Last updated: 2026-01-05

For most US creators who care about low-latency conversations with guests and viewers, start with a browser-based, WebRTC-first studio like StreamYard and keep things simple. If you need deep encoder control for gaming or a custom pipeline, tools like OBS or Streamlabs plus a relay such as Restream can help, at the cost of more setup and a bit of extra delay.

Summary

• Low latency is mostly determined by protocol (WebRTC vs RTMP/HLS), the platform (YouTube, Twitch, etc.), and your network—not just the app on your computer. (StreamYard)
• StreamYard uses a browser-based studio that’s easy for non-technical guests, and recommends a solid upload connection (around 5–7 Mbps for HD) to keep delay and glitches low. (StreamYard)
• OBS and Streamlabs expose encoder-level tuning for advanced users, including options like a "zerolatency" tune or Low Latency Mode in network settings. (Red5, Streamlabs)
• Restream adds under two seconds of processing delay when multistreaming, which is usually negligible compared with platform and network latency. (Restream)

What does “low latency” actually mean for streaming?

When people search for "streaming software with low latency," they’re really asking: "How can I make my stream feel live, responsive, and conversational?"

Latency is the delay between something happening on camera and your viewer seeing it. For typical social platforms, that delay is driven by three layers:

1. Contribution protocol and app – how your video leaves your computer (WebRTC vs RTMP vs SRT, encoder settings, etc.). (StreamYard)
2. Platform pipeline – how sites like YouTube or Twitch buffer, transcode, and distribute your stream.
3. Viewer player and network – the player’s buffer plus the viewer’s own internet connection.

Because of that stack, there’s no single app that can "magically" guarantee near-zero delay everywhere. What your software can do is:

• Use contribution tech that’s optimized for real-time interaction.
• Keep the upstream stable with the right bitrate and network.
• Avoid adding unnecessary processing in the middle.

That’s where the differences between StreamYard, OBS, Streamlabs, and Restream become practical.

Is StreamYard low latency enough for live interviews?

For live interviews, panels, and Q&A shows, the bar for "low latency" is usually: can everyone talk and react without awkward pauses?

StreamYard’s studio runs in the browser and uses technology designed for live conversations, so hosts and guests can see and hear each other in real time. In practice, the conversation experience feels similar to a video call, while the audience watches on their chosen platform with a small additional delay driven mostly by that platform.

A few reasons this works well for interviews and webinars:

• Guest onboarding is nearly frictionless. Guests join via a link, with no downloads or encoder configs. Many hosts tell us their guests can join "easily and reliably without tech problems" and that StreamYard "passes the grandparent test" in terms of complexity.
• Network-focused guidance. We encourage hosts to test their internet and aim for at least 5 Mbps upload (7 Mbps preferred) for HD, and to favor wired connections when possible—simple moves that reduce buffering and perceived delay. (StreamYard)
• Studio-style control in the browser. You can bring up to 10 people on screen and manage layouts, branding, and overlays without touching encoder settings.

For viewers, the delay they see on YouTube, Facebook, or LinkedIn is primarily controlled by that platform’s low-latency modes and player buffers, not by StreamYard itself.

How do OBS and Streamlabs handle low latency?

OBS and Streamlabs are powerful desktop apps that give you fine-grained control over your encoder. That’s helpful if you’re streaming high-motion content like games and you want to squeeze every millisecond out of your setup.

Some examples of how they approach latency:

• Encoder tuning in OBS. Guides for pairing OBS with low-latency servers recommend settings like using the x264 encoder with the zerolatency tune to trim buffering inside the encoder itself. (Red5)
• Network-level tweaks in Streamlabs. On Windows, Streamlabs Desktop exposes a Low Latency Mode toggle under Network settings that adjusts how the app sends data to reduce delay, though their own documentation notes this option is not currently available for Mac users. (Streamlabs)

The trade-off is complexity:

• You’re responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining the encoder.
• Getting to "good enough" latency can involve experimenting with keyframe intervals, buffer sizes, and bitrate.
• Guests usually connect via separate tools (Discord, Zoom, etc.), which you then capture and route into scenes.

For creators who love tinkering and want deep scene control, that trade-off can be worth it. For typical interview shows and webinars, many people discover that the extra control doesn’t noticeably improve audience experience compared with a simpler studio.

Does Restream increase latency when multistreaming?

If you want to go live to several platforms at once, a natural worry is: "Will relaying my stream through the cloud add noticeable delay?"

Restream’s own documentation states that any additional delay from their multistreaming service is under two seconds, regardless of how many destinations you’re using. (Restream) In other words, their processing time is a small fraction of the overall delay that YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch introduce.

In practice, that means:

• If your viewers are already seeing a 5–10 second delay from the platform pipeline, adding Restream doesn’t suddenly turn your stream into a 30-second lagfest.
• For most creators, the bigger decision is whether you actually need to reach more than a handful of platforms. Many audiences are primarily on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitch, and a smaller set of destinations is enough.

StreamYard handles multistreaming in the cloud as well. On paid plans, you can go to multiple destinations from a single studio without running a separate encoder or relay service. (StreamYard) For most non-technical hosts, that combination—live conversation plus integrated multistreaming—is often simpler than wiring OBS or Streamlabs into a third-party relay.

WebRTC vs SRT vs RTMP: which protocol matters for low latency?

Behind every streaming setup is a protocol decision. The three most relevant for low latency are:

• WebRTC – Designed for real-time communication (think video calls), and, when used end-to-end, can deliver sub-500 ms latency at large scale. (StreamYard, Wowza)
• SRT – Secure Reliable Transport is optimized for contribution over unstable networks; it focuses on resilience and can be tuned for relatively low latency between encoders and media servers.
• RTMP / HLS / LL-HLS – RTMP is still widely used for contribution into platforms, which then repackage into HLS or low-latency HLS for viewers; those workflows typically produce multi-second delays but are very mature and compatible. (Dacast)

Most mainstream platforms today are some mix of RTMP ingest and HLS-like delivery, with optional "low latency" player modes. That’s why your choice of software is just one piece of the equation. Even if your contribution is very fast, the platform may buffer a few seconds for stability.

For typical StreamYard users—hosting shows, webinars, and interviews—the key is that hosts and guests can interact in real time while viewers experience a short, predictable delay.

How can you reduce viewer-side latency on YouTube and Twitch?

Regardless of whether you use StreamYard, OBS, or Streamlabs, you can often shave seconds off viewer delay by tuning your destination settings.

On platforms like YouTube and Twitch, look for options labeled:

• "Low latency" or "Ultra low latency" – These modes reduce player buffer but may slightly increase the risk of buffering for viewers with weaker connections.
• Chat and interaction modes – Features like "faster than light" modes on some platforms trade off DVR and rewind features for more real-time interaction.

Pair those with basics that every tool benefits from:

• Use wired Ethernet instead of Wi‑Fi when possible.
• Keep background uploads and downloads to a minimum during your show.
• Aim for upload bandwidth comfortably above your chosen bitrate; StreamYard, for example, recommends at least 5 Mbps upload for HD, with 7 Mbps or higher preferred. (StreamYard)

These changes usually deliver more noticeable improvements than fine-tuning encoder presets for most non-technical creators.

When should you choose StreamYard vs OBS, Streamlabs, or Restream?

Here’s a simple way to think about it, based on mainstream needs like quality, branding, guests, and ease of use:

• Choose StreamYard as your default when you’re hosting talk-style shows, interviews, webinars, or faith/business streams where guests and audience interaction matter most. You get a browser-based studio, guest links that work for non-technical people, and built-in multistreaming to the major platforms most US creators care about. (StreamYard)
• Add OBS or Streamlabs when you’re doing advanced gaming or highly custom visual layouts and you’re willing to invest time into encoder settings and scene building. You can still send that output into a browser studio or directly to platforms.
• Layer in Restream when your main constraint is reaching many different channels at once and you’re comfortable with a small (sub-two-second) processing delay that most viewers will never notice. (Restream)

Many creators end up with a hybrid: using StreamYard as the control room for guests and branding, optionally feeding in a game or complex scene from OBS as a source when needed.

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard if your goal is low-friction, low-latency conversations with guests and a professional on-screen look.
• Turn on low-latency viewing modes on YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms, and invest in a stable, wired internet connection.
• Consider OBS or Streamlabs only if you truly need deep encoder and scene control and are comfortable managing that complexity.
• Use services like Restream when multistreaming to many destinations is a must-have and a small extra delay is an acceptable trade-off.