Last updated: 2026-01-21

For most people in the U.S. looking for multistreaming software on PC, the easiest and most reliable starting point is a browser studio like StreamYard on a paid plan, which gives you built‑in multistreaming with clear destination limits and no local encoder setup. If you need deep scene customization or want to tinker for free, you can pair tools like OBS with plugins or cloud relays such as Streamlabs or Restream instead.

Summary

• StreamYard offers browser-based multistreaming on paid plans with clear caps of 3, 8, or 10 simultaneous destinations, plus HD recordings and guest workflows built in. (StreamYard Support)
• OBS is free desktop software that typically needs third-party plugins or a cloud relay (like Restream) to multistream from a PC. (Restream Learn)
• Streamlabs and Restream provide cloud-forwarded multistreaming, with free-but-limited options and more flexibility unlocked on paid plans. (Streamlabs, Restream Help)
• For most creators who care about quality, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness, using StreamYard as the main multistream “hub” and layering in other tools only when needed is a practical strategy.

What does “multistreaming software for PC” actually do?

When people search for “multistreaming software for PC,” they’re usually asking one core question: “How can I go live from my computer to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, LinkedIn, and maybe one more place at the same time—without my stream falling apart?”

There are two main ways to do this from a PC:

1. Browser studios with built-in multistreaming – Tools like StreamYard run in your browser. You join a studio, add your branding, invite guests, and choose multiple destinations. We handle the encoding and forwarding in the cloud.
2. Desktop encoders + cloud relays or plugins – Software like OBS or Streamlabs Desktop runs on your PC. You either send one stream to a cloud relay (Streamlabs, Restream) or use plugins to push multiple RTMP outputs directly.

Most creators care less about the underlying architecture and more about outcomes: stable picture, clean audio, simple guest flows, and good recordings for later. That’s exactly where StreamYard’s browser-based approach lines up with mainstream needs.

How does StreamYard handle multistreaming on PC?

On paid plans, StreamYard supports simultaneous streaming to multiple platforms and accounts from the same browser studio. You can go live to Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Twitch, and custom RTMP destinations at once, with per-plan caps of 3, 8, or 10 destinations. (StreamYard Support)

Key things you get from a PC with StreamYard:

• No desktop install required: Everything runs in the browser. Guests join by link—no downloads—which users often describe as passing the “grandparent test.”
• Destinations that fit real-world workflows: For most creators, streaming to a mix of YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitch covers 99% of the audience you actually need. Our destination caps are designed around that reality rather than extreme edge cases.
• Independent audio controls: You can control mic and screen audio separately, which makes it easier to avoid echo and manage music or demo audio.
• Studio-quality recordings: We support multi-track local recording in up to 4K UHD with 48 kHz WAV audio, so you can reuse content later in editors without sacrificing quality.
• Live branding, not post-production headaches: Overlays, logos, lower thirds, and flexible layouts are applied live, so you don’t have to rely on heavy editing tools afterward.
• Multi-aspect streaming: With Multi-Aspect Ratio Streaming (MARS), you can broadcast landscape and portrait from a single session, reaching desktop and mobile-first audiences at the same time.

Because multistreaming is handled in the cloud, your PC doesn’t have to encode separate outputs for each platform. That removes a whole class of “my CPU is pegged” issues you tend to see with DIY local setups.

How many destinations does StreamYard support per paid plan?

If you’re trying to choose a plan based on how many places you can go live at once, here’s how multistream caps work:

• Entry paid tier: Up to 3 simultaneous destinations.
• Mid-tier: Up to 8 simultaneous destinations.
• Top-tier: Up to 10 simultaneous destinations.

Those numbers are straight from our multistreaming help article, which notes that multistreaming is “available exclusively on our paid plans” and lists 3, 8, and 10 destination limits by tier. (StreamYard Support)

For U.S. creators comparing cost, it’s worth knowing that streaming to eight destinations with Restream requires upgrading to a higher business-focused plan, while you can reach that same eight-destination mark on a more affordable advanced tier with StreamYard. (Restream Help)

Most teams find that 3–10 destinations cover all the major channels they realistically use. Going far beyond that usually adds more complexity than audience.

How do Streamlabs and Restream compare for multistreaming from a PC?

If you prefer a desktop encoder or want to mix in console or mobile, you’ll often see Streamlabs and Restream in the same conversation.

Streamlabs

• Streamlabs Multistream is tied to its Ultra subscription; the company states clearly that Multistream is an Ultra feature. (Streamlabs)
• There is a Dual Output mode that lets you go live to one horizontal and one vertical destination simultaneously for free from a PC. (Streamlabs)
• Streamlabs uses a cloud-forwarding model: you send one stream to their servers and they rebroadcast to connected platforms, similar in spirit to what we do with StreamYard, but oriented around their desktop and mobile apps. (Streamlabs)

Dual Output can be handy if you’re just testing the waters or focused on one horizontal platform plus one short-form vertical channel. But for structured shows with multiple guests, branded layouts, and the need to quickly repurpose recordings, StreamYard’s in-browser studio and multi-track local recording typically match what teams are actually trying to accomplish.

Restream

• Restream’s free plan allows multistreaming to two channels at once, and paid plans increase the number of channels and remove branding. (Restream Help)
• You can go live directly from a browser-based Restream Studio or send a feed from OBS and similar tools into Restream as a relay. (Restream Help)

Restream often advertises support for “30+ destinations,” but many of those are essentially RTMP endpoints, which still require manual setup on your side. StreamYard focuses on the major platforms most people use and offers generous destination caps without pushing you into an expensive business-only tier to hit 8 simultaneous outputs.

Multistreaming from OBS: when does it actually make sense?

OBS is attractive because it’s free and extremely flexible—but that comes with trade-offs.

By default, OBS can stream to only one platform at a time. Guides from tools like Restream explicitly point out that “OBS limits you to one streaming platform at a time” unless you add a multistreaming service or plugin. (Restream Learn)

If you want to multistream from OBS on a PC, you typically have three paths:

1. Use a cloud relay like Restream or Streamlabs: OBS sends one RTMP stream to the relay, which then forwards it to multiple destinations.
2. Install a multi-RTMP plugin: Tools such as Multiple RTMP Outputs or Stream Bridge add extra outputs to OBS; they’re powerful but require manual setup and can be sensitive to your upload bandwidth.
3. Combine OBS with StreamYard: Use OBS scenes as a virtual camera into StreamYard, then let us handle multistreaming, guests, and recordings.

This is a good fit if you absolutely need pixel-perfect scene layouts or highly customized graphics while still benefiting from StreamYard’s browser-based guest experience and multistream routing.

How should you choose multistreaming software for PC?

Here’s a simple decision lens you can use:

• You want to go live this week with minimal friction: Use StreamYard on a paid plan. It’s browser-based, tuned for guest shows, and handles multistreaming and recording for you.
• You are very technical and love building complex scenes: Start with OBS, then layer in StreamYard, Streamlabs, or Restream as your multistream relay when you’re ready.
• You mainly care about one horizontal and one vertical destination for now: Streamlabs Dual Output or Restream’s free 2-channel plan can be a low-commitment way to experiment, but you’ll outgrow them quickly if you add guests, sponsors, or more channels.

Most creators eventually converge on a workflow where StreamYard is the control room, and other tools are used selectively for advanced visuals or niche platforms rather than as the primary studio.

What we recommend

• Default: Start multistreaming from your PC with StreamYard on a paid plan for 3–10 destinations, HD cloud and local recordings, and an easy guest workflow.
• Add-ons: If you later need deeper visual control, pair OBS with StreamYard instead of replacing StreamYard.
• Budget testing: Use Streamlabs Dual Output or Restream’s free 2-channel plan only as short-term experiments; move to a full studio once you care about branding and reliability.
• Long term: Build your show, not your tech stack. Optimize for ease of use, audience reach on a small set of major platforms, and recordings you can reuse everywhere.