Restream

Overview

Restream is a livestream production and distribution service for people who want to broadcast to several destinations without running separate streams. It suits creators, marketers, event producers and organizations that need browser-based production or a workflow built around tools such as OBS. Its strongest case is combining multistreaming with chat, scheduled recorded broadcasts and clips; the trade-off is that channel capacity, branding and team seats vary sharply by plan.

Key features

Restream can send a live feed to more than 30 social channels and other destinations, with custom channels supported. Its integrations include YouTube, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Kick, Vimeo and Steam, plus OBS, Zoom, vMix and Streamlabs. Custom RTMP accommodates services that provide an RTMP URL and stream key. This breadth is useful when an audience is spread across platforms, though plan limits determine how many destinations can receive a stream at once.

The browser-based Restream Studio lets users go live without setup, add graphics, invite guests and display viewer comments. It supports up to 10 participants, useful for interviews and group broadcasts. Studio screen sharing works in desktop browsers, not mobile browsers, so mobile-only production is a poor fit for that workflow. Users can also connect third-party software such as OBS and Zoom.

Restream Chat gathers comments from connected platforms in one place for reading and responding. Upload & Stream schedules recorded video to air as a live broadcast while the user is offline, while Clips finds moments in streams and videos and turns them into short-form content with smart framing and captions. These tools extend a live workflow beyond the broadcast itself.

Cloud recordings can be accessed and shared online rather than kept on a device. Listed plans allow 6 to 10 hours of recording per stream; storage ranges from 15 days on Free, Standard and Professional to 30 days on Business. Restream supports encrypted RTMPS streams. Its GDPR measures cover access controls, monitoring and logging, vulnerability and breach detection, incident response and encryption. Enterprise adds SSO and a security review.

Pricing

Free costs nothing, billed $0 forever. It allows two simultaneous channels and includes Restream branding, six hours of recording per stream and 15 days of recording storage. It is a sensible way to try the workflow, but branding and the two-channel ceiling make it restrictive for polished or broader distribution.

Standard costs $19 a month, billed monthly. It raises capacity to three channels, removes branding and includes one team seat, 10 hours of recording per stream and 15 days of storage. This is the entry point for creators who need an unbranded broadcast but can work alone and reach no more than three channels.

Professional costs $49 a month, billed monthly. It supports five simultaneous channels, Full HD 1080p, 4K recording, one team seat, 10 hours per stream and 15 days of storage. It fits users who need Full HD streaming or 4K recordings, but adds no extra seat or longer storage period over Standard.

Business costs $239 a month, billed monthly. It raises the limit to eight channels and includes two team seats, co-producer mode, a website player with 1,000 viewers and 30 days of recording storage. The higher price is most defensible for teams that need those production and distribution capacities; it is a steep step for an individual creator.

Enterprise has custom pricing for media and corporate teams. It includes custom channels, multiple workspaces, SSO and a security review, dedicated account management, SRT ingest, stream backup and unlimited Upload & Stream. Restream says paid plans start at $19 per month and annual pricing saves 20%; the listed plan prices above are monthly billing. Priority support on paid plans includes 24/7 live chat, while Enterprise includes dedicated support and account management.

Platforms

Restream supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web and Windows, and offers an API. Browser-based streaming avoids setup, while the Studio screen-sharing limitation on mobile browsers matters for anyone planning to present their screen from a phone or tablet.

Who it's for

Restream is a strong match for creators and businesses that need one live production to reach multiple services, especially when guest participation, centralized comments or scheduled recorded broadcasts matter. It can also serve marketers, event producers, gamers, artists and non-profits. Solo users with only one destination or teams that need more included seats on lower plans may find its channel-based pricing less compelling.

Pros and cons

• Pro: More than 30 destinations and custom channels make it possible to consolidate distribution across major social services and compatible RTMP endpoints.
• Pro: Studio, unified chat, scheduled recorded streams and clip creation cover production and follow-up tasks in one service.
• Pro: Enterprise offers SSO, security review, multiple workspaces and dedicated account management for larger organizations.
• Con: Free includes branding and only two simultaneous channels, while removing branding requires the $19 a month Standard plan.
• Con: Lower paid plans include only one team seat; a second included seat appears at Business, priced at $239 a month.
• Con: Screen sharing in Studio is unavailable on mobile browsers, limiting that part of the production workflow on mobile.

Alternatives

OBS Studio is the better fit for someone seeking free streaming software with no watermarks or usage limitations and who does not need Restream's combined distribution and audience tools.

Streamlabs Desktop is an alternative for users comparing desktop streaming software with a free Starter tier that includes one guest or camera and 1 GB storage, or an Ultra plan at $27 a month with 3+ destinations.

PRISM Live Studio is worth considering for users who want an option spanning Android, iOS, macOS and Windows; its PRISM Plus plan is $9.99 a month for up to six channels.

mimoLive is an alternative for users seeking a macOS-oriented option with a free watermarked plan and a Studio plan without a watermark.

Meld Studio suits users drawn to a free plan that includes multistreaming, 4K multitrack recording and one-click clipping.

Streamlabs Multistream is another freemium multistreaming option, with Starter limits of one vertical and one horizontal destination, one guest or camera and 1 GB cloud storage.

XSplit Broadcaster may suit Windows users who need free 720p streaming without a watermark and can do without simultaneous multistreaming on its Free plan.

OneStream Live is an alternative whose Free plan supports two multistreaming destinations, 720p, one team seat, 1 GB storage and three scheduled events.

For broader comparisons, see Live Streaming Software, Game Streaming Software, Church Streaming Software, Video Podcast Software and Live TV streaming services.

Verdict

Choose Restream if reaching several destinations from one production, with shared chat and tools for guests, scheduled broadcasts and clips, is more important than keeping costs low. It is particularly persuasive for workflows that need browser production or integrations with existing streaming software. Look elsewhere if you only need free single-purpose streaming, need mobile-browser screen sharing, or require more than one team seat without moving to Business.