Best Software for streaming
What puts you on the platform. On a PC this is also your encoder.
Below about 6000 kbps a clean 720p60 stream looks better in motion than a starved 1080p60 one, so the honest move on a weak connection is to drop resolution rather than send a smeared bigger picture.
Why this ruleOrdered by first-year running cost, cheapest first. How we compare
Buy links are affiliate links: we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are tracked estimates, not live prices. Full disclosure
- 1
OBS Studio
FreeFree, open-source broadcast software. On a PC it is also your encoder, up to 4K with a decent GPU.
- Runs on
- Desktop
- Price
- Free
- 2
Streamlabs
Free + UltraOBS-based suite with built-in themes, alerts, and a companion app.
The catch: Heavier on resources; best widgets are behind Ultra.
- Runs on
- Desktop
- Price
- Free + Ultra
- 3
Restream
Free + paidCloud multistreaming: one upload, fanned out to several platforms server-side. Browser Studio included, with a portrait mode.
The catch: Free tier is 2 channels with a watermark; more channels cost monthly.
- Runs on
- Browser
- Price
- Free, $19+/mo for more channels
- 4
StreamElements SE.Live
FreeFree OBS plugin: multistream to unlimited platforms, a vertical 9:16 canvas alongside your main one, and merged multi-platform chat.
The catch: Windows only, and local multistreaming multiplies your upload bandwidth.
- Runs on
- Windows (OBS plugin)
- Price
- Free
- 5
Meld Studio
FreeFree, modern OBS alternative that outputs landscape and portrait at the same time, with built-in multistreaming. The best-performing option on Apple Silicon Macs.
The catch: Smaller plugin ecosystem than OBS, and it is built by a small team.
- Runs on
- Windows + macOS
- Price
- Free (paid AI extras)
- 6
PRISM Live Studio
Free + PlusOBS-derived desktop + mobile app with built-in effects and multistream. One account covers PC and phone.
The catch: Free tier now streams to a single channel; 6-channel multistream needs Plus at $9.99/mo.
- Runs on
- Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
- Price
- Free, Plus $9.99/mo
- 7
XSplit Broadcaster
Free + PremiumThe long-running commercial OBS rival: polished UX, multi-output, and paid support.
The catch: Windows only, and the free tier watermarks above 720p30.
- Runs on
- Windows
- Price
- Free (watermark), ~$60/yr Premium
- 8
vMix
$60-$1,200 perpetualPro production suite: NDI and SRT I/O, instant replay, remote guests via vMix Call, scoreboards. What event productions run.
The catch: Windows only, priced like the pro tool it is, and overkill for a solo stream.
- Runs on
- Windows
- Price
- $60 Basic HD to $1,200 Pro (perpetual)
- 9
Lightstream Studio
$8/mo$96 first yearCloud studio in the browser: your console streams into it and overlays are added server-side. The way to stream PS5 or Xbox with no PC and no capture card.
The catch: Monthly cost, and cloud compositing tops out around 1080p30.
- Runs on
- Browser / cloud
- Price
- From $8/mo
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- The best streaming webcam at every budget, including in a dark room
- Shure SM7B vs MV7 vs MV6: what each one really costs to run
- Desk streaming setups at $67, $366, and $570: what each tier changes
Prices and plan terms are what the provider published when we last checked, not a live feed, and services change them. Nothing here is tested in a lab by us. How picks are chosen: editorial policy.