7 Best Live Streaming Software in 2025

Want to share epic gaming moments with the world?

Or maybe host a killer webinar for your business?

You need the right tools for the job!

Choosing the perfect live streaming software can be tricky with so many options. 

That’s why we’ve compiled this guide to the top 7 best live streaming software picks for 2025.

Whether you’re just starting or a seasoned pro, we’ll help you find the perfect fit for your needs and budget.

What is the Best Live Streaming Software?

It depends! What do you want to stream? Games? Webinars? Just chatting with friends?

Different software has different strengths.

We’ve ranked the best options to make your choice easier.

Check out our top picks below!

1. Riverside

Have you ever wished you could record studio-quality podcasts and videos from anywhere?

That’s what Riverside.fm is all about! It’s known for its crisp audio and video, even with iffy internet connections.

You can invite guests easily and record separate tracks for everyone.

Plus, it has some handy tools for editing and repurposing your content.

Key Benefits

• Remote recording made easy: Invite guests from anywhere in the world.
• Local recording for top-notch quality: Capture separate audio and video tracks on each participant’s device, ensuring flawless recordings even with shaky internet connections.
• Live streaming capabilities: Seamlessly stream to popular platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and more.
• Built-in editing tools: Polish your recordings directly within the platform.
• Magic Clips: Automatically create short, shareable clips from your recordings, perfect for social media.

Pricing

• Free Plan: Up to 2 hours of recording per month, limited to 720p resolution.
• Standard Plan: $19/month, 5 hours recording time, up to 4k resolution, and live streaming capabilities.
• Pro Plan: $29/month, 15 hours of recording in 4K video resolution, and advanced editing features.
• Business Plan: Contact for pricing.

2. StreamYard

Want to go live on multiple platforms at once? StreamYard makes it easy!

It’s a browser-based streaming studio that lets you interview guests, share your screen, and brand your stream with logos and overlays.

You can also interact with your audience through live chat and comments. It’s super user-friendly, even for beginners.

Key Benefits

• Multistreaming: Go live on multiple platforms at once (Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc.).
• Easy Branding: Customize your live stream with logos, overlays, and backgrounds.
• Guest Invites: Bring up to 10 guests on your stream with a simple link.
• No Software Downloads: Works directly in your browser.

Pricing

• Free: $0/month for Basic features, StreamYard branding
• Basic: $20/month, remove StreamYard branding, more features
• Professional Plan: $39/month, even more features like custom RTMP outputs

3. Restream

Want to reach the widest audience possible? Restream is your go-to tool for multistreaming.

It supports over 30 platforms, including big names like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

You can embed your stream on the website and use Restream Studio to go live with guests and graphics.

It’s a powerful platform for serious streamers.

Key Benefits

• Multistreaming made easy: Reach a wider audience by streaming to multiple platforms at once.
• Customizable branding: Add your logo, overlays, and calls to action to your streams.
• Analytics and insights: Track your viewers, engagement, and other key metrics.
• Cloud-based recording: Automatically record your streams for later viewing or editing.
• Chat integration: Engage with your audience across all platforms in one unified chat.

Pricing

Restream offers a free plan with limited features and several paid plans to suit your needs.

• Free: Multistream in 2 channels, with watermark.
• Standard: $16/month, multistream in 3 channels, Watermark removed.
• Professional: $39/month, multistream in 8 channels, 1080p resolution and 10-hour recording.
• Business: $199/month, multistream in 8 channels, 3 team seats, priority support with website player.

4. Zencastr

Are you looking for professional-quality audio and video for your podcast or remote recordings?

Zencastr is a top choice.

It records each participant’s audio and video tracks locally, ensuring high-quality recordings regardless of internet hiccups.

Plus, it offers features like automatic post-production and transcriptions to streamline your workflow.

Key Benefits

• Studio-quality audio recordings: Capture lossless audio tracks for each participant, ensuring crystal-clear sound.
• Cloud-based storage: Automatically save your recordings to the cloud for easy access and sharing.
• Post-production tools: Edit and enhance your recordings directly within the platform.
• Transcriptions: Automatically generate transcripts of your recordings.
• Live editing: Edit your recordings in real time during the session.

Pricing

Zencastr offers a free trial for 14 days with some limited features.

• Standard: $20/month for 1080p quality unlimited hours of recording.
• Grow: $30/month for 4k quality unlimited hours of recording.
• Scale: $50/month for 4k quality unlimited hours of recording and schedule clips to 7 social platforms.

5. Podcastle

Want to create professional-sounding podcasts without breaking the bank?

Podcastle is an excellent option.

It’s an AI-powered platform with features like noise cancellation, audio enhancement, and automatic transcriptions.

It also offers a user-friendly interface and tools for recording, editing, and publishing your podcast.

Key Benefits

• AI-powered tools: Enhance audio quality, remove background noise, and generate transcripts automatically.
• Remote recording: Record high-quality interviews with guests from anywhere in the world.
• Magic Dust: Automatically clean up your audio, removing ums, uhs, and other filler words.
• Revoice: Create realistic voiceovers from text using AI.
• Intuitive editing: Edit your podcast episodes with ease using a drag-and-drop interface.

Pricing

Podcastle offers a free plan with some limited features and several paid plans to suit your needs.

• Basic: $0/month for 3 hours of video recording.
• Storyteller: $11.99/month for 8 hours of video recording.
• Pro: $23.99/month for 20 hours of video recording.
• Teams: Contact for pricing.

6. Ecamm

Are you a Mac user who wants to take your live streams to the next level?

Ecamm Live is a powerful streaming software explicitly designed for macOS.

It offers advanced features like custom overlays, scene transitions, and support for multiple cameras.

It’s a popular choice among professional streamers and online educators.

Key Benefits

• Intuitive interface: Easy to navigate, even for beginners.
• Scene building: Create dynamic scenes with multiple camera angles, overlays, and effects.
• Screen sharing: Share your screen or specific applications during your live streams.
• Green screen support: Replace your background with virtual sets or images.
• Direct integration with popular platforms: Stream seamlessly to Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and more.

Pricing

Ecamm Live offers a free trial and two paid plans.

• Trial: 14-day trial with full access to all features.
• Standard: $20/month for unlimited multistreaming to 10 destinations.
• Pro: $40/month for 4k streaming.

7. Streamlabs

Are you looking for free and feature-rich streaming software?

Streamlabs is a popular choice, especially for gamers.

It offers various features like custom alerts, overlays, and donations.

It also integrates with popular streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

Key Benefits

• Stream overlays and alerts: Customize your stream with eye-catching graphics and notifications.
• Donations and tipping: Enable your viewers to support your channel financially.
• Chatbot integration: Automate chat moderation and engagement.
• Game-specific integrations: Enhance your gameplay streams with interactive overlays and features.
• Mobile streaming app: Stream directly from your smartphone or tablet.

Pricing

Streamlabs is free to use, with optional paid features and subscriptions for additional customization and benefits.

• Free Plan: Access to basic overlays, alerts, and features.
• Ultra: $19/month, unlocks premium overlays, themes, and features.

8. Castr

Do you need a reliable and scalable live streaming and video hosting solution?

Castr is a robust platform that offers multistreaming, video hosting, and embed options.

It’s a good choice for businesses and organizations needing a robust live events and video-on-demand solution.

Key Benefits

• Live streaming and video hosting: Stream live events and host your video library all in one place.
• Multistreaming: Reach a broader audience by streaming to multiple platforms at once.
• Embed player: Easily embed your videos on your website or blog.
• Monetization options: Earn money from your videos through ads or subscriptions.
• Analytics and insights: Track your viewers, engagement, and other key metrics.

Pricing

Castr offers a free trial and several paid plans with varying features and storage limits.

• Free Trial: 7-day trial of the All in One plan.
• Starter: $19.99/month for 6 multistream destinations.
• Standard: $39.99/month for 10 multistream destinations.
• Professional: $99.99/month for 15 multistream destinations.
• Premium: $149.99/month for 20 multistream destinations.
• Ultra: $299.99/month for 30 multistream destinations.

What to Look For in Live Streaming Software?

• Ease of use: How simple is the interface? Can you quickly figure out how to use the basic features?
• Features: Does it have the needed features, like screen sharing, guest invitations, and custom graphics?
• Price: Free or paid? Does the pricing fit your budget and streaming frequency?
• Streaming destinations: Where can you stream? YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, or custom destinations?
• Customer support: If you have problems, is there good documentation or helpful support available?
• Recording quality: How good are your recordings’ video and audio quality?
• Mobile streaming: Can you stream from your phone or tablet, or only from a computer?

How Can Live Streaming Software Help You?

Live streaming software can seriously boost your online presence, whether you’re a gamer, educator, or business owner.

It’s not just about going live; it’s about connecting with your audience in real time.

Imagine running Q&A sessions, getting instant feedback, and building a community around your content.

That’s the power of live streaming!

Plus, many platforms help you repurpose your streams into other content, like videos and audio clips.

This means you can reach even more people.

Buyers Guide

When searching for the best streaming software of 2025, we took a deep dive to find the perfect streaming solution for various needs. 

Here’s how we did it:

1. Exploring the Landscape: We started by examining all the popular live-streaming platforms, including well-known options like OBS Studio and those designed for specific niches, such as gaming or podcasting. We also considered free live streaming software to compare it to paid options.
2. Feature Focus: We compared the features of each live streaming platform, paying close attention to their ability to broadcast live in high quality, encode efficiently, and integrate with social media platforms like Facebook Live. We also looked at extra features that enhance video streaming, such as screen sharing, guest invitations, and interactive tools.
3. Pricing Deep Dive: We analyzed each streaming service’s pricing structure to understand their value. This included comparing free live streaming software with premium options and considering the monetization options available to content creators and influencers.
4. User Experience Matters: We explored how user-friendly each streaming tool was, considering factors like ease of setup, interface design, and the ability to switch between scenes or layouts easily. We also looked at whether the software could stream games smoothly and efficiently.
5. Support Systems: We investigated each company’s support options, including the availability of help documentation, tutorials, and responsive customer service. We also investigated refund policies and community forums.
6. Mobile-Friendly Streaming: We tested whether each platform allowed users to stream from a mobile device, recognizing the growing trend of mobile video content creation.
7. Community Feedback: We analyzed user reviews and testimonials to understand their real-world experiences with each streaming tool. This helped us identify any hidden strengths or weaknesses that might not be apparent from the product descriptions.

When doing our research to find the perfect product, we determined using these factors:

• Pricing: How much did each product cost? We looked at the overall value and different pricing tiers.
• Features: What were the best features of each product? We focused on what made each platform unique.
• Negatives: What was missing from each product? We considered any limitations or drawbacks.
• Support or Refund: Do they give a community, support, or refund policy? We evaluated the level of assistance provided to users.

Ultimately, the best live streaming software for you depends on your specific needs.

Whether you’re a seasoned streamer or just starting, we’ve got you covered with our comprehensive guide to the top platforms of 2025 (and even some insights from 2022 – 2024!).

Wrapping Up

That’s a wrap on our guide to the best live streaming software!

We’ve covered a lot, from free options to powerful tools for pros.

Remember, the best choice depends on what you need.

Consider what features are important to you and how much you can spend.

Live streaming is an excellent way to connect with people and share your passions.

Whether you want to make friends, teach something cool, or build a business, live streaming can help!

We hope this guide helps you find the perfect software to make your livestream dreams come true.

Frequently Asked Questions