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Lightstream

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Cloud-powered live streaming studio for creators to produce high-quality broadcasts.

Live StreamingVideo & MediaCloud & Infrastructure
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Reviews onG2CapterraSourceForge
94 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Easy to use for beginners

Biggest con

Requires an internet connection

TL;DR - Lightstream

  • Cloud-based live streaming studio.
  • Browser-based, no downloads required.
  • Integrates with major streaming platforms.
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
4.6/5 across review platforms

What is Lightstream?

Editorial review
Lightstream is a cloud-based live streaming studio designed to simplify the production of professional-looking live streams. It eliminates the need for complex hardware or software, allowing creators to go live directly from their browser. The platform is ideal for gamers, content creators, and businesses looking to stream to popular platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and Mixer. Lightstream provides a user-friendly interface for building custom scenes with overlays, alerts, and multiple camera feeds. Its cloud infrastructure handles the encoding and processing, ensuring a smooth stream even with limited local computing power. This makes it accessible for a wide range of users, from beginners to experienced broadcasters, to create engaging and polished live content.

Available on: Web

how we evaluateSourcegolightstream.com ↗

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Easy to use for beginners
  • No powerful local PC required for streaming
  • Professional-looking streams with custom overlays
  • Supports console streaming directly
  • Cloud processing reduces strain on local resources

Cons

  • Requires an internet connection
  • Subscription-based service
  • May have limitations compared to dedicated desktop software for advanced users

Ratings Across the Web

4.6(94 reviews)
G223 reviews
4.7/5
Capterra4 reviews
5/5
SourceForge67 reviews
4.3/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

Browser-based streamingCloud-powered encodingCustomizable scenes and overlaysMulti-camera supportIntegration with Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, MixerStream from Xbox and PlayStationGuest interviewsReal-time alerts and notifications

Pricing Plans

Free

Free

  • 1 user
  • 1 project
  • 100 MB storage
  • Basic features

Basic

$10 / month

  • 5 users
  • 5 projects
  • 1 GB storage
  • Advanced features

Pro

$25 / month

  • Unlimited users
  • Unlimited projects
  • 10 GB storage
  • All features
  • Priority support
Calculate your costView full pricing

How Lightstream's pricing compares

At $10/mo, Lightstream is the most affordable of its 4 direct competitors.

Lightstream
$10
Streamlabs
$10
Ecamm
$32
Wirecast
$33.25
StreamYard
$36

Entry paid plan, monthly.

Reviews

4.6/5

Across 94 verified user reviews on SourceForge, G2, Capterra

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Best Lightstream Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

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OBS Studio logo
OBS StudioFree

Record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source software

4.7
StreamYard logo
StreamYardFreemium

Live streaming studio in your browser

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Ecamm logo
EcammFreemium

The leading live streaming and video production studio built for Mac.

4.6
Vmix logo
VmixPaid

Create professional live streams and video productions from your Windows PC.

4.5
Streamlabs logo
StreamlabsFreemium

All-in-one live streaming and content creation software for creators.

4.3
Xsplit logo
XsplitFreemium

Professional live streaming and recording software for content creators and businesses.

4.1
Wirecast logo
WirecastPaid

Professional live streaming software for anyone, anywhere, turning your laptop into a production studio.

4.2
Switcher Studio logo
Switcher StudioPaid

Transform your mobile devices into a multi-camera live streaming and video production studio.

3.7
See all Live Streaming tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

All Lightstream alternatives8+ tools ranked, pricing + verdict per pickLightstream vs OBS StudioHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsLightstream vs StreamYardHead-to-head: features, pricing, who winsLightstream vs EcammHead-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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Lightstream FAQ

How does Lightstream's cloud-based processing benefit streamers with less powerful computers?

Lightstream offloads the demanding tasks of video encoding and scene rendering to its cloud servers. This means that even if a streamer has an older or less powerful computer, they can still produce high-quality, complex streams without experiencing performance issues like dropped frames or lag, as their local machine only needs to send the raw video feed.

Can I use Lightstream to stream directly from my Xbox or PlayStation console without additional capture cards?

Yes, Lightstream offers direct integration with Xbox and PlayStation consoles. This allows users to stream their gameplay directly to Lightstream's cloud studio, where they can then add overlays, alerts, and other scene elements before broadcasting to their chosen platform, all without needing a separate capture card.

What kind of customization is available for stream overlays and scenes within Lightstream?

Lightstream provides extensive customization options for overlays and scenes. Users can design multiple scenes for different stream segments, incorporate custom graphics, add text, integrate alerts from services like Streamlabs or StreamElements, and arrange various elements to create a unique and professional broadcast aesthetic.

How does the guest interview feature work, and what are its technical requirements for participants?

The guest interview feature allows streamers to invite remote participants directly into their live stream. Guests receive a unique link to join the browser-based studio, requiring only a webcam and microphone. Lightstream handles the integration of their video and audio feeds into the main broadcast, making it seamless for multi-person shows or collaborations.

Is there a way to manage or switch between different stream layouts and scenes during a live broadcast?

Yes, Lightstream allows for dynamic scene management during a live broadcast. Users can pre-configure multiple scenes with different layouts, camera angles, and overlays, and then easily switch between these scenes in real-time with a single click, enabling a more professional and engaging viewer experience.

Source: golightstream.com