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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →You can multistream for free by sending one broadcast from OBS to Restream, then relaying it to YouTube and one other supported platform. Restream’s free plan allows two channels to be active at once, but includes Restream branding and excludes some destination types. Check the current limits and each platform’s rules before going live.
What you need for a free multistream
- A YouTube channel eligible to livestream and an account on the second platform.
- OBS Studio to produce and send one video-and-audio stream.
- A Restream account to relay that stream to both destinations.
- A stable internet connection with enough upload capacity for the OBS-to-Restream feed.
Restream’s Help Center says its free plan permits two channels active at once and supports third-party encoders such as OBS. It says free streams include Restream branding, either a small watermark or a link in the stream description. The account may allow you to add more channels than you can broadcast to simultaneously; the free-plan limit described by Restream is two active channels. See Restream’s plan details and its free multistreaming guidance for current terms.
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Destination eligibility matters. Restream identifies Facebook Pages, Groups, and custom RTMP destinations as requiring a paid plan. Other destinations and plan limits can change, so verify that the specific second platform is available on the free tier before setting up your stream.
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Set up OBS, Restream, and YouTube
- Confirm YouTube Live is enabled. Restream’s setup guide says a first-time YouTube streamer needs phone-number verification and may need to wait 24 hours after enabling live streaming. It also says the person connecting the channel must own it. These are Restream’s instructions; check your account’s current YouTube Studio status and requirements, since eligibility can depend on the account.
- Connect both destinations in Restream. Sign in to Restream and use its channel-connection flow to authorize YouTube and your chosen second platform. Review any destination-specific free-plan restrictions before proceeding.
- Connect OBS to Restream. In OBS, choose Restream as the streaming service and authorize the account, or enter the Restream stream key if using the key-based option shown in Restream’s OBS guide. Treat the stream key like a password: do not show it on screen or share it publicly. In Restream, select the two connected channels that should receive the broadcast.
- Set OBS output for the destinations. Restream’s YouTube guide recommends H.264 video, CBR rate control, a two-second keyframe interval (four seconds maximum), and a video bitrate between 3,000 and 40,000 Kbps depending on resolution and frame rate. Its guide lists 240p through 2160p and up to 60 FPS, with AAC or MP3 audio at 128 Kbps stereo. These are Restream’s provider-presented recommendations for YouTube, not universal settings for every destination or connection; confirm current guidance for both platforms and choose a bitrate your upload can sustain.
- Test the routing, then start the public stream. When available, do a private or unlisted test and check the picture, sound, and status at both destinations. Once both receive the feed correctly, start the public broadcast from OBS. Restream’s documented process is to start the broadcast in OBS after selecting destinations in Restream.
For the exact OBS connection flow, see Restream’s OBS guide. For its YouTube encoder settings, see Restream’s YouTube live-streaming guide.
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Choose settings and check platform rules
Balance quality with upload capacity
Use a resolution and frame rate appropriate to your content and connection, then select a bitrate within the receiving platforms’ current recommendations. A high bitrate can improve detail when the connection and destination support it, but it cannot compensate for an unstable upload. OBS sends one feed to Restream in this workflow; Restream says its relay avoids encoding multiple copies locally and does not require additional bandwidth per added destination. Those are vendor claims, and they do not establish how a local multi-output setup performs.
Verify simultaneous-stream policies
Rules are platform-specific and can change. YouTube advises creators to consult the documentation of the other platform when they are unsure about simultaneous broadcasting. Check the destinations’ current terms and help pages before streaming, especially if the broadcast includes licensed material, a paid event, or platform-exclusive content. See YouTube’s live-streaming guidance.
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What the free route gives up
- Two active destinations: Restream says its free plan supports two channels live at once; streaming to three or more requires a paid plan.
- Visible branding: Restream says free broadcasts include a small watermark and/or a Restream link in the description.
- Some destination types: Facebook Pages, Groups, and custom RTMP destinations require paid plans according to Restream.
- Vendor-dependent relay: The workflow relies on Restream to receive and forward the feed. Restream describes its bandwidth and encoding benefits, but those are not independent reliability measurements.
- Local multistream alternatives: Producing separate outputs locally may have different CPU, encoder, and upload demands. The available documentation here does not establish the current requirements or reliability of particular local multi-output plugins.
Troubleshooting common setup problems
YouTube does not appear ready to receive the stream
Check YouTube Studio for live-stream eligibility and verification status. Restream’s guide notes phone verification and a 24-hour wait for a first stream; if you recently enabled the feature, the account may not be ready yet. Also confirm that the Restream user connecting the destination owns the YouTube channel.
The second destination will not connect or is unavailable
Check whether that destination is supported on Restream’s free plan and whether you selected a restricted destination type. Restream says Facebook Pages, Groups, and custom RTMP require a paid plan. Recheck its current plan terms if a previously available option has changed.
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One destination has no audio or video, or looks poor
Confirm that Restream has the intended channels enabled, then inspect OBS’s output codec, rate control, keyframe interval, bitrate, resolution, frame rate, and audio settings. Compare the configuration with the receiving platforms’ current requirements rather than assuming one destination’s recommendations fit both.
The stream drops or buffers
Check OBS’s connection and bitrate against the available upload capacity, and reduce output demands if the connection cannot sustain them. A relay avoids sending a separate local copy for every destination according to Restream, but the OBS-to-relay connection still has to remain stable.
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When a cloud relay is not the right fit
If you need more than two simultaneous destinations, an excluded destination type, or no third-party branding, the free Restream route may not meet your needs. Compare current plan restrictions and destination policies before choosing a paid relay or investigating a local workflow; the latter can put more load on your computer and connection, depending on its setup.
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