How to stream to multiple platforms at once (3 ways)
By Jean Luc Poitier, SEO and growth marketing strategist · Restream Reviews · Updated October 5, 2026
Disclosure: this site reviews Restream and earns a commission if you sign up for it through our links. Restream is one option below, and we say where it isn't the right fix.
There are three ways to go live on YouTube, Twitch, LinkedIn, and other platforms at the same time. Which one fits depends on your upload speed, whether you already use OBS, and whether you need to read every platform's chat.
Option 1: OBS with extra outputs (free, uses your bandwidth)
- Install OBS Studio and set up your scene as usual.
- Add a multiple-output plugin such as Multiple RTMP Outputs from the OBS forums.
- Copy each platform's server URL and stream key into a new output.
- Run a speed test: you need your bitrate times the number of platforms in upload, plus headroom.
- Start the main stream, then each extra output, and open each platform's chat in its own tab.
It costs nothing, but every platform adds another full stream to your upload and to your computer's encoding work. A shaky connection drops all of them at once.
Option 2: a cloud relay (one upload, many platforms)
A relay service takes one stream from your encoder and copies it to each platform from its own servers. You set it up once:
- Create an account and connect each platform (YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and so on).
- Copy the service's RTMP URL and stream key into OBS, vMix, or Zoom.
- Go live once; the service sends it everywhere and combines the chats.
Restream does this free for 2 channels and from $19 a month for 3. Reviewers say the main gain is that it no longer strains their connection:
“It has solved bandwidth issues for me while traveling in a motorhome”Jerry W., G2, July 2026
Option 3: a browser studio (no encoder at all)
Restream Studio, StreamYard, and OneStream's Live Studio run the whole show in a browser tab: camera, guests from an invite link, logos and overlays, and the multistream. It's the easiest setup for interviews and podcasts, and the most limited for gaming or complex scenes.
Multistreaming methods compared
| Compared on | DIY with OBS | Cloud relay or browser studio |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free tiers exist (2 channels on Restream); paid from about $15 to $45 a month |
| Upload needed | Bitrate times platforms | One stream's bitrate |
| Combined chat | No, one tab per platform | Yes on most services |
| Guests | Needs extra tools | Invite link in browser studios |
| Branding | None | Service logo on most free plans |
Figures checked against each company's published pages and review-platform listings as of 2026-10-05. “Not published” means the company does not publish that figure.
Which services to look at
Our multistreaming software roundup ranks the options, and the comparisons cover Restream vs StreamYard and Restream vs OneStream Live in detail.
Try Restream freeMultistreaming FAQ
Can I stream to multiple platforms for free?+
Yes. OBS Studio with a multiple-output plugin is free, but your connection uploads one copy per platform. Restream's Free plan relays to 2 channels from one upload, with Restream branding.
How much upload speed do I need to multistream?+
Doing it yourself, multiply your stream bitrate by the number of platforms and leave headroom: a 6 Mbps stream to 3 platforms needs about 18 Mbps of steady upload. With a cloud relay you upload one stream, so 6 Mbps plus headroom is enough.
Is multistreaming allowed on Twitch?+
Twitch's rules for affiliates and partners have changed over time, and older Restream reviews mention problems with it. Check Twitch's current simulcasting guidelines for your account type before you go live on several platforms.
How do I read chat from every platform at once?+
Without a tool you keep a browser tab open per platform. Restream, OneStream Live, and Castr all combine chats; Restream shows every connected platform's comments in one window and can put them on screen.