How to stream to YouTube and Twitch at the same time
To stream to YouTube and Twitch at the same time, add both to one Upstream stream and send your video to Upstream once. Both platforms connect by signing in, so there are no keys to copy from YouTube or Twitch. You stream from OBS, from your browser or from uploaded videos, and your connection only carries one stream.
Two things to sort out first. YouTube can take up to 24 hours to turn on live streaming for a new channel. And Twitch allows simulcasting with conditions, covered below, that apply no matter which tool you use.
- Up to 10 platforms on one stream
- Free plan works
Before you start
- An Upstream account (the free plan is enough to test)
- A YouTube account that can go live
- A Twitch account that can go live
- YouTube: Your YouTube channel needs live streaming turned on. The first time, YouTube can take up to 24 hours to turn it on, so do it a day ahead.
- Twitch: Twitch allows simulcasting unless you signed an agreement that says otherwise. The Twitch stream can't be worse than the others, and merged chat from other platforms can't appear on the Twitch broadcast.
Step 1
Create a stream
In Upstream, press Create stream and pick where the video comes from: Multistream from OBS for OBS or any app with custom RTMP, Live Studio to go live from your browser, or Prerecorded and/or 24/7 for uploaded videos.
Step 2
Add YouTube as the main platform
On Select your primary platform, choose YouTube, then sign in with the Google account that owns your channel. Upstream creates the broadcast on your channel, so there is no key to paste.
Step 3
Add Twitch
On the Set up multistreaming step, press Add stream and pick the platform under Platform. You can add or change platforms later too, in Live Studio under Destinations.
Twitch: pick Twitch, then sign in with your Twitch account. You can paste the stream key from your Twitch dashboard instead.
Step 4
Send your video and start
Send the video in: from OBS or another app, paste the RTMP Server URL and Stream Key from Live Studio into it (the OBS guide shows where); from the browser, join Live Studio with your camera. Then press Start stream, and the stream goes out to YouTube and Twitch together.
Keep YouTube chat off the Twitch video
Twitch doesn't allow chat merged from other platforms to appear on the Twitch broadcast. So if your layout shows chat, show Twitch chat only, or none, in the video you send to both. Upstream connects the video to both platforms and has no merged chat of its own, so this only matters if you add a chat overlay yourself.
Twitch also asks that the Twitch stream isn't worse than the others. Sending one stream through Upstream gives both platforms the same picture. For Twitch's full rules, see does Twitch allow multistreaming.
Troubleshooting
YouTube won't let me go live
Live streaming has to be turned on for the channel first, and the first time can take up to 24 hours. Adding YouTube in Upstream doesn't skip that wait.
YouTube didn't save the whole broadcast
YouTube saves a replay only for streams shorter than 12 hours. Keep the broadcast under that if you need the replay.
FAQ
Can OBS stream to YouTube and Twitch at the same time?
Yes. Point OBS at Upstream with its Custom service, and add YouTube and Twitch to the stream in Upstream. OBS sends one stream and Upstream sends it to both. The OBS guide has the steps.
Can Twitch Affiliates also stream on YouTube?
Twitch allows simulcasting unless you signed an agreement that says otherwise, as long as the Twitch stream isn't worse and merged chat stays off the Twitch video. Check the terms for your own account.
Can I add Kick too?
Yes, the same way as Twitch in step 3. Our guide on how to multistream to YouTube, Twitch and Kick covers all three.
Set it up now
The free plan includes 24 hours of streaming a month and up to 10 destinations.