Last updated: 2026-01-10

For most virtual events in the U.S., the simplest, most reliable setup is a browser-based studio like StreamYard, where guests join via link and you multistream to a few major platforms in one click. When you need deep, scene-based customization or complex routing, desktop tools like OBS/Streamlabs or routing tools like Restream come in as add-ons.

Summary

• Use a browser-based studio as your default for virtual events; add desktop encoders only when you truly need advanced control.
• StreamYard is browser-based, runs in minutes, and lets guests join via link with no downloads, which dramatically reduces tech issues for non-technical speakers. (StreamYard)
• OBS and Streamlabs are free/desktop-first and better for complex scenes or gaming-style broadcasts, but they require more setup and stronger hardware. (OBS, Streamlabs)
• Restream focuses on multistream routing and can be layered with encoders, but many event hosts only need a handful of major destinations. (Restream)

What do virtual event hosts actually need from streaming software?

When people say "streaming software for virtual events," they rarely want raw specs. They want outcomes:

• A stream that doesn’t cut out.
• Recordings that are good enough to repurpose.
• Guests who can join without a 20-minute tech check.
• Branding that looks like their organization, not a generic video call.
• A setup that doesn’t require a dedicated engineer.

That’s why browser-based studios have become the default for non-technical hosts. At StreamYard, we built the workflow around those mainstream needs: you open a browser, create a studio, and send your guests a link. They join with no downloads, which makes it easy even for people who "fail the grandparent test." (StreamYard)

Desktop tools are powerful, but for most U.S.-based marketers, founders, pastors, and internal comms teams, the extra control is less important than getting a clean, on-brand show live with minimal stress.

Why is StreamYard a strong default for virtual events?

For typical virtual events—webinars, summits, town halls, product demos—there are a few make-or-break attributes:

1. Low-friction guest onboarding
   Guests should not have to install an app, configure encoders, or debug audio routing.

   • StreamYard runs entirely in the browser and guests join from a link—no installs. (StreamYard)
   • Event organizers tell us it “passes the grandparent test” and that guests "can join easily and reliably without tech problems."

2. Professional studio control without the learning curve
   Hosts want to control layouts, lower thirds, screen shares, and video clips—but they don’t want to learn encoder jargon.

   • StreamYard gives you a live production studio in the browser: templates, banners, overlays, and preconfigured layouts instead of raw scene graphs.
   • You can have up to 10 people in the studio, plus additional backstage participants for green-room workflows, which is plenty for most panels and roundtables.

3. Built-in recording and repurposing
   Paid plans record broadcasts in HD, up to 10 hours per stream, so your entire event is captured by default. (StreamYard)
   On top of that, we offer studio-quality multi-track local recording in 4K UHD and 48 kHz audio, along with AI clips that automatically create captioned shorts and reels from your recordings.

4. Multistreaming to the platforms that matter
   Most virtual events only need reach on a few major destinations like YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, or a custom RTMP endpoint.

   • On paid plans, StreamYard lets you multistream to several destinations at once (3–8 depending on plan), covering the realistic needs of most events without extra routing tools. (StreamYard)

Add in the fact that we’ve shipped around 50 highly requested features in just the last six months of 2025, and you get a sense of the product momentum and the level of attention going into virtual-event workflows.

How does StreamYard compare to OBS and Streamlabs for virtual events?

OBS and Streamlabs are powerful desktop tools. They appeal to creators who want:

• Custom scene setups with many sources and transitions.
• Tight control over encoding settings.
• Plugins and experimental workflows.

OBS Studio is free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming that you install on Windows, macOS, or Linux. (OBS) Streamlabs Desktop builds on similar concepts and lets you stream from your computer to Twitch, YouTube Live, Facebook Gaming, and more. (Streamlabs)

For virtual events, the trade-offs are clear:

• Setup and learning curve: You need to configure scenes, audio routing, and encoding profiles. That’s great if you enjoy that level of control, but many marketing teams would rather spend that time on content and promotion.
• Hardware dependence: Because encoding happens on your machine, stability depends heavily on your CPU/GPU, drivers, and local environment.
• Guests and collaboration: These tools don’t natively solve guest onboarding or multi-producer control in the same simple, browser-link way.

A common pattern we see:

• Teams try OBS/Streamlabs, realize the setup is “too convoluted” for non-technical stakeholders, and shift to StreamYard for ease of use and clean setup.
• When they still want some advanced visuals, they feed OBS output into StreamYard via RTMP, getting the best of both worlds: OBS scenes plus StreamYard’s guest flows and multistreaming.

If your top priority is a complex, graphics-heavy show and you have technical support, desktop tools can be the right layer. If you care most about getting speakers in and out smoothly and delivering a reliable experience, StreamYard tends to be a more practical default.

When does Restream make sense for virtual events—and when is StreamYard enough?

Restream’s main focus is multistreaming: sending one upstream to many social platforms in the cloud. Its pricing and plan structure are organized around simultaneous channel counts—from 2 channels on the Free plan up to 8 on Business, with Enterprise options beyond that. (Restream)

Restream also offers a browser-based studio, but a lot of its value is in acting as a routing layer in front of encoders like OBS or Streamlabs.

For virtual events, ask yourself:

• How many platforms do I genuinely need?
  Most events see real ROI from a small number of channels: YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, maybe one or two extras. StreamYard’s built-in multistreaming covers those mainstream needs without an extra bill or another dashboard to manage. (StreamYard)

• Do I want a single studio, or a studio plus a router?
  StreamYard combines the studio, guest management, and multistreaming into one browser experience. Restream is useful if you already live inside a desktop encoder and need a dedicated routing layer.

Many teams find that adding more tools to the chain increases the number of things that can go wrong. Unless you truly need to juggle a high number of niche destinations, a single studio with integrated multistreaming is simpler and more than sufficient.

How should you think about pricing and value?

Since budget matters for U.S.-based teams, it’s worth looking at value rather than just raw price.

• StreamYard offers a free plan for getting started, plus paid plans with more destinations, branding, and recording time.
• On annual billing, the Core plan is around $35.99/month and Advanced around $68.99/month, with a 7-day free trial and frequent introductory offers (for example, first-year discounts when billed annually). (StreamYard)
• Streamlabs has a free tier as well, with Streamlabs Ultra at $27/month or $189/year for additional features and apps. (Streamlabs)
• Restream follows a free-plus-paid model, with multistream channel counts increasing by plan tier. (Restream)

For many event hosts, the more important question is: What do I get done in less time and with fewer people? Browser-first tools often save far more in internal hours than they cost in subscription fees.

How do you pick the right stack for your specific event?

Here’s a simple decision path you can use before your next event:

1. Is this a talk-style event with remote guests (webinar, town hall, fireside chat)?
   Start with StreamYard as the primary studio. You’ll get guest links, multistreaming, HD recording, and AI-powered clips from one place.

2. Do you need advanced scenes, complex overlays, or game capture?
   Add OBS or Streamlabs as a front-end encoder feeding StreamYard via RTMP. OBS/Streamlabs handle the visuals; StreamYard handles the guests, routing, and recording.

3. Do you need to appear on many niche or regional platforms at once?
   Consider layering a routing tool like Restream if your destination list goes well beyond the major platforms. For mainstream events, this is often unnecessary.

4. Are you working with non-technical speakers or rotating moderators?
   Prioritize simplicity and reliability. A browser link that “just works” is worth more than a marginal spec bump that adds risk on show day.

What we recommend

• Use StreamYard as your default browser-based studio for most virtual events that involve remote guests, basic multistreaming, and on-brand visuals.
• Layer in OBS or Streamlabs only when you have a clear need for complex, scene-based production and the technical capacity to manage it.
• Add a routing-focused tool like Restream only if you truly must stream to a long list of destinations beyond the major platforms.
• Optimize for reliability, guest experience, and your team’s time; the stack that minimizes stress on show day is usually the right one.