StreamYard Pricing: Complete Breakdown of Every Plan

StreamYard overhauled its pricing structure in August 2024 after being acquired by Bending Spoons. The changes weren't subtle—monthly pricing jumped from $25 to $44.99 for the entry-level paid plan, an 80% increase that sent a lot of longtime users scrambling for alternatives.

If you're trying to figure out whether StreamYard is worth it at these new price points, here's exactly what you get at each tier.

StreamYard Pricing at a Glance

StreamYard now offers four main tiers for individual users: Free, Core, Advanced, and Teams. There's also a Business plan for organizations that need custom solutions.

Note: StreamYard removed public pricing from their website and now requires you to create an account to see current rates. The prices above are based on recent user reports, but you should verify directly with StreamYard for the most current pricing.

Free Plan: What You Actually Get

StreamYard's free plan lets you test the waters, but it comes with significant limitations:

• StreamYard branding on all your streams (not removable)
• 720p streaming only (no Full HD)
• 6 on-screen participants maximum
• 20 hours of streaming per month
• 2 months of local recording storage
• Limited destinations for multistreaming

The free plan works fine for testing or very occasional streaming. But that watermark is a dealbreaker for anyone trying to look professional. If you're doing client work or building a brand, you'll need to upgrade.

Core Plan: $44.99/month ($35.99 Annual)

The Core plan is the entry point for serious streaming. Here's what unlocks:

• No StreamYard branding on your streams
• Full HD 1080p streaming
• Custom logos and overlays
• Multistreaming to multiple platforms simultaneously
• Reusable studios for faster episode production
• 1080p screen sharing (up from 720p)
• 50 hours of permanent storage
• Unlimited streaming hours

The jump from free to Core is steep. Going from $0 to $44.99/month just to remove a watermark and get HD streaming feels aggressive, especially when competitors like Restream start at $16/month.

That said, StreamYard's interface is genuinely simpler than most alternatives. If you value ease of use over saving $30/month, Core makes sense.

Advanced Plan: For Professional Streamers

The Advanced plan adds features that professional content creators actually need:

• 4K local recordings
• Unlimited storage
• More on-screen participants
• Extended pre-recorded streaming (up to 8 hours)
• All Core features included

If you're running a podcast, hosting webinars, or producing content that you'll repurpose across platforms, 4K local recordings are worth it. The unlimited storage also means you're not constantly managing old files.

Teams Plan: For Collaborative Productions

The Teams plan is designed for shows with multiple producers or hosts who need to work together:

• Up to 10 team seats
• Guest destinations (guests can stream to their own channels)
• Advanced collaboration features
• Everything in Advanced

This makes sense for agencies, media companies, or collaborative shows where multiple people need admin access.

Business Plan: Custom Pricing

StreamYard Business is for organizations that need enterprise features. You'll need to contact their sales team for pricing. Key differences include:

• Custom pricing based on usage and team size
• Advanced admin and security features
• Dedicated support
• Flexible terms

If you're using a company email domain (like [email protected]), StreamYard may require you to subscribe to the Business plan.

The Price Increase Controversy

Let's address the elephant in the room. StreamYard was acquired by Bending Spoons in April 2024, and prices jumped significantly shortly after. The original co-founders, Geige Vendentop and Dan Briggs, left the company.

Many longtime users have complained about the price increases. One review summed it up: their annual plan went from around $96/year to over $400—roughly a 4x increase. That's pushed a lot of small podcasters and creators to explore alternatives.

StreamYard does offer a 7-day money-back guarantee on your first charge, so you can test the paid features risk-free. But there's no free trial of paid features beyond that.

Is StreamYard Worth It?

Here's my honest take:

StreamYard is worth it if:

• You prioritize ease of use over everything else
• You're not technical and don't want to mess with OBS
• You need reliable multistreaming without complexity
• You host guests frequently and need simple invite links
• Your business can absorb the cost easily

StreamYard isn't worth it if:

• You're a hobbyist or small creator on a tight budget
• You're comfortable with more technical tools like OBS (which is free)
• You primarily need recording features (check out Descript instead)
• You stream to a single platform (just use native tools)

StreamYard Alternatives to Consider

If StreamYard's pricing doesn't work for you, here are some options:

• Restream – Starts at $16/month, supports 30+ platforms, but steeper learning curve
• OBS Studio – Free and powerful, but requires technical setup (see our free video editing software guide)
• Riverside.fm – Better for podcast recording, similar price range
• Be.Live – Simpler interface, lower price point

For more options, check our StreamYard alternatives comparison.

How to Save on StreamYard

A few ways to reduce your StreamYard costs:

1. Pay annually – Saves roughly 20% compared to monthly billing ($35.99 vs $44.99/month for Core)
2. Check for promotions – StreamYard occasionally offers seasonal deals to logged-in users
3. Grandfather your rate – If you're already a subscriber, your existing discounts typically remain valid

The Bottom Line

StreamYard remains one of the easiest live streaming tools available. The interface is clean, guests can join without downloading anything, and multistreaming works reliably.

But the pricing has gotten aggressive. At $44.99/month for the entry-level paid plan, you're paying a premium for simplicity. Whether that's worth it depends on your budget and how much you value your time.

If you're ready to give it a shot, you can start with the free plan to test the interface before committing.

Try StreamYard Free →

For content creators who also need video editing capabilities, you might want to explore tools like Descript or check out our guide to the best video editing software.