Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most creators in the US, the simplest way to stream to Twitch and YouTube at the same time is to use StreamYard’s browser studio on a paid plan and add both platforms as destinations in one show. If you need deeper encoder control or heavily customized scenes, you can pair OBS or Streamlabs with a cloud relay service like Restream or Streamlabs Multistream.

Summary

• StreamYard lets you multistream from your browser to Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms at the same time on paid plans, with no encoder installs needed. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Alternatives like OBS and Streamlabs rely on local software and either plug-ins or relay services for multistreaming, which adds setup and hardware demands. (OBS Studio)
• Restream’s cloud relay and studio can also dual-stream to Twitch and YouTube, including on its free plan with channel limits and branding. (Restream Support)
• For most streamers who value speed, reliability, and easy guest workflows, a browser studio like StreamYard is the most straightforward long-term setup.

What does it actually mean to stream to Twitch and YouTube at the same time?

Streaming to Twitch and YouTube simultaneously (often called "multistreaming" or "simulcasting") means sending one live show to multiple platforms at once.

There are two broad ways to do it:

1. Browser-based studios with built-in multistreaming
   Tools like StreamYard and Restream Studio send one stream from your browser to their servers, then fan it out to Twitch, YouTube, and other destinations. On StreamYard, simultaneous streaming is available on paid plans. (StreamYard Help Center)

2. Local encoders plus a relay or plug-ins
   Desktop apps like OBS and Streamlabs encode on your computer and either:

   • send separate outputs to each platform using plug-ins, or
   • send a single output to a cloud relay (Restream, Streamlabs Multistream, or StreamYard) that forwards it.

Both approaches work. The big trade-off is simplicity vs. control: browser studios favor ease, while local encoders favor deep customization at the cost of complexity.

Why is StreamYard the easiest way to go live on Twitch and YouTube together?

If your priorities are: "it just works," easy guests, and minimal tech stress, using StreamYard as your primary studio is usually the clearest path.

Here’s why many creators default to StreamYard for multistreaming:

• Runs entirely in your browser – no encoder to install or configure. This avoids the long setup curve that often comes with OBS-style tools.
• Multistreaming is built in on paid plans – you set up one show and select Twitch, YouTube, and any other supported platforms as destinations. (StreamYard Help Center)
• Guest experience passes the "grandparent test" – guests join from a link, with no software download. Users repeatedly highlight that non-technical guests can join easily and reliably.
• Good defaults for most creators – up to 10 on-screen participants, up to 15 backstage, and HD cloud recordings up to 10 hours per stream on paid plans cover typical talk shows, interviews, and long sessions. (StreamYard Support)

Unlike OBS or Streamlabs Desktop, you don’t have to think about encoder settings, scene collections, or whether your GPU can handle multiple outputs. Many creators explicitly describe OBS/Streamlabs as "too convoluted" and say they switched to StreamYard because they value ease of use and a clean setup.

For most people who just want a solid, branded show on Twitch and YouTube at the same time, this trade-off is worth it.

How do you set up multistreaming to Twitch + YouTube in StreamYard?

Here’s the high‑level flow if you’re using StreamYard as your main studio:

1. Create or sign in to your StreamYard account
   StreamYard offers both free and paid versions; multistreaming is available on paid plans. (StreamYard Support)

2. Connect your destinations

   • In your dashboard, add YouTube and Twitch as destinations.
   • Authorize access so StreamYard can schedule and send streams.

3. Create a broadcast from the StreamYard studio

   • Choose "Create" and select a live broadcast.
   • Pick both YouTube and Twitch as destinations for the same event.

4. Set up your show

   • Check your camera, mic, and branding (overlays, logo, backgrounds).
   • Share your guest link with anyone joining on-camera.

5. Go live once, everywhere

   • When you hit "Go Live" in the StreamYard studio, your single browser stream is sent to both Twitch and YouTube at the same time.

From there, you can monitor comments from both platforms in one place, highlight them on screen, and know your show is synced across audiences.

What if you prefer OBS or Streamlabs for advanced scenes?

Some creators love the deep scene control in OBS or Streamlabs Desktop: animated overlays, complex transitions, or niche capture setups.

OBS out of the box is designed to stream to a single destination using protocols like RTMP and HLS. (OBS Studio) To multistream, you typically:

• add a Multi-RTMP plug-in (so OBS can output to multiple platforms), or
• send one OBS output to a cloud relay like Restream or Streamlabs Multistream, which then fans it out.

This approach gives you fine-grained control, but you take on:

• higher CPU and bandwidth load if you output multiple streams, and
• more moving parts to troubleshoot (plug-ins, ports, encoder profiles).

Many creators eventually realize they don’t need 100% layout control for talk shows or gameplay with a webcam box. They prioritize getting live consistently over endlessly tweaking scenes, which is where StreamYard’s browser studio is a better day‑to‑day fit.

A hybrid approach some advanced users take:

• Use OBS as an input (via virtual camera or RTMP) to StreamYard,
• then let StreamYard handle multistreaming, guests, and comments.

That way, OBS handles complex visuals, while StreamYard keeps the distribution and collaboration simple.

How does Restream’s free plan handle Twitch + YouTube?

If you’re strictly cost-sensitive and okay with a bit more setup, Restream is another viable way to dual-stream.

On the free plan, Restream lets you multistream to 2 channels with its branding applied. (Restream Support) That’s enough to send one show to Twitch and YouTube at the same time. You can either:

• use Restream Studio in your browser (similar concept to StreamYard, with its own limits), or
• send a single stream from OBS/Streamlabs to Restream via RTMP and let Restream fan it out. (Restream Guide)

Compared with StreamYard, users often find Restream’s interface a bit more complex to onboard to, especially if they combine it with a local encoder. If your priority is a friendly studio feel and non-technical guests, StreamYard is usually more approachable. If your top priority is “free dual-streaming with a relay,” Restream’s free tier is worth considering, with the understanding that branding and limits apply.

What about Streamlabs Multistream and Dual Output?

Streamlabs takes a slightly different path:

• Streamlabs Multistream is a cloud relay that forwards your stream to multiple platforms, but it is restricted to users with the paid Streamlabs Ultra subscription. (Streamlabs Multistream)
• Dual Output (within Streamlabs Desktop) lets you set up separate horizontal and vertical canvases and send them to different platforms; this is a free feature for users who want one horizontal and one vertical output. (Streamlabs Multistream)

This can be appealing if you are deeply invested in Streamlabs Desktop scenes and want to push a horizontal feed to YouTube and a vertical feed to a short-form platform at the same time.

In practice, though, you still manage a desktop encoder, hardware load, and a subscription layer for true multistream. Many streamers decide they’d rather keep their setup inside a browser studio that already supports multiple destinations on paid plans and skip the extra moving parts.

Can Twitch Affiliates simulcast to YouTube and still comply with terms?

If you are a Twitch Affiliate or Partner in 2026, the rules around simulcasting to YouTube can be nuanced and may change over time. Twitch’s public guidelines have evolved in recent years, and the exact contract language you agree to as an Affiliate or Partner matters.

Because policy details, enforcement, and exceptions can shift, it’s important to:

• read the latest Twitch Affiliate/Partner agreement inside your dashboard, and
• double‑check the current Twitch Help Center documentation specific to simulcasting.

Regardless of the tool you use—StreamYard, OBS, Restream, or Streamlabs—you’re responsible for complying with the platform terms. The tech can make simulcasting easy; only you can decide when it is allowed for your account.

What we recommend

• Default choice: Use StreamYard’s browser studio on a paid plan, connect Twitch and YouTube as destinations, and go live once to reach both.
• If you need deep scene control: Build your visuals in OBS or Streamlabs but consider sending a single clean feed into StreamYard, then multistream from there.
• If budget is the only factor: Look at Restream’s free plan for basic dual-streaming, with the understanding that onboarding and branding trade-offs apply.
• Always: Re-check Twitch and YouTube’s latest simulcasting policies before you start streaming to both at the same time.