StreamYard Free Trial: Here's What You Actually Get

Let me clear up some confusion right away: StreamYard doesn't offer a traditional "free trial" in the way most SaaS tools do. Instead, they have two ways to test the platform:

1. A permanent free plan - forever free with limitations
2. A 7-day money-back guarantee on paid plans

Most people searching for "StreamYard free trial" want to know if they can test the platform without paying. The answer is yes-but you need to understand exactly what you're getting. Let's break it down.

StreamYard's Free Plan: What's Included

StreamYard's free plan is genuinely usable, not just a glorified demo. Here's what you get:

• Live streaming to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, and X
• Up to 6 on-screen participants
• Basic screen sharing
• 720p video quality (standard definition)
• Up to 20 hours of streaming and recording per month
• Access to default overlays and backgrounds
• Local recordings with 2 hours of storage per month

No credit card required to sign up. Just enter your email, verify with a code, and you're in.

Free Plan Limitations (The Stuff That Might Bug You)

The free plan has real restrictions that matter:

• StreamYard branding - Their logo appears on all your streams. This is the #1 reason people upgrade.
• 720p max resolution - Fine for casual use, but looks noticeably worse than HD/4K competitors
• Single destination streaming - You can only stream to one platform at a time (no multistreaming)
• Limited recording storage - About 2 hours of local recordings per month
• No custom branding - Can't add your own logos, overlays, or backgrounds
• No recording of live streams - Streams aren't automatically saved by StreamYard
• 20-hour monthly limit - After you hit 20 hours of streaming/recording in a month, you'll need to upgrade or wait until next month

For hobbyists or people testing the waters, these limits are manageable. For anyone doing professional content or business broadcasts, you'll hit these walls fast.

The 14-Day Free Trial Option (Through Affiliate Links)

Here's something many people don't know: certain affiliate and referral links can unlock a 14-day free trial of StreamYard's paid features. This isn't advertised on StreamYard's main website, but it's available through partner links.

During this 14-day trial, you get access to premium features like:

• No StreamYard branding on your streams
• 1080p Full HD streaming
• Multistreaming to multiple platforms
• Custom overlays, logos, and backgrounds
• Unlimited streaming hours
• Recording capabilities

The catch? You typically need to sign up through a specific affiliate link to access this offer. Not all referral links include this benefit, so check the details before signing up if you're specifically looking for a trial of paid features.

The 7-Day Money-Back Guarantee (The Real "Trial")

If you want to test paid features directly, StreamYard offers a 7-day money-back guarantee on your first charge. This is the closest thing to a traditional free trial available directly from StreamYard.

Here's how it works:

1. Sign up for any paid plan (Core, Advanced, or Teams)
2. Use all premium features for up to 7 days
3. If you're not happy, request a refund within 7 days
4. After 7 days, no refunds-the purchase is final

This guarantee only applies to your first charge. If you've been a paying customer before, you can't use it again.

StreamYard Pricing: What the Paid Plans Cost

If you decide to upgrade, here's what you're looking at:

For a deeper dive into what each tier includes, check out our StreamYard pricing breakdown.

What You Get When You Upgrade to Core ($44.99/mo)

The Core plan is where most solo creators land. Key upgrades include:

• Full HD 1080p streaming
• No StreamYard branding
• Multistream to 3 destinations simultaneously
• Custom logos, overlays, video clips, and backgrounds
• 10 on-screen participants
• Unlimited streaming and recording hours
• 50 hours of permanent storage
• Reusable studios (huge time-saver for recurring shows)
• 1080p screen sharing
• Custom RTMP destinations
• Pre-recorded streams up to 2 hours long

Honestly, Core is plenty for most podcasters and content creators. The branding removal alone is worth it if you're doing anything professional.

Advanced Plan ($88.99/mo): When You Need More

Advanced adds features that matter for power users:

• 4K local recordings
• Multistream to 8 destinations
• 15 backstage participants
• 4-hour pre-recorded streams
• StreamYard On-Air webinar features
• Downloadable transcripts
• Extra camera support
• Unlimited permanent storage

This is the "most popular" tier according to StreamYard, and it makes sense for people hosting regular webinars or producing shows with larger teams.

How to Sign Up for StreamYard's Free Plan

Getting started is simple:

1. Go to StreamYard.com
2. Click "Get Started - it's free"
3. Enter your email address
4. Enter the 6-digit verification code sent to your email
5. Connect your streaming destinations (YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)
6. Start your first broadcast

The whole process takes about 2 minutes. No credit card, no phone number, no lengthy setup.

StreamYard Free Plan vs Paid: Quick Comparison

What Makes StreamYard Different From Competitors

StreamYard operates entirely in your browser-no downloads, no complex software installations. This is a huge differentiator from tools like OBS Studio, which require significant technical knowledge to configure properly.

Key advantages:

• Browser-based simplicity - Works on any computer with a modern web browser
• Guest-friendly - Participants don't need accounts; they just click a link to join
• Real-time comment display - Show viewer comments directly on screen during live streams
• Built-in branding tools - Add logos, overlays, and backgrounds without external software
• Minimal learning curve - Most users can run their first professional stream within minutes

Where it falls short:

• Limited advanced customization - Power users wanting fine-grained control may find it restrictive
• Browser dependency - If your browser crashes, your stream ends (though StreamYard handles this better than most)
• Price increases - The platform underwent significant pricing changes in late 2024, frustrating some long-time users

Is StreamYard's Free Plan Worth It?

Use the free plan if:

• You're brand new to live streaming and want to learn
• You're streaming casually to friends or a small audience
• You don't mind the StreamYard logo on your broadcasts
• 720p video quality is acceptable for your use case
• You only need to stream to one platform at a time
• You stay under 20 hours of streaming per month

Upgrade to paid if:

• You're building a professional brand or business
• You need to multistream to multiple platforms simultaneously
• The StreamYard logo looks unprofessional for your content
• You want HD/4K quality for video repurposing
• You need recordings saved automatically
• You're consistently hitting the 20-hour monthly limit
• You want to use custom branding, overlays, and logos

StreamYard vs Other Live Streaming Tools

If you're comparing options, StreamYard's main competitors are Restream, OBS Studio, and platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

StreamYard vs Restream:

• Restream starts at $16/month vs StreamYard's $44.99/month
• Restream offers multistreaming to 30+ platforms; StreamYard maxes out at 8
• StreamYard is more beginner-friendly; Restream has more advanced features
• Both offer free plans, but Restream allows streaming to 2 platforms simultaneously on free

StreamYard vs OBS Studio:

• OBS is completely free and open-source
• OBS requires technical knowledge and extensive setup
• StreamYard works instantly in your browser with minimal configuration
• OBS offers unlimited customization; StreamYard is more limited but easier

StreamYard's edge: Browser-based (no downloads), extremely easy to use, and good multistreaming support. Users consistently praise how simple it is compared to OBS, which has a steep learning curve.

StreamYard's weakness: Recent price increases have frustrated some users. The platform went through a major pricing overhaul in late 2024, consolidating old plans into new Core, Advanced, and Teams tiers. Some long-time users saw their costs increase significantly-in some cases, annual costs jumped from around $96 to over $400.

For alternatives to consider, see our guide on StreamYard alternatives.

Common Questions About StreamYard's Free Trial

Does StreamYard charge my credit card during the free plan?
No. The free plan never requires a credit card. You can use it indefinitely without ever entering payment information.

Can I upgrade mid-month and only pay the difference?
Yes. StreamYard allows you to upgrade at any point during your billing cycle and only charges you the prorated difference.

What happens when I hit the 20-hour monthly limit on free?
You'll need to either upgrade to a paid plan or wait until the next month when your hours reset. There's no option to purchase additional hours on the free plan.

Are recordings deleted after 12 months on free?
Yes. StreamYard automatically removes recordings older than 12 months from free accounts. Paid plans have permanent storage options.

Can I cancel a paid plan anytime?
Yes. You can cancel anytime, and you'll retain access to paid features until the end of your current billing cycle. Then you're moved back to the free plan.

Tips for Making the Most of StreamYard's Free Plan

If you're sticking with free for now, here's how to maximize it:

1. Accept the branding - The StreamYard logo isn't massive. For casual streams, most viewers won't care.
2. Choose your destination wisely - Since you can only stream to one platform, pick where your audience actually lives.
3. Use default overlays creatively - The built-in design options aren't custom, but they're clean and professional-looking.
4. Record locally - Even on free, you get some local recording capacity. Use it for content you want to repurpose.
5. Test thoroughly before upgrading - Make sure the platform workflow actually fits how you want to produce content.
6. Monitor your hour usage - Check your Billing page regularly to see how many hours you have left for the month.
7. Schedule strategically - If you're close to hitting 20 hours, consider scheduling remaining streams for early next month.

Who Should Use StreamYard?

StreamYard makes the most sense for:

• Podcasters who want to record and stream interviews simultaneously
• Content creators building audiences on YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn
• Small businesses hosting webinars or virtual events
• Educators and coaches conducting online classes or workshops
• Marketing teams running product launches or announcements
• Live show hosts who need an easy way to bring on guests

It's less ideal for:

• Users needing deep technical customization (consider OBS Studio)
• Teams on tight budgets needing multistreaming (Restream may be cheaper)
• High-end production teams requiring studio-level control
• Organizations needing advanced analytics and reporting

Bottom Line

StreamYard's free plan is legitimate-not a crippled demo designed to force upgrades. You can actually produce and stream content without paying anything. The limitations (branding, 720p, single destination, 20-hour monthly cap) are real but manageable for beginners.

If you're ready to go professional, the 7-day money-back guarantee on paid plans gives you a risk-free window to test premium features. The Core plan at $44.99/month (or $35.99 billed annually) is where most serious creators land.

Some affiliate links offer a 14-day free trial of paid features, which can be a better way to test if StreamYard's premium capabilities meet your needs before committing to a paid subscription.

Try StreamYard Free →

For more details on what you get at each tier, read our full StreamYard pricing guide.