In the fast-paced world of live streaming, choosing the right platform can make or break your show’s reach. StreamYard and Restream are two of the most popular options, giving creators professional tools to broadcast live and connect with their audience.

While both are powerful, they serve slightly different needs. This guide breaks down their features, pricing, pros and cons, and unique strengths so you can choose the best platform for your streaming goals.

Quick Overview

StreamYard: The Easy-to-Use Live Streaming Studio

StreamYard is loved for its simplicity and polish. As a browser-based platform, it requires no downloads and makes it easy to run professional-looking broadcasts with branding, overlays, and guest interviews. It’s a favorite of podcasters, YouTubers, and businesses who want a hassle-free way to go live.

Restream: The Multistreaming Powerhouse

Restream’s biggest strength is reach. It can broadcast your stream to 30+ platforms at once, including YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Alongside its live studio, it offers advanced analytics, scheduling tools, and integrations—making it the go-to choice for creators who want scale and data-driven insights.

Restream vs. StreamYard Features

Core Differences

• StreamYard = beginner-friendly, polished, and all-in-one studio.

• Restream = built for scale, analytics, and multistreaming power.

Unique Features

• StreamYard: A backstage area for hosts and guests to prep privately before going live.

• Restream: Advanced analytics for tracking cross-platform engagement and performance.

Pricing

• StreamYard:

  • Free plan (20 hours/month, StreamYard branding)

  • Paid plans from $20/month with multistreaming, custom branding, and HD quality

• Restream:

  • Free plan (2 platforms)

  • Paid plans from $16/month with 30+ platforms, analytics, and scheduling

Ease of Use

• StreamYard: Dead-simple, anyone can go live in minutes.

• Restream: Still beginner-friendly but slightly steeper due to advanced tools.

Video & Audio Quality

Both support 1080p streaming, but:

• StreamYard is reliable and smooth with stable internet.

• Restream adds Failsafe protection, keeping streams live if your connection drops.

Guest Management

• StreamYard: Up to 10 guests via simple link invites; no account needed. Private backstage area adds polish.

• Restream: Also up to 10 guests; Restream Studio provides a clean guest interface.

Integrations

• StreamYard: Works with popular platforms and can even connect with Restream itself.

• Restream: Direct integrations with 30+ destinations plus pro tools like OBS, XSplit, and RTMP inputs.

Customer Support

• StreamYard: 24/7 live chat, knowledge base, community forums.

• Restream: 24/7 live chat, help center, active user community.

Who Should Use Each?

• StreamYard is best for:
  ✅ Beginners who value simplicity
  ✅ Podcasters & YouTubers who want polished live shows
  ✅ Businesses running professional events or interviews

• Restream is best for:
  ✅ Creators who want to maximize reach across many platforms
  ✅ Power users needing advanced analytics & scheduling
  ✅ Brands scaling across multiple social channels

Final Verdict

Both StreamYard and Restream are excellent—your choice depends on your priorities:

• Pick StreamYard if you want a simple, all-in-one live studio with guests and branding tools.

• Pick Restream if you want to multistream at scale with advanced analytics and integrations.

👉 Both offer free plans, so the best way to decide is to test each platform and see which fits your workflow.