Free and open first

Best Live streaming software in 2026

134 apps
Research read 28 Sept 2026
How the order is worked out

1

mimoLive
by mimoLive
Free plan APIiPhoneMac+1

Choose mimoLive if you need a Mac-based production application with layered graphics, routing, recording, and multistreaming.

7.7 Free plan Visit site
2

PRISM Live Studio
by PRISM Live Studio
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1

PRISM Live Studio offers creator tools across desktop and mobile, with different feature sets on each.

7.7 Free plan · paid from $9.99/mo Visit site
3

OBS Studio
by OBS Studio
Free plan LinuxMacWindows

OBS Studio offers scene-based recording and streaming, with audio tools and scripting options in a free, open-source package.

7.6 Free plan Visit site
4

Restream
by Restream
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+4

Restream combines multistreaming, a browser-based studio, shared chat, scheduled recorded broadcasts, and clip creation.

7.6 Free plan · paid from $19/mo Visit site
5

Streamlabs Multistream
by Streamlabs Multistream
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+2

Streamlabs Multistream combines multi-destination broadcasting with chat, scheduling, and device handoff.

7.6 Free plan · paid from $15.75/mo (annual) Visit site
6

OneStream Live

Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+1

OneStream Live combines live and scheduled video workflows with browser, encoder, and mobile options.

7.6 Free plan · paid from $15/mo Visit site
7

Tencent Cloud Live Video Streaming

Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1

CSS covers broadcast delivery, processing, interactive streaming, and management through a range of protocols.

7.5 Visit site
8

Amazon Interactive Video Service
by Amazon Interactive Video Service
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+1

IVS provides two streaming latency options, interactive APIs, host stages, and recording integration. Pricing varies with service and usage; AWS also lists a Free Tier for new customers.

7.5 From $0.20 Visit site
9

Agora Interactive Live Streaming
by Agora Interactive Live Streaming
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+3

Agora combines real-time calls and streaming with audience interaction, collaboration, and several recording options.

7.5 Free plan · paid from $0.99 Visit site
10

datarhei Restreamer

Free plan APILinuxMac+3

Restreamer combines self-hosted streaming, multiple input and output protocols, monitoring, and an integration API in free software.

7.5 Free plan Visit site
11

Riverside
by Riverside
Free plan AndroidAPIiPhone+3

Riverside covers recording, editing, and publishing for podcasts and video, with webinar features available on a separate plan.

7.5 Free plan · paid from $24/mo (annual) · 14-day trial Visit site
12

SplitCam Multistream
by SplitCam Multistream
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1

SplitCam Multistream pairs encoder-based multistreaming with scene and audio tools on a free plan. Its studio is not browser-based, so choose it only if the supported apps fit your workflow.

7.5 Free plan Visit site
13

Streamlabs Desktop
by Streamlabs Desktop
Free plan MacWindows

Streamlabs Desktop offers core broadcasting and recording tools at no cost, with integrations, multistreaming, and collaboration features.

7.4 Free plan · paid from $179/yr Visit site
14

Bitmovin Live Encoder
by Bitmovin Live Encoder
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb

Bitmovin Live Encoder covers ingest, encoding, packaging, ad insertion and DRM for live workflows. The free monthly allowance is limited, with additional use billed by time.

7.4 Visit site
15

Shed

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

Pick Shed if you want a free, self-hosted studio with browser mixing, remote guests, and simultaneous multi-destination streaming.

7.4 Free plan Visit site
16

ManyCam

Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1

ManyCam brings virtual camera, background, and production tools together for video calls and streaming.

7.4 Free plan · paid from $59/yr Visit site
17

SRS
by SRS
Free plan APILinuxMac+2

SRS provides broad protocol support and deployment guidance for streaming use cases. Plan API access control carefully, since the project recommends an Nginx proxy.

7.4 Free plan Visit site
18

Streamster

Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb+1

Streamster offers free, monthly, and hourly billed options with different channel and bitrate limits. Compare each plan’s stated limits with your broadcast needs before choosing.

7.4 Free plan · paid from $0.48 Visit site
19

Livepeer
by Livepeer
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

Livepeer provides a coordinated network for real-time video processing and AI inference, with API access for developers and roles for compute providers.

7.4 Free plan Visit site
20

MediaMTX

Free plan APILinuxMac+3

MediaMTX provides broad protocol support, conversion, and disk-based recording in a free server. Users should plan for their own recording storage, since cloud recording is not available.

7.4 Free plan Visit site
21

Meld Studio

Free plan MacWindows

Meld Studio provides streaming, recording, and audio tools in a desktop app. Check its operating-system requirements and Spark request limits before choosing a plan.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $20/mo Visit site
22

LiveReacting

Free plan APIWeb

LiveReacting combines an interactive browser studio with cloud-based streaming and multiple destination options.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $16/mo (annual) Visit site
23

Upstream

Free plan APIWeb

Choose Upstream if you need browser-based production, multistreaming, scheduled broadcasts, or looping cloud streams.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $30/mo Visit site
24

StreamRove

Free plan APIWeb

Choose StreamRove if you want to route one feed to several destinations and use its browser Studio or scheduled playback.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $24.17/mo (annual) Visit site
25

Ant Media Server
by Ant Media Server
Free plan AndroidiPhoneSelf-hosted

Ant Media Server covers low-latency streaming, recording, multistreaming, and varied deployment models.

7.3 Free plan · paid from $89/mo (annual) Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

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