Last updated: 2026-01-22

If you want the simplest way to schedule streams, use a browser or cloud-based studio like StreamYard, which lets you schedule live or pre‑recorded broadcasts directly to platforms in a few clicks. For more advanced encoder setups with tools like OBS or Streamlabs, schedule the event on your destination (or Restream), then point your encoder to the scheduled RTMP stream key.

Summary

• The fastest path: schedule your streams directly in a browser studio like StreamYard, then go live from the same place.
• Encoders like OBS and Streamlabs don’t really “schedule” on their own; they attach to scheduled events on platforms or via services like Restream.
• Pre‑recorded scheduling in StreamYard and Restream lets you upload a video and have it go live automatically at a set time.
• For most creators, StreamYard’s ease of use, guest experience, and reliability make it the best default hub for scheduled streaming.

What does it really mean to “schedule” a live stream?

When people say they want to “schedule” a stream, they usually mean three things:

1. Create a future event on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, or another destination so viewers can see the thumbnail, title, and time in advance.
2. Lock in the streaming details (RTMP URL and stream key or direct platform connection) so going live is stress‑free.
3. Optionally automate the broadcast so you don’t have to be at your computer when it starts (for pre‑recorded videos).

Different streaming tools handle this in different ways:

• StreamYard, Streamlabs, Restream have built‑in schedulers that talk directly to platforms or manage events for you. (StreamYard, Streamlabs, Restream)
• OBS Studio focuses on encoding; there’s no native calendar or scheduler built in.

For most creators, especially if you host guests or multi‑stream, it’s far simpler to put scheduling and going live in the same place—this is where StreamYard shines.

How do you schedule a live stream in StreamYard?

On StreamYard, you schedule right where you produce.

You can schedule streams in advance to destinations like Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and StreamYard On‑Air. (StreamYard) This lets your audience see the event, RSVP, and get notifications on the platform they’re already using.

A typical workflow looks like this:

1. Create a new broadcast
   • Choose your destination(s): YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, StreamYard On‑Air, or a combination.
2. Toggle “Schedule for later”
   • Set your date and time for the stream.
   • Add a title, description, and thumbnail so your event page looks great.
3. Choose live or pre‑recorded
   • For live, you’ll join the studio and hit Go Live at showtime.
   • For pre‑recorded, upload a video and let it auto‑stream at your scheduled time.

You can schedule up to 365 days in advance, which is great if you’re planning a launch series or recurring shows months ahead. (StreamYard)

A few reasons we see creators default to StreamYard for scheduled streams:

• Guests join from a browser—no downloads—and non‑technical people can get in with a link.
• The interface is clean and easy to learn, even if you’re coming from more complex tools.
• You can multi‑stream, manage comments, and control layouts from one place.

If you’ve ever fought with OBS scenes 10 minutes before going live, the relief of “it just works” is huge.

How do you schedule a StreamYard stream to YouTube specifically?

YouTube is often the first stop, so let’s zoom in on that flow.

On StreamYard, scheduling to YouTube is part of the same broadcast creation process:

1. Connect your YouTube channel once in your destinations.
2. Create a broadcast and select YouTube as a destination.
3. Enable “Schedule for later” and pick your date and time.
4. Customize:
   • Title and description (these become your YouTube event metadata).
   • Thumbnail, category, and privacy (Public, Unlisted, or Private).
5. Save and your scheduled event appears on your YouTube channel.

When it’s time to go live, you simply enter that broadcast’s studio and click Go Live. There’s no extra copy‑paste of stream keys or jumping between multiple dashboards.

If you prefer to set up the event directly on YouTube and then use an encoder like OBS or Streamlabs, that works too. But many creators prefer StreamYard for this because the entire stack—scheduling, guests, overlays, and comments—lives in one browser tab.

How does scheduling work in StreamYard for pre‑recorded videos?

Sometimes you don’t want to be live‑live, but you still want your content to air as if it’s live. Pre‑recorded scheduling is built for that.

On StreamYard, you can upload a video and automatically stream it at a scheduled time. (StreamYard) The event behaves like a normal live stream on the destination—your audience can watch, chat, and engage in real time, while you focus on being in the comments.

Key details:

• Automatic start: Your pre‑recorded video will start streaming exactly at the time you choose.
• Multi‑platform: You can schedule the same pre‑recorded video to multiple destinations.
• Duration limits by plan:
  • Core: videos up to 2 hours
  • Advanced: videos up to 4 hours
  • Team/Business: videos up to 8 hours
    (StreamYard)
• Long‑range planning: Schedule up to 365 days in advance.

This is perfect for:

• Launch videos that need to drop at a specific time in multiple time zones.
• Weekly shows when you’re traveling or on vacation.
• Evergreen webinars you want to “premiere” live without being on camera.

How do you schedule streams in OBS, Streamlabs, Riverside, and Restream?

Let’s break down how other popular tools handle scheduling and where StreamYard fits differently.

OBS Studio

OBS is a powerful encoder, but it does not include a native scheduler or calendar. To “schedule” with OBS, you usually:

1. Create a scheduled event on YouTube, Facebook, or through a service like Restream.
2. Copy the RTMP URL and stream key from that event.
3. Paste them into OBS as a custom RTMP destination.
4. Start streaming from OBS at the scheduled time.

There are advanced workarounds using OS task schedulers and command‑line flags to auto‑start streaming, but they’re more technical and fragile. (Example guide)

For most creators, especially those inviting guests, OBS often becomes the “engine” while tools like StreamYard or Restream handle the actual event scheduling and audience‑facing pieces.

Streamlabs Desktop

Streamlabs Desktop takes some of the pain out of encoder workflows by adding an in‑app Stream Scheduler. You can click the scheduler option in the lower right corner to create a scheduled live stream, particularly for YouTube. (Streamlabs)

Important limit: Streamlabs scheduling uses a 50‑day window, so you can’t schedule events several months in advance from this tool alone. (Streamlabs)

If you’re all‑in on a desktop encoder and you’re comfortable managing scenes and CPU load, Streamlabs can be a solid fit. But if you prioritize simplicity and guest experience, a browser studio like StreamYard will feel much lighter.

Riverside

Riverside is built more around recording high‑quality content locally and then publishing or editing later. While you can go live with Riverside, creators who choose us at StreamYard often do so because they want:

• A more intuitive, live‑first interface.
• Simple scheduling and multi‑seat panels.
• Multi‑streaming to multiple platforms for live shows.

If your primary goal is polished live events with remote guests, and not just studio‑quality recordings, StreamYard’s scheduling and studio controls are often a better daily driver.

Restream

Restream is a popular way to multi‑stream and manage events across platforms. You can schedule events (Restream Events) on all plans, including the free tier, though free users have Restream branding on their event thumbnails. (Restream)

Restream gives you three main scheduling styles:

1. Browser‑based live studio (similar to StreamYard’s live studio).
2. Encoder events for tools like OBS or Streamlabs:
   • Restream creates an event and gives you an RTMP URL + stream key.
   • You paste these into your encoder and go live at showtime. (Restream)
3. Pre‑recorded / video events:
   • Upload a video or build a playlist.
   • Restream automatically airs your event at the scheduled time—no manual start required. (Restream)

Restream is helpful if you’re deeply invested in encoder workflows. If you want a simpler “all‑in‑one” experience with an emphasis on guest onboarding and ease of use, many creators find StreamYard easier to learn and run.

How do you use OBS or Streamlabs with a Restream or platform-scheduled event?

If you love the control of OBS or Streamlabs but still want scheduled events, the pattern is the same almost everywhere:

1. Schedule the event where your audience will see it:
   • YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn directly.
   • Or a Restream Event that targets multiple platforms.
2. Grab your RTMP details:
   • Each scheduled event has an RTMP URL and stream key.
   • Copy these from YouTube/your platform or from Restream. (Restream)
3. Configure your encoder (OBS or Streamlabs):
   • In Settings → Stream, select “Custom” or “RTMP” and paste the URL and key.
4. Go live at the scheduled time:
   • Start streaming in OBS/Streamlabs right before your event’s start time.
   • Your encoder feed attaches to the scheduled event, and your viewers see the show.

This approach works, but it adds moving parts: separate places for events, keys, and production. Many creators end up migrating to StreamYard because it combines these steps into one, browser‑based control room.

When is a browser-based studio like StreamYard the better default?

Here’s the honest breakdown.

Use a browser‑based studio like StreamYard as your default when:

• You host remote guests and want them to join with a link, no software installs.
• You value ease of use and a fast learning curve more than ultra‑fine‑grained encoder control.
• You want to schedule, produce, and multi‑stream from the same place.
• You prefer to avoid the complexity of scene collections, profile management, and local encoder issues.

StreamYard’s Free plan is free, with paid plans starting at $35.99/month for Core and $68.99/month for Advanced when billed annually. We also offer a 7‑day free trial and often have special offers for new users. This lets you test scheduled lives, pre‑recorded events, and multi‑streaming before committing.

On the other hand, you might lean toward OBS or Streamlabs when:

• You need deep control over encoding, CPU/GPU usage, and custom scene automation.
• You’re comfortable wiring up RTMP keys, platform‑side events, and possibly third‑party automation.

For most creators who just want to publish consistently, look professional, and bring on guests without tech headaches, StreamYard is usually the easier path.

What we recommend

• Default choice: Use StreamYard to schedule and run your live or pre‑recorded streams across YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more from a single browser studio.
• Hybrid setups: If you love OBS/Streamlabs scenes, send that feed into StreamYard or Restream, but still handle event scheduling in a browser‑based tool.
• Automation & batching: Take advantage of pre‑recorded scheduling in StreamYard or Restream for launches, evergreen webinars, and travel days.
• Keep it simple: Unless you truly need advanced encoder control, prioritize ease of use, reliability, and guest experience over complex setups.