Last updated: 2026-01-10

For most people in the U.S., the easiest place to start live streaming is a browser-based studio like StreamYard, which lets you go live with guests, branding, and multistreaming without installing software. If you later need deeper scene control or highly customized layouts, a desktop encoder like OBS or Streamlabs can be added to your toolkit.

Summary

• Live streaming software falls into two main buckets: browser-based studios and desktop encoders. (StreamYard)
• StreamYard’s browser studio is a fast, low-friction way to go live with guests, branding, and multistreaming from your browser. (StreamYard)
• OBS and Streamlabs are free desktop encoders that offer powerful scene/source control but require installation and configuration. (OBS Studio, Streamlabs)
• Restream adds cloud multistreaming and a browser studio, and can also sit in front of desktop tools like OBS. (Restream)

What types of software are used for live streaming?

Most live streams today are powered by one of two software types:

1. Browser-based studios – You run everything from a web browser. No installs for hosts or guests, and the studio handles video mixing, layouts, and sending the stream to platforms. StreamYard is the clearest example of this category. (StreamYard)
2. Desktop encoders – You install a program on your computer that captures your screen, camera, and audio, then encodes and sends it to a streaming platform. OBS Studio and Streamlabs Desktop are the big names here. (OBS Studio, Streamlabs)

Both can produce high-quality streams. The real question is how much setup you want to manage versus how quickly you want to hit “Go live.”

Why is StreamYard the default starting point for most people?

If you care about getting on-air quickly, bringing in guests, and looking professional without wrestling with tech, a browser studio is usually the best first step. That’s exactly where StreamYard fits.

A few reasons creators in the U.S. often default to StreamYard:

• No installs for hosts or guests – People can join from a browser link, which is why users say it “passes the grandparent test” and that guests can join easily without tech problems.
• Fast learning curve – Many users describe it as “more intuitive and easy to use” and say they moved from OBS or Streamlabs after finding those setups “too convoluted.”
• Built for remote guests and shows – You can have up to 10 people in the studio with up to 15 more backstage, so panel shows, interviews, and webinars are straightforward.
• Strong recordings by default – On paid plans, broadcasts are recorded in HD in the cloud for up to 10 hours per stream, so you don’t have to manage giant local files. (StreamYard)
• Modern production tools – You can add branding, flexible layouts, and even use multi-track local recording in 4K, plus AI tools to spin recordings into short clips.

Because everything runs in the browser, your main “setup” is a decent camera, microphone, and internet connection. For mainstream needs—podcasts, coaching calls, church services, webinars, live Q&As—this balance of quality and simplicity is usually enough.

How do browser studios compare to desktop encoders?

Let’s zoom in on the two main categories.

Browser-based studios (StreamYard, Restream Studio)

• Run in your browser, no local encoder required.
• Designed for interviews, talk shows, and webinars with remote guests.
• Handle layouts, lower thirds, and brand assets with templates.
• Often include built-in multistreaming to major platforms. (StreamYard, Restream)

Desktop encoders (OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop)

• Installed apps that capture your screen, games, cameras, and audio.
• Offer powerful scene and source management for complex setups. (OBS Studio)
• Require more configuration and suitable hardware, especially for high resolutions or frame rates.
• Often used by gamers, tech-savvy creators, or production teams that want intricate scene switching.

A practical way to think about it:

• Start with a browser studio if you want to go live quickly and focus on content.
• Add a desktop encoder later if you’re bumping into layout limitations or need highly custom scenes.

How do OBS, Streamlabs, and Restream fit into the picture?

These three names show up in almost every conversation about live streaming software in the U.S., but they serve slightly different roles.

OBS Studio

OBS is free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux and can broadcast to Twitch, YouTube, and many other platforms using H.264/AAC encoding. (OBS Studio)

People use OBS when they:

• Want maximum control over scenes, sources, and encoders.
• Are comfortable tweaking settings like bitrates, resolutions, and hardware acceleration.
• Don’t mind a steeper learning curve in exchange for flexibility.

Many creators actually pair OBS with a browser studio or a cloud service later—for example, sending OBS output into Restream for multistreaming.

Streamlabs Desktop

Streamlabs Desktop is another installed encoder focused heavily on creators who stream to platforms like Twitch and YouTube. The core tools are free, while certain features such as multistreaming require its Ultra subscription. (Streamlabs)

It’s popular with:

• Gamers who want overlays, alerts, and monetization tools tightly integrated with their encoder.
• Creators who like having an app ecosystem (themes, widgets, etc.) inside one interface.

Some StreamYard users specifically mention that they began with OBS or Streamlabs and later switched because they preferred StreamYard’s clean setup and lower complexity, especially for shows with non-technical guests.

Restream

Restream is a cloud multistreaming service with its own browser-based studio. You can stream directly from Restream Studio or send a single feed from tools like OBS and have Restream relay it to multiple destinations. (Restream)

Notable points:

• The free plan lets you multistream to 2 channels and bring up to 5 guests into its studio. (Restream)
• Paid plans increase the number of channels and unlock more features. (Restream Pricing)

Some users who have tried both say StreamYard feels easier to onboard, particularly when they just want a simple way for guests to join and don’t need to connect to a large number of niche platforms.

What software should you use to multistream to YouTube and Facebook?

If your goal is specifically to go live to a couple of major platforms—say YouTube and a Facebook Page—your options are:

• StreamYard browser studio – On paid plans, StreamYard includes built-in multistreaming, so you select your destinations and go live from the same studio where you manage guests and layouts. (StreamYard)
• Restream – Use its studio directly, or send it a feed from OBS/Streamlabs and let it relay to multiple channels. The free plan supports two channels, which can work if you only need a couple of destinations. (Restream)
• Streamlabs + Ultra – Streamlabs notes that multistreaming requires the Ultra paid plan, so you’d manage scenes locally and then send multiple feeds from your desktop. (Streamlabs)

For most creators, going live from one browser studio that already includes multistreaming is simpler than chaining multiple tools together. That’s why many people default to StreamYard unless they already have a complex encoder workflow.

What software works best for remote guest interviews?

Remote interviews are where differences between tools really show up.

If your guests are authors, executives, pastors, or community members—not full-time streamers—you probably need:

• A join flow that “just works” in their browser.
• Minimal tech instructions.
• A studio that still gives you layout and branding control.

That’s exactly the scenario where StreamYard tends to be the go-to choice:

• Users frequently say guests can “join easily and reliably without tech problems.”
• There’s no requirement for your guests to download an app, and people often compare it favorably to Zoom for this reason.
• You can run interviews with up to 10 people on screen and keep extra guests or producers backstage.
• Local multi-track recording in 4K plus AI clips means you can repurpose interviews as podcasts, shorts, and reels without changing tools.

Desktop encoders like OBS or Streamlabs can also handle interviews, but typically require more setup—custom scenes, audio routing, and sometimes teaching guests how to connect in non-obvious ways. Many teams decide that the extra control isn’t worth the friction for everyday interviews and shows.

Can you mix and match live streaming software?

Absolutely. In practice, many serious creators end up with a stack, not a single tool.

One common progression looks like this:

1. Start simple: Launch your first shows in a browser studio like StreamYard and learn the basics of going live, managing guests, and multistreaming.
2. Grow your production: When you’re comfortable, you might add OBS to build special scenes (for example, live coding overlays or unique game layouts) and send that into StreamYard or another destination.
3. Add distribution: If you ever need more destinations than your studio offers, you can add a relay service such as Restream between your encoder and your platforms.

This layered approach keeps your first step low-friction while leaving room to grow into more advanced setups later.

What we recommend

• Start with a browser studio like StreamYard if you want the fastest path to going live with guests, overlays, and multistreaming from your browser.
• Use OBS or Streamlabs when you have specific needs for complex scenes, game capture, or detailed encoder control and are comfortable investing setup time. (OBS Studio, Streamlabs)
• Layer in Restream or similar services only if you outgrow the multistreaming options built into your primary studio. (Restream)
• Stay outcome-focused: Pick the tool that lets you go live consistently with high-quality audio, solid recordings, and minimal friction for your guests and co-hosts.