Best Game Streaming Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Restream is ranked #1 of 45 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of PRISM Live Studio and DualStream Relay. The best-ranked option with a free plan is PRISM Live Studio. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Streamster at $0.48/mo.
Game streaming software can shape how you capture a session, send a broadcast and add features for viewers. Compared on hardware encoding, maximum output resolution, supported platforms and multistreaming, the entries also spell out whether alerts and widgets, virtual camera and custom RTMP output are listed. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing help round out the comparison. Restream, PRISM Live Studio and DualStream Relay are among the options to consider. Match the listed capabilities to your streaming setup: where you want to send the stream, what output quality you need, and which on-screen or broadcast tools matter for your workflow.
45 game streaming software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
45ranked
19free plans on this page
$0.48/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Game Streaming Software 25 channels on this page · 50 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromMax output resolutionMultistreamingHardware encodingAlerts and widgetsCustom RTMP outputVirtual camera Spec sheet Score
01 Restream Free planYesPaid from$19/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.0
02 PRISM Live Studio Free planYesPaid from$9.99/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.7
03 DualStream Relay Free planYesPaid from$9.99/moMax output resolution1080pMultistreamingYesHardware encodingYesAlerts and widgetsYesCustom RTMP outputYesVirtual cameraYes 8/8spec lines stated 7.5
04 OBS Studio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.2
05 OneStream Live Free planYesPaid from$15/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.2
06 Streamster Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.2
07 Meld Studio Free planYesPaid from$20/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.0
08 Action! Free planNoPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
09 Lightstream Free planYesPaid from$9/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.7
10 LiveReacting Free planYesPaid from$16/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.7
11 mimoLive Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 SplitCam Multistream Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 Streamlabs Desktop Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
14 Upstream Free planYesPaid from$30/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.7
15 OmniStudio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMax output resolution4kMultistreamingYesHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsYesCustom RTMP outputYesVirtual cameranot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.6
16 playout.video Free planYesPaid from$19/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.6
17 StreamRove Free planYesPaid from$24.17/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputYesVirtual cameranot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.6
18 StreamYard On-Air Free planNoPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.6
19 Switcher Studio Free planNoPaid from$45/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.6
20 ApexStream Free planYesPaid from$25/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.5
21 evmux Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.5
22 XSplit Broadcaster Free planYesPaid from$14.99/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.5
23 CameraFi Live Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.0
24 Streamlabs Mobile Free planYesPaid from$15.75/moMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.0
25 TVU Channel Free planNoPaid fromnot statedMax output resolutionnot statedMultistreamingnot statedHardware encodingnot statedAlerts and widgetsnot statedCustom RTMP outputnot statedVirtual cameranot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.0
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Max output resolution | Multistreaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restream | 8.0 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | 19 /mo | — | — |
| 2 | PRISM Live Studio | 7.7 | Free plan | $6.67/mo | Yes | 9.99 /mo | — | — |
| 3 | DualStream Relay | 7.5 | Free plan | $8.25/mo | Yes | 9.99 /mo | 1080p | Yes |
| 4 | OBS Studio | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 5 | OneStream Live | 7.2 | Free plan | $15/mo | Yes | 15 /mo | — | — |
| 6 | Streamster | 7.2 | Free plan | $0.48/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | Meld Studio | 7.0 | Free plan | $16.67/mo | Yes | 20 /mo | — | — |
| 8 | Action! | 6.7 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
| 9 | Lightstream | 6.7 | Free plan | $129/mo | Yes | 9 /mo | — | — |
| 10 | LiveReacting | 6.7 | Free plan | $2.75/mo | Yes | 16 /mo | — | — |
| 11 | mimoLive | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 12 | SplitCam Multistream | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 13 | Streamlabs Desktop | 6.7 | No | $14.92/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 14 | Upstream | 6.7 | Free plan | $2/mo | Yes | 30 /mo | — | — |
| 15 | OmniStudio | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | 4k | Yes |
| 16 | playout.video | 6.6 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | 19 /mo | — | — |
| 17 | StreamRove | 6.6 | Free plan | $24.17/mo | Yes | 24.17 /mo | — | — |
| 18 | StreamYard On-Air | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | No | — | — | — |
| 19 | Switcher Studio | 6.6 | No | $35/mo | No | 45 /mo | — | — |
| 20 | ApexStream | 6.5 | Free plan | $25/mo | Yes | 25 /mo | — | — |
| 21 | evmux | 6.5 | Free plan | $25/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 22 | XSplit Broadcaster | 6.5 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | 14.99 /mo | — | — |
| 23 | CameraFi Live | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 24 | Streamlabs Mobile | 6.0 | No | $27/mo | Yes | 15.75 /mo | — | — |
| 25 | TVU Channel | 6.0 | No | $599/mo | No | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which game streaming software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Restream is ranked #1 of 45 with a score of 8.0. PRISM Live Studio is second and DualStream Relay third.
How many of these have a free plan?
19 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Streamster has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.48/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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