Restream vs StreamYard | Pricing & Features Compared (2026)

TL;DR: Restream vs StreamYard | Which Live Streaming Platform Is Better (2026)
Restream and StreamYard are browser-based studios that send one live show to several platforms at once. Restream costs less and reaches more platforms. StreamYard is easier to run and includes recording, webinar, and clip tools that Restream sells as add-ons.

• Pick Restream if you want the widest reach, cross-platform analytics, and the lowest price. Paid plans start at $16/mo on annual billing.
• Pick StreamYard if you want the simplest studio, reliable local recordings of guests, and long pre-recorded streams. Paid plans start at $35.99/mo on annual billing.
• Free plans. Restream streams to 2 channels for free. StreamYard’s free plan streams to 1.
• Full HD. StreamYard streams in 1080p on every paid plan. Restream Studio needs the Professional plan for 1080p.
• Destinations. Restream supports 30+ platforms. StreamYard covers the major ones.
• Extras. StreamYard includes AI clips, and its Advanced plan includes webinars for 100 viewers. Restream charges extra for both.
• My verdict. For most course creators and coaches, Restream still wins on value for money. StreamYard is the better choice for interviews, video podcasts, and pre-recorded lessons.

Hosting live classes, webinars, and Q&As is one of the best ways to give value to your audience, position yourself as an expert, and generate leads for your eLearning business.

You can go live with the tools built into Facebook or YouTube.

To make your broadcasts look professional and reach several platforms at once, you’ll need dedicated live streaming software.

This is where Restream and StreamYard come in.

Both are strong multistreaming platforms that deliver live content to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, and many other sites at the same time.

Both have also changed a lot. Restream added webinars, AI clips, and vertical streaming. StreamYard raised its prices and rebuilt its plans.

In this post, I compare the latest features, pricing, and pros and cons of Restream and StreamYard to help you choose the right platform for your online course business.

Read: The best live streaming platforms for course creators

Main Differences Between Restream and StreamYard

The two tools do the same core job. They differ in price, reach, and how much they include in the base plan.

	Restream	StreamYard
Founded	2015	2018
Best for	Reach, analytics, and low cost	Ease of use, guest recordings, and pre-recorded streams
Supported platforms	30+ platforms, plus custom RTMP	Major platforms, plus custom RTMP
Free plan	2 channels at once, 6 on-screen participants, Restream branding	1 destination, 6 on-screen participants, StreamYard logo on streams
Starting price	$16/mo on annual billing	$35.99/mo on annual billing
Maximum channels at once	8 on Business	8 on Advanced
1080p in the studio	From Professional	From Core
Recording	Cloud recording on paid plans, local recording in beta from Professional	Local recording on every plan, unlimited on paid plans
Webinars	Paid add-on	On-Air included in Advanced
AI clips	Paid add-on	Included, with monthly limits
Analytics	Cross-platform analytics on paid plans	Webinar analytics only

They’re both good choices for live streaming to multiple platforms. The details below show where each one pulls ahead.

Restream vs StreamYard Overview

Here is what each platform offers before I compare them feature by feature.

What Is Restream?

Restream is one of the most popular live streaming platforms with over 10 million users. It broadcasts your content from one dashboard to more than 30 social and video platforms.

It runs in the cloud, so you don’t need to install software. You can go live from its browser-based Studio or connect your own tool, such as OBS or Zoom.

Restream saves you from managing separate streams, like broadcasting from TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube one by one. You control everything from one place and read every platform’s chat in one window.

Restream’s Main Features

• Multistreaming to 30+ platforms, with up to 8 channels at once
• Restream Studio for live shows with guests, scenes, and graphics
• Upload & Stream for scheduling recorded videos as live events
• Dual format streaming for horizontal and vertical platforms at the same time
• Cross-platform chat and analytics
• Cloud recording, with local recording and split tracks on higher plans
• AI Clips and Webinars as paid add-ons
• Support for OBS, Zoom, vMix, Ecamm, and other encoders

Overall, Restream offers what online course creators need to create high-quality live streams and grow an audience.

What Is StreamYard?

StreamYard is also a leading live streaming and recording studio designed for creators who want an uncomplicated tool. Like Restream, it runs in the browser and multistreams to Facebook, YouTube Live, LinkedIn, and other sites.

StreamYard suits live or pre-recorded webinars, Q&A sessions, online classes, video podcasts, and interviews.

I’ve been a long time StreamYard user and love its simplicity and ease of use that make it perfect for non-technical users who want to go live quickly.

StreamYard’s Main Features

• Multistreaming to up to 8 destinations, plus custom RTMP
• Up to 10 people on screen and 15 backstage
• Local recordings of each participant, in up to 4K on the Advanced plan
• Pre-recorded streams of up to 4 hours
• Landscape and portrait streaming from one session
• Logos, overlays, layouts, banners, and AI backgrounds
• Comments on screen, a giveaway tool, and a live polls widget
• On-Air webinars and AI clips

I compare StreamYard with a meeting tool in my StreamYard vs Zoom guide.

Restream vs StreamYard Pricing

Restream has the lower prices. StreamYard includes more in each plan. Which one costs less for you depends on the features you need.

Restream Pricing Plans

Restream has a free plan, three paid plans, and custom enterprise pricing. Annual billing saves about 20%, and first-time subscribers get a 7-day money-back guarantee.

• Free: Free. 2 channels at once, 6 on-screen participants, Restream branding
• Standard: $16/month on annual billing or $19/month paid monthly. 3 channels at once, 10 on-screen participants, 720p in Studio
• Professional: $39/month on annual billing or $49/month paid monthly. 5 channels at once, Full HD 1080p, 4K recording
• Business: $199/month on annual billing or $239/month paid monthly. 8 channels at once, 2 team seats
• Enterprise: Custom pricing. Custom

The free plan is generous for testing. You can multistream to two channels in 720p with up to six people on screen. It adds Restream branding and can’t stream to Facebook Pages or custom RTMP channels.

Standard removes the branding and adds a third channel, custom graphics, and cloud recording. Restream Studio stays at 720p on this plan.

Professional is the plan I’d point most serious creators to. It adds 1080p streaming, 4K recording, local recording with split tracks, and dual format streaming.

Two things cost extra on every paid plan. AI Clips and Webinars are add-ons with their own monthly fees, which you can see in the table above.

StreamYard Pricing Plans

StreamYard has a free plan and two paid plans for individuals. Business plans for teams are quoted by its sales team. Paid plans come with a 7-day free trial on paid plans and a 7-day money-back guarantee on the first charge.

• Free: Free. 1 destination, 6 on-screen participants, StreamYard logo on streams
• Core: $35.99/month on annual billing or $44.99/month paid monthly. 3 multistream destinations, 10 on-screen participants
• Advanced: $68.99/month on annual billing or $88.99/month paid monthly. 8 multistream destinations, On-Air webinars for 100 viewers

The free plan streams to one destination with the StreamYard logo on screen. It also caps your monthly streaming hours and local recordings.

Core includes 1080p streaming, three destinations, unlimited local recordings, pre-recorded streams, and AI clips. Advanced adds eight destinations, 4K local recordings, and On-Air webinars for 100 viewers.

StreamYard’s pricing page now shows these plans publicly. Core and Advanced are licensed for individual use.

Restream vs StreamYard Pricing Compared

	Restream	StreamYard
Free plan	2 channels at once, 6 on-screen participants, Restream branding	1 destination, 6 on-screen participants, StreamYard logo on streams
Entry paid plan	Standard at $16/mo annual or $19/mo monthly	Core at $35.99/mo annual or $44.99/mo monthly
Mid plan	Professional at $39/mo annual or $49/mo monthly	Advanced at $68.99/mo annual or $88.99/mo monthly
Top self-serve plan	Business at $199/mo annual	Business plans are quoted
1080p streaming starts at	Professional	Core
AI clips	Paid add-on	Included
Webinars	Paid add-on	Included in Advanced
Trial or guarantee	7-day money-back guarantee	7-day free trial on paid plans

What You’ll Really Pay

The sticker prices hide a few differences, so I compared four common situations.

• You’re testing live streaming. Restream’s free plan is the better start, because it streams to two channels.
• You want the cheapest way to multistream without a logo. Restream Standard at $16/mo costs less than half of StreamYard Core at $35.99/mo. You accept 720p in the Studio.
• You want 1080p and high-quality recordings. Restream Professional at $39/mo and StreamYard Core at $35.99/mo cost about the same. Restream gives you five channels and 4K recording. StreamYard gives you AI clips and a simpler studio.
• You want webinars and clips too. StreamYard Advanced includes both. On Restream, the Webinars add-on alone costs more per month than StreamYard’s Advanced plan at current prices.

Restream is cheaper for pure multistreaming. StreamYard becomes competitive once you count the tools it bundles. You can check what your live sessions need to earn with our free creator tools.

Winner: Restream. Its free plan is stronger and its entry price is far lower. Budget for add-ons if you need clips or webinars.

Restream vs StreamYard Features Compared

I compared the two platforms across eight areas that matter to course creators and coaches.

Feature	Winner	Why
Live streaming studio	StreamYard	Simpler studio with 1080p on every paid plan
Multistreaming	Restream	30+ platforms and two channels on the free plan
Recording and pre-recorded streams	StreamYard	Mature local recording and long pre-recorded streams
Audience engagement	Tie	Restream has stronger chat tools, and StreamYard has giveaways and polls
Branding	Tie	Both cover logos, overlays, and themes
Webinars	StreamYard	Included in a plan, with reminder emails
AI features	Restream	AI clips, AI analytics, AI music, and an MCP server
Analytics	Restream	Cross-platform analytics for every stream

Feature #1: Live Streaming Studio

The studio is where you run the show. It decides how polished your stream looks and how hard it is to produce.

Restream

Restream lets you live stream events, online classes, and mastermind sessions from its Studio.

Restream Studio runs in the browser. You can go live from a webcam or connected cameras, invite guests, and switch between layouts and scenes.

• Use the Studio to create live videos from your webcam or connected cameras
• Invite guests or co-hosts with a link
• Build scenes in advance and switch between them during the show
• Add a virtual background, with or without a green screen
• Share up to three screens at once

Paid plans put up to 10 people on screen, and the free plan allows six. Restream Studio streams in 720p until you reach the Professional plan, which adds 1080p. If you stream through OBS or another encoder, Restream passes your original quality through.

I found Restream Studio easy to use. The design highlights the most important live streaming features, like layout, mic and camera selection, and guests, on the main screen.

As a seller of digital products, I also like its in-stream sales tools. If you’re running a free webinar and want people to buy your offer, you paste your checkout link and Restream turns it into a QR code on screen. Viewers scan it with their phones and go straight to your landing page.

Restream now counts QR scans in its analytics, so you can see how many viewers acted.

In my earlier tests, Restream Studio slowed down my computer and froze the browser a couple of times. Later updates fixed that for me.

StreamYard

StreamYard lets you live stream in 1080p from its browser studio on every paid plan. Its interface is uncluttered and gives you only the options you need to run a session.

The free plan hosts six on-screen participants, and paid plans host 10. You can add cameras and switch between them during the show.

You can also play videos, share slides, or share your screen for tutorials and online classes.

StreamYard keeps guests backstage until you bring them on. That helps with larger events where speakers come and go.

StreamYard used to lack Restream’s on-screen sales tools. It now offers custom QR codes on paid plans, so that gap has closed.

Winner: StreamYard. Both studios are capable. StreamYard is easier to learn and gives you 1080p without moving up a plan.

Feature #2: Multistreaming

Multistreaming lets you live stream to several sites from a single platform. It’s the main reason to buy either tool.

Restream

Restream broadcasts live and pre-recorded streams to more than 30 platforms. The list includes YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, Kick, Rumble, Substack, and Telegram.

You can also add custom RTMP channels on paid plans and connect encoders such as OBS, vMix, and Ecamm.

Cross-platform chat brings comments from your channels into Restream Studio, and you can reply from there on most major platforms.

The number of channels you can use at once depends on your plan. The free plan allows 2, and the top self-serve plan allows 8. Dual format streaming, which sends horizontal and vertical video at the same time, starts on the Professional plan.

A few platform rules apply. Instagram needs a professional account and limits streams to one hour. Facebook Groups work only through a manual stream key. If LinkedIn is your main channel, read my guide to LinkedIn live streaming first.

The embedded website player is limited to the Business plan, with a cap on concurrent viewers.

StreamYard

StreamYard supports fewer platforms, but the list covers what most course creators use. It connects directly to Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Twitch, Kick, and Brightcove, and reaches others through custom RTMP.

Instagram is a recent addition. When I first compared these tools, StreamYard didn’t support it.

StreamYard also streams landscape and portrait video from one session and shows comments from every platform in one view.

The free plan streams to one destination. Core allows three and Advanced allows eight.

I don’t think Restream’s extra platforms matter much to most course creators, because few of us use them. The free plan and the lower price per channel matter more.

Winner: Restream. It supports more platforms, gives free users two channels, and costs less per channel.

Feature #3: Recording and Pre-Recorded Streams

Recordings turn a live session into course lessons, podcast episodes, and clips. Pre-recorded streams let you deliver a polished session without presenting live.

Restream

Restream records your streams to the cloud on paid plans. The length it records per stream and the days it stores recordings depend on your plan. The free plan doesn’t keep cloud recordings beyond a short trial.

From the Professional plan, you get 4K recording, split audio and video tracks, and local recording. Local recording captures each participant on their own device. It’s still in beta, works in desktop Chrome, and doesn’t record guests who join from phones.

For recorded content, Upload & Stream lets you schedule a video file to go out as a live event. That helps when your audience spans time zones. Limits on video length and storage vary by plan, so check them before you plan a long session.

StreamYard

Local recording is one of StreamYard’s strongest features. It records each participant’s audio and video on their own device, so a weak connection doesn’t spoil the file. Paid plans include unlimited local recordings, and Advanced records in 4K.

The free plan includes two hours of local recording a month.

Pre-recorded streams are included in paid plans. Core plays videos up to two hours long, and Advanced up to four. You can answer questions in the chat while the video plays.

This setup works well for video podcasts and interviews. My guide on repurposing podcasts shows what to do with the recordings.

Winner: StreamYard. Its local recording is proven and included in every paid plan, and its pre-recorded limits are clear and generous.

Feature #4: Audience Engagement

Engagement features keep viewers watching and give them a reason to comment.

Restream

Restream lets you feature a viewer’s comment on screen or show the full chat as an overlay. You can pin and highlight messages and place the chat overlay anywhere in a scene.

Tickers and captions are among my favorite engagement features. Restream’s captions are text banners you write in advance, and you can turn them into a scrolling ticker for announcements and offers.

You can add a countdown timer for breaks, background music from Restream’s AI music library, and QR codes with scan alerts. Guests can chat privately with you during the show.

StreamYard

StreamYard also shows comments on screen with a click. Its giveaway tool picks a random winner from the people who commented, which is an easy way to increase participation.

You can invite a viewer onto the show as a guest, run a live poll, and add banners, tickers, and background music.

Restream gives you finer control over the chat overlay. StreamYard has the giveaway tool and polls.

Winner: Tie. Both keep an audience involved. Pick based on whether chat control or giveaways and polls matter more to you.

Feature #5: Branding

Branding makes your stream recognizable and separates you from creators using default templates.

Restream

Restream organizes your graphics in folders. Each folder holds logos, overlays, backgrounds, captions, QR codes, and music, so you can keep a separate set for each brand or show.

You can choose a display theme, fonts, and custom colors for captions and chat. Animated overlays and logos are supported.

Free users are limited to Restream’s default graphics. Uploading your own starts on the Standard plan.

StreamYard

StreamYard offers similar branding. You can set a logo, brand color, theme, overlays, backgrounds, and video clips, and you can generate a background from a text prompt.

Custom layouts and intro and outro videos come with paid plans. Custom fonts need the Advanced plan. The free plan shows the StreamYard logo.

Winner: Tie. I see little difference here. Both give a paid user everything needed for a branded show.

Feature #6: Webinars

Webinars add registration and a private audience to a live stream. They suit sales presentations and paid workshops. See my best webinar software guide for dedicated tools.

Restream

Restream launched Webinars in 2026 as a paid add-on. You get a hosted event page, registration by name and email, live chat, a replay on the same link, and a list of registrants you can export.

You can bring attendees on screen as guests and stream the session to a Slack channel for internal events.

A webinar can’t be sent to social channels at the same time, and Restream’s help pages don’t mention reminder emails. The add-on is priced by attendee count.

StreamYard

StreamYard’s webinar tool is called On-Air, and it comes with the Advanced plan for up to 100 viewers. It creates a registration page and sends a confirmation and two reminder emails.

Viewers watch on a StreamYard page or on your own site through an embed. You can multistream the same session to social platforms and leave the replay available on demand.

Larger audiences need a Business plan.

Winner: StreamYard. On-Air is included in a plan, sends reminder emails, and can multistream. Restream’s add-on is new and costs extra.

Feature #7: AI Tools & Capabilities

AI tools cut the time you spend on editing, promotion, and reporting after a stream.

Restream

Restream has invested heavily in AI. Its AI Clips add-on picks highlights from a stream, reframes them for vertical video, adds captions, and can post them to Shorts, TikTok, and Reels.

Restream also offers AI insights in its analytics, where you can ask questions about your stream’s performance. It suggests stream titles, generates background music, and transcribes recordings.

In 2026, it released an MCP server, which lets AI assistants such as Claude and ChatGPT work with your Restream account.

StreamYard

StreamYard includes AI clips in its plans. The free plan allows 2 a month, Core 6, and Advanced 25. You can mark a moment during a show by saying “Clip that.”

It also generates backgrounds from a prompt, removes background noise, and offers transcript downloads on the Advanced plan.

Winner: Restream. Its AI goes further, with analytics, clips, and assistant access. StreamYard’s advantage is that its AI clips cost nothing extra.

Feature #8: Analytics & Reporting

Analytics show which platforms and topics bring you viewers, so you can decide where to invest your time.

Restream

Restream gives paid users a cross-platform dashboard. It reports views, peak and average viewers, chat activity, stream duration, stream health, and QR code scans.

Coverage depends on what each platform shares. YouTube, Twitch, and X report the most. TikTok and Instagram report nothing through Restream. Free users see a limited view.

StreamYard

StreamYard provides attendee analytics for On-Air webinars only. For regular streams, you see the live viewer count and then rely on each platform’s own analytics.

Winner: Restream. It’s the only one of the two with real stream analytics.

Restream vs StreamYard Pros and Cons

Restream Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Supports 30+ platforms and many encoders	Studio streams in 720p until the Professional plan
Free plan multistreams to two channels	Clips and Webinars cost extra
Lowest entry price of the two	Local recording is still in beta
Cross-platform analytics and chat	Website player needs the Business plan
Strong AI features, including an MCP server	More settings to learn than StreamYard

StreamYard Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Very easy studio for hosts and guests	Entry paid plan costs more than twice Restream’s
Reliable local recordings, in up to 4K	Free plan streams to one destination
Pre-recorded streams of up to 4 hours	No analytics for regular streams
On-Air webinars and AI clips included	On-Air allows 100 viewers on the Advanced plan
1080p on every paid plan	Core and Advanced are for individual use only

Verdict | Which Live Streaming Tool Is Right For Your Business?

Both platforms will serve a course creator or coach well. The right one depends on what you plan to do with it.

• Choose Restream if reach and cost matter most. It suits creators who want to appear on many platforms, track results in one dashboard, and keep monthly costs low.
• Choose StreamYard if you run interviews, a video podcast, or pre-recorded lessons and want the easiest studio with dependable guest recordings.
• Choose StreamYard Advanced if you also want webinars and AI clips without paying for add-ons.
• Start on Restream’s free plan if you’re new to live streaming and want to test multistreaming before you spend anything.

StreamYard has improved its product, but it has also become much more expensive. Restream has kept its entry price low while adding vertical streaming, AI tools, and webinars.

For most course creators who prioritize reach and growth, Restream still wins on value for money.

If neither fits, see my OneStream Live review for a tool built around pre-recorded streaming.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Restream better than StreamYard?

Restream is better for reach, analytics, and price. It supports 30+ platforms, includes cross-platform analytics, and costs less. StreamYard is better for ease of use, local guest recordings, and pre-recorded streams. Most course creators on a budget get more value from Restream.

Is Restream cheaper than StreamYard?

Yes. Restream’s entry paid plan costs less than half of StreamYard’s on annual billing, and its free plan streams to two channels. Restream charges extra for AI clips and webinars, which StreamYard includes in its plans.

Can I stream to Instagram with Restream or StreamYard?

Yes, both now support Instagram. You need an Instagram professional account, and streams are limited to about one hour. Instagram comments don’t appear in either studio’s chat, and vertical video works best.

Which is better for webinars, Restream or StreamYard?

StreamYard is the better choice today. Its On-Air webinars come with the Advanced plan for up to 100 viewers and include registration and reminder emails. Restream sells webinars as a separate add-on with registration, chat, and replays.

Do Restream and StreamYard work on mobile devices?

Yes. Hosts and guests can join both from a mobile browser. StreamYard also has a guest app for iPhone, which is required when local recording is on. Screen sharing is limited on phones.

How many guests can I bring on screen?

Both platforms put up to 10 people on screen on paid plans and 6 on the free plan. StreamYard’s Advanced plan also holds up to 15 people backstage.

Which one is better for podcasting?

StreamYard is the stronger choice for video podcasts. It records each participant locally in up to 4K and delivers separate audio files. Restream offers local recording and split tracks from its Professional plan, but local recording is still in beta.

Can I stream pre-recorded videos with Restream and StreamYard?

Yes. Restream’s Upload & Stream schedules a video file as a live event, with limits that depend on your plan. StreamYard’s paid plans play pre-recorded videos of up to two hours on Core and four hours on Advanced.

Can I make clips from my streams?

Yes. StreamYard includes AI clips in every plan, with a monthly limit, and lets you trim recordings in the browser. Restream offers AI Clips as a paid add-on that can also post clips to social platforms for you.

Can I sell products during a live stream?

Neither platform processes payments. Both let you show a QR code on screen that sends viewers to your checkout or landing page, and Restream counts the scans in its analytics. You take payment through your course platform or payment tool.

Jeff Cobb, Founder of Learning Revolution

Jeff Cobb is an expert in online education and the business of adult lifelong learning. Over the past 20+ years he has built a thriving career based on that expertise – as an entrepreneur, a consultant, an author, and a speaker. Learning Revolution is a place where Jeff curates tips, insights, and resources to help you build a thriving expertise-based business. Learn more about Jeff Cobb here.