StreamYard vs OBS: The Complete Comparison for Live Streamers

Choosing between StreamYard and OBS comes down to one question: Do you want easy or powerful?

StreamYard is a browser-based streaming studio that works out of the box. OBS is free, open-source software with unlimited customization—but a steep learning curve. Both can get you streaming to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and more. But they're built for different types of creators.

Here's everything you need to know to pick the right one.

Quick Comparison: StreamYard vs OBS

StreamYard: What You Get

StreamYard runs entirely in your browser. No downloads, no configuration. Sign up, connect your YouTube or Facebook account, and you're streaming in minutes.

The platform is designed for interviews, podcasts, webinars, and business live streams. You can invite guests with a simple link—they don't need to download anything either. This alone makes StreamYard the go-to for anyone running remote interviews or panel discussions.

StreamYard Key Features

• Browser-based: Works on any computer with Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Even works on Chromebooks and mobile devices (though desktop is better for hosting).
• Multistreaming: Broadcast to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, and more simultaneously. No extra software needed.
• Guest management: Invite up to 10 on-screen participants with simple link invites. Backstage area lets guests wait before going live.
• Built-in branding: Add logos, overlays, backgrounds, and on-screen comments with a few clicks.
• Recording: All streams are recorded in HD (up to 4K on higher plans) with separate audio tracks for each participant.
• Reusable studios: Save your studio setup and use it across multiple broadcasts.

StreamYard Pricing

StreamYard revamped their pricing in August 2024 after being acquired by Bending Spoons. The price increases upset some long-time users, but the feature set improved.

Here's what the current plans look like:

• Free Plan: StreamYard branding on your stream, 720p max quality, 6 on-screen participants, limited recording storage. Good enough to test, but most creators upgrade quickly.
• Core: $44.99/month ($35.99/month billed annually). Removes StreamYard branding, 1080p streaming, 10 on-screen participants, 3 streaming destinations, unlimited local recordings.
• Advanced: $88.99/month (or annual discount). Adds 4K local recordings, 8 streaming destinations, 15 backstage participants, transcripts, and StreamYard On-Air webinar feature.
• Teams: $298.99/month. For content teams with multiple users and larger-scale productions.
• Business: Custom pricing for enterprises with dedicated support.

The jump from free to $44.99/month is steep. If you're a hobbyist or small creator, that's a real consideration. But for businesses and professional podcasters, the time savings are worth it.

Try StreamYard free and see if it fits your workflow before committing.

For more details, check out our full StreamYard pricing breakdown.

OBS: What You Get

OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is free, open-source, and incredibly powerful. It's the industry standard for gamers, professional streamers, and anyone who wants complete control over their broadcast setup.

The catch? You need to actually learn it. OBS has a significant learning curve. Scenes, sources, audio mixing, encoding settings—there's a lot to figure out. But once you do, you can create productions that rival television broadcasts.

OBS Key Features

• 100% free: No watermarks, no feature limitations, no subscription fees. Ever.
• Desktop software: Runs locally on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Your computer does all the encoding.
• Unlimited customization: Create complex scene layouts, custom transitions, advanced audio processing with VST plugins.
• Plugin ecosystem: Thousands of community plugins for everything from chat overlays to face tracking to color correction.
• 4K+ support: Full control over encoding, resolution, and bitrate. Stream and record at whatever quality your hardware can handle.
• No limits: Unlimited recording length, no streaming caps, no artificial restrictions.

OBS Downsides

• No built-in multistreaming: You can only stream to one platform natively. Multistreaming requires third-party tools like Restream.
• No guest features: OBS has no way to bring remote guests into your stream. You'd need to use Zoom, Discord, or another app and capture that window.
• System requirements: Encoding video is CPU/GPU intensive. You need a reasonably powerful computer for smooth streaming, especially at higher resolutions.
• Community support only: No official customer support. You rely on forums, Reddit, and Discord communities to troubleshoot issues.

When to Use StreamYard

Choose StreamYard if:

• You're running interviews, podcasts, or panel discussions with remote guests
• You want to multistream to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitch simultaneously
• You're not technical and don't want to spend hours learning software
• You use a Chromebook or low-powered laptop
• You need to stream from different locations (hotel rooms, client offices, etc.)
• You're a business running webinars or virtual events

StreamYard excels at getting non-technical people streaming professional-looking content fast. The guest invite system alone is worth the subscription for many podcasters.

When to Use OBS

Choose OBS if:

• You're a gamer streaming to Twitch or YouTube
• You want complete control over every aspect of your broadcast
• You have a powerful PC and want maximum video quality
• You're on a tight budget and can't afford monthly fees
• You need advanced features like scene transitions, audio ducking, or custom plugins
• You're willing to invest time learning the software

OBS is unbeatable for solo streamers who want pro-level customization without paying for expensive production software.

Can You Use Both?

Yes. Some creators use OBS as their video source and feed it into StreamYard via RTMP. This gives you OBS's scene control with StreamYard's multistreaming and guest features.

But honestly, if you're doing that level of setup, you probably don't need StreamYard. The whole point of StreamYard is avoiding complexity.

What About Alternatives?

If neither feels right:

• Restream Studio: Similar to StreamYard, browser-based with multistreaming. Worth comparing if StreamYard's pricing bothers you.
• Streamlabs: A fork of OBS with more built-in features and a friendlier interface. Still requires a powerful computer.
• Riverside.fm: Focused on podcast recording with high-quality local recordings. Better for audio-first content.

For more options, see our StreamYard alternatives guide.

The Bottom Line

Pick StreamYard if you value ease of use and guest collaboration. You'll pay $45-90/month, but you'll be streaming professional content in minutes—not hours. Best for podcasters, businesses, and anyone doing remote interviews.

Pick OBS if you want free, unlimited power. You'll spend time learning the software, but you'll have complete creative control with zero monthly costs. Best for gamers, solo streamers, and tech-savvy creators.

There's no wrong answer here. They're just different tools for different workflows.

Try StreamYard free to see how the browser-based approach feels. OBS is always there waiting if you want to go deeper.