Best Live Streaming Tools in 2026
Toolradar data: we track 56 live streaming tools, 29 of them with a free tier (52%), and 51 entered our catalog during 2026. 15 clear our editorial bar.
Toolradar data: we track 56 live streaming tools, 29 of them with a free tier (52%), and 51 entered our catalog during 2026. 15 clear our editorial bar.
This guide covers the 12 that score highest, what separates them, and where each free tier stops. Scores are ours; ratings and review counts come from third-party review platforms.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Free tier | Rating | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Yes | 4.7 | Record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source softw |
| Hopin | No | 4.8 | Virtual and hybrid events platform |
| Zoom Webinars | No | 4.4 | Scale video events to thousands with built-in engagement and i |
| Mux | No | 4.4 | Video infrastructure for developers |
| StreamYard | Yes | 4.7 | Live streaming studio in your browser |
| Brightcove | No | 4.1 | Manage, stream, and monetize video content globally |
| Livestorm | Yes | 4.5 | Video conferencing software for webinars and virtual meetings, |
| Vimeo | Yes | 4.5 | Ad-free video hosting, editing, and live streaming for creator |
| Restream | Yes | 4.5 | Broadcast live video to 30+ platforms simultaneously |
| Crowdcast | No | 4.6 | Host engaging live events with registration, Q&A, and monetiza |
The picks
OBS Studio
Record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source softw. Editorial score 91, free tier available, rated 4.7 across 1206 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Hopin
Virtual and hybrid events platform. Editorial score 89, paid only, rated 4.8 across 299 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Zoom Webinars
Scale video events to thousands with built-in engagement and i. Editorial score 88, paid only, rated 4.4 across 396 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Mux
Video infrastructure for developers. Editorial score 86, paid only, rated 4.4 across 19 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
StreamYard
Live streaming studio in your browser. Editorial score 85, free tier available, rated 4.7 across 402 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Brightcove
Manage, stream, and monetize video content globally. Editorial score 85, paid only, rated 4.1 across 71 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Livestorm
Video conferencing software for webinars and virtual meetings,. Editorial score 84, free tier available, rated 4.5 across 2087 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
Vimeo
Ad-free video hosting, editing, and live streaming for creator. Editorial score 83, free tier available, rated 4.5 across 1763 third-party reviews.
Full profile, pricing and alternatives
How we picked
Every tool here is published on Toolradar with an editorial score of 74 or above, out of 56 tracked in this category. Ordering follows that score, then third-party review volume, so a tool with one glowing review does not outrank one with a thousand. The figures update as the catalog does.
FAQ
How many live streaming tools are there?
We track 56 published live streaming tools, of which 15 clear our editorial bar. 51 were added during 2026, which reflects when we indexed them rather than when each vendor launched.
Are there free live streaming tools?
Fewer than you might expect: 29 of 56 offer a free tier, 52%. This is a category where the serious options are paid, and free tiers are trials in practice.
How should I shortlist?
Start from the constraint that will not move: budget, an existing stack you must integrate with, or a compliance requirement. Filter on that first, then compare the two or three that survive. Ranking by feature count leads to the most expensive tool every time.
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Written by
Louis Corneloup
Founder & Editor-in-Chief at Toolradar. Founder & CEO of Dupple, the publisher of 5 industry newsletters reaching 720K+ tech professionals. Reviews B2B software using a public methodology, see /how-we-rate and /editorial-policy.