the base.
◆ Prediction
Expect 3.1.x patches that fix multi-audio and SRT edge cases, plus continued MOQ player work; the feed gives no date for a 3.2 or 4.0.
Fourwaves
5.0MEETINGS
Fourwaves adds reusable email templates for paid plans in a week of small fixes.
◆ Current state
Fourwaves ships small dated updates most days. In the first week of November, Advanced and Pro organizers gained saved email templates, Australia/Sydney became a reference timezone, custom domains are trusted only when every address they resolve to serves the event site, and participant pages now show organizers what participants see.
◆ Where it's heading
Updates stay in the organizer lane: communication tools, configuration options and security hardening carried over from the October audit. The event assistant work from late October has not been extended this week.
◆ Prediction
Expect more organizer-side conveniences around email and the event assistant, delivered as single-line updates.
Alternatives to Ant Media Server and Fourwaves
Other Meetings products tracked by Sparkpulse, ranked by recent ship velocity. Each card links to a full editorial trajectory and lets you pivot into a head-to-head comparison with either Ant Media Server or Fourwaves.
3CX
3CX is retiring its own cloud transcription and pushing customers to bring their own AI.
Wildix
Wildix pairs security certifications with Wilma AI handling front-line partner support.
Eventcombo
Eventcombo's feed stays on 2027 buyer guides, now for webinars and production.
JW Player
JW Player now writes captions automatically for every new upload.
HOMER
HOMER 11 locks down its live SIP stream and logs after a week of protocol work.
See all Ant Media Server alternatives → · See all Fourwaves alternatives →
Recent activity from Ant Media Server and Fourwaves
Latest ship moves from both products, interleaved chronologically. ⚡ = editorial spark.
- 1d agoFourwavesParticipant pages show the same data to organizers
- 5d agoFourwavesSaved email templates for Advanced and Pro organizers
- 6d agoFourwavesAustralia/Sydney added as a reference timezone
- 8d agoFourwavesCustom domains must point only at the event website
- 11d agoFourwavesLong-text submission search gets much faster
- 12d agoFourwavesEvent assistant recommendations link to where to fix them
- 2mo agoAnt Media ServerNew management panel, RTSP output and multi-audio SRT ingest
- 6mo agoAnt Media Server3.0.3 maintenance build with no listed changes
- 6mo agoAnt Media Server3.0.2 code quality and stability build
- 6mo agoAnt Media Server3.0.1 adds AV1 and removes deprecated APIs
- 9mo agoAnt Media ServerRestream to SRT, local license server, on-demand playlists
- 9mo agoAnt Media ServerServer-side ad insertion and WebRTC Web SDK v2
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Ant Media Server and Fourwaves?
They serve adjacent needs but don't currently overlap on shipped themes. Fourwaves is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. See the at-a-glance table above for a side-by-side breakdown of velocity, recent sparks, and editorial themes.
Is Ant Media Server better than Fourwaves?
Sparkpulse doesn't pick a winner — we score release velocity, not feature parity. Fourwaves is currently shipping more aggressively (velocity 5.0 vs 0.0), with 0 editorial sparks in the last 30 days against 0. For your specific use case, the alternatives sections above list other Meetings products to evaluate alongside.
What are the best alternatives to Ant Media Server?
Top Ant Media Server alternatives in Meetings are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Ant Media Server alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/ant-media-server for the full list with editorial commentary on each.
What are the best alternatives to Fourwaves?
Top Fourwaves alternatives in Meetings are ranked by recent ship velocity. Browse the "Fourwaves alternatives" section above for the current picks, or visit /alternatives/fourwaves for the full list with editorial commentary on each.