OBS Studio vs Restream
Side-by-side comparison of OBS Studio and Restream.
Free, open-source software for streaming and recording
Stream live video to every platform at once
What they are
OBS Studio
OBS Studio is a free, open-source tool for video recording and live streaming to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Live. It is used by gamers, podcasters, educators, and professional broadcasters who need granular control over their audio and video setup. The feature set rivals paid alternatives, but the interface has a steep learning curve that can frustrate beginners.
Restream
Restream sends a single live broadcast simultaneously to more than 30 platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Creators, businesses, and educators use it to maximize reach without running separate streams. The built-in chat aggregator pulls audience messages from all platforms into one view. The free tier caps you at two destinations with Restream branding on the stream.
if you need video editing. It has a usable free tier to start with.
- +Completely free with no paywalled features
- +Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, and Linux
- +Highly customizable through an extensive plugin ecosystem
if you need analytics and live streaming. It has a usable free tier to start with.
- +Streams to 30+ platforms simultaneously from one setup
- +Unified chat inbox consolidates comments from all destinations
- +Works with any RTMP-compatible encoder, including OBS and Streamlabs
Which to choose
OBS Studio and Restream solve different problems, so most people would not choose between them directly. The comparison below helps if you are weighing where to spend budget, or deciding whether you need both.
Read the full reviews for OBS Studio and Restream.
Pricing checked 5 Jun 2026.