Action! vs DualStream Relay

Action! records Windows gameplay, console video, and live broadcasts. It offers instant replay, multi-mode recording, GPU encoding, and webcam overlays. Windows gameplay recording is described as Full HD with low CPU use and no FPS loss; maximum listed video quality is 4K Ultra HD up to 3840x2160. Device recording supports Xbox and PlayStation, with capture cards from Elgato, Avermedia, and Hauppauge. Action! can stream to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, Smashcast, and Ustream, among other services, and supports Streamlabs plus up to six modular URL overlay graphics. Microphone and system sound can be recorded separately, mixed, or saved with another audio device. Webcam overlays can be cropped, resized, repositioned, and used with a green screen. Screenshots can be saved in BMP, JPG, or PNG formats. Home use costs $19.77, paid once and commercial use costs $32.95, paid once; both include a lifetime license and free updates. A 30-day trial is available without a credit card, but trial recordings have a watermark.

DualStream Relay sends a stream from a PC to DualStream’s servers, which distribute it to Twitch, YouTube, Kick, and custom RTMP destinations. Twitch, YouTube, and Kick can be connected with one click, without copying stream keys. If the connection drops, Disconnect Protection keeps destination platforms live on a custom standby screen and resumes streaming after reconnection. You can upload the screen viewers see during an interruption. Output support varies by destination: up to 2160p60 on YouTube, 2K on Twitch with Enhanced Broadcasting, and 1080p60 on Kick, Facebook, TikTok, and custom RTMP. Relay is available on Windows, macOS, and iOS. The free Test Drive plan includes instant replay clips with a watermark. Premium includes multistreaming, Disconnect Protection, and watermark-free clips; it costs $9.99 a month, with the first 30 days free, or $99 a year. One Premium subscription covers the Windows and macOS apps, iPhone app, OBS plugin, and MCP server.