7 Best StreamYard Alternatives: Which One Should You Pick?
StreamYard is a solid browser-based live streaming tool, but it's not for everyone. Maybe you're frustrated with the recent price increases, need features StreamYard doesn't offer, or just want to explore what else is out there.
After StreamYard overhauled their pricing in August 2024—consolidating six plans into three new tiers (Core, Advanced, and Teams)—a lot of creators found themselves paying more for the same features. The Core plan now starts at $44.99/month, and Advanced jumps to $88.99/month. That's a significant increase from the old Basic and Professional plans.
If you're shopping for alternatives, here's what actually matters: ease of use, multistreaming capabilities, video quality, and whether you need desktop software or prefer browser-based tools. Let's break down your best options.
Quick Comparison: StreamYard Alternatives at a Glance
| Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restream | Multistreaming to many platforms | $19/month | Browser-based |
| OBS Studio | Power users on a budget | Free | Desktop software |
| Riverside.fm | Podcast/interview recording | $19/month | Browser-based |
| Streamlabs | Gamers and Twitch streamers | Free | Desktop software |
| OneStream Live | Pre-recorded stream scheduling | $10/month | Browser-based |
| Ecamm Live | Mac users wanting pro features | $16/month | Desktop (Mac only) |
| Crowdcast | Webinars and virtual events | $49/month | Browser-based |
1. Restream — Best Overall StreamYard Alternative
If you love StreamYard's browser-based simplicity but want more destinations and better pricing, Restream is your answer. It's the closest 1:1 replacement with some advantages.
Pricing
Restream's paid plans start at $19/month (or $16/month with annual billing). That's less than half of StreamYard's Core plan. They also offer a free tier for basic streaming, though you'll hit limitations quickly.
What's Good
- Browser-based studio with no downloads required
- Multistream to 30+ platforms simultaneously
- Full HD 1080p streaming
- Integrated chat management across all platforms
- Works with RTMP encoders like OBS for hybrid setups
- Pre-recorded stream scheduling
What's Not
- Facebook Pages streaming requires a paid plan
- No team seats on the free plan
- No permanent video storage
- Duration limits on free tier streams
If you're currently on StreamYard and just want something similar that costs less, try Restream first.
2. OBS Studio — Best Free Alternative
OBS Studio is the elephant in the room when discussing streaming software. It's completely free, open-source, and insanely powerful. The tradeoff? You need to actually learn it.
Pricing
Free. Forever. No paid tiers, no premium features locked behind paywalls. OBS is developed by a community and funded through donations.
What's Good
- Unlimited customization with scenes, sources, and transitions
- High-performance real-time video/audio capture and mixing
- Per-source audio filters (noise gate, noise suppression, gain)
- VST plugin support for advanced audio
- Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux
- Stream to any RTMP destination (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, custom servers)
- Studio Mode for preview before going live
- Multiview to monitor 8 scenes simultaneously
What's Not
- Steep learning curve compared to browser tools
- No built-in multistreaming (need a service like Restream for that)
- Guest management requires third-party solutions
- You're responsible for troubleshooting
OBS is perfect if you're technically inclined and want maximum control without spending a dime. For beginners who just want to go live quickly, it's probably overkill.
3. Riverside.fm — Best for Podcast Recording
Riverside isn't a direct StreamYard competitor—it's built for a different use case. If your primary goal is recording high-quality podcasts or interviews (with optional live streaming), Riverside is superior to StreamYard in almost every way.
Pricing
The Standard plan costs $19/month ($15/month annually) and includes 5 hours of recording time, 4K video quality, and 48 kHz audio. The Pro plan at $29/month ($24/month annually) bumps you to 15 hours and adds features like live call-ins and unlimited transcriptions.
There's also a free plan with 2 hours of recording—but it includes watermarks and caps video at 720p.
What's Good
- Records locally on each participant's device (no quality loss from internet hiccups)
- Up to 4K video resolution
- Separate audio/video tracks for each participant (huge for editing)
- AI-powered editing tools and automatic transcription
- Text-based editor for finding and cutting sections
- Live streaming capabilities on Pro plan
What's Not
- Not primarily a live streaming tool
- Teams pricing jumps to $24/user/month
- Enterprise pricing gets expensive fast ($5,400+/year minimum)
- Customer support has mixed reviews
If you're recording podcasts or video interviews to edit later, Riverside is better than StreamYard. For straight-up live streaming, look elsewhere.
For more options in this category, check out our guide to the best screen recording software.
4. Streamlabs — Best for Gaming and Twitch
Streamlabs started as an OBS overlay service and evolved into its own full desktop streaming application. It's particularly popular with gamers and Twitch streamers who want OBS-level power with a friendlier interface.
Pricing
The core Streamlabs Desktop app is free. They offer Streamlabs Ultra (premium features) at $19/month, which adds multistreaming, custom tip pages, and priority support.
What's Good
- Free desktop app with pro-level features
- Customizable overlays and themes (many free)
- Built-in alerts, chat boxes, and widgets
- Multistreaming to YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, Facebook, and more
- Simple interface with OBS-level capability
- Collab Cam for guest appearances
What's Not
- Desktop software (not browser-based)
- More gaming-focused than business/marketing use cases
- Some premium features require Ultra subscription
- Can be resource-intensive on older computers
Streamlabs is ideal if you're coming from OBS but want something easier to set up, especially for gaming streams. Not the best fit for corporate webinars or professional podcasts.
5. OneStream Live — Best for Pre-Recorded Streaming
OneStream Live is a browser-based platform that shines when you want to stream pre-recorded content on a schedule. Think of it as scheduled social media posts, but for video.
Pricing
Plans start around $10/month for basic features. Higher tiers unlock more simultaneous destinations and longer stream durations.
What's Good
- Multistream to 50+ destinations
- Schedule pre-recorded videos up to 60 days in advance
- 24/7 streaming and playlist loops
- Sessions up to 20 hours long
- Host up to 16 studio guests
- Browser-based with mobile apps available
What's Not
- Limited customization compared to StreamYard
- Best features require higher-tier plans
- Duration limits on pre-recorded streams vary by plan
If your workflow involves pre-recording content and scheduling it to go live later, OneStream is worth considering. For live-only broadcasting, stick with Restream or OBS.
6. Ecamm Live — Best for Mac Users
Ecamm Live is a Mac-only desktop application that offers a polished streaming experience with professional features. If you're on Mac and want something more powerful than browser tools, this is it.
Pricing
Plans start at $16/month for the Standard tier. Pro features like interview mode and virtual camera cost more.
What's Good
- Clean, Mac-native interface
- High levels of control and customization
- Interview mode for guest management
- Virtual camera output for Zoom/Meet integration
- Local recording in high quality
- Solid multistreaming support
What's Not
- Mac only—Windows users need not apply
- Desktop software requires installation
- Pricier than some alternatives for equivalent features
If you're a Mac user frustrated with browser-based limitations, Ecamm Live deserves a look.
7. Crowdcast — Best for Webinars
Crowdcast positions itself for creators, educators, and businesses running virtual events, workshops, and webinars. It's less about casual streaming and more about structured, interactive events.
Pricing
Plans start at $49/month. Not cheap, but built for a different audience than hobbyist streamers.
What's Good
- Purpose-built for webinars and virtual events
- Built-in registration and landing pages
- Audience interaction tools (Q&A, polls, chat)
- Integrations with Patreon, Stripe, Zapier
- Multistreaming to major platforms
- Backstage area for hosts
What's Not
- Higher starting price than alternatives
- Overkill for simple live streaming
- Less flexible for gaming or casual content
If you're running paid workshops, online courses, or professional webinars, Crowdcast is built for that. For everything else, it's probably too specialized.
Which StreamYard Alternative Should You Choose?
Here's the quick decision framework:
- Want something like StreamYard but cheaper? Restream is your best bet.
- On a tight budget and willing to learn? OBS Studio is free and incredibly powerful.
- Recording podcasts or interviews? Riverside.fm offers superior recording quality.
- Gaming or Twitch streaming? Streamlabs is built for you.
- Need to schedule pre-recorded streams? OneStream Live handles that well.
- Mac user wanting desktop power? Ecamm Live is the move.
- Running professional webinars? Crowdcast is purpose-built for events.
No single tool is perfect for everyone. The "best" alternative depends entirely on what frustrated you about StreamYard in the first place.
If you're still weighing options, we've covered StreamYard's pricing in detail so you can compare apples to apples. And if you're looking for video editing to polish your recordings afterward, check out our roundups of the best video editing software and free video editing tools.