Last updated: 2026-01-20

For most webinar hosts in the U.S., browser‑based, webinar‑first software like StreamYard is the best default because it’s easier for guests, handles registration, and embeds nicely on your site. If you need deep custom production and don’t mind complexity, desktop tools like OBS or Streamlabs can be a strong second path.

Summary

• StreamYard is a browser‑based webinar studio with built‑in registration, email collection, and no downloads for hosts or guests. (StreamYard On‑Air)
• OBS and Streamlabs are powerful, free desktop apps that shine for advanced, custom layouts but require more setup and technical skill. (OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop)
• StreamYard caters to on high‑quality local recordings (4K) for evergreen webinars, while Restream emphasizes multistreaming reach and connecting tools like Zoom. (Riverside Webinars, Restream & Zoom)
• For most creators and teams, simplicity, reliability, and a short learning curve matter more than maximum technical control, which is why we recommend StreamYard as the default starting point for webinar streaming.

What is streaming software for webinars, really?

When you strip away the jargon, streaming software for webinars does three jobs:

1. Captures audio and video from you and your guests.
2. Mixes it into a polished experience (scenes, overlays, screen shares, chat, Q&A).
3. Sends it live to an audience and often records it for replay.

You can do this in two main ways:

• Browser‑based studios (StreamYard, Riverside, Restream): No downloads, clear interfaces, designed for non‑technical hosts.
• Desktop studios (OBS, Streamlabs): Installed software with more knobs to turn, more customization, and more to maintain.

At StreamYard, we built StreamYard On‑Air as a browser‑based webinar studio that requires no downloads for hosts or guests. (StreamYard On‑Air) The goal is simple: you hit “Go live,” your guests join from a link, and it just works.

Which streaming software scales best for large webinar audiences?

When you plan a big webinar, you usually care about three things: attendance, delivery, and replay.

Browser‑based webinar platforms

• On StreamYard, you can run On‑Air webinars directly in the browser and collect email addresses through a registration form, helping you grow and nurture your list. (StreamYard On‑Air)
• Because everything runs in the browser with no downloads, non‑technical attendees and guests can join more easily, which users tell us “passes the grandparent test” and reduces last‑minute tech panics.
• Recording limits are generous enough for typical webinars; for example, On‑Air recording is limited to 10 hours (and up to 24 hours on our Business plan). (Create a Webinar with StreamYard On‑Air)

Desktop tools (OBS, Streamlabs)

• OBS Studio is free, open‑source desktop software for video recording and live streaming. (OBS Studio)
• Streamlabs Desktop is also free and built on OBS and Electron, with creator‑focused tools and overlays. (Streamlabs Desktop)
• Both can absolutely power large webinars as your encoder, but they don’t handle registration, reminder emails, or built‑in audience management. You’ll pair them with something else for that.

If your main concern is getting a lot of attendees into the room with minimal friction and capturing their emails, a browser‑based webinar studio like StreamYard is usually the more practical choice.

StreamYard vs OBS vs Riverside — which is best for webinar production?

Let’s zoom in on three tools you’re likely comparing.

StreamYard: webinar‑first, no‑download studio

On StreamYard, you can:

• Host webinars right in the browser with no downloads required for hosts or guests. (StreamYard On‑Air)
• Collect attendee email addresses through a registration form so every webinar also builds your list. (StreamYard On‑Air)
• Keep things simple for guests who are not technical. Many users tell us they chose us for ease of use, a clean interface, and a fast learning curve.
• Default to multi‑streaming when you want to go live to multiple platforms at once, or invite remote guests without dealing with complex routing.

Our pricing stays straightforward:

• Free plan is free.
• Core plan is $35.99/month billed annually.
• Advanced plan is $68.99/month billed annually.

We also offer a 7‑day free trial and often have special offers for new users.

OBS: powerful, free, but more technical

• OBS Studio is a free, open‑source desktop app for video recording and live streaming. (OBS Studio)
• You get deep control over scenes, sources, and encoders.
• You’re responsible for configuration, audio routing, and integrating with webinar registration tools.

Many creators start with OBS and then move to StreamYard because they prioritize ease of use over complex setups; some find OBS too convoluted for day‑to‑day webinar production, especially when guests need to join quickly.

Riverside: high‑quality browser recordings

Riverside offers webinar workflows focused on extensive post-production capabities.

This can be a good fit when you have a dedicated editing team for evergreen content and don't have access to an external editing software. Many teams still prefer StreamYard for live webinars and multi‑seat production because of the simple studio interface, multiple seats, and ease for guests.

Bottom line:

• Choose StreamYard if you value ease of use, built‑in registration, and live webinar control.
• Choose OBS/Streamlabs if you want full custom production and are comfortable managing a more technical stack.
• Choose Riverside if your highest priority is extensive post-production.

How do browser-based tools compare to OBS and Streamlabs for real hosts?

Here’s the trade‑off most hosts feel once they’ve run a few webinars.

Browser‑based (StreamYard, Riverside, Restream):

• Fast setup. Log in, share your screen, invite guests with a link.
• Minimal friction for non‑technical guests — no installs, no patching, no driver issues. StreamYard On‑Air runs entirely in the browser. (StreamYard On‑Air)
• Webinar‑centric features like registration pages, email capture, and simple embedding.

Desktop‑based (OBS, Streamlabs):

• More control over scenes, audio routing, and sources.
• Free to download and use. (OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop)
• Higher cognitive load. You handle configuration, troubleshooting, and connecting it to a separate registration or webinar layer.

Many of our users tried OBS or Streamlabs first, then switched to StreamYard for a cleaner setup and a faster learning curve. They often tell us they “prioritize ease of use” and that they can even walk someone through StreamYard setup over the phone.

For most webinar hosts, the extra complexity of a desktop encoder does not improve outcomes enough to justify the overhead.

How to multistream a webinar to LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook simultaneously

Multistreaming lets you run one webinar and reach audiences across multiple platforms.

Here are your main options conceptually:

1. Use a browser‑based multistream studio like StreamYard or Restream.
2. Use a desktop encoder (OBS/Streamlabs) feeding a multistream service.

Restream is known for multistreaming and highlights that you can reach 30+ platforms from one dashboard. (Restream Multistreaming)

On StreamYard, multistreaming is built directly into the studio flow, so the same place you control layouts, comments, and guests is where you select your destinations. Many teams “default to StreamYard” when they have remote guests and need multi‑streaming because it keeps everything in one browser tab instead of juggling several separate tools.

If your main goal is to maximize reach with the least number of moving parts, we recommend starting with a browser‑based studio that has multistreaming built in rather than wiring OBS into a separate multistream service.

How to record browser-based 4K webinars (options and requirements)

If you care deeply about post‑production quality, you’ll likely look at two things: resolution and recording method. In practice, high‑resolution browser recording requires:

• Strong, stable internet connections for hosts and guests.
• Modern devices and browsers that can handle higher bitrates and encoding.
• A workflow for storing and editing larger files.

On StreamYard, we focus on giving you reliable, high‑quality recordings within sane limits for real‑world internet connections.

For most webinar use cases, audience experience, clarity, and reliability matter more than hitting 4K on the spec sheet. Many teams prefer a platform that makes it hard to misconfigure their setup over a tool that exposes every dial.

How should you choose streaming software for your webinars?

Here’s a simple decision filter you can use today:

• Prioritize ease and speed: Choose a browser‑based studio like StreamYard. You’ll get registration, email collection, and an intuitive interface that non‑technical guests can handle without downloads. (StreamYard On‑Air)
• Need deep visual customization and don’t mind tinkering: Consider OBS or Streamlabs as your production layer, but plan to add separate tools for registration and delivery. (OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop)
• Want to syndicate existing webinars to many channels: Restream can help rebroadcast tools like Zoom to 30+ platforms. (Restream Multistreaming, Restream & Zoom)

For most creators, coaches, and brands running webinars to generate leads and build trust, StreamYard’s mix of simplicity, registration, and studio control makes it a strong default choice.

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard’s free plan to test your workflow end‑to‑end.
• Upgrade to Core or Advanced for more branding and production control as your webinars grow.
• Use desktop tools like OBS or Streamlabs only if you have a clear, specific need for their extra complexity.
• When in doubt, choose the setup that lets you focus on content and audience, not on wrestling with your streaming software.