Short answer: OBS Studio is the free live streaming software to start with, since its project page names no resolution, destination or watermark cap. For a browser studio with guests, StreamYard's free plan allows 6 on-screen participants and 2 hours of local recording a month, but puts its logo on every stream. Restream's free plan streams to 2 channels with Restream branding. XSplit Broadcaster is free up to 720p without a watermark, and its Premium license costs $14.99 a month, or $59.99 a year ($5 a month). vMix, Switcher Studio, Ecamm Live and Castr have no free plan, and each one offers a trial.
Nine streaming tools compared on free-plan limits, watermarks, destinations and the cheapest paid tier, with prices checked on vendor pages in October 2026.
Free live streaming software comes in three forms: broadcast apps that run on your own computer, hosted studios that run in a browser, and multistream services that send one feed to several platforms. This guide ranks nine tools for a creator or small team that wants to go live at no cost first and pay only when a limit gets in the way. Five have a free plan we could confirm on the vendor's own pages. The other four are the paid tools people move to when a free plan runs out, and they are listed with their trials and cheapest paid price so the step up is visible.
Toolradar data: of the 63 live streaming tools we track, 54% have a free or freemium plan (8 free and 26 freemium), and 28 are paid only (44%). Those counts cover every tool in the category, so a free row there says little about whether its limits suit a live show. The table below does that work. For the webinar side of the question, where registration and rooms matter more than the stream itself, read the best free webinar software guide.
How we chose: these nine were ranked for a US creator or small team going live to one or more platforms. Prices and limits come from each vendor's pricing or product page, read in October 2026. Where a page prints no figure for a limit, the table says "not stated" rather than estimating one. The order follows the free-plan limits first, then the cheapest paid step. See how we rate for the full method.
Top Picks
Picked by editorial review, informed by G2 and Capterra review volume and rating and by media mentions, the signals behind our category rankings. How we rate
Free, open-source recording and live-streaming software for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Starting price
Free
4.7 (1,212 reviews)
Best for
Creators who want no monthly bill and will build their own scenes and destinations.
Free broadcaster with alerts, overlays and Dual Output for one horizontal and one vertical stream.
Starting price
From $10 /mo
4.2 (113 reviews)
Best for
Gaming and chat-led streams that want alerts and overlays without building them by hand.
Browser-based live studio with on-screen guests, a free plan and a logo on every free stream.
Starting price
From $36 /mo
4.7 (409 reviews)
Best for
Interview and panel streams that need up to 6 guests on screen at no cost.
| Tool | Starting price | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Free | 4.7 1,212 reviews | Creators who want no monthly bill and will build their own scenes and destinations. |
| Streamlabs Desktop | From $10/mo | 4.2 113 reviews | Gaming and chat-led streams that want alerts and overlays without building them by hand. |
| StreamYard | From $36/mo | 4.7 409 reviews | Interview and panel streams that need up to 6 guests on screen at no cost. |
| Restream | From $16/mo | 4.4 899 reviews | Creators who want one feed on two channels and accept the branding on free streams. |
| XSplit Broadcaster | Free plan | 4.4 110 reviews | Streamers who stay at 720p or below and do not need multi-platform output yet. |
| vMix | Custom | 4.3 32 reviews | Producers who will pay once and can work within Basic HD's 1080p and four inputs. |
| Switcher Studio | From $55/mo | 4.7 13 reviews | Creators who need two destinations and will commit to a yearly plan. |
| Ecamm Live | From $16/mo | 4.2 201 reviews | Creators who will test the 14-day trial, then pay yearly for Standard or Pro. |
| Castr | From $16.67/mo | 4.7 688 reviews | Teams that want one feed on several platforms and can pay from the first month after the trial. |
OBS Studio
Free, open-source recording and live-streaming software for Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Starting price
- Free
- Free plan
- Free to use
- Rating
- 4.7 (1,212 reviews)
Best for: Creators who want no monthly bill and will build their own scenes and destinations.
- Pro: Free and open source, with no paid tier listed on its page
- Pro: Its page names no resolution, destination or watermark cap
- Pro: Runs on Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13.0 or newer, and Linux
- Con: No hosted guest room is described on its page
- Con: Setup falls on you, so the first show takes longer
OBS Studio offers an incredibly generous pricing model as it is 100% free and open-source.
Streamlabs Desktop
Free broadcaster with alerts, overlays and Dual Output for one horizontal and one vertical stream.
- 4.1 on G2 (59 reviews)
- 4.2 on Capterra (53 reviews)
- 5.0 on SourceForge (1 reviews)
- Starting price
- From $10/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Rating
- 4.2 (113 reviews)
Best for: Gaming and chat-led streams that want alerts and overlays without building them by hand.
- Pro: Free download, with no watermark or time limit on local recordings, per its FAQ
- Pro: Dual Output sends one horizontal and one vertical stream at once
- Pro: Ultra adds multistreaming to three or more destinations
- Con: Free account allows 1 guest or camera and 1 GB of storage
- Con: Ultra costs $27 a month or $179 a year, so extra destinations cost money
This pricing is best for individual streamers and small content creation teams looking for an all-in-one solution.
Watch out
Higher storage/users may push to Pro/Enterprise.
StreamYard
Browser-based live studio with on-screen guests, a free plan and a logo on every free stream.
- Starting price
- From $36/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Rating
- 4.7 (409 reviews)
Best for: Interview and panel streams that need up to 6 guests on screen at no cost.
- Pro: Free plan puts 6 on-screen participants on screen
- Pro: Free plan includes 2 hours of local recording a month
- Pro: Core lists 3 destinations at $35.99 to $44.99 a month
- Con: Free streams carry the StreamYard logo
- Con: The pricing page prints no figure for free streaming hours
It's best for individuals and small to medium businesses looking for a reliable, feature-rich live streaming platform.
Restream
Free plan streams one feed to 2 channels at once, but adds Restream branding.
- 4.0 on Trustpilot (411 reviews)
- 4.6 on Capterra (405 reviews)
- 4.5 on G2 (83 reviews)
- Starting price
- From $16/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Rating
- 4.4 (899 reviews)
Best for: Creators who want one feed on two channels and accept the branding on free streams.
- Pro: Free plan reaches 2 channels at once
- Pro: Records 6 hours per stream, with 15 days of storage
- Pro: Standard starts at $19 a month, Professional at $49
- Con: Free plan carries Restream branding
- Con: Its multistreaming table lists 4K for the free plan, while its Studio table lists 720p
Restream is the leader in multistreaming.
Watch out
Free tier watermark
XSplit Broadcaster
Free broadcaster that streams up to 720p with no watermark, adding a small logo above that resolution.
- 4.5 on Trustpilot (104 reviews)
- 4.2 on G2 (6 reviews)
- Starting price
- Free plan
- Free plan
- Yes
- Rating
- 4.4 (110 reviews)
Best for: Streamers who stay at 720p or below and do not need multi-platform output yet.
- Pro: No watermark on the free version up to 720p
- Pro: Premium is $14.99 a month, or $59.99 a year ($5 a month)
- Pro: Lifetime Premium costs $199.99 once
- Con: Free version adds a small logo above 720p
- Con: Its FAQ ties multi-platform streaming to the paid Premium license
This structure is best for users who are comfortable with a free, limited version and are willing to inquire for premium pricing.
Watch out
Watermarks on free tier above 720p/30fps
vMix
Production software with no free edition, a 60-day trial and Basic HD at $60 once.
- 4.3 on G2 (31 reviews)
- 4.0 on SourceForge (1 reviews)
- Starting price
- Custom
- Free plan
- No
- Rating
- 4.3 (32 reviews)
Best for: Producers who will pay once and can work within Basic HD's 1080p and four inputs.
- Pro: 60-day free trial before buying
- Pro: Lifetime editions include the first 12 months of updates
- Pro: MAX is $50 a month, with updates while subscribed
- Con: Basic HD outputs at most 1920x1080 with 4 inputs
- Con: Its purchase page lists no free edition
Switcher Studio
Production app with no free plan, a 14-day trial and Studio at $45 a month on yearly billing.
- Starting price
- From $55/mo
- Free plan
- No
- Rating
- 4.7 (13 reviews)
Best for: Creators who need two destinations and will commit to a yearly plan.
- Pro: 14-day free trial
- Pro: Studio includes 2 multistreaming destinations
- Pro: Suite lists 20 destinations
- Con: Studio on monthly billing is $65 a month, $20 more than the yearly rate
- Con: No free plan on its pricing page
This pricing structure is best for small businesses, content creators, and event organizers who need robust mobile live streaming capabilities.
Ecamm Live
Paid live-streaming app with no free plan and a 14-day trial, sold on yearly Standard and Pro plans.
- 4.8 on Capterra (174 reviews)
- 4.3 on G2 (19 reviews)
- 2.5 on Trustpilot (8 reviews)
- Starting price
- From $16/mo
- Free plan
- Yes
- Rating
- 4.2 (201 reviews)
Best for: Creators who will test the 14-day trial, then pay yearly for Standard or Pro.
- Pro: 14-day trial with no credit card needed
- Pro: Standard is $16 a month billed yearly ($192)
- Pro: Pro is $32 a month billed yearly ($384)
- Con: No free plan, and no monthly price is printed
- Con: The trial is the only free use
Ecamm's pricing is fair, offering a generous free tier for basic streaming.
- Starting price
- From $16.67/mo
- Free plan
- No
- Rating
- 4.7 (688 reviews)
Best for: Teams that want one feed on several platforms and can pay from the first month after the trial.
- Pro: 7-day trial with no credit card needed
- Pro: Starter is $16.67 a month billed yearly ($199.99 a year)
- Pro: Standard is $49.99 a month billed monthly
- Con: No free plan, so every stream after the trial is paid
- Con: Its pricing page states no resolution, watermark or hours limit for any plan
The incremental feature additions across tiers justify the price increases, especially for bandwidth and storage.
Watch out
Overage fees for exceeding bandwidth/storage
Other Live Streaming tools worth considering
More published tools from our Live Streaming category, ordered by our category ranking. They are not part of the editorial picks above.
What free live streaming software includes
Live streaming software mixes cameras, screens and audio into scenes, then sends the result to a platform as a live feed. The free versions differ in four places: how many destinations one feed reaches at once, the resolution and frame rate they output, whether a logo or watermark lands on the picture, and how much hosted time or recording the free account includes.
A broadcast app such as OBS Studio installs on your computer and sends the feed wherever you point it. Its project page describes it as free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, for Windows, macOS and Linux. A hosted studio such as StreamYard runs in a browser, so its free plan carries its own caps on hours, guests and branding. A multistream service sends a feed you already have to several platforms. Castr, the multistream service in this list, has no free plan at all, so every stream after its 7-day trial is paid. The full category sits on the live streaming ranking, which includes tools outside this list.
The limit you hit first decides the tool
A free plan is a test of your workflow, and the limit that bites is rarely the one on the homepage. A logo on every stream matters to a brand that sells on trust. A two-hour recording allowance matters to a weekly show. A 720p ceiling matters to anyone whose audience expects 1080p. Pick the tool by the first limit you will hit, not the one that reads best on the homepage.
That is why each row in the table below carries numbers. StreamYard's free plan allows 6 on-screen participants, but its pricing page prints no figure for streaming hours. Restream's free plan reaches 2 channels, but it carries Restream branding. XSplit's free version gives clean output up to 720p, then adds a small logo above that. OBS Studio has the fewest named caps, but it leaves the scene setup and the guest arrangements to you.
Key Features to Look For
Destinations per stream (Essential)
How many platforms one feed reaches at once on the free plan. Restream's free plan lists 2 channels, StreamYard's Core plan lists 3 destinations, and XSplit's FAQ ties multi-platform streaming to its Premium license.
Output resolution (Essential)
The highest resolution the free version sends. XSplit's free version stops at 720p before a logo appears. Streamlabs prints 1080p at 60fps only in its Ultra column. Restream's multistreaming table lists 4K on the free column, while its Studio table lists 720p.
Watermark or logo (Essential)
Whether the free stream carries a mark. StreamYard puts its logo in every stream, Restream adds branding to the free plan, and Streamlabs says its desktop app adds no watermark to local recordings.
Recording allowance (Important)
Hours of recording the free plan includes. StreamYard allows 2 hours of local recording a month, and Restream records 6 hours per stream with 15 days of storage.
Guests on screen (Important)
Participants who can appear beside the host. StreamYard's free plan allows 6 on-screen participants, and Streamlabs' free account allows 1 guest or camera.
Upgrade trigger (Nice to have)
The feature that forces a paid plan. For XSplit it is multi-platform streaming, for Streamlabs multistreaming to three or more destinations, and for Restream the 2-channel limit on the free plan.
What to settle before you pick a free plan
-
How many destinations one stream needs. A free plan with 2 channels, like Restream's, covers two platforms and stops there.
-
Whether guests appear on screen. StreamYard's free plan allows 6 on-screen participants, while Streamlabs' free account allows 1 guest or camera.
-
Whether a logo is acceptable on the stream. StreamYard and Restream's free plans both carry branding, and XSplit's free version adds one above 720p.
-
Who will run the software. A broadcast app takes setup time, while a hosted studio asks you to live with its caps.
Evaluation Checklist
Stream for at least 30 minutes to every destination you plan to use, and confirm each one receives the picture at the resolution you chose.
Check the saved recording against the free plan's allowance, such as StreamYard's 2 hours of local recording a month.
Look at the saved recording for a logo or branding before you publish it.
Count the guests you expect on screen and compare them with the free plan's limit before you send invitations.
Pricing Overview
Free broadcast app
OBS Studio and Streamlabs Desktop. Streamlabs' FAQ says its desktop app adds no watermark to local recordings, and its free account allows one guest or camera.
$0
Free hosted studio
StreamYard and Restream. Free streams carry a logo or Restream branding, and the caps sit on recording hours, guests and destinations.
$0
Cheapest paid step
XSplit Premium. Multi-platform streaming, which its FAQ ties to the paid license.
$5/mo yearly or $14.99/mo
Paid, trial first
Ecamm Live, Switcher Studio, Castr and vMix. None has a free plan, and each one offers a trial before the first invoice.
From $16/mo, or $60 once
Pricing Comparison
| Tool | Free plan | Free limits that matter | Cheapest paid tier |
|---|---|---|---|
Free, open source | No resolution, destination or watermark cap named on its page | None, no paid tier | |
Free app | No watermark or time limit on local recordings; one horizontal and one vertical output; 1 guest or camera on the free account | Ultra $27/mo or $179/yr, multistreaming to 3+ destinations | |
Free, $0 | Logo in every stream; 2 hours of local recording a month; 6 on-screen participants; 1 seat; free streaming hours not stated | Core $35.99 to $44.99/mo, 3 destinations | |
Restream | Free, $0 forever | 2 channels at once; Restream branding; 6 hours recorded per stream, kept 15 days; 4K in multistreaming table, 720p in Studio table | Standard $19/mo, Professional $49/mo |
Free | Up to 720p with no watermark; a small logo above 720p; multi-platform streaming listed under Premium | Premium $14.99/mo, $59.99/yr or $199.99 lifetime | |
No free edition; 60-day trial | Basic HD outputs at 1920x1080 with 4 inputs and 1 SRT output | Basic HD $60 once; HD $350; MAX $50/mo | |
No free plan; 14-day trial | Studio includes 2 multistreaming destinations | Studio $45/mo billed yearly, $65/mo monthly | |
No free plan; 14-day trial, no card | Trial gives all Standard and Pro features | Standard $16/mo billed yearly ($192); Pro $32/mo billed yearly ($384) | |
Castr | No free plan; 7-day trial, no card | Trial only; no resolution, watermark or hours limit stated on any plan | Starter $19.99/mo monthly or $16.67/mo yearly ($199.99/yr) |
Prices and limits checked on each vendor's own page in October 2026: OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, StreamYard pricing, Restream pricing, XSplit Broadcaster pricing, vMix purchase page, Switcher Studio pricing, Ecamm Live pricing and Castr pricing. Where a page prints two figures for one plan without labelling the billing term, the table gives the range.
Mistakes to Avoid
- ×
Judging free plans by the homepage promise and skipping the limits, where the logo, the recording cap and the guest limit sit.
- ×
Assuming a free tool has no limits because the software costs nothing. A free plan can still cap the stream, the guests and the recording.
- ×
Testing one short stream and calling it done. A recording cap or a logo often shows up only in a full-length show.
- ×
Choosing a multistream service before checking whether one feed needs one. OBS can send a single feed to the platform you choose at no cost.
Expert Tips
- →
Run a full-length test to the exact destination and resolution you plan to use. Free limits apply per stream, per month and per resolution, and a 10-minute test misses all three.
- →
Confirm the billing term before you budget. StreamYard's Core plan shows two prices without a label, so check the monthly figure on the checkout page.
- →
If the limit is resolution, set your output to 720p on purpose so the XSplit free version does not add a logo mid-show.
- →
Use the trial of a paid tool for the test that matters. Castr offers 7 days and Ecamm Live and Switcher Studio offer 14, enough to run one full show before any invoice.
Red Flags to Watch For
-
A free plan that prints no figure for streaming hours, as StreamYard's pricing page does for its free streams.
-
Resolution figures that disagree within one pricing page, as Restream's do for its free column.
-
A paid tier with an unlabelled monthly and yearly price, as StreamYard's Core plan shows.
-
A free tier whose logo or branding sits on every stream, which the viewer sees before anything else.
The Bottom Line
Start with OBS Studio if you want no bill, and accept that the scene and guest setup is yours. Move to a hosted studio when guests must be on screen, and compare StreamYard's free plan (a logo and 2 hours of local recording a month) with Restream's free plan (2 channels and branding). Take XSplit Premium once you need multi-platform streaming, since its free version stops at 720p and adds a logo above it. vMix, Switcher Studio, Ecamm Live and Castr are paid tools with trials, the right step once the free options above stop fitting your show.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free live streaming software in 2026?
OBS Studio. It is free and open source, and its project page names no resolution, destination or watermark cap. If guests must appear on screen, compare StreamYard's free plan (6 on-screen participants, 2 hours of local recording a month, a logo on every stream) with Restream's free plan (2 channels, Restream branding).
Is OBS Studio free to use for streaming?
Yes. Its project page describes it as free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, and lists no paid tier. It runs on Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13.0 or newer, and Linux.
Does Streamlabs put a watermark on free recordings?
No, according to its FAQ. Streamlabs says Streamlabs Desktop does not add watermarks or impose time limits on local recordings. Its free account allows 1 guest or camera and 1 GB of storage, while Ultra, at $27 a month or $179 a year, adds multistreaming to three or more destinations.
How long can you stream for free on StreamYard?
StreamYard's pricing page prints no figure for free streaming hours. The free plan does include 2 hours of local recording a month, a StreamYard logo on every stream and 6 on-screen participants, so run a full-length show before you rely on it.
What resolution can you stream on a free plan?
XSplit Broadcaster's free version streams up to 720p without a watermark, and adds a small logo above that. Restream's free column lists 4K in its multistreaming table and 720p in its Studio table, so plan for 720p if you use the Studio editor.
How much does paid live streaming software cost here?
The cheapest paid entry is XSplit Premium at $59.99 a year, which is $5 a month, or $14.99 a month on monthly billing. vMix's Basic HD is a one-time $60 purchase, and Ecamm Live bills its Standard plan yearly, with no monthly price printed.
Do the paid tools without a free plan offer a trial?
Yes. Ecamm Live offers 14 days with no credit card, and Castr offers 7 days with no credit card. Switcher Studio offers 14 days and vMix offers 60 days. Their pricing pages state no card rule for Switcher Studio or vMix, so check at sign-up.
Cite this page: Toolradar, "Best Free Live Streaming Software in 2026", updated October 2026, https://toolradar.com/guides/best-free-live-streaming-software
Related Guides
Ready to Choose?
Compare features, read reviews, and find the right tool.
Some offers on this page may be paid placements or contain affiliate links.