Last updated: 2026-01-10

If you want to go live on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more at the same time, the simplest path is to use a browser-based studio like StreamYard with built‑in multistreaming on paid plans. When you need deep scene control or custom gaming layouts, you can still multistream by pairing tools like OBS or Streamlabs with a cloud relay service.

Summary

• Use a browser studio with built‑in multistreaming for the fastest, least technical setup.
• On StreamYard paid plans, you can send one show to 3–8+ destinations directly from your browser studio, with no encoder installs. (StreamYard pricing)
• Other tools like Restream, Streamlabs, and OBS can also multistream, but usually add more setup steps or technical overhead.
• Most US creators only need a handful of destinations (YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch), so simplicity and reliability matter more than hitting dozens of platforms.

What does “streaming to multiple platforms with one software” actually mean?

When people say “I want to stream to multiple platforms using one software,” they’re really asking for three things:

1. One place to run the show. You don’t want separate apps for each platform.
2. One upload from your computer. Your internet sends one video feed; the tool handles the rest in the cloud.
3. Multiple destinations at once. Typically some mix of YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitch.

StreamYard’s browser studio was built around that idea: you host the show in your browser, then we distribute the feed to multiple destinations at once on paid plans. (How to multi-stream)

How do you multistream with StreamYard step by step?

Here’s the basic multistream workflow with StreamYard’s studio:

1. Create your StreamYard account
   Sign up in your browser—no downloads or encoders required. Free and paid plans are available. (Is StreamYard free?)

2. Connect your destinations
   In your StreamYard dashboard, you connect YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, and other destinations once. On paid plans, you can select multiple destinations per broadcast.

3. Set up your show in the studio

   • Choose your camera and mic.
   • Add your logo, overlays, and background.
   • Prepare banners, lower thirds, and screen shares. Up to 10 people can be in the studio, with additional participants backstage, so panel-style shows and interviews are straightforward.

4. Invite guests with a link
   Guests join in their browser—no account or software install is required. Many users tell us they trust StreamYard when they have non‑technical guests, because it reliably “passes the grandparent test.”

5. Choose your destinations and go live
   When you hit “Create” → “Live stream,” you select your connected destinations.

   • Paid plans support multistreaming directly from the studio; the free plan streams to a single destination and does not include multistreaming. (Free plan limits)

6. Let the cloud do the heavy lifting
   Your computer uploads one stream to StreamYard, and our infrastructure sends it to each platform. On paid plans, there are no internal streaming‑hour caps, although each destination may still have its own limits. (Streaming limits)

This is what “one software” looks like in practice: one browser tab runs your show, and the distribution happens for you.

How many platforms can you stream to with StreamYard plans?

Because this question pops up constantly, here’s how destination limits work today:

• Free plan

  • Streams to one destination at a time.
  • No multistreaming; intended for testing the studio and doing simple broadcasts. (Free plan limits)

• Paid plans for individuals

  • Multistreaming is enabled.
  • One popular paid tier supports up to 3 simultaneous destinations. (How to multi-stream)
  • A higher tier supports up to 8 destinations.

• Business plans

  • For organizations that need team seats and more distribution, Business can support up to 10 simultaneous destinations from one studio. (How to multi-stream)

For most US creators, 3–8 destinations easily cover YouTube, a Facebook Page or Group, LinkedIn, and Twitch. Going beyond that usually only matters if you manage many brands or niche platforms.

How does StreamYard compare to other multistreaming options?

You can absolutely multistream without StreamYard, but the trade‑offs shift.

Restream

Restream is a cloud multistream service and browser studio.

• Free plan multistreams to 2 channels at once; higher plans go up to 8 simultaneous channels. (Restream pricing)
• It often sits in front of encoders like OBS: OBS sends one RTMP stream to Restream; Restream fans it out to many platforms. (Why use streaming software with Restream)

Restream can make sense if your main need is connecting lots of niche destinations. Many people, however, find that 3–8 mainstream platforms from a single studio session already covers their audience, which is the range StreamYard focuses on.

Streamlabs

Streamlabs Desktop is a downloadable app based on OBS‑style workflows, with overlays and alerts aimed at gaming creators. (Streamlabs intro)

• Multistreaming is available as part of Streamlabs Multistream, which is an Ultra (paid) feature, while a “Dual Output” option offers a free way to send a horizontal and vertical stream simultaneously. (Streamlabs Multistream)
• Like Restream and StreamYard, it uses a cloud relay model so your upload is only sent once. (Streamlabs Multistream)

Streamlabs can be attractive if you’re already deep into desktop scenes and overlays, but non‑technical hosts may prefer the lower friction of joining a StreamYard studio from a browser, especially with guests.

OBS Studio

OBS Studio is free, open‑source desktop software for live streaming and recording. It gives very deep control over scenes, sources, and encoders. (OBS on Steam)

• Out of the box, OBS is designed to stream to one destination via protocols like RTMP; you typically add multistreaming through plugins or external relay services. (OBS overview)

For creators who love tinkering and want pixel‑level control of scenes, pairing OBS with a cloud relay can be powerful. For most people just trying to host a talk show or webinar across a few platforms, the extra setup steps and learning curve can outweigh the benefits.

Which multistreaming path should you choose for your use case?

Think of multistreaming tools as a spectrum from maximum simplicity to maximum control:

• You value speed, guests, and reliability the most

  • Default to a browser studio like StreamYard.
  • Ideal for interviews, webinars, live podcasts, churches, nonprofits, and small businesses.

• You need to connect many niche platforms simultaneously

  • Consider layering a relay‑focused service like Restream if you truly need more destinations than your StreamYard plan offers.

• You’re a technical creator who wants advanced scenes or detailed encoder settings

  • Use OBS or Streamlabs Desktop to build your scene stack, then either:
    • Send RTMP into StreamYard or Restream for multistream distribution, or
    • Use plugins that add multiple RTMP outputs (with more manual configuration).

Most creators in the US never need to go beyond one studio plus cloud multistreaming; they just need it to be stable, easy for guests, and cost‑effective.

How do you keep quality high when multistreaming from one software?

Multistreaming itself doesn’t have to hurt quality, but you do need to be intentional:

• Protect your upload connection
  Because StreamYard and similar tools relay from the cloud, your computer is only responsible for one stable upload. This is usually easier on your network than running separate outputs in OBS.

• Match your settings to your content
  If your content is mostly talking heads, interviews, or webinars, you rarely need ultra‑high bitrates or exotic encoders. Focus on consistent 1080p, good lighting, and clean audio.

• Use local and cloud recordings wisely
  On StreamYard paid plans, live streams can be recorded in the cloud, and you can use local recording for higher‑quality multi‑track files, which is helpful if you repurpose into podcasts or clips. (Paid plan features)

• Think in formats, not just platforms
  With features like multi‑aspect workflows and AI clipping tools, you can run one show and turn it into wide and vertical content plus short clips, rather than trying to manage separate productions per platform.

A simple, stable pipeline from one studio into a few key platforms will serve you better than chasing every possible destination.

What we recommend

• Start with StreamYard’s browser studio as your primary “one software” for multistreaming if you care about ease of use, guest friendliness, and fast setup.
• Use a paid StreamYard plan when you’re ready to send one show to multiple destinations from the same studio, especially if you also want cloud and local recordings.
• Add a relay‑focused service or OBS/Streamlabs only if you truly need niche platforms or deep scene/encoder control beyond what a browser studio is designed for.
• Keep your stack lean: for most creators, one simple, reliable studio plus a handful of strategic destinations beats a complex chain of tools.