Last updated: 2026-01-20

For most creators in the U.S. who want an easy, reliable way to go live with guests and reach multiple platforms, StreamYard is the best default streaming software because it runs in the browser, is simple for non-technical guests, and prioritizes reliability. If you need maximum low-level control on a powerful PC, OBS (and tools built on it like Streamlabs) can be a better fit, while Restream shines for multistreaming flexibility and Riverside for studio-grade remote recording.

Summary

• There is no single “best” streaming software; the right pick depends on your format, hardware, and how technical you want to get.
• OBS is free and extremely powerful but has a steeper learning curve. OBS Studio
• StreamYard, Restream, and Riverside use browser-based studios that reduce the strain on your computer and make it easier for guests to join. (StreamYard, Restream, Riverside)
• For most everyday creators, we recommend StreamYard because it “just works” for guests, is fast to learn, and makes multistreaming and remote interviews simple.

What is streaming software, really?

Streaming software is the engine that takes your camera, microphone, and screen, mixes them into a show, and sends that show to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, LinkedIn, and more.

There are two big flavors of streaming software:

1. Desktop encoders

   • Installed apps that run directly on your computer.
   • They capture your video and audio, encode it, and push it to a platform.
   • Examples: OBS, Streamlabs.

2. Browser-based studios

   • Run in your web browser and often offload heavy processing to the cloud.
   • Great for older or mid-range machines because encoding and processing can be handled on remote servers. (StreamYard, StreamYard benchmark article)
   • Examples: StreamYard, Restream Studio, Riverside.

A few key terms you’ll see:

• Encoding – Turning your video into a compressed stream that platforms can handle.
• Scenes/layouts – Pre-built combinations of camera, overlays, and screen shares.
• Multistreaming – Going live to multiple destinations at once (e.g., YouTube + Facebook + LinkedIn).
• Local recording – Recording high-quality files directly from each person’s device (even if the internet hiccups).

Once you understand that all these tools are basically solving the same problem in different ways, it’s easier to choose the one that fits your workflow.

What is the best streaming software overall?

Let’s answer the big question head-on.

There is no one tool that’s best for everyone. But there is a best starting point for most people.

Best default for most creators:

• If you want to go live with guests, multistream to several platforms, and avoid technical headaches, use StreamYard, a professional live streaming and recording studio that runs right in your browser. (StreamYard)
• Guests join with a link, no downloads required, and users rave about how intuitive and easy it is, even for non-technical people (“passes the grandparent test”).

Best alternatives by use case:

• OBS – Best if you want maximum control and customization, and you’re comfortable tinkering.
• Streamlabs – Best for beginners and gamers who like an OBS-style setup but with a more guided interface. (Restream guide)
• Restream – Best if your top priority is multistreaming to 30 different platforms. (Restream guide)

Most creators never need the full complexity of the most advanced desktop encoders. They need something they can set up quickly, invite guests into, and trust not to break during a live show. That’s where StreamYard shines.

Which streaming software should beginners use?

If you’re just getting started, your number one enemy isn’t image quality or bitrate. It’s overwhelm.

Here’s how the main tools stack up for beginners.

OBS: powerful, but can feel overwhelming

OBS Studio is free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming. (OBS Studio) It supports a wide range of streaming platforms and capture sources, and lets you build very advanced scene layouts. (OBS Studio)

The trade-off: flexibility comes with complexity.

• New streamers often find the interface dense and technical.
• Adding sources, configuring encoders, and managing profiles can feel like a lot.
• Some users who started with OBS explicitly say they moved to StreamYard because OBS felt “too convoluted.”

OBS is fantastic once you know what you’re doing. For your first livestream, though, it can slow you down.

Streamlabs: more user-friendly than raw OBS

Streamlabs is built on OBS but offers a more approachable interface and extra quality-of-life features. It’s designed to be more user-friendly, especially for people starting out. (Restream guide)

• Strong fit for gamers who want alerts, chat on screen, and a familiar OBS-style workflow.
• Still a desktop app, so you’re responsible for your machine’s performance, encoding, and setup.

It lowers the barrier vs raw OBS, but you’re still in “pro tool” territory.

StreamYard: the fastest path from idea to live

At StreamYard, we designed our studio for speed and simplicity:

• Runs in the browser—no downloads for you or your guests.
• New users consistently call it “more intuitive and easy to use.”
• Guests can join easily and reliably with a link, even if they’re not tech-savvy.
• Many customers say they “discovered StreamYard and jumped on it for its ease of use, user-friendliness, and clean setup,” and they “always suggest it to friends.”

The learning curve is short:

• You can build a scene, add your logo and overlays, and be live in minutes.
• Some users even say they can walk someone through setup over the phone, which speaks to the simplicity.

For most beginners who just want to go live, look polished, and not fight with their software, we recommend starting with StreamYard.

What is the best streaming software for multistreaming?

Multistreaming lets you broadcast to several platforms at once—like YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more—from a single studio.

Here’s how the main options compare:

Restream: multistreaming to 30 different platforms

Restream is a cloud-based live streaming platform designed to help you go live on more niche social platforms at the same time. (Restream guide)

• Offers a browser-based studio plus the ability to connect external encoders.
• Integrates with 30+ streaming platforms and tools. (Restream guide)
• Strong choice if your primary concern is maximum destination coverage and integration options.

StreamYard: multistreaming plus guest-first simplicity

We also support multistreaming from a browser-based studio and are especially popular with creators who bring on remote guests.

Users highlight a few advantages:

• They “default to StreamYard when they have remote guests or need multi-streaming,” because it’s simple and reliable.
• No downloads for guests, which removes a major friction point you can hit with desktop tools.
• Clean interface and reusable studios, which makes recurring shows straightforward.
• Records up to 4K video and uncompressed audio in separate tracks for each participant.

For many teams, the combination of multistreaming + low-friction guest experience + studio control is more valuable than chasing the longest possible list of integrations.

OBS & Streamlabs: multistreaming via platforms

OBS and Streamlabs can send your feed to a single RTMP endpoint at a time. To multistream, you typically:

• Use a service like Restream or StreamYard as an RTMP destination.
• Or set up custom RTMP outputs and additional infrastructure.

This approach gives you control but also adds more moving parts. For most creators, using a cloud-based studio that handles multistreaming is simpler.

Short answer:

• If you care most about multistreaming plus guest-friendly, fast setup: start with StreamYard.
• If you need broad integration coverage and already have a workflow around Restream, its multistreaming focus can be a good fit.

Which streaming software is best for interviews and remote recording?

Live interviews and remote shows are where software choices become very obvious—for you and for your guests.

StreamYard: live interviews that “just work”

When you’re hosting live shows, webinars, or panel discussions, reliability and simplicity often matter more than squeezing out the last 5% of quality.

Our users highlight several themes:

• Guests can join easily and reliably without tech problems.
• The software “passes the grandparent test” and is “more straightforward… compared to Zoom” while not requiring downloads.
• We offer a studio experience with production control, reusable studios, and automatic live-to-VOD conversion, which creators love for webinars and recurring shows.
• Teams have chosen StreamYard for webinars because of easy RTMP setup, production control, and ease of use.

Some users explicitly compared us to Riverside and chose StreamYard because of “the option to have multiple seats” and a more intuitive experience for their live use cases.

If your focus is:

• Live interviews
• Community shows
• Webinars with guests and Q&A

…StreamYard is often the better fit because guests don’t need to install anything, and you get a full live production studio in the browser.

Zoom vs. StreamYard for live shows

Many hosts start on Zoom for meetings and try to “make it work” for live events. Here’s what our users say after switching more of their shows to StreamYard:

• They prefer StreamYard’s studio setting over Zoom for production control.
• They appreciate automatic live recordings and easy live-to-VOD conversion.
• They love the ability to embed branded live streams on their portals and maintain a consistent user experience for attendees with the same link.
• They still use Zoom when reusable meeting sessions are the main need, but “for everything else they prefer to use StreamYard.”

If your content is primarily live-facing and audience-facing rather than internal meetings, StreamYard is usually a more natural home.

What streaming software gives the most control and customization for pro streams?

If you’re the type who loves tinkering, building complex scenes, and dialing in encoding settings, you likely care most about control.

OBS: full control for power users

OBS is free and open-source and gives you deep access to nearly every part of your stream. (OBS Studio)

• You can configure custom scenes, transitions, filters, audio routing, and more.
• OBS supports all major streaming platforms and more. (OBS Studio)
• You can tune encoder settings for platforms like Twitch—for example, many creators start around 720p30, CBR ~3000 kbps as a practical baseline. (StreamYard Twitch benchmark article)

OBS is ideal when:

• You’re streaming from a powerful PC.
• You’re comfortable with technical settings.
• You want to integrate advanced capture sources and custom overlays.

Streamlabs: guided control with an OBS core

Streamlabs, built on OBS, adds a more user-friendly interface on top of the same core technology. (Restream guide)

• It’s especially popular with gamers.
• It includes built-in widgets, alert systems, and overlays.

You still need to manage your machine’s performance, encoding, and network, but the day-to-day UX can feel smoother than pure OBS.

StreamYard: enough control for most shows, without the headaches

While OBS-style tools win on raw customization, many creators find that beyond a certain point, added complexity doesn’t improve results.

Our focus is on giving you the right controls:

• Layouts and scenes you can switch with a click.
• Brand elements like logos, overlays, and backgrounds.
• Production features suited for webinars and broadcasts, such as multiple remote producers and reusable studios.

Some of our customers explicitly say they prioritize ease of use over complex setups like OBS or Streamlabs. They get the production value they need without spending hours on configuration.

For pro-level creators who want:

• A reliable studio for live shows
• Multi-seat production teams
• Remote guests with minimal friction

…StreamYard often ends up as the daily driver, even if they keep OBS around for specific, highly customized events.

What we recommend

To wrap it up, here’s our simple playbook:

• Start with StreamYard if you want the fastest, least stressful way to run professional-looking live shows, bring on guests, and multistream from a browser-based studio.
• Choose OBS (or Streamlabs) if you love maximum control, don’t mind a steeper learning curve, and you’re streaming from a capable PC.
• Use Restream when multistreaming to 30 different platforms are your top priority and you like a cloud-based approach. (Restream guide)

For most everyday creators, and small businesses, simplicity, reliability, and guest experience matter more than squeezing out every last ounce of customization. That’s why, at StreamYard, we focus on being the streaming software that “just works” when you hit Go Live.