aiortsp
An asyncio-based RTSP library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need low-level RTSP client control in an asyncio application and can accept a copyleft license. The install friction is minimal and there are no known vulnerabilities. However, the dormant maintenance status means you should not expect bug fixes or support for new RTSP features; use it for stable, well-tested scenarios or when you are prepared to maintain a fork if needed.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.6 or later.
- RTSP server URL and network connectivity to the server are prerequisites; the library provides no decoding, so you must handle RTP packet interpretation separately.
- Low install friction with a single pure-Python dependency (dpkt).
License · maintenance · safety
copyleft license (copyleft) — Licensed under GNU Lesser General Public License v3 or later (copyleft). You may use and modify the package freely, but any derivative works must also be distributed under a compatible copyleft license; proprietary applications cannot link this library without releasing their own source code under the same terms.
last release 2024-09-27 (686 days) · last repo commit 2024-09-27 · 57 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 104,330 downloads/mo, #12,754 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
import asyncio
from aiortsp.rtsp.reader import RTSPReader
async def main():
async with RTSPReader('rtsp://cam/video.sdp') as reader:
async for pkt in reader.iter_packets():
print('PKT', pkt.seq, pkt.pt, len(pkt))
asyncio.run(main())- Whether the library works reliably with modern RTSP servers and camera implementations beyond the examples shown.
- Performance characteristics under high-bandwidth or high-packet-rate scenarios.
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.8 (classifiers list only up to 3.8, but requires_python is ~=3.6).
What it is and what it does
aiortsp is a low-level asyncio RTSP client library that handles the protocol mechanics of connecting to RTSP servers and receiving RTP/RTCP media packets. It does not decode video or audio—that responsibility falls to the caller, who can use external libraries like OpenCV or PyAV if needed. The library is designed for developers who want fine-grained control over RTSP session management and packet handling within an async Python application.
The package depends only on dpkt for packet parsing and supports Python 3.6 onward. It is in beta status and has not seen active development for nearly two years, though the repository remains available and the last commit is recent. It is suitable for stable, well-understood use cases but should be evaluated carefully if you need ongoing maintenance or support for emerging RTSP server implementations.
Use it for
- Build a custom video surveillance application that connects to IP cameras via RTSP and processes raw RTP packets in real time.
- Integrate RTSP stream capture into an asyncio-based media pipeline without relying on external video libraries.
- Prototype or debug RTSP protocol interactions and RTP packet flows at a low level for network diagnostics.
- Create a headless media ingestion service that receives RTSP streams and forwards packets to external processing systems.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need low-level RTSP client control in an asyncio application and can accept a copyleft license.
The install friction is minimal and there are no known vulnerabilities. However, the dormant maintenance status means you should not expect bug fixes or support for new RTSP features; use it for stable, well-tested scenarios or when you are prepared to maintain a fork if needed.
Install
aiortsp on PyPI
Before you install
Low install friction with a single pure-Python dependency (dpkt). Maintenance is dormant—last release was 686 days ago, though the repository remains active with a recent commit on 2024-09-27 and modest community interest (57 stars). Suitable for stable use cases but not for projects requiring active development support.
Requires Python 3.6 or later. RTSP server URL and network connectivity to the server are prerequisites; the library provides no decoding, so you must handle RTP packet interpretation separately.
License in practice
Licensed under GNU Lesser General Public License v3 or later (copyleft). You may use and modify the package freely, but any derivative works must also be distributed under a compatible copyleft license; proprietary applications cannot link this library without releasing their own source code under the same terms.
Quickstart
import asyncio
from aiortsp.rtsp.reader import RTSPReader
async def main():
async with RTSPReader('rtsp://cam/video.sdp') as reader:
async for pkt in reader.iter_packets():
print('PKT', pkt.seq, pkt.pt, len(pkt))
asyncio.run(main())Verify before relying
- Whether the library works reliably with modern RTSP servers and camera implementations beyond the examples shown.
- Performance characteristics under high-bandwidth or high-packet-rate scenarios.
- Compatibility with Python versions beyond 3.8 (classifiers list only up to 3.8, but requires_python is ~=3.6).
Package facts
| License | copyleft license copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release ~=3.6 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 1 packagedpkt |
| Maintenance | Dormant 686 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 104,330 / month, #12,754 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU Lesser General Public License v3 (LGPLv3)Operating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.6Programming Language :: Python :: 3.7Programming Language :: Python :: 3.8 |
Evidence: aiortsp-1.4.0-py3-none-any.whl
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See also aiortc · rtp · pylibsrtp · go2rtc-client · irc · python-ffmpeg · icmplib · aioserial · pypcap · aioblescan