Best Live Streaming Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Restream is ranked #1 of 136 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of PRISM Live Studio and Agora Interactive Live Streaming. The best-ranked option with a free plan is PRISM Live Studio. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Amazon Interactive Video Service at $0.07/mo.
Live broadcasts can involve continuous channels, scheduled recordings, or sending one stream to several destinations. Compare 24/7 looping and pre-recorded streams with multistreaming and custom RTMP destinations to see which distribution options match your setup. Browser-based studio, cloud recording, and unified chat describe other parts of the workflow; free-plan availability and paid-from pricing add plan details to weigh. The entries begin with Restream, Ant Media Server, and PRISM Live Studio, with Yostream and BoxCast also among the early options. Consider what you need to produce, where the stream must go, and which listed features or costs matter for your broadcast.
136 live streaming software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
136ranked
16free plans on this page
$0.07/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Live Streaming Software 25 channels on this page · 86 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromMultistreamingPre-recorded streams24/7 loopingBrowser-based studioCustom RTMP destinationsCloud recording Spec sheet Score
01 Restream Free planYesPaid from$19/moMultistreamingYesPre-recorded streamsYes24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioYesCustom RTMP destinationsYesCloud recordingYes 7/8spec lines stated 9.3
02 PRISM Live Studio Free planYesPaid from$9.99/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioNoCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 9.0
03 Agora Interactive Live Streaming Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingYes 2/8spec lines stated 8.8
04 Riverside Free planYesPaid from$19/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.8
05 BoxCast Free planNoPaid from$109/moMultistreamingYesPre-recorded streamsYes24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioYesCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingYes 6/8spec lines stated 8.7
06 OBS Studio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioNoCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.6
07 OneStream Live Free planYesPaid from$15/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioYesCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 8.5
08 Meld Studio Free planYesPaid from$20/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioNoCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 8.3
09 Livepush Free planYesPaid from$15/moMultistreamingYesPre-recorded streamsYes24/7 loopingYesBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsYesCloud recordingYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.3
10 Amazon Interactive Video Service Free planNoPaid fromnot statedMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 8.2
11 Ant Media Server Free planYesPaid from$89/moMultistreamingYesPre-recorded streamsYes24/7 loopingYesBrowser-based studioYesCustom RTMP destinationsYesCloud recordingYes 8/8spec lines stated 8.2
12 Red5 Pro Free planNoPaid from$29.99/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.2
13 Streamlabs Desktop Free planYesPaid from$15.75/moMultistreamingYesPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsYesCloud recordingnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 8.1
14 mimoLive Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioNoCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.1
15 Castr Free planNoPaid from$16.67/moMultistreamingYesPre-recorded streamsYes24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioYesCustom RTMP destinationsYesCloud recordingYes 7/8spec lines stated 8.1
16 Dacast Free planNoPaid from$29/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.1
17 XSplit Broadcaster Free planYesPaid from$14.99/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioNoCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 8.0
18 Wirecast Free planNoPaid fromnot statedMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 8.0
19 Streamlabs Multistream Free planYesPaid from$15.75/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.0
20 Lightstream Free planYesPaid from$9/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioYesCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 8.0
21 Streamster Free planYesPaid fromnot statedMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioNoCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.0
22 Yostream Free planYesPaid from$15/moMultistreamingYesPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioYesCustom RTMP destinationsYesCloud recordingYes 6/8spec lines stated 8.0
23 LiveReacting Free planYesPaid from$16/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioYesCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.9
24 Switcher Studio Free planNoPaid from$45/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studionot statedCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.8
25 Upstream Free planYesPaid from$30/moMultistreamingnot statedPre-recorded streamsnot stated24/7 loopingnot statedBrowser-based studioYesCustom RTMP destinationsnot statedCloud recordingnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.8
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Multistreaming | Pre-recorded streams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Restream | 9.3 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | $19/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | PRISM Live Studio | 9.0 | Free plan | $6.67/mo | Yes | $9.99/mo | — | — |
| 3 | Agora Interactive Live Streaming | 8.8 | Free plan | $0.99/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 4 | Riverside | 8.8 | Free plan | $19/mo | Yes | $19/mo | — | — |
| 5 | BoxCast | 8.7 | No | $8.25/mo | No | $109/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | OBS Studio | 8.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 7 | OneStream Live | 8.5 | Free plan | $15/mo | Yes | $15/mo | — | — |
| 8 | Meld Studio | 8.3 | Free plan | $16.67/mo | Yes | $20/mo | — | — |
| 9 | Livepush | 8.3 | Free plan | $15/mo | Yes | $15/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 10 | Amazon Interactive Video Service | 8.2 | Free plan | $0.07/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 11 | Ant Media Server | 8.2 | No | $0.24/mo | Yes | $89/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 12 | Red5 Pro | 8.2 | No | $29.99/mo | No | $29.99/mo | — | — |
| 13 | Streamlabs Desktop | 8.1 | No | $14.92/mo | Yes | $15.75/mo | Yes | — |
| 14 | mimoLive | 8.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | Castr | 8.1 | No | $16.67/mo | No | $16.67/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 16 | Dacast | 8.1 | No | $29/mo | No | $29/mo | — | — |
| 17 | XSplit Broadcaster | 8.0 | Free plan | $5/mo | Yes | $14.99/mo | — | — |
| 18 | Wirecast | 8.0 | No | $34/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 19 | Streamlabs Multistream | 8.0 | No | — | Yes | $15.75/mo | — | — |
| 20 | Lightstream | 8.0 | Free plan | $129/mo | Yes | $9/mo | — | — |
| 21 | Streamster | 8.0 | Free plan | $0.48/mo | Yes | — | — | — |
| 22 | Yostream | 8.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | $15/mo | Yes | — |
| 23 | LiveReacting | 7.9 | Free plan | $2.75/mo | Yes | $16/mo | — | — |
| 24 | Switcher Studio | 7.8 | No | $35/mo | No | $45/mo | — | — |
| 25 | Upstream | 7.8 | Free plan | $2/mo | Yes | $30/mo | — | — |
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 live streaming software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Restream is ranked #1 of 136 with a score of 9.3. PRISM Live Studio is second and Agora Interactive Live Streaming third.
How many of these have a free plan?
16 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Amazon Interactive Video Service has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.07/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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