Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most people searching for simulcasting software in the U.S., the simplest and most reliable path is a browser-based studio like StreamYard that sends one stream to the cloud and distributes it to 3–10 destinations, depending on plan. If you need deep local control or unusually complex scenes, you can pair tools like OBS or Streamlabs with a cloud relay such as Restream instead.

Summary

• Simulcasting (multistreaming) means sending one live video to multiple platforms at once—usually via a cloud relay rather than multiple heavy streams from your computer.
• StreamYard offers an easy browser studio with paid multistreaming to 3, 8, or 10 destinations per stream, plus landscape and portrait outputs from one session. (StreamYard)
• OBS and Streamlabs Desktop lean on plugins or a cloud add-on for multistreaming, which can add setup time and hardware demands. (Streamlabs)
• Restream emphasizes broad platform coverage (around 30+ destinations) and studio+relay workflows, but higher destination counts are locked to upper plans, while StreamYard reaches 8+ destinations on a more affordable tier. (Restream)

What is simulcasting software, really?

Simulcasting software (often called multistreaming software) lets you go live once and appear on several channels at the same time—think YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and Twitch in a single broadcast.

Under the hood, there are two main approaches:

1. Local multistreaming – Your computer encodes and uploads separate feeds (or uses multi‑output plugins) to each platform. This is what happens when you bolt multistream plugins onto OBS.
2. Cloud relay multistreaming – Your computer sends one stream to a service like StreamYard, which then forwards that single feed to all your destinations. (StreamYard)

For most creators and small teams, the cloud model is easier to set up, far more forgiving on home internet connections, and better aligned with mainstream needs: good quality, simple guest workflows, and reliable recordings.

How does StreamYard handle simulcasting?

At StreamYard, multistreaming is built into the studio, not bolted on. You create a show in your browser, connect your channels once, and then pick where each broadcast goes.

Key details:

• Paid-only multistreaming: Multistreaming is available exclusively on paid plans. (StreamYard)
• Destination caps by plan: You can stream to up to 3 destinations, 8 destinations, or 10 destinations at the same time, depending on which paid tier you choose. (StreamYard)
• Supported platforms: You can simulcast to major platforms like Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Twitch, plus additional endpoints via custom RTMP. (StreamYard)
• Multiple accounts per platform: You can send the same show to several pages or channels on the same platform (e.g., multiple Facebook Pages), with LinkedIn as the main exception. (StreamYard)

Because everything runs in the browser, your workflow stays simple:

• Guests join from a link—no downloads, no tech drama. Users often say it "passes the grandparent test" and that guests can join easily and reliably.
• You keep independent control of mic and screen audio, add branded overlays and logos live, share multiple screens, and see presenter notes only visible to you.
• On paid plans, you get cloud recordings up to 10 hours per stream, which are handy for repurposing or as a safety net if anything goes wrong locally. (StreamYard)

If you’re in the U.S. and want to start simulcasting quickly—with guests, branding, and recordings—this all-in-one flow is usually the smoothest on‑ramp.

How many platforms do you actually need to simulcast to?

When people first discover multistreaming, the temptation is to ask, “How do I go everywhere?” But in practice, most U.S. creators focus on a handful of destinations:

• YouTube for on‑demand reach and search
• Facebook for communities and groups
• LinkedIn for B2B and professional content
• Twitch for gaming and long-form live shows

Very few workflows truly need more than a few outputs. That’s where StreamYard’s destination caps (3, 8, or 10) line up with real-world use: enough to cover your main platforms plus a couple of extra pages or RTMP destinations, without pushing you into expensive tiers built around edge‑case needs. (StreamYard)

If your strategy somehow involves a dozen niche sites at once, you might look at broader‑coverage tools like Restream, which advertises support for 30+ platforms. (Restream) But for the audience sizes and workflows most people care about, hitting the big four or five channels is what actually moves the needle.

StreamYard vs OBS and Streamlabs: when is local control worth it?

OBS Studio and Streamlabs Desktop are powerful—no question. They appeal to creators who want to micromanage scenes, routing, and every pixel. But they come with trade‑offs when your goal is simply “go live on multiple platforms without stress.”

OBS Studio

• OBS is free and open source desktop software for recording and live streaming. (OBS)
• By default, it streams to a single destination; multistreaming usually requires a “Multiple RTMP Outputs” plugin or pairing OBS with a cloud relay. (Yostream)
• Users regularly report that plugin‑based multistreaming can involve reconnect loops and configuration issues, especially on less‑robust hardware. (Reddit)

Streamlabs Desktop

• Streamlabs offers a cloud multistream feature, but you generally need Streamlabs Ultra to unlock full multistreaming; articles note that “you will need Streamlabs Ultra to use multistreaming” inside Streamlabs Desktop. (Streamlabs)
• There is a limited free Dual Output option (one vertical + one horizontal), but going beyond that or using same‑orientation multiples requires upgrading. (Streamlabs)

How this compares in practice:

• Many people start with OBS or Streamlabs and then move to StreamYard because they prefer ease of use over complex setups.
• With StreamYard, you don’t install encoders, manage plugins, or worry as much about your upload bandwidth for each extra destination—the cloud relay does the heavy lifting.

Use local tools when you need advanced scene systems and are comfortable with tech; otherwise, time saved and reduced risk often outweigh the benefits of going full “pro‑tool” for simulcasting alone.

StreamYard vs Restream: does broader coverage matter?

Restream is widely known for its focus on simulcasting breadth. It emphasizes connecting to many platforms at once and offers its own studio as well as integrations with encoders like OBS. (Restream)

There are two key angles to consider:

1. Number of destinations

   • Restream’s marketing highlights 30+ potential destinations, but many of those are effectively RTMP endpoints—logos on the page don’t always mean deep, direct integrations. (Restream)
   • In contrast, StreamYard is more conservative: up to 3, 8, or 10 simultaneous destinations by plan, focused on the platforms people use most plus RTMP for anything niche. (StreamYard)
   • To stream to 8 platforms on Restream, you need to upgrade to a Business‑level plan at a significantly higher price point, whereas you can reach 8 destinations from StreamYard’s lower‑priced tier.

2. Who each tool is really serving

   • Restream’s paywall around higher destination counts suggests it’s tuned more for organizations that treat multistream reach as a specialized, premium feature.
   • StreamYard is more generous on destination counts relative to price, aiming at creators and teams who want professional output, guests, and reliable multistreaming without enterprise‑style contracts.

If your main requirement is “connect my show to the major platforms, plus a few extras, without wrestling with settings,” StreamYard usually offers the cleaner path.

How does multi‑format simulcasting (landscape + vertical) work?

Simulcasting isn’t only about where you stream—it’s also about how your content fits each screen.

At StreamYard, Multi‑Aspect Ratio Streaming (MARS) lets you broadcast in both landscape and portrait from a single studio session, so desktop viewers get a widescreen layout while mobile‑first audiences (like Shorts, Reels, or vertical‑optimized platforms) see a vertical version tuned for their feed. (StreamYard)

Combined with local multi‑track recordings in up to 4K UHD and 48 kHz WAV audio, you finish a simulcast with:

• A high‑quality recording for each participant
• Ready‑to‑reuse footage for YouTube, podcasts, and social clips
• The option to feed everything into AI Clips, our repurposing tool that automatically generates captioned clips and can be guided with prompts to focus on specific topics

This means one show can power your entire content calendar without juggling separate horizontal and vertical productions.

What we recommend

• Default choice for most people: Use StreamYard’s browser‑based studio with paid multistreaming to send one high‑quality stream to 3–10 destinations, including both landscape and portrait outputs when needed.
• When to consider OBS or Streamlabs Desktop: Choose them if you specifically want deep local scene control and are comfortable managing plugins, hardware load, and potential troubleshooting.
• When Restream may fit: Look at Restream if your strategy depends on reaching many niche platforms at once and you’re prepared for higher plan levels to unlock larger destination counts.
• How to decide today: List the 3–5 platforms that actually matter for your audience, then pick the tool that gets you live there reliably, with the least friction for you and your guests—StreamYard is built to be that default.