Last verified: June 10, 2026. Every price and plan limit below was checked against the vendor's live pricing page on this date. These change often. Recheck before you commit a production workflow.
The three architectures, and why they matter
Multistreaming software falls into three camps, and most bad purchases come from buying the wrong camp.
Local encoding (OBS with a plugin, Wirecast) creates every platform copy on your machine. Free or one-time cost, with total control, but three 6 Mbps outputs need 18 Mbps of reliable upload plus headroom, and your CPU encodes everything. One Windows update mid-stream and all destinations drop together.
Cloud relay (Restream, Streamlabs Multistream, Castr, Livepush) takes one live upload and fans it out from a data center. Your bandwidth problem disappears. But a pure relay only works while you're live: the subscription does nothing between broadcasts, and scheduling or always-on playback usually means buying a second tool.
All-in-one multistreaming platforms (Upstream, OneStream Live) do the same one-upload-to-many-destinations live distribution, then add scheduling, uploaded videos, playlists, and 24/7 playback from the cloud. This is the camp to buy if you want Restream-style multistreaming plus always-on and pre-recorded workflows in one product.
Stream everywhere from one feed.
Send one live feed to Upstream and let the cloud deliver it to YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Facebook, and custom RTMP without making your upload connection carry every copy.
Quick comparison (verified June 2026)
| Software | Type | Free tier | Paid entry | Destinations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upstream | All-in-one multistreaming | 1 stream, 24 hrs/mo, all features, no watermark | $30/mo (1 stream, unlimited hours) | 10 per stream |
| Restream | Cloud relay + studio | 2 channels, branded | $19/mo monthly / $16 yearly (3 channels) | Up to 8 (Business); 30+ platforms supported |
| StreamYard | Browser studio | 1 destination, logo, limits | $44.99/mo monthly / $35.99 yearly (Core, 3 destinations) | 8 max (Advanced) |
| OneStream Live | Cloud playout | 2 destinations, 720p, 15-min pre-recorded | Plan-based; +$10/mo per 5 extra destinations | 5–50 by plan |
| Streamlabs | Desktop + cloud relay | Dual Output only (1 horizontal + 1 vertical) | Ultra subscription | Unlimited platforms claimed |
| Castr | Cloud relay + hosting | Trial | Plan-based | Plan-based |
| Livepush | Cloud relay + hosting | Trial | Plan-based | Plan-based |
| Dacast | Business OVP | Trial | Plan-based | Simulcast included |
| OBS + Multiple RTMP outputs | Local encoder | Fully free, no caps | No subscription | Limited by your hardware |
| Wirecast | Desktop production | Trial | One-time license | Preset-based |
How we evaluated
We checked each vendor's live pricing page and product documentation on June 10, 2026, rather than repeating numbers from other listicles. Several “current” roundups ranking for this query cite limits that are one or two pricing revisions old, and two of the top-ranking pages are dead links. We then judged each tool on the three architecture questions above, plus the limits that bite in practice: watermarks, monthly hour caps, pre-recorded length caps, and what happens to the subscription between live sessions.
The 10 best multistreaming software picks
1. Upstream: best all-in-one multistreaming software
Upstream's pitch is completeness plus flexible capacity: every stream slot, free or paid, includes the full workflow: multistreaming to 10 destinations (YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Facebook, TikTok, Rumble, Instagram, custom RTMP), browser Live Studio, scheduled pre-recorded streams, separate audio/video playlists, overlays, team access, and 24/7 playback. There are no feature tiers. You buy stream slots, and each slot can run a 24/7 playlist, go live from the browser or OBS, act as a backup, run a pre-recorded stream, or operate at the same time as your other slots.
The verified numbers: free is 1 stream, 24 hours per month, 1080p at 30fps, 100 GB storage, no watermark. Paid starts at $30/mo for one stream slot, $50/mo for two, $70/mo for three, then $20 per additional stream from four up ($16 yearly), so the per-slot price drops as you add streams. No bandwidth caps on delivery.
The contrast with relays is the idle problem. A Restream or StreamYard subscription is dormant between shows; an Upstream stream slot can spend that time running a 24/7 playlist stream or scheduled replays. Skip it if you need a local encoder replacement or podcast post-production. That's not what it is.
2. Restream: best pure relay
Restream supports 30+ platforms plus custom RTMP and SRT, keeps your original resolution up to 4K with no bitrate limits, and aggregates chat across destinations. The free plan streams to 2 channels with Restream branding. Standard ($19/mo monthly, $16 yearly) gives 3 channels and removes branding; Professional ($49/$39) gives 5 channels, 1080p studio, and dual-format streaming; Business ($239/$199) gives 8 channels, a website player, and team seats.
It earns the default-relay reputation: encoder integrations (OBS, Zoom, vMix, Ecamm), guest channels, disconnect protection at enterprise level. The caveat is the camp it's in: pre-recorded streaming (Upload & Stream) is plan-limited and unlimited only on Enterprise, and always-on playout is not the product's center.
3. StreamYard: best studio with multistreaming built in
StreamYard remains the easiest way to produce a guest show in a browser and send it to several platforms. But check the current plan math before assuming it's the cheap option: Core is $44.99/mo (monthly billing; $35.99 yearly) and multistreams to only 3 destinations; you need Advanced at $88.99/mo ($68.99 yearly) for 8 destinations and 4K local recordings. The free plan streams to 1 destination with the StreamYard logo. Core and Advanced are also explicitly for individual use only, and companies are pointed to separate Business plans.
Pre-recorded streams are capped at 2 hours on Core and 4 on Advanced, and there's no always-on playout. Buy StreamYard for the studio; pair it with (or replace it with) a playout platform if scheduling and 24/7 are part of the job.
4. OneStream Live: best destination scaling, watch the add-ons
OneStream Live is the closest competitor to the combined relay-plus-playout model: pre-recorded scheduling, playlists, hosted live pages, embed player, unified chat, and RTMP encoder input across 45+ platforms. Destination counts scale by plan: 2 free, then 5 / 10 / 30 / 50, with 5 extra destinations available for $10/mo.
Two limits to model before buying. Pre-recorded streams are length-capped per plan (15 minutes free, up to 20 hours on Enterprise). And 24/7 streaming is not included in most plans. It's an add-on at $30/mo per concurrent stream, with Enterprise including 3. If always-on is the core job, price that against a platform where it's included.
5. Streamlabs: best if you're already in the ecosystem
Streamlabs Multistream is cloud-based (one upload, servers handle the copies) and covers Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Kick, Facebook, Instagram, X, Trovo, and custom RTMP, with cross-platform chat. The catch: full Multistream requires an Ultra subscription. The free option is Dual Output: exactly one horizontal plus one vertical destination simultaneously, which is a genuinely useful free tier if your two platforms are, say, Twitch and TikTok.
It makes sense bundled with the alerts, tipping, overlays, and desktop tooling Streamlabs creators already use. As a standalone multistream purchase, compare the Ultra price against dedicated relays first.
6. Castr: best for RTMP infrastructure and embedded video
Castr is a relay for teams that think in infrastructure: simulcasting, custom RTMP routing, video hosting, and an embeddable website player. Destination limits and pricing are plan-dependent, so verify the current page against your destination list. Shortlist it when the stream needs to live on your website as much as on social platforms.
7. Livepush: best lightweight relay-plus-hosting
Livepush handles RTMP/SRT ingest from any encoder, social forwarding, custom outputs, and hosted HLS players with adaptive bitrate and DVR. It's the lean pick when production is already solved and you need routing plus a web player without an enterprise OVP contract. Less suited to guest-led browser production.
8. Dacast: best business OVP with simulcast
Dacast is an online video platform for hosting, owned player, paywalls, analytics, and secure delivery, where social simulcast is one feature in the matrix, not the product. It's the right camp for companies, education, and paid events where the website audience is primary. It's overkill for a creator sending one show to three social platforms.
9. OBS Studio + Multiple RTMP outputs: the only truly free unlimited option
OBS with the Multiple RTMP outputs plugin streams to as many RTMP servers as your hardware and connection can carry, with no subscription, watermark, or destination cap. The plugin can share the main encoder to limit CPU cost.
The honest framing: you're paying with bandwidth, CPU headroom, and your own time as the failover system. Multiply your bitrate by destination count and compare it to your measured upload speed before relying on it. That math is why cloud relays exist.
10. Wirecast: best operator-led desktop production
Wirecast is a professional desktop switcher (multi-camera, PTZ control, ISO recording, layered compositing) with multistream presets built in. It belongs in productions with a trained operator for sports, institutions, multi-camera events. If nobody on the team wants to be a broadcast engineer, stay in the cloud camps.
What is the best free multistreaming software?
Depends which cost you'd rather pay. OBS plus the Multiple RTMP outputs plugin is the only free option with no platform caps. You pay in upload bandwidth and maintenance. Among cloud free tiers (all verified today): Upstream gives 1 stream, 24 hours/month, 10 destinations, every feature, no watermark; Streamlabs Dual Output gives 1 horizontal + 1 vertical destination free; Restream gives 2 channels with branding; OneStream gives 2 destinations at 720p; StreamYard gives 1 destination with its logo. For a weekly two-hour show to several platforms, Upstream's free tier is the most usable; for a Twitch-plus-TikTok gamer, Streamlabs Dual Output is.
How much does multistreaming software cost in 2026?
Verified entry points: Restream Standard $19/mo (3 channels), Upstream $30/mo (1 flexible stream slot, 10 destinations, all features), StreamYard Core $44.99/mo (studio + 3 destinations), Restream Professional $49/mo (5 channels, 1080p studio). Streamlabs requires Ultra. OneStream, Castr, Livepush, and Dacast price by plan matrix. Model your destination count and any 24/7 add-ons. Yearly billing cuts roughly 20% everywhere.
The number that matters more than the sticker: hours of use per month. A $19 relay used two hours a week costs about $2.20 per streaming hour; a $30 Upstream slot running 24/7 costs about four cents per hour. Price the workflow, not the logo.
FAQ
What is the best multistreaming software in 2026?
Upstream, if you want the most complete multistreaming software: one live upload to multiple platforms, scheduled and pre-recorded streams, playlists, 24/7 playback, all features on every plan, and flat-rate paid pricing. Restream, if you only need a pure relay with the widest platform list. StreamYard, if the browser studio is the product you're really buying. OBS plus a plugin, if free-and-local outweighs reliability.
Is there free multistreaming software without a watermark?
Yes. OBS with the Multiple RTMP outputs plugin (local), and Upstream's free plan (cloud, 1 stream, 24 hrs/month, 10 destinations, no watermark). Restream's and StreamYard's free tiers apply branding.
Does multistreaming hurt quality?
Cloud relays don't re-encode in a way that costs you quality. Restream passes through up to 4K, and one upload leaves your connection headroom. Local multistreaming is where quality drops happen, because each extra output competes for your upload and CPU.
Can I stream to YouTube, Twitch, and Kick at the same time?
Yes, with any tool here. Check Twitch's simulcasting policy before making it a recurring format, and keep your keyframe interval at 2 seconds per YouTube's encoder guidance.
Is cloud multistreaming better than OBS multistreaming?
For reliability and bandwidth, yes: one upload instead of N. For cost and control, OBS wins. The deciding question is whether anyone on your team wants to own encoder math and 2 a.m. recovery.
Related comparisons
Narrowing from an incumbent? See the best Restream alternatives guide and best StreamYard alternatives guide. Direct pages: Upstream vs Restream, Upstream vs StreamYard.
Sources checked (June 10, 2026)
- Upstream multistreaming page
- Restream pricing page and channel-limit documentation
- StreamYard pricing page and Plan Usage Policy
- OneStream Live pricing page and add-ons
- Streamlabs Multistream page and FAQ
- Castr, Livepush, and Dacast product pages
- OBS Multiple RTMP outputs plugin (OBS Forum)
- Wirecast product page
- Twitch simulcasting guidelines; YouTube live encoder settings