Last updated: 2026-01-18

For most U.S. non‑profits, a browser‑based studio like StreamYard is the most practical starting point because it keeps tech overhead low while still delivering professional, multistream events on paid plans. When you need deep scene control or very specific multistream counts, tools like OBS, Streamlabs, or Restream can play focused supporting roles.

Summary

• StreamYard is a browser‑based studio that lets non‑technical hosts run live events, invite guests with a link, and multistream on paid plans without installing encoder software. (StreamYard pricing)
• OBS and Streamlabs are free desktop tools that give detailed control over scenes and encoding but require more setup and technical comfort. (OBS Studio, Streamlabs intro)
• Restream offers a browser studio and multistream relay with per‑plan channel limits; it’s helpful when you must reach more destinations than your studio supports. (Restream pricing)
• StreamYard offers a nonprofit discount on paid plans, making its studio‑first approach especially appealing for budget‑sensitive organizations. (Discounts)

What do non‑profits actually need from streaming software?

Most non‑profits in the U.S. are not trying to build a television truck in a closet. They want dependable tools that:

• Go live quickly for town halls, updates, and fundraisers
• Let staff and volunteers join without downloads or training
• Reach supporters where they already are (YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, LinkedIn)
• Carry the organization’s branding and calls‑to‑action
• Produce recordings that can be clipped and reused

This is why a browser‑based studio is usually the right foundation. At StreamYard, we see organizations “discover SY and jump on it for its ease of use, user‑friendliness, and clean setup,” and many say they prioritize ease of use over complex setups like OBS or Streamlabs.

Why is StreamYard a strong default for U.S. non‑profits?

StreamYard is a live production studio that runs entirely in your browser, so there’s nothing to install for you or your guests. Hosts share a link, guests click it, and you control layouts, branding, and overlays from a simple interface. (StreamYard pricing)

Non‑profits often highlight three things:

• Low friction for guests. Guests “can join easily and reliably without tech problems,” and StreamYard “passes the ‘grandparent test’” because it does not require a download.
• Fast learning curve for staff. People who tried more complex tools say they “found [OBS] too convoluted” and that StreamYard is “the most reliable and easy‑to‑use software” they use right now.
• Confidence when live. Users call out “the reliability” and how easy it is to talk someone through setup over the phone, which matters when volunteers are joining from different locations.

For production needs common in non‑profits, StreamYard covers a lot of ground:

• Up to 10 people in the studio and 15 more backstage, ideal for panels, board updates, and volunteer spotlights
• Multitrack local recording in up to 4K for later editing and podcast‑style repurposing
• AI Clips that analyzes your recording and generates captioned shorts/reels you can regenerate with a text prompt to focus on specific themes
• Multi‑Aspect Ratio Streaming (MARS), which lets you broadcast landscape and vertical formats at the same time, so desktop and mobile audiences each get an optimized view

On paid plans there are no internal streaming hour caps, though destinations like YouTube or Facebook still apply their own limits. (StreamYard limits) For ongoing town halls or long telethons, this gives teams room to run ambitious events.

How does pricing work for StreamYard, OBS, Streamlabs, and Restream?

Budgets matter, and many non‑profits start with free options. OBS Studio is completely free and open‑source, with no paid tiers. (OBS Studio) Streamlabs offers a free desktop app with an optional Streamlabs Ultra subscription at $27/month or $189/year for added features like multistreaming and premium overlays. (Streamlabs FAQ) Restream also runs on a free‑plus‑paid model, with free plans limited to 2 simultaneous channels and higher channel counts on paid tiers. (Restream pricing)

StreamYard combines a free plan with paid plans and provides a nonprofit discount of 10% on monthly and annual subscriptions for eligible organizations that share a domain and tax‑exempt proof. (Discounts) When you compare that to paying separately for a desktop encoder plus a multistream service and possibly other add‑ons, many organizations find a browser‑based studio with built‑in multistreaming is more predictable and easier to manage.

When should a non‑profit combine StreamYard with OBS or Streamlabs?

There are a few honest cases where desktop tools make sense:

• You’re running a gaming‑centric fundraiser and want elaborate scenes, filters, and transitions.
• You need very specific control over encoding settings or niche capture hardware.

OBS and Streamlabs Desktop let you build complex scenes from multiple sources and stream or record from a local machine. (OBS Studio, Streamlabs intro) For a non‑profit, a practical pattern is:

1. Use OBS or Streamlabs to capture and composite complex visuals.
2. Send that output into StreamYard via RTMP input.
3. Use StreamYard to manage guests, overlays, branding, and multistreaming.

This lets a technically inclined volunteer handle the scene complexity while staff enjoy StreamYard’s simpler studio controls and guest workflows.

How does Restream compare for multistreaming needs?

Restream focuses on sending one stream to many places in the cloud. Its plans cap the number of simultaneous channels at 2 (Free), 3, 5, or 8 on self‑serve tiers. (Restream pricing) For some organizations, that extra reach can be useful if you’re targeting many smaller platforms.

StreamYard also handles multistreaming in the cloud on paid plans, with 3 or 8 destinations depending on plan, and is often used as the front‑end studio rather than a separate relay. (StreamYard pricing) For most non‑profits, the practical need is to reach a handful of major destinations—YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, maybe Twitch—rather than dozens of niche channels. In those cases, using one browser‑based studio that already supports the main platforms is usually simpler than chaining multiple tools together.

If you truly need more channels than your StreamYard plan supports, you can still introduce Restream as a downstream relay. But many teams never hit that limit in practice.

What does a real nonprofit workflow look like with StreamYard?

Imagine a mid‑sized U.S. nonprofit planning an online fundraiser:

• The director of development needs to host from home.
• A program lead and two beneficiaries are joining from their own laptops.
• A volunteer wants to show a short pre‑recorded video.
• The board wants this on YouTube and Facebook at the same time.

With StreamYard, the host sends each guest a link. Everyone joins in their browser, no downloads required. The volunteer uploads the video, and the host triggers it from the studio. Branding overlays and donation URLs are pre‑loaded as banners. On a paid plan, the event streams to YouTube and Facebook simultaneously, and the full recording is captured in the cloud for later clipping.

The same event with OBS or Streamlabs alone is possible but usually means:

• Installing software on the host’s computer
• Manually configuring scenes, audio, and virtual sources
• Potentially adding a separate service like Restream for multistreaming

For teams with limited staff time and mixed technical comfort, the browser‑first approach tends to be less fragile.

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard as your main studio if you are a U.S. non‑profit that wants fast setup, easy guest access, and cloud multistreaming to major platforms.
• Add OBS or Streamlabs only when you have a clear, recurring need for advanced scene composition and a volunteer or staff member comfortable managing it.
• Consider Restream when you truly need to exceed your studio’s destination limits or support niche platforms.
• If you qualify, apply for StreamYard’s nonprofit discount so you can unlock paid‑plan capabilities while staying within budget. (Discounts)