Restream vs StreamYard: more channels for less, or the simpler studio
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.
Both are browser studios that send one show to several platforms. Restream costs less for the same channel count up to 5 channels, lets you multistream on the free plan, and accepts any encoder (OBS, vMix, Zoom) as a source. StreamYard is the polished interview studio: its G2 score is higher (4.8 vs 4.5) and its Advanced plan reaches 8 destinations for $88.99, far below Restream's $239 Business plan.
Pick Restream if you stream to 2 to 5 platforms and want the lower bill or an encoder workflow. Pick StreamYard if you need 8 destinations on a budget, or you mainly host guest interviews and value its studio over price.
Restream vs StreamYard at a glance
| Compared on | Restream | StreamYard |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: 2 channels, Restream branding | Yes: no multistreaming listed, StreamYard logo |
| 3 channels (monthly billing) | $19/mo (Standard) | $44.99/mo (Core) |
| 5 channels | $49/mo (Professional) | Not offered; Core stops at 3 |
| 8 channels | $239/mo (Business) | $88.99/mo (Advanced) |
| Annual discount | 20% | Core $35.99/mo, Advanced $68.99/mo |
| On-screen participants | Up to 10 | 6 free, 10 on Core |
| Bring OBS or another encoder | Yes, any RTMP encoder (OBS, vMix, Zoom) | Not listed on its pricing page |
| Refund window | 7 days, first purchase | 7 days, first charge |
| Trustpilot overall | 4.6 (504 reviews) | 4.1 (514 reviews) |
| Trustpilot invited / unprompted (latest 50) | 5.0 (45) / 3.0 (5) | 4.44 (41) / 1.22 (9) |
| G2 | 4.5 (83 reviews) | 4.8 (299 reviews) |
| Owner | Restream, Inc. (Austin, TX) | Bending Spoons (Milan, Italy) |
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.
Prices from restream.io/pricing and streamyard.com/pricing, monthly billing, checked October 5, 2026. Trustpilot splits use each company's 50 most recent reviews, pulled the same day; the unprompted samples are small, so read them as a rough signal.
Price per channel decides most purchases
Count the platforms you go live on each week. For 3, Restream Standard is $19 a month and StreamYard Core is $44.99, so Restream costs less than half. For 4 or 5, Restream Professional at $49 is the only option of the two short of an 8-destination plan. At 6 to 8, the order flips: StreamYard Advanced costs $88.99 and Restream needs Business at $239, which also adds a website player, 2 team seats, and co-producers.
Restream works with your encoder; StreamYard wants its studio
Many Restream reviewers never open its studio. They point OBS or vMix at Restream and let it relay the feed, with every platform's chat in one window. StreamYard is built around its browser studio first. If your show is already produced in OBS, Restream fits the workflow you have; if you want a studio that makes guests look good with no setup, StreamYard is the more refined one.
What recent StreamYard reviews complain about
StreamYard's unprompted Trustpilot reviews from the last few months center on the Bending Spoons takeover: higher prices, support moved to automated replies, and audio problems with guests.
“They have literally been greedy in tripling the price and tou get less.”Jane, Trustpilot, June 2026
“the support at Streamyard is completely non-existent since they introduced AI bots.”Pete, Trustpilot, September 2026
Restream's own weak spot is billing: its critical reviews describe charges after cancelling and refused refunds on renewals. Our guide to cancelling Restream covers how to avoid that.
Where StreamYard wins
- 8 destinations for $88.99 a month, against $239 on Restream
- Higher G2 score: 4.8 from 299 reviews, against Restream's 4.5 from 83
- A studio many hosts find easier for guest interviews, with a backstage area on Advanced
- 4K local recordings on Advanced
Restream vs StreamYard FAQ
Is Restream or StreamYard cheaper?+
Restream, on every multistreaming tier. On monthly billing Restream Standard costs $19 for 3 channels and StreamYard Core costs $44.99 for 3 destinations. For 8 channels, Restream Business is $239 and StreamYard Advanced is $88.99, so at the top StreamYard is cheaper; Restream's $49 Professional plan covers 5 channels in between.
Can I multistream for free on Restream or StreamYard?+
Restream's Free plan streams to 2 channels at once, with Restream branding. StreamYard's Free plan lists no multistreaming; multistreaming starts on Core with 3 destinations.
How do their reviews compare?+
In each company's 50 most recent Trustpilot reviews (pulled October 5, 2026), Restream's 45 invited reviews average 5.0 and StreamYard's 41 average 4.44. Unprompted reviews are a small sample for both: Restream's 5 average 3.0 and StreamYard's 9 average 1.22. On G2, StreamYard rates 4.8 from 299 reviews and Restream 4.5 from 83.
Who owns StreamYard?+
StreamYard's own site names Bending Spoons, the Italian app company, as the controlling company. Several recent reviews tie price rises and slower support to that takeover. Restream, Inc. is independent and based in Austin, Texas.