Intro

Streaming software is the workhorse of a booming industry. Internet video streaming accounts for more than half of global internet traffic, and it continues to grow. With new streaming services showing upwardly all the time — every social network has one now — sifting through the options and picking the best streaming software becomes difficult.

At Restream, we don't want alive streaming to be difficult. So we made this guide to demystify alive streaming software and help you choose the best one.

🤓 Understanding the essential streaming setup

Earlier you lot're able to make up one's mind on the best streaming software, yous should know what makes up an average live streaming setup. Some variations are permitted, but the key structure is rigid:

  1. An audio/video source — to provide material for the stream
  2. A capture card — to connect a non-USB camera to your estimator
  3. An encoder — to parcel the input and transport it to a platform, website, or network
  4. A stable cyberspace connection — to transfer data to the destination
  5. A streaming service— to act equally the destination and provide output

This five-piece streaming setup has the basics of an online broadcasting system that you tin can develop at home or work. Streaming software is part of the setup, too — it's an option for encoding data. Allow's accept a closer look at encoding and why it's so important.

🤔 What is alive streaming encoding software?

When you plough your photographic camera on, everything captured needs to be "packaged" in a more applied format. Generally, y'all want enough compression of the data to make it transferable via a connection with reasonable upload speeds. Likewise, the streaming platform (such as Facebook, Twitch, or YouTube) should support the encoding method.

This process takes place in the encoder — the liaison between the input and the output. Encoders come in ii forms:

  • Hardware encoders are robust devices that encode video predictably and reliably well. They're pricey, however, and they're a i-flim-flam pony — encoding is all they exercise.
  • Software encoders are programs that depend on the computer's hardware to practice the encoding. Some software encoders are gratis to utilize. They have features that permit yous to  exercise switching, scene creation, and multi-photographic camera setups.

Unless you lot're a professional content producer, publisher, or someone with money to burn down, you lot'll most likely rely on a software encoder. Any dissemination software y'all choose should take intendance of your basic encoding needs. But encoding isn't the only affair you should search for when scouting out the all-time streaming software.

🙌 The master characteristics of alive streaming software to consider

Most popular streaming software options have a few things in common. For example, you would have to look very difficult to notice a solution with no support for H.264 encoding, the most widespread video encoding standard in use today.

But there's a lot that sets different streaming solutions apart. If you're determined about finding the best streaming software, look for a few main characteristics, such as:

  • Possible compatibility issues. Most stream ingestion happens over RTMP, or the Real Time Multimedia Protocol. You'll be able to use nearly live streaming software with social networks and streaming websites. But if y'all're using alternative content delivery networks, check the streaming software for server ingest compatibility bug.
  • Advanced or boosted features. Live-streaming software comes in tiers, with different levels of complexity and features. You might fall in love with a solution but to larn that information technology doesn't meet your needs. Scope these features out before committing to one software.
  • Pricing. Some streaming software is freeware. In fact, the nearly popular solutions are available for no charge at all. Keep in mind, however, that some for-pay improvements in quality tin get a long way in making your live stream more highly-seasoned.

Looking at these three characteristics will help you eliminate the streaming software solutions y'all absolutely cannot use. If they're not in your price range, don't support the platforms you lot employ, or lack crucial features, then you shouldn't apply them.

Read later: Fun things to do on a alive stream 📍

🔥 The best streaming software in 2022

Good alive streaming software should match most of your criteria and perform the core tasks y'all require. Keen alive streaming software gives you lot the tools to take your live streaming to a whole new level — if you lot're willing to put some time and money into it.

The solutions on our listing are some of the biggest players in the live streaming software market in 2022. They offer mixes of features, functionalities, and price points, and you'll likely find a practiced fit with at least one of them.

1. OBS Studio

The Open Broadcaster Software Studio is like a gateway software for those new to live streaming. It'due south free and compatible with a multifariousness of platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux. You can also customize OBS as much equally you lot similar.

On the downside, OBS Studio is open-source, which means it offers no official support. There is a big and engaged community that tin aid you out instead, but that's not the best solution for everyone.

2. Streamlabs OBS

The Streamlabs version of OBS, also known as SLOBS, performs similar a more than user-friendly version of OBS Studio. SLOBS is also free, offers back up, and comes with features that make it especially attractive to gaming streamers.

But not everything's gravy in the SLOBS campsite. For instance, the platform you want to stream to may not come with native support in SLOBS. Also, be prepared for the occasional bug.

three. XSplit

Every bit you progress towards professional person, high-end live streaming software solutions, XSplit is a common steppingstone. It's easy to apply, comes in basic (free) and premium versions, and offers decent support and the occasional feature update. Yous can also use tertiary-party apps and plugins with it.

Fifty-fifty though XSplit is easy to use, yous volition need to have some cognition near encoding, because it doesn't come with presets. You can forget most using it on Mac or Linux systems, and yous accept to shell out some serious greenbacks for the paid version to avoid watermarks and locked features.

4. vMix

vMix is a expert choice for pro streamers, just it does come with a bones, complimentary plan. If 4k live streaming is what you're afterwards, vMix is a sound choice. It comes packed with many advanced features, provides corking support, and is available at several pricing points, making it like shooting fish in a barrel to upgrade according to your needs.

If your needs include alive streaming from a Mac, yet, vMix volition exist of no help to you — it's only bachelor on Windows systems. It's also a drain on arrangement resources, which is non surprising from professional-grade streaming software. vMix also has the biggest price tag on this list.

🦑 Multistream using encoding software

A smashing way to reach a bigger audience is to multistream, or live stream to more than one platform at the same time. You tin easily multistream to as many platforms as yous similar via Restream, thanks to the following features:

  • Back up for over 30 acme platforms, roofing the global networks, likewise as the regional and niche ones. Streaming to YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Twitch, LinkedIn, Twitter, and more than is equally piece of cake every bit logging into your account.
  • Easy to set upwards and use. Y'all don't demand to download or install anything. Restream has an intuitive interface that makes adding channels a breeze.
  • It works with your encoding software, so if your encoder doesn't have native support for a platform, Restream probably does.
  • It's freemium. You get about of the features for free, but when information technology'southward time to upgrade, Restream will have options for you lot.
  • Information technology works on Windows and Mac. Yous tin can use Restream with whatsoever estimator you have without investing in additional software or hardware.

All you have to do is connect your streaming channels (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, etc.) to Restream, then connect Restream to your encoding software.

Larn how to connect your favorite alive streaming platforms to Restream past reading our support articles:

  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitch
  • Twitter

And read how to connect some of the most popular encoders to Restream:

  • OBS Studio
  • StreamLabs OBS
  • XSplit
  • vMix

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👀 Exercise yous actually need an encoder to live stream?

Encoding software may merely be essential when you need to accept full control over your live streams. Nowadays, y'all can start alive streaming past merely clicking a unmarried button in your browser, using Restream Studio. In addition to multistreaming, Restream's Live Studio lets you become live from your web browser — no encoder needed. Information technology has tons of customizable features likewise, so you lot can create professional broadcasts over multiple platforms in a matter of seconds.

Restream Studio'due south arsenal of professional live streaming tools includes:

  • Custom overlays and captions
  • Custom groundwork images
  • Adding your own logo
  • Screen sharing options
  • Playing local video files
  • Multiple screen share layouts
  • Adding copyright-complimentary background music
  • Inviting guests direct to live streams
  • All conversation messages from beyond platforms in one central hub
  • Displaying a chat overlay

👉 Learn more nearly getting started with Restream Studio in our full guide to Restream Studio.

Conclusion

On your fashion to condign a live streamer, you'll have to go through the process of selecting the best streaming software for your needs. Even though your software of pick might alter over fourth dimension, it'due south important to remember advisedly most the kickoff one yous choose so you tin can become off to a proficient start.

Agreement the cardinal components of streaming software is crucial, including learning about the unabridged streaming setup and finding ways to expand your software's functionality. Restream helps you lot get even more from every minute you spend streaming by letting you broadcast to a wider audience. That'due south as important a feat as any in today'southward crowded streaming landscape.