The 10 Best Multistreaming Platforms in 2022: A Comparison

Live-streaming accounts for 23% of total viewing time globally. That’s almost a quarter of all video content viewed anywhere in the world. For most of us, switching from TV to live-streaming was sort of the natural choice.

This upwards swing in live streaming has helped thousands of content creators, broadcasters, and even businesses to reach large audiences. But this popular communication stream is also highly saturated, where views and audience engagement are king.

Maintaining your relevance and keeping audiences hooked can be challenging when there are so many choices for viewers to choose from. How can you keep your present audience entertained and even get some new viewers?

One way to do that is to keep up with the changes happening in the world of live streaming. Multistreaming or Multi Destination Streaming is one such broadcasting method. It lets you stream on many different live-streaming and video-hosting platforms across the world at the same time. That means more reach and, hopefully, increased traction for your video content.

Broadcasting from a custom web page or app that represents your organization’s branding and message has many benefits. It gives broadcasters more control and flexibility in their streaming experience.

However, if your goal is to connect with a larger audience with your online video content, streaming to multiple platforms simultaneously such as LinkedIn, Twitch, or Mixcloud can help you extend your reach. Multi-platform streaming is essential in order to expand your reach. It allows you to stream to both your website and to other social media platforms at the same time.

In this post, we’re going to discuss the best multistreaming platforms for professional broadcasting in 2022.

Before we dive into our comparison, we will discuss what exactly multistreaming is, how it works, and how professionals benefit from it. We will help you understand why you should live stream on multiple platforms and how to stream on multiple platforms.

Table of Contents

• What is Multistreaming?
• Why Stream to Multiple Destinations?
• Is Multistreaming Worth It?
• How to Multistream and Choose a Streaming Platform
• Top 10 Multi Streaming Platforms
  • 1. Switchboard Live
  • 2. StreamYard
  • 3. Wirecast
  • 4. Boxcast
  • 5. Splitcam
  • 6. XSplit
  • 7. Livestream
  • 8. OBS Studio
  • 9. Castr
  • 10. Restream
• Conclusion

What is Multistreaming?

Multi-destination streaming is also referred to as “multistreaming,” “multicasting,” and “simulcasting.” All four of these terms refer to the same broadcasting technique. Multi-destination streaming involves streaming a single video feed to multiple destinations simultaneously. 

Multistreaming is generally used to share your live video content on your own website and multiple popular social media sites that support live streaming. Currently, multistreaming software is not supported by many live-streaming platforms. Some of the top social media sites that support live streaming include:

• Twitch
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Why Stream to Multiple Destinations?

Before we discuss how to stream to multiple platforms, let’s jump into why should you live stream on multiple platforms?

Well, the biggest benefit of multi-streaming is that it is a great way to reach a large audience. With multistreaming, you meet your viewers where they are already hanging out on the internet.

Streaming to social media sites, such as Facebook and YouTube, allows you to connect with your existing audience on those social media platforms. It also makes it easier for you to grow on those social media platforms. With multistreaming, you meet your audience where they are and then expand your audience.

The main benefit of multistreaming is that it helps broadcasters reach a larger audience. The idea is that by streaming to platforms where your viewers are already “hanging out” on the internet, you can magnetize more views and even new loyal viewers.

At the same time, you can also stream on your own website and provide a customized experience to your audience. With multistreaming, you get to grow your audience on multiple platforms.

Is Multistreaming Worth It?

Change can often seem overwhelming. Wondering if multistreaming is worth it or not for you? We suggest giving the list of pros and cons we’ve compiled below and hopefully, it will clear up some doubts.

Here are some benefits of multi-streaming that might convince you in its favor:

• It increases your chances of being discovered and reaching new viewers.
• Your audience can enjoy seamless viewing even if one platform goes down for any reason. They can simply switch to another and continue watching.
• Multistreaming is ideal to reach audiences around the world
• If you’re live-streaming for marketing purposes, imagine how many sales you can make when your audience is multiplied by 2X, 3X, or even 4X. At the very least, it would give you great brand exposure.
• It’s the perfect medium to discover which broadcasting avenues are bringing in the most views. When the streamed content is the same, it’s easier to spot the difference

To make a fair case, we’ve also compiled a few cons of multistreaming. Here are a few challenges you might face when multistreaming:

• Multistreaming requires you to keep many balls in the air simultaneously. Imagine viewers bombarding you with questions and having to monitor many platforms at the same time
• You might need to onboard more staff. Definitely, a challenge if you’re a one-man [Or woman!] show and don’t have much help. Extra hands can keep things controlled when streaming on many platforms. If your budget is limited, this might cause an issue.
• Most platforms have a defined niche that makes them stand out from other forums. Most broadcasters tweak their content according to the preferences of the platform they are live-streaming on. That’s not possible when you multistream.

How to Multistream and Choose a Streaming Platform

In order to stream smoothly across multiple platforms, there is a lot that happens behind the scenes. Live streaming technology makes this process seamless for modern broadcasters. To go live on multiple platforms, you need a few different things.

Choose an Online Video Platform

First, you need to choose an online video platform. An online video platform equipped with the software to stream on multiple platforms. Such a forum will allow you to create a white-label streaming experience on your brand’s website and app.

Choosing a Multistreaming Tool

Second, you need a multistreaming tool.  A multistreaming tool will allow you to stream to your website, app, and various social media platforms simultaneously.

You need to consider a few factors when choosing a multistreaming tool.

• Compatibility with an Online Video Platform: You need a tool that is compatible with your online video platform.
• Supported Social Media Platforms: When choosing a multistreaming tool, you will want to find one that allows you to stream to the social media platforms where most of your viewers are. Figure out what those platforms are, and you should be able to narrow down which multistreaming tool is right for your business needs.

Setting Things Up

Once you choose an online video hosting platform and a multistreaming tool, it is time to connect them together. Although The specific steps for connecting streaming software vary from platform to platform. but you’ll typically use the encoder setup to connect your multistreaming tool. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to make things simpler for you:

1. To go live on multiple platforms, log into your accounts for the various social media platforms and your multistream platform that you wish to stream to.
2. Connect your online video platform and multistream tool. This process should be fairly seamless if the two video streaming platforms have a partnership or integration. However, if there is not a built-in connection between the two, you’ll have to configure it manually.
3. Set up your encoder. We recommend checking out our encoder setup guide for a technical breakdown of how to set up this connection. This guide will provide you with the steps on how to live stream to multiple platforms using an encoder.
4. Once all of your settings are configured, do a test run. Make sure your stream on all of the sites you’ve chosen. If everything operates as intended, it is time to start streaming.

Top 10 Multistreaming Platforms

As we mentioned, a reliable multistreaming platform is a must. Multistreaming functionality is accessible through a variety of different streaming software. Some are dedicated to multistreaming, whereas others have multistreaming as a secondary option.

With that in mind, let’s compare 10 of the best multistreaming platforms on the market based on features, pros and cons, and pricing. 

1. Switchboard Live

Switchboard Live is a powerful multistreaming platform that is purely dedicated to multi-destination streaming.

Switchboard Live supports simulcasting to Facebook, Twitch, Vimeo, YouTube, LinkedIn Live, and Twitter. All plans support streaming to an unlimited number of destinations. This is a great tool if you want to know how to multistream on all platforms at once.

A unique feature of Switchboard Live is StreamShare. This tool allows broadcasters to plan live stream events in advance and invite participants to streamline the process. That way, you are not waiting for your audience to show up, they are there ready to watch when you start your multistreams. 

Dacast offers a Switchboard Live integration which makes it easy to use with our platform.

Key Features:

• Streaming to unlimited destinations
• Solutions for different industries and use cases
• StreamShare for streamlining event planning
• Streams to top social destinations
• Video player embedding

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Seamless integration with OVPs 
• Powerful simulcasting support
• Reliable customer support

Cons:

Recommended for broadcasters with some technical know-how. Some users complain of “snags” with setting this platform up, and you will need to engage in some manual configuration to connect it to your chosen video hosting platform.

Pricing:

Switchboard Live has three different pricing plans, including:

• Indie Unleashed: $29/month; 1,500 monthly streaming minutes
• Pro Unleashed: $59/month; 4,000 monthly streaming minutes
• Business Unleashed: $99/month; 10,000 monthly streaming minutes 

Switchboard Live is a simulcast platform that easily integrates with OVPs and allows you to stream to unlimited destinations, charging you for the streaming minutes, not the number of destinations you are streaming to.

2. StreamYard

StreamYard is a browser-based streaming platform that offers multistream support. It is a good option for broadcasters that need more than just simulcasting support.

This platform supports streaming to a wide variety of social media platforms, including Hopin, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, and Twitter. It also supports streaming to online video platforms with Dacast via RTMP ingest.

StreamYard has a free plan, but multistreaming support starts at their Basic plan, which is $20/month.

Key Features:

• Multistreaming support
• In-browser streaming
• Multiple presenters at once
• Screen sharing
• Cinematic tools for video editing

Pros:

• Very easy to use
• Designed for improving engagement
• Suitable for collaborative streaming

Cons:

With StreamYard, multistreaming is a secondary tool; it is not its primary function. StreamYard doesn’t support VOD hosting, so if you want to record and save your live streams and then put that content up on your website, you will need another tool. Definitely, a big drawback if you plan to reuse content or e-stream it later.

Also, there are some browser compatibility issues with StreamYard.

Pricing:

StreamYard offers several different pricing plans. Costs are calculated on a monthly basis and include:

• Free: Access StreamYard on a limited basis for free.
• Basic: $25/month; ads support for unlimited streaming, brand customization, graphic overlays, multistreaming, and stream recording
• Professional: $49/month; greater usage capabilities

StreamYard also offers enterprise plans that are priced on a case-by-case basis

These reflect the monthly pricing when billed annually. Paying month-to-month is a bit more expensive.

If you need an easy-to-use multistreamer software option, StreamYard is easy to learn and can integrate with other platforms such as Dacast. 

3. Wirecast

Wirecast is an encoding software from Telestream that offers multistream support. However, multistreaming is simply the tip of the iceberg.

This multistream platform offers tons of features that create a professional broadcasting experience. These include graphic overlays, audio mixing, stream recording, and more.

Wirecast also supports unlimited inputs which makes it possible to incorporate multiple sources.

Key Features:

• Multistreaming
• Encoding tools
• Compatible with both Mac and Windows
• Unlimited inputs 
• Unlimited outputs
• Editing tools
• Support via email

Pros:

• Wide variety of features
• Easy-to-use platform
• One-time purchase

Cons:

Wirecast requires an upgrade to access premium support. The software can be a steep starting investment. The program can strain your computer if it isn’t configured right. If you have the budget and the equipment to support it, then it’s a platform worth spending on. 

Pricing:

Wirecast is available in two versions. These include:

• Wirecast Studio: $599; designed for enhanced live production and streaming
• Wirecast Pro: $799; designed for advanced live production and streaming

Both are one-time purchases. Free trials are available with both versions of the software.

Wirecast offers the ability to stream on multiple platforms, while also being a premium broadcasting tool. 

4. Boxcast

BoxCast supports both multistreaming and multi-site streaming. Boxcast supports streaming to Youtube, Facebook Live, and Periscope. Users can also set up workflows to stream to different websites, both internally and externally.

In addition to its multistreaming support, Boxcast is known for its industry-specific streaming solutions.

Key Features:

• Multi-site player
• Branded streaming apps
• Reliable customer support
• Industry-specific solutions

Pros:

• Wide variety of streaming destinations
• Event scheduling
• Accessible support

Cons:

There are some compatibility limitations with BoxCast. Beyond the basic plan, there are also extra costs built-in for multistreaming. 

Pricing:

BoxCast pricing is based on three plan tiers. Each successive plan offers more features and more storage time per broadcast. The plans include:

• Essential: $99 per month; includes 3-month storage per broadcast and live phone support
• Growth: $149 per month; increases per broadcast storage time to 1 year
• Experience: $199 per month; high-quality streaming and access to advanced features
• Premium: $999 per month; a scalable solution with access to even more advanced features

 Custom plans are available at higher price points as well. 

If you are looking for both multi-site and multistreaming solutions, BoxCast is a great choice for you. 

5. Splitcam

SplitCam is a streaming software that is primarily used for webcam splitting, but it supports multistreaming, as well. It supports multistreaming to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, YouTube, and a variety of other social sites.

Some of the top use cases of SplitCam are live training sessions, webinars, and other virtual streaming events that involve interactions between multiple presenters or involvement from viewers.

This platform is free to use and the streaming experience can be customized with a variety of community-generated plugins.

Key Features:

• Multistreaming
• Multiple sources
• Compatible with Windows and macOS
• Community-developed plugins
• Active online community for added support

Pros:

• Free
• Highly compatible with other streaming software
• Tools for video mixing
• Supports high-quality streaming

Cons:

With SplitCam, you can’t engage in mobile streaming. You have to use a laptop or desktop to use SplitCam. Additionally, it doesn’t support encoding, so you will need to use an outside encoding tool.

Pricing:

SplitCam is free to download and use.

SplitCam is a way to live stream to multiple platforms for free. It also allows you to split the screen with others using webcams at the same time. 

6. XSplit

XSplit is a broadcasting software that is used for multistreaming and more. Some of the other tools from XSplit include webcam connection, webcam blurring, presenter streaming, and screen capture.

XSplit has a unique pricing structure that allows users to purchase licensing in monthly or “lifetime” increments. A lifetime licensing is only $200 which makes it a low-cost option for users that plan to use it for the long haul.

Key Features:

• Multistreaming 
• Tools for video organization
• Screen recording 
• Video mixing and editing
• 24/7 customer support

Pros:

• Wide range of features
• Economical pricing options
• Professional streaming experience
• Accessible support

Cons:

XSplit only works with Windows, not with macOS or Lynx. The interface can be a little tricky, and a learning curve is involved with learning the platform. The program can also strain your computer’s processors.

Pricing:

Multistreaming is available on XSplit’s Broadcaster Premium solution. Licensing prices for this solution are broken down as follows:

• 1 Month License: $15
• 3 Month License: $30
• 12 Month License: $60
• Lifetime License: $200

XSplit offers the ability to multistream live to various platforms, and it offers some editing tools to enhance the quality of your streams, such as video mixing, video editing, and screen recording. 

7. Livestream

Livestream, which is a premium streaming solution from Vimeo, is another option for multistreaming. However, it is worth noting that multistreaming is a secondary function on Livestream, with high-end video streaming being the platform’s main functionality.

Livestream multi streams directly from its platform to Facebook Live and Vimeo. A good feature to have, but to a limited extent. While it’s nice that these are built into the video hosting platform, the number of destinations is relatively limited compared to the other multistream platforms we’ve covered.

Key Features:

• Live and on-demand video hosting
• Multistreaming is a secondary function
• Wihte-label streaming 
• High-quality videos and streams

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Large collection of features
• Video management tools
• Large storage capacity

Cons:

Livestream can be expensive to use and only allows you to stream to a limited number of destinations. Plus, it has no dedicated multistreaming software. 

Pricing:

Between Vimeo and Livestream, there are many streaming plans to choose from. However, simulcasting is only available on two of Livestream’s pricing plans. These include:

Vimeo Premium:

• Premium pricing: $75/month
• Their Premium plan includes both live streaming and VOD support. This plan is the best option for professional broadcasting on this platform.

Vimeo Enterprise:

• Enterprise Pricing: Please contact Vimeo for custom pricing information
• The Enterprise plan includes white-label service, monetization, and video API access. It also includes branding control and added security features.

If you are only looking to multistream to Facebook Live and Vimeo, then Livestream could be the right choice for you.

8. OBS Studio

OBS Studio is a free multistreaming platform that is primarily an encoding software. What makes OBS Studio unique is that it is free and open-source. It requires a little technical know-how, but it is a good option for broadcasters that want to experiment and learn the ropes without making a hefty investment.

Aside from simulcasting, this software supports RTMP broadcasting, switching between multiple sources, capture cards, webcams, chroma-key/green screen, and application windows. 

This open-source software doesn’t have native support for any plugins, but community members have developed a wide range of plugins for more advanced features.

Key Features:

• Multistreaming support 
• Open-source
• Easy to customize
• Encoding tools

Pros:

• Free to use
• Great for testing, learning, and experimenting 
• Technology is updated regularly
• Minimal internet requirements 

Cons:

OBS Studio does not support multi-bitrate streaming, impacting the quality of the multistreaming experience you can provide your viewers with. It also has limited native features.

Pricing:

OBS Studio is free to download and use.

OBS Studio is a free multistreaming platform that integrates with Dacast. It is easy to use, and has a lot of functionality for a free software solution. 

9. Castr

Castr is another powerful platform that offers a special solution with multistreaming support. In fact, this software is capable of streaming to over 30 destinations at once.

Something that makes this platform unique is that it allows streaming to multiple Facebook pages, groups, and profiles at the same time. This is great for brand collaborations.

Key Features:

• 24/7 support
• 24/7 linear streaming
• Multiple destinations
• Multiple sources
• Connection via RTMP ingest (and more)

Pros:

• Large selection of destinations
• Custom RTMP destinations are supported
• Easy setup
• Pricing for every budget

Cons:

Some users complain about Castr’s value compared to the platform’s cost. 

Pricing:

Castr has six multistreaming pricing plans priced monthly and has plans for both individuals and companies. These plans include:

Individuals:

• All in one – Entry: $50/month
• All in one – Plus: $100/month
• All in one – Premium: $150/month

Companies:

• All in one – Business: $320/month
• All in one – Enterprise: $620/month
• Custom: Advanced plans are totally customized, so prices vary

If you really need to stream live to multiple different Facebook destinations, that is something that Castr, a multistreaming service, can offer you. 

10. Restream

Restream is another powerful multistreaming software. Like Castr, Restream is compatible with more than 30 social media platforms.

Multistreaming is the primary function of Restream, but it supports other features as well. These include in-browser streaming, chat, and analytics. It is also worth noting that this solution offers different pricing options to fit every budget.

Key Features:

• Multistreaming
• Analytics tool
• In-browser live streaming
• More than 30 destinations

Pros:

• Many destinations to choose from
• Engagement stimulating tools
• Support for audience interaction

Cons:

Restream doesn’t have encoding tools, so you will need to use an outside encoding tool. Some users also complain about Restream’s video quality. 

Pricing:

Restream also has several pricing plans for both individuals and businesses. These include:

Individuals:

• Free: $0/months (for individuals)
• Standard: $19/month (for individuals)
• Professional: $49/month (for individuals)

Companies:

• Premium: $99/month (for businesses)
• Business: $299/month (for businesses)

These prices reflect monthly rates when paid monthly and offer discounts when paid for a full year in advance.

Restream allows you to connect with 30 different major destinations, making it a strong multistream service option. 

Conclusion

Multistreaming is a very valuable technique for broadcasters that want to reach a wider audience. Luckily, there are tons of multistreaming platforms available to choose from for all different use cases and budgets.

Many multistreaming platforms require the support of a professional online video platform. Even if your chosen multistreaming service does not require the support of an OVP, it is a good idea to invest in one, so you can tap into the benefits of white-label streaming on your own website at the same time.

Since Dacast includes RTMP ingest, it is compatible with most multistreaming software on the market, including the platforms we’ve mentioned above.

Dacast offers a 14-day risk-free trial, so you can test out our platform and see how it could support your multistreaming setup. Sign up today to get started. No credit card is required.

Get started for free

For regular tips on live streaming and exclusive offers, feel free to join our LinkedIn group.