CBR vs VBR: Choosing the Right Bitrate for Your Stream

Source: Dev.to

Constant Bitrate (CBR)

CBR keeps the bitrate steady throughout the stream. This makes network usage predictable and reduces buffering, which is ideal for real‑time and live streaming scenarios such as WebRTC.

Variable Bitrate (VBR)

VBR adjusts the bitrate based on scene complexity—simpler parts use fewer bits, while complex scenes use more. This often improves visual quality and efficiency, though it can be less predictable for live delivery.

Choosing the Right Bitrate

• Live & real‑time streaming: CBR is usually better because it keeps latency low and network behavior consistent.
• On‑demand or recorded video: VBR can deliver higher quality at a similar average bitrate.

Understanding these differences helps you pick the right strategy for your streaming use case—especially when building low‑latency experiences with frameworks like Ant Media Server.