Restream suits people who want to go live on several platforms at once for free: its Free plan streams to 2 channels at the same time, with Restream branding. StreamYard suits people who want an easy studio with guests on screen, and its Free plan gives all the essential studio features with up to 6 people on screen, but multistreaming starts on its Essential plan. If streaming to two places at once is the point, start with Restream.
Going live used to mean wrestling with software and stream keys. Both of these run the studio for you, and the free plans are closer than you'd think. I read StreamYard's plans page and FAQ and Restream's plans page and comparison table, and the facts below come from them.
StreamYard and Restream plans compared
| StreamYard | Restream | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, Free | Yes, Free plan, "forever" |
| Multistreaming on free | Not on Free; 2 destinations from Essential | 2 channels at once |
| Branding on free | StreamYard logo in your streams | Restream branding |
| People on screen | 6 on Free, 10 on Core | Not stated on the plans page |
| Recording on free | Local recordings, 2 hours a month | Not stated for the Free plan |
| Most channels | 8 destinations on Advanced | 8 channels on Business |
| Vertical and horizontal at once | Not covered on the plans page | Dual format streaming from Professional |
| Webinars | On-Air webinars for 100 viewers on Advanced | Webinars add-on, 100 attendees |
StreamYard: a studio you run in the browser
StreamYard's Free plan includes all the essential studio features, with the StreamYard logo in your streams, some streaming limits, 2 hours of local recording a month, 6 people on screen and 1 seat. Its FAQ says the core features are free to use.
Essential adds unlimited streaming, multistreaming to 2 destinations and Full HD. Core removes the logo, streams to 3 destinations, adds overlays, 10 people on screen, pre-recorded streams, cloud recording and AI clips. Advanced brings 4K local recording, 8 destinations, 15 backstage guests and On-Air webinars for 100 viewers.
Restream: built around multistreaming
Restream's Free plan, which it calls free forever, is described as a taste of multistreaming: you can stream on 2 channels at once, with Restream branding. Standard adds a third channel, removes the branding and lets guests add their own channels to your event.
Professional streams to 5 channels in Full HD, records in 4K and adds dual format streaming. Business goes to 8 channels with a website player for 1,000 viewers, co-producer mode and team workspaces. Clips and Webinars are add-ons, and Restream works with encoders such as OBS and Zoom.
Two details that change the choice
First, Restream's dual format streaming, on Professional and above, sends your stream to vertical and horizontal platforms at the same time. Its example is horizontal to YouTube and vertical to TikTok, without extra work on your side.
Second, StreamYard's Essential, Core and Advanced plans are for individual use only, according to its plans page, and companies are pointed to separate Business plans. If a team will share the account, check that before you set it up.
Which live streamer each one suits
Restream suits creators who want to reach several platforms at once, starting free, and anyone streaming to vertical and horizontal platforms together. StreamYard suits interview shows, podcasts and coaches who bring guests on screen and want a simple studio. To get started, see how to run a webinar using YouTube Live or how to go live on Instagram.
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My advice for your first live show
Decide where your audience watches. If it's one platform, StreamYard's Free plan gives you a friendly studio with up to 6 people on screen. If it's two, Restream's Free plan streams to both at once from day one. Run a short test stream on a private channel first, check the sound and the branding, and only then put the date in your diary. A short rehearsal saves a lot of red faces on the day.
Do you make live streaming or video tools? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is StreamYard free?
Yes. StreamYard's Free plan includes the essential studio features, 6 people on screen and 2 hours of local recording a month, with its logo in your streams.
Is Restream free?
Yes. Restream's Free plan lets you stream on 2 channels at once, with Restream branding.
Can I multistream for free on StreamYard?
No. StreamYard lists multistreaming to 2 destinations from its Essential plan, not on Free.
Can Restream stream vertical and horizontal video at once?
Yes. Restream's dual format streaming, from the Professional plan, sends horizontal to YouTube and vertical to TikTok at the same time.
Can my team share a StreamYard Core plan?
StreamYard says Essential, Core and Advanced are for individual use only and points companies to its Business plans.
