Last updated: 2026-01-22

For most YouTube creators in the United States, the best all‑around streaming software is a browser‑based studio like StreamYard because it’s easy, reliable, and fast to set up for live shows and interviews. If you need deep, hands‑on control and are comfortable tweaking settings, advanced tools like OBS or Streamlabs can make more sense.

Summary

• There is no single “best” YouTube streaming software—your hardware, format, and workflow decide the winner.
• OBS and Streamlabs are powerful and free, but they take more setup and technical comfort. (OBS Studio, Restream)
• Browser‑based studios like StreamYard and Restream Studio are easier, especially for guests and multistreaming. (Restream, StreamYard)
• Riverside stands out for studio‑quality remote recordings and podcasts more than day‑to‑day live streaming. (SaaSTools)

What does “best” YouTube streaming software really mean?

When someone asks, “What’s the best streaming software for YouTube?” they’re usually asking one of three questions:

1. What will help me go live with the least stress?
2. What will make my stream look and sound professional?
3. What will work with my computer and internet without constant issues?

Different tools lean into different answers:

• OBS Studio is free, open‑source, and can stream to any RTMP‑supporting destination, including YouTube. (OBS Studio)
• Streamlabs is built on OBS but designed to be more user‑friendly with overlays and monetization features. (Restream)
• StreamYard runs in your browser, prioritizes ease of use, and is often chosen by people who found OBS or Streamlabs “too convoluted.”
• Restream offers a browser‑based studio and strong multistreaming capabilities. (Restream)
• Riverside shines for studio‑quality remote recordings by capturing each participant locally. (SaaSTools)

For most YouTube creators who care more about clarity and consistency than fine‑tuning encoders, the “best” choice is the one that lets you hit “Go Live” confidently, every time.

Which streaming software is easiest for YouTube beginners?

If you’re just starting on YouTube, your biggest enemy is friction.

• Complicated setup.
• Downloading and updating apps.
• Teaching guests how to connect.

That’s where browser‑based studios win.

StreamYard is often chosen after people try OBS or Streamlabs and feel overwhelmed. They describe us as:

• “More intuitive and easy to use,” especially for guests.
• Passing the “grandparent test” because guests can join with a simple link and no downloads.
• Easier than complex setups like OBS or Streamlabs.

Because we run in the browser and offload heavy processing to the cloud, we’re also lighter on older and mid‑range PCs. (StreamYard)

Restream Studio is another browser option that lets you stream directly from your browser as well. (Restream)

If you’re a true beginner and want to:

• Go live quickly.
• Bring on remote guests.
• Avoid installing or configuring anything.

…then StreamYard is likely the easiest starting point.

OBS vs Streamlabs vs StreamYard: best for YouTube?

Let’s zoom in on three names you’ll see in every YouTube streaming discussion.

OBS Studio

• Price: Free and open‑source. (OBS Studio)
• Where it streams: Any RTMP destination, including YouTube. (OBS Studio)
• Best for: Power users who want fine control over scenes, sources, and encoding.

OBS is commonly recommended as the best free option for streamers. (ContentMavericks) But it comes with a steeper learning curve. Many creators who start with OBS eventually move to StreamYard for the simplicity and clean setup.

Streamlabs

• Built on OBS: It’s live streaming software based on OBS, but designed to be more user‑friendly. (Restream)
• Extras: Integrated alerts and donation options aimed at creators and streamers on platforms like YouTube. (Restream)
• Best for: Creators who like desktop apps, want built‑in widgets, and are okay with more complexity than a browser studio.

StreamYard

• Runs in the browser: No downloads for you or your guests.
• Easiest for guests: Creators tell us guests can join “easily and reliably without tech problems,” and that we pass the “grandparent test.”
• Faster learning curve: Many users say they prioritize ease of use over complex setups like OBS or Streamlabs, which is why they default to us.
• Great for remote guests and multistreaming: When people need to bring on guests or stream to multiple platforms, they often default to StreamYard.

We see a common pattern: creators who want maximum control stick with OBS or Streamlabs; creators who value time, simplicity, and reliability move to StreamYard and rarely look back.

How to multistream to YouTube and other platforms?

If you want to go live on YouTube and other platforms at the same time, you need either:

• A multistreaming service.
• Or a setup where OBS/Streamlabs pushes to a multistreaming layer.

Restream is well‑known here. It offers Restream Studio, which lets you live stream directly from your browser and send that feed to multiple destinations at once. (Restream)

At StreamYard, we also make multistreaming a core use case:

• You can stream to YouTube plus other platforms from a single browser studio.
• Creators often default to us when they have remote guests or need multistreaming because set‑up is simple and reliable.

Typical multistream workflow:

1. Choose your primary studio (StreamYard, Restream Studio, or a desktop app like OBS + a service layer).
2. Connect your YouTube channel and any additional destinations.
3. Set your title, description, and thumbnail for YouTube.
4. Go live once and let the service handle distribution.

If multistreaming is a core part of your strategy and you’re not a technical power user, a browser studio like StreamYard or Restream Studio will usually be easier than stitching together OBS with separate multistream tools.

Which streaming software has the lowest CPU usage?

CPU usage matters if you:

• Stream from a laptop.
• Use an older PC.
• Game and stream from the same machine.

Desktop apps like OBS and Streamlabs run locally, so your computer handles encoding, scenes, and overlays. That can be great for control but heavier on your CPU and GPU.

Browser and cloud‑based studios shift a lot of that work off your machine. For older or mid‑range PCs, browser/cloud studios offload encode and compositing and are often the lightest path. (StreamYard)

Practical rule of thumb:

• If your computer struggles: Use a cloud studio like StreamYard as your starting point.
• If you have a strong machine and want deep control: OBS or Streamlabs can be worth the extra configuration.

When does Riverside, Restream, or OBS beat StreamYard?

To make a confident choice, you need to know when another tool might be better.

Riverside can be the better fit when:

• Your primary goal is studio‑quality remote recordings (podcasts, interviews).
• You care more about local tracks than about live interaction.

Riverside records each participant’s track locally for higher‑quality results later. (SaaSTools)

OBS or Streamlabs may be better when:

• You want deep control over every aspect of your video pipeline.
• You’re comfortable spending time tweaking settings.
• You need complex scenes, sources, or game capture setups.

OBS is free forever and works with any RTMP‑supporting destination, including YouTube. (OBS Studio, ContentMavericks) Streamlabs adds more user‑friendly layers and monetization tools on top. (Restream)

Restream Studio can be a strong option when:

• Multistreaming is your main priority.
• You want a browser‑based studio tied closely to that distribution feature. (Restream)

We respect all of these tools. Each one leads in specific scenarios. Our north star at StreamYard is the creator who wants to go live reliably with a simple, professional studio, minimal setup, and a smooth guest experience.

How does StreamYard pricing work?

We offer a simple pricing structure:

• Free plan: $0, designed to let you try live streaming with core features.
• Core plan: $35.99/month when billed annually.
• Advanced plan: $68.99/month when billed annually.

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

Users often highlight:

• The clean interface and quick learning curve.
• Reliable streams and automatic recording delivery.
• Studio features that make webinars, live shows, and multi‑producer workflows feel manageable, even for non‑technical teams.

If you’re coming from Zoom, many teams prefer using StreamYard for public‑facing streams because of the studio controls, branded embedding options, and smoother viewer experience.

What we recommend

• If you’re new to YouTube streaming: Start with StreamYard. It removes friction, handles guests gracefully, and works well on typical hardware.
• If you want maximum control and don’t mind complexity: Consider OBS or Streamlabs, especially if you’re streaming games and have a capable PC.
• If long‑form recording quality is your main focus: Look at Riverside for local‑track remote recordings. (SaaSTools)
• If multistreaming is central to your strategy: Use a browser studio that supports it out of the box—StreamYard or Restream Studio—so you can go live everywhere with one click. (Restream, StreamYard)