Video streaming has become an essential part of our lives, whether it’s for entertainment, education, or communication. The video streaming technology is evolving with each passing day and users are searching for the most appropriate and right streaming software that doesn’t come with an expensive price and even free. The right video streaming software would outlay your video with a professional glimpse along with the custom logo, high-resolution streaming, mixed audio and more.
While there are many paid options available, there are also plenty of free video streaming software options that offer powerful features and tools for content creators and streamers. With so much competition among software companies, developers are constantly working on creating the best performing and most convenient video streaming software to meet user demands. However, with so many options available, it can be challenging to find the most suitable software for your system. To help make your search more convenient, we have researched and ranked the top video streaming software options based on their key features. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional, this guide will assist you in finding the right video streaming software for your needs. So, let’s dive in and explore the top video streaming software options for 2023.
Best Free Streaming Software
OBS Studio
Streamlabs OBS
Streamyard
FFsplit
Restream
OneStream
Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder
XSplit Broadcaster
OBS Studio
| Website | Obsproject.com |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7 out of 5 |
| Best For | Beginners |
OBS Studio is a free and open-source streaming software that has gained widespread popularity among content creators and streamers. It supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, and provides powerful features and tools for live streaming and recording.
OBS Studio is widely preferred for its high-tech intuitive interface that comes along with some distinctive features, easily accessible by professionals as well as beginners. OBS comes with some great facilities for accessing files from different locations like capture card or computer folders. Moreover, it allow you to complete the process of configuration with the help of distinguished features and settings.
Key Features
- An expansive range of editing tools and filters.
- Allows you to add more than two sources to the timeline for the purpose of customized projects.
Pros:
- Free and open source
- Custom transition
- Noise suppression
- Studio mode to preview the recordings
- Knowledge base and community forum to learn and discuss
- Ability to arrange the layout according to your need
Cons:
- The user interface can be simple
- Steep learning curve
Aditi Chawda
Streamlabs OBS
| Website | Streamlabs.com |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2 out of 5 |
| Best For | Professional streamers |
Streamlabs OBS is a free and open-source streaming software designed for gamers, content creators, and live streamers. It combines the features of OBS Studio with additional tools and functionalities, making it easy for users to create professional-quality live streams without needing advanced technical knowledge.
Key Features
- Users can create and customize their own overlays and themes to give their live streams a unique look and feel.
- Streamlabs OBS includes built-in alerts and notifications for various events, such as new followers, donations, and subscribers.
- Streamlabs OBS can automatically optimize stream settings based on the user’s internet speed and hardware configuration, ensuring a smooth and high-quality streaming experience.
- Streamlabs OBS can stream to various platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and more, making it easy for users to reach a wider audience.
Pros:
- Simple to collaborate by sending the invitation link
- 100+ free overlay themes
- Personalized layout
- Different kinds of custom alerts while streaming
- Interactive poll feature
- Free chatbot
Cons:
- Takes too much CPU power
Streamyard
| Website | Streamyard.com |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7 out of 5 |
| Best For | Simple web-based live streaming |
Streamyard is a web-based live streaming software designed for content creators, businesses, and educators who want to broadcast their events and engage with their audiences. It allows users to easily create professional-quality live streams using their web browser without needing any additional software or hardware.
Key Features
- Streamyard allows users to stream to multiple platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and others simultaneously, making it easier to reach a wider audience.
- Users can customize their live stream with their own branding elements such as logos, colors, and backgrounds, giving their stream a professional look and feel.
- Streamyard offers a range of interactive features such as audience polls, chat moderation, and guest invitations, allowing users to engage with their audience more effectively.
- Streamyard provides users with analytics data such as viewer count, engagement metrics, and more, helping them to understand their audience and improve their live streaming strategy.
Pros:
- The free plan is available
- Customizable background
- 7 different video layouts to choose from
- Screen sharing
- Private chat
- Cloud-based software
- Ability to embed the webinar into the website
Cons:
- Can’t customize the layout of the interface
- The live poll feature is missing
Bhoraniya Huda Hifzur Rehman
FFsplit
| Website | www.ffsplit.com |
|---|---|
| Rating | 3.5 out of 5 |
| Best For | New-comers to Live Streaming |
FFsplit is only built for Windows users. The software is a freeware program that helps you to capture desktop activities along with high-resolution video streaming. It easily records the activities that are functioning on the desktop and lets you stream further through different websites. FFsplit also has the facility of saving the streaming for future requirements.
Key Features
- Hotkey Feature, which makes the process for beginners absolutely convenient and handy.
- Easy access to the webcam that offers a great range of outlines the needs of professionals.
Pros:
- Completely free to use
- Supports multiple live streaming
- Interface is simple
- Best for Facebook live streaming
- Require less storage and CPU
Cons:
- Available only for windows
- Fewer features compared to the other tools
Restream
| Website | Restream.io |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
| Best For | Engaging Audiences |
The absolutely amazing cloud-based video streaming software, Restream, offers great services of streaming videos to more than 30 different platforms such as Twitch, Facebook, YouTube and more, at once. In fact, Restream provides a great facility of native integration with distinguished streaming software like Elgato, Xsplit, OBS Studio and others. The major advantage that comes with Restream is the Real-time Platform and Channel Toggling.
Key Features
- Develop numerous channels through a single platform.
- Metadata updation of all the streams.
- User’s interactions via chats from different platforms.
Pros:
- Ability to stream on multiple platforms at the same time
- Easy-to-use interface
- Highly customizable
- Schedules the recorded videos to go live
- 20+ ready-to-use themes
- Offensive message filtering
- The free plan is available
Cons:
- You can stream on only two channels out of 30 with a free plan
Ansh Mehrey
OneStream.Live
| Website | Onestream.live |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
| Best For | One In All Streaming Software |
OneStream is counted among the top video streaming software that carries the facility of live recording, streaming, pre-recording of videos and permit them to publish to over 40 different digital platforms. With such distinguished features, you can easily manage and schedule the broadcast of the content to the digital platforms, 60 days in advance.
Key Features
- Streaming on over 40 different platforms and scheduling broadcasting 60 days in advance.
- With a server URL and key, allows the access of streaming custom RTMP.
- Feature of uploading multiple contents at a single time.
Pros:
- Multi-stream on 40+ social media platforms
- Easy to embed the live stream on your website
- Option to add subtitles on pre-recorded videos
- Live stream scheduling
- The mobile app is available to stream on the go
- Cloud-based platform
- Live chat and email support
- Knowledge base
Cons:
- Orientation problem while streaming on Instagram
- Some user says that pricing is bit higher
Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder
| Website | NA |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 out of 5 |
| Best For | Professional Streamers and Content Creators |
Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder is widely famous among professionals for routine based live streaming along with audio and video files. The software offers great advantages such as supporting the streaming of the finest quality video and a handy setup facility. It is specifically designed for use with Adobe Flash Media Server, making it an ideal option for those who require high-quality video and audio streaming.
Key features
- Processing of video and audio signals with high resolution.
- Widely preferred for live streaming events like education requirements, business, sporting events and more.
Pros:
- Free to use
- Embed code to use on the website
- Available for both windows and mac
- Supports HD resolution
Cons:
- Complex set-up procedure
- Difficult to use
XSplit Broadcaster
| Website | www.xsplit.com |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.1 out of 5 |
| Best For | Gamers |
The very prominent live streaming software, XSplit Broadcaster is known for its incredible capturing ability for recording as well as live streaming. It provides the user with the facility to record or live stream any video within seconds. XSplit Broadcaster offers a great in-game stream control HUD that assists you in connecting with people, monitors recent events, and keeps the watch on the increasing statistics for the engagement.
Moreover, it facilitates the projector mode that allows access to outlay various scenes to the connected device with the computer’s GPO.
Key Features
- The NVENC option allows you to customize the settings for optimal performance and resolution.
- Edit scenes with the help of Scene Preview Editor before the live broadcasting.
Pros:
- Plugins and extensions are available
- Background noise cancellation
- Audio adjustment for different screens
- Ability to record multiple screens
- Live chat support
- The free version is available with some limitations
Cons:
- Poor customer service
- Pricing is higher
Conclusion
Selection of the right video streaming software for your system could be very hectic and time taking. It would require you to test every other software and check which suits the best for your system.
The right software must include the features of support platforms, user support, games, options for input sources and many more. And with keeping these key features in mind, describes the above streaming software that would work best for your system and requirements.
FAQs
What is live stream software?
Live stream software’s are software that allows users host or record live stream videos.
What is the best free live stream software?
OBS Studio, Restream, Onestream and FFsplit are some of the best live streaming software.
What do beginner streamers need?
If you are a beginner who is starting streaming, you need four things: a camera, a microphone, streaming software, and a good internet connection.
What are the key features to look for in streaming software?
Some key features to look for in streaming software include ease of use, compatibility with various platforms and devices, customizable settings, and support for high-quality video and audio streaming.
Can I use free streaming software for commercial purposes?
Yes, in most cases, you can use free streaming software for commercial purposes. However, it’s important to check the software’s licensing and terms of use to ensure that you’re using it legally.
Do I need a high-performance computer to use streaming software?
It depends on the software and the level of streaming you want to do. Some software may require a higher-performance computer to handle the demands of live streaming, while others may be more lightweight and work on lower-performance machines. Check the software’s system requirements before downloading to ensure compatibility with your computer.
