🖥️Streaming Software

Aitum Multistream

A free plugin that lets you multistream from OBS Studio to several destinations at once. Because it builds a multistream setup entirely within OBS without going through an external relay service, you avoid monthly relay fees. It can stream to Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, and any RTMP address, and lets you set a different resolution or bitrate for each destination. Requires OBS Studio 30.0 or later (64-bit). It's GPL-2.0 open source, developed by Aitum, the same team behind the vertical-streaming plugin Aitum Vertical.

Bandicam

A capture tool that records games, your PC screen, and external devices in high quality. You can switch between “Screen Recording Mode,” “Game Recording Mode,” “Device Recording Mode,” and “Audio Recording Mode” depending on what you need, and it can record DirectX/OpenGL/Vulkan-compatible games at up to 4K (3840×2160) and up to 480fps. It also supports recording game console or webcam footage, or just PC and mic audio on their own. Built for Windows 11/10/8/7 (64-bit). The free version limits each recording to 10 minutes and adds a www.BANDICAM.com logo watermark to the video.

Castr

Castr is a cloud streaming service that lets you go live to 30+ platforms at once. Beyond multistreaming, it brings together multi-CDN live delivery, video hosting that turns your streams into VOD, 24/7 loop streaming (TV Playout) built from recordings and live sources to keep a channel always on, and even IP camera streaming — all in one platform. You can connect from OBS, vMix, or Wirecast over RTMP/SRT, with ingest points in 40 locations worldwide and automatic failover for reliability. A 7-day free trial requires no credit card; check the official site for the latest pricing plans.

DistroAV (formerly obs-ndi)

A free plugin (formerly obs-ndi) that adds NDI send and receive capability to OBS Studio. It lets you pass video and audio straight to another PC on the same LAN, making it useful for two-PC setups that split gaming and streaming across separate machines, or for pulling in footage from a dedicated tracking PC. Requires OBS 31.1.1 or later and the NDI runtime. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Ecamm Live

A Mac-only live streaming and video production studio. It includes a live switcher for real-time multi-camera switching, green-screen compositing (with video backgrounds supported too), split-screen with up to 10 video guests, and Stream Deck integration. You can also multistream simultaneously to platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Instagram, X, and Amazon Live. It's paid, with a Standard plan at $16/month and a Pro plan at $32/month, plus a 14-day free trial that doesn't require a credit card (requires macOS 11.2 or later).

HandBrake

A free, open-source video encoder that converts almost any video format into widely supported codecs. It runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux, and is maintained by volunteer developers. Just load a source file and pick a preset to convert, or fine-tune resolution, bitrate, quality (RF value), audio tracks, and subtitles. Useful for shrinking the file size of stream archives, re-encoding footage to match an upload site's specs, or converting source footage into a format your editing software handles easily.

Larix Broadcaster

A free app for live streaming directly from your phone. Beyond RTMP, it supports many protocols including SRT, NDI, WebRTC, and RTSP, and lets you switch cameras, record, or stream audio-only. Compatible with iOS 16+ and Android 7+ (HEVC, NDI output, WebRTC, and other features are paid).

Lightstream Studio

A cloud-based streaming studio that runs right in your browser. Since video compositing happens in the cloud, it doesn't tax your PC or console, letting you add overlays and alerts to Xbox or PlayStation footage without a capture card. You can switch between scenes while live, and multistream to up to 5 RTMP-compatible destinations like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook at once. The free plan offers 720p, up to 10 hours, 3 scenes, and a Lightstream logo, while Premium ($12/month, or $9/month billed annually) unlocks 1080p, up to 20 scenes, and up to 10 guests.

ManyCam

Freemium streaming and video software with a virtual webcam feature. Switch between multiple camera feeds while streaming, with a full set of virtual backgrounds, filters, and text overlays. Used across a wide range of scenes, from education and business to live streaming.

Meld Studio

Streaming and recording software you can use as an alternative to OBS. Streaming and recording are free, with no watermark or time limit. It's optimized for DirectX 12 and Apple Silicon, and can import your OBS scenes with a single click. It comes with 30-plus built-in effects including chroma key, plus simultaneous vertical canvas output. Only the AI feature, Spark, requires a paid plan.

Mirrativ

An app that lets you live-stream your phone's game screen exactly as-is. You can start streaming in just a few taps, and stream as your "Emomo" avatar without showing your face. It also supports voice-call collabs, automatic stream recording, and gift-based monetization. Works on iOS 16+ and Android, and is free with in-app purchases.

N Air

The official free streaming software for Niconico Live, developed by Dwango. It manages everything from creating a broadcast to starting and ending the stream in one place, and comes with 100 voice changer effects, the "N Voice" comment reader, and Custom Cast integration.

NVIDIA App (ShadowPlay)

The official app for GeForce-equipped PCs. Hit Alt+Z during a game to bring up the overlay and handle recording, screenshots, and Instant Replay on the spot. ShadowPlay recording supports the AV1 codec, capturing up to 8K HDR at 30fps or 4K HDR at 120fps. With "Instant Replay" constantly buffering recent gameplay in the background, you can save a great moment with a single hotkey even if you weren't recording. It's a free tool that also handles driver updates, game setting optimization, and filters from the same app.

NVIDIA Broadcast

An AI-powered audio and video enhancement app for PCs with an NVIDIA RTX GPU. It applies background removal, noise cancellation, and face tracking in real time, and is commonly used alongside OBS or Streamlabs. It's an easy way to bring your stream quality up to a professional standard.

Advanced Masks (OBS Plugin)

A free plugin that extends OBS's masking options. Combine shape masks (circles, stars, hearts, etc.), masks built from another source or image, and gradient masks. It lets you crop your avatar or stream screen into any shape you like, or apply color correction to just part of the frame. Supports Windows, macOS, and Linux.

OBS Studio

The go-to free streaming and recording software used by streamers worldwide. It works with YouTube, Twitch, Niconico, and virtually every platform, with advanced features like scene switching, mic volume control, and video filters. Extendable with plugins, it's the foundation of a streaming setup that grows with you from beginner to pro.

Outplayed

A Windows app that automatically records and clips game highlights. It supports over 5,000 titles, letting you review and edit standout moments like kills after a match ends, then share them to social media. Made by Overwolf; the free version shows ads (a paid Premium tier is available).

Owncast

An open-source live streaming server you run on your own infrastructure. Just send RTMP from OBS or Streamlabs and you can publish your own stream page with built-in chat. It also includes notification integration with the fediverse (like Mastodon), viewer and moderation management, and an embeddable player. Free under the MIT license (Linux/macOS/Docker).

PRISM Live Studio

A free streaming and recording app from the NAVER group. Just pick a template to set up your stream layout in minutes, and it comes standard with effects like masks and background filters, plus "AvatarLive," an avatar streaming feature that doesn't require showing your face. It also supports turning your phone into a webcam and has a mobile app version, making it a good fit for beginners who want an easier start than OBS. It's free at its core, with multistreaming to multiple platforms and premium effects unlocked through the paid PRISM Plus tier. Supports Windows 10/11 and macOS.

Riverside

A platform that records each guest's video and audio locally on their device, capturing up to 4K video and uncompressed audio regardless of connection quality. Each participant is recorded on a separate track, with support for live streaming to YouTube and Twitch too. Recording is the focus, though simultaneous streaming works too. A free plan is available (no credit card required).

ShareX

A free capture tool for Windows. Besides multiple capture modes, full screen, region select, active window, and scrolling capture, it includes screen and GIF recording, plus an annotation editor for adding rectangles, arrows, text, and blur. Its powerful workflow feature automates post-capture actions (save, copy, upload) and hotkeys, with support for a wide range of upload destinations. It's completely free, open source, ad-free, and requires no account, available as a Setup installer or portable version, and also through the Microsoft Store or Steam.

StreamElements SE.Live

A free, cloud-based streaming plugin that integrates into OBS. It lets you manage overlays, alerts, and chat all from within the OBS window while keeping CPU usage low. It supports Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook, streamlining multi-platform streaming.

Streamlabs

The overall Streamlabs brand, offering a wide range of streaming support tools. Beyond its PC streaming software, it also provides mobile and console versions, plus a paid "Ultra" plan that bundles in Pro video editing features — a suite of services that comprehensively supports your streaming activities across every device.

Streamlabs Desktop

Streamlabs Desktop combines an OBS-based free streaming software with built-in alert and overlay management. It comes with simultaneous multi-platform streaming and the Collab Cam guest-invite feature, making it easy for beginners to start streaming in just a few clicks.

StreamYard

A browser-based live streaming studio for streaming and recording, no software install required. Guests simply open an invite link to join, making it great for interviews and collab streams. You can display up to 6 people on screen (10 on paid plans), and set up logos, overlays, and lower-third banners right in the browser. The free plan shows the StreamYard watermark, limits stream length, and caps local recording at 2 hours per month. Multistreaming to multiple platforms requires the Core plan or higher at $44.99/month (annual billing is cheaper, and a free trial is available).

Switcher Studio

An app that lets you connect multiple iPhones and iPads for multi-camera streaming. Switch between up to 9 angles from a single screen, and stream to YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, X, or embed directly on your site. Works on iOS, macOS, and Android. Paid plans start at $65/month, with a 14-day free trial. Built for live events and real-world multi-camera productions.

Twitch Studio

A simple, Twitch-dedicated streaming software provided officially by Twitch. Follow and subscription alerts come built in, and you can start streaming in just three steps with no complicated setup — making it a popular free option especially suited to Twitch beginners who are just getting started.

vMix

Professional-grade live production and streaming software for Windows. It handles everything from HD/4K switching and mixing to live streaming and recording in one package. There's a 60-day free trial, aimed at streamers and organizations needing a serious live production setup.

XSplit Broadcaster

A feature-rich, Windows-only streaming software that lets you composite desktop and webcam video in picture-in-picture. It supports simultaneous multistreaming to YouTube, Twitch, and more, and its rich effects let you build elaborate scene transitions — a paid, license-based streaming software long known as an industry veteran.