Multistreaming, also known as simulcasting, has become a crucial strategy in 2025 for content creators, businesses, and organizations seeking to amplify their reach and engagement. Instead of being limited to a single platform, it allows you to broadcast your live video feed to multiple destinations simultaneously, such as YouTube, Twitch, and Kick.
With many Twitch streamers finally ending their exclusivity contracts and simultaneously broadcasting on multiple services, multistreaming has assumed added significance recently. The latest example is Zack "zackrawrr", the former OTK member who created a buzz by joining Kick in June because he feels "multistreaming is a way to reach a wider audience."
As per Streams Charts' stats recap tool, Zack was one of the top content creators on Twitch in the second quarter of 2025. This was just a reflection of his overall popularity on the purple platform, as he was one of its most-watched names over the past few years and retains second place on the list for this year despite splitting his time with Kick for more than a month now.
Zack, also known for his alternate Twitch channel Asmongold, had a pretty successful debut livestream on Kick, attracting over 111K viewers at its peak. He is sure to become a major player on the Stake-backed service, no doubt helped by the massive fanbase and viewership he had accrued from his time on Twitch.
For any fans and upcoming streamers wondering, zackrawrr uses Restream to broadcast his content simultaneously on platforms like Twitch and Kick. How good is this software, and what are the other options available for multistreaming today? Here's an in-depth look at these different tools, including how they work and what features to consider.
How do multistreaming tools work?
At its core, multistreaming involves sending a single live video feed to a central hub, which then distributes that feed to all your selected streaming destinations in real time. This eliminates the need to run multiple separate streams from your local device, saving bandwidth and processing power.
There are generally two main approaches to multistreaming:
Client-side multistreaming: In this method, your local device (PC or streaming workstation) is responsible for sending out separate streams to each platform. This can be done using powerful software like OBS Studio or XSplit with manual configuration for each output. While it offers maximum control, it requires significant local bandwidth and processing power.
Cloud-based multistreaming: It is the more popular and scalable approach, where you send one single stream to a cloud-based multistreaming provider (e.g., Restream, StreamYard). This provider then handles the distribution of your stream to all the selected platforms on your behalf. This setup is generally more stable, requires less local bandwidth, and often includes additional features.
Key features of multistreaming tools
When choosing a multistreaming solution, consider these features:
- Platform compatibility: Ensure the tool supports all platforms where your audience is present (e.g., YouTube, Twitch, Kick, etc.).
- Ease of use: A user-friendly interface and intuitive dashboard can significantly simplify your workflow, especially for those new to the system.
- Video quality & encoding: Look for high-definition (HD) support and Full HD (1080p) streaming, adaptive bitrate streaming, and cloud-based encoding to ensure a professional-looking broadcast with minimal buffering. Some tools even offer 4K and HDR support.
- Engagement tools: Features like cross-platform chat aggregation (seeing all comments in one place), on-screen overlays, graphics, lower thirds, polls, and Q&A features enhance audience interaction.
- Guest inclusion: The ability to easily invite remote guests to join your stream is crucial for interviews, talk shows, and collaborative content.
- Scheduling & pre-recorded streams: Many tools allow you to schedule live events and even stream pre-recorded videos as if they were live, maximizing flexibility.
- Analytics: Access to stream analytics (viewer count, engagement, platform performance) helps you understand your audience and refine your strategy. Streams Charts' own in-house streamer plan under its PRO subscription gives access to one or more selected channels on any popular livestreaming platform, including Twitch, YouTube, and Kick. Users can gain information on chat analytics, historical data, audience retention, and estimated income from subscriptions, among others.
- Cloud recording & storage: The option to record your streams in the cloud and store them for later repurposing or video-on-demand (VOD) is highly beneficial.
- Customization & branding: The ability to add your own logos, branded graphics, and custom overlays helps maintain brand consistency across all platforms.
- Reliability & uptime: Look for platforms with strong infrastructure, auto-failover systems, and network redundancy to prevent stream interruptions and ensure high uptime.
- Pricing: Multistreaming tools range from free to enterprise-level paid plans. Consider your budget and the features you need. Free plans often have limitations like watermarks, fewer destinations, or lower video quality.
- Mobile streaming: If you plan to stream from a mobile device (IRL streaming, vlogging), ensure the tool offers a robust mobile app.
- Team collaboration: For larger teams or businesses, features like team management, shared access, and co-producer modes can be very useful.
Popular multistreaming tools in 2025
Here's a breakdown of some of the leading multistreaming tools:
OBS Studio with a Multi-RTMP Plugin
OBS Studio, as a free and open-source desktop software, doesn't natively offer simultaneous multiple outputs to different RTMP servers. However, this functionality can be added through plugins, with the most well-known being the "Multiple RTMP Outputs" plugin (often associated with 'sorayuki/obs-multi-rtmp' on GitHub).
When you install this plugin, it adds a "Multiple Output" dock to your OBS interface. You can then add new "targets" for each streaming platform by entering their respective RTMP URL and Stream Key.
Since both the OBS Studio and the Multiple RTMP Outputs plugin are free to use, it is a huge advantage for creators on a budget. They also offer unparalleled control over your stream's visual and audio elements as you can set up complex scenes, use filters, mix audio, and integrate a vast array of sources.
In terms of cons, even with shared encoders, sending multiple simultaneous streams still demands significant upload bandwidth from your internet connection and processing power from your computer (CPU and/or GPU). If your internet is inconsistent or your PC is underpowered, you'll experience dropped frames and stream instability.
There are also no integrated cloud features like cross-platform chat aggregation, cloud recording, or built-in guest management that cloud-based platforms provide. You'd need separate solutions for these.
- When to use it: Ideal for experienced streamers with powerful gaming PCs and robust internet connections who want full control over their production and prefer a free solution. It's excellent for those who already use OBS for their primary stream and just want to add more destinations without incurring monthly fees.
StreamElements Studio (specifically SE.Live)
StreamElements is a comprehensive suite of tools for streamers, and their "Studio" offering, specifically through their SE.Live OBS plugin, provides robust multistreaming capabilities. SE.Live is designed to integrate deeply with OBS Studio, essentially upgrading it with StreamElements' features directly within the OBS interface.
It allows you to connect natively to major platforms (Twitch, YouTube, X, Kick, TikTok) and also supports custom RTMP outputs. It also supports free unlimited multistreaming to as many platforms as you want, a major selling point. This is highly competitive against other cloud-based services that charge for multiple destinations.
Crucially, SE.Live provides a unified multi-chat and activity feed, an incredibly valuable option as it consolidates chat from various platforms (Twitch, YouTube) into a single, easy-to-read feed. It also provides a multi-platform activity feed (follows, subs, tips, etc.) in one place, greatly simplifying audience engagement.
On the other hand, while SE.Live offers enhanced features, the core streaming and encoding still happen on your local machine, similar to using the OBS Multi-RTMP plugin. This means your internet bandwidth and PC resources are still critical. Moreover, while powerful, it means you're tied to the StreamElements ecosystem within OBS, increasing your reliance on a specific plugin.
- When to use it: Excellent for streamers who already use or are planning to use OBS Studio and want a free, powerful, and feature-rich multistreaming solution that simplifies audience engagement and production management without needing a separate cloud service. It's particularly strong for creators who want to optimize for both horizontal and vertical content,
Meld Studio
Meld Studio is a newer entrant into the streaming software space, aiming to provide a more streamlined and resource-efficient alternative to OBS, especially for Mac users (though it's also available for Windows). It's built from the ground up, not on OBS code, and emphasizes ease of use, built-in visual effects, and optimized performance.
Meld Studio includes built-in multistreaming support, allowing you to broadcast to multiple RTMP/RTMPS platforms simultaneously. It also allows for independent configuration of each output, including horizontal and vertical formats from the same project.
Meld Studio is advertised as free broadcast software, a significant draw, especially given its feature set. Users have also reported that this software uses significantly less CPU and resources than OBS, leading to smoother streaming even on less powerful devices. It's specifically optimized for Apple Silicon on Macs.
Another convenient feature is OBS Importer, which allows you to quickly import your existing OBS scenes and sources, making the transition easier for current OBS users. Like SE.Live, it allows you to configure each output independently, including setting up different canvases for horizontal and vertical streaming.
In terms of cons, as a newer software, Meld Studio is still in beta. This means there might be ongoing development, occasional bugs, or features that are still being refined. Additionally, compared to OBS or Streamlabs, Meld doesn't have the same vast ecosystem of plugins, community support, or established third-party integrations (though it supports some like Stream Deck).
This also means that it has limited integration, compared to StreamElements. While it has built-in multi-chat, it might not offer the same depth of integrated overlays, alerts, or monetization tools as a platform like StreamElements.
- When to use it: An excellent choice for streamers looking for a free, easy-to-use, and resource-efficient desktop streaming software, particularly if you are a Mac user or have a less powerful PC. It's great for those who want a good balance between powerful features and a simpler user experience, and who appreciate built-in effects without hunting for plugins.
Restream
Restream is one of the most well-known and widely used cloud-based multistreaming platforms today. It has established itself as a go-to solution for creators, businesses, and organizations looking to expand their live video reach without the heavy local resource demands of client-side solutions like OBS.
Restream operates as a central hub for your live stream. Instead of sending separate streams from your computer to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, etc., you send one single stream to its servers. The tool then takes that single feed and rebroadcasts it to all the connected platforms simultaneously.
One of this "cloud-based" approach's advantages includes reduced local bandwidth, meaning that your internet connection only needs to handle one upload stream to Restream. Its robust servers handle the multiple outgoing streams, which also means your computer doesn't need to encode multiple streams, freeing up CPU/GPU resources.
The most significant con for many users is the pricing model, as they'll need a paid subscription to unlock 1080p, more destinations, no watermark, longer recordings, and more advanced features like team collaboration. Moreover, as with the other options mentioned above, you still need a stable and strong internet connection to send that single, high-quality stream to Restream's servers. If your internet connection to Restream's ingest server is poor, your stream quality will suffer, even if Restream's distribution is perfect.
- When to use it: Restream is an excellent choice for creators who want to maximize their reach, as its wide platform compatibility is a major advantage. If you have limited local internet bandwidth or PC power, Restream offloads the heavy lifting. Restream Studio's guest invite feature is very convenient for content creators doing interviews or multi-person shows.
StreamYard
StreamYard is a hugely popular and highly-regarded cloud-based live streaming studio, particularly favored for its extreme ease of use, robust guest features, and professional output. It's often cited as one of the best options for interview-style shows, webinars, and educational content.
As a browser-based live streaming and recording studio, its core philosophy revolves around making professional-looking live broadcasts accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical expertise. You can conduct live shows, interviews, webinars, and podcasts directly from your web browser, without needing to download any software. StreamYard then sends your stream to multiple social media platforms simultaneously.
A big advantage of using StreamYard is its ease of use, which is its absolute strongest point. The browser-based interface is incredibly intuitive, making it ideal for beginners and non-technical users. It is also excellent for interviews & multi-person shows, as the seamless guest invitation process (just a link, no downloads or accounts needed for guests) is industry-leading.
It also aggregates comments from all platforms into one window, simplifying audience engagement. Lastly, StreamYard is especially valuable for podcasters and content creators who want to repurpose content with individual audio/video tracks.
On the flip side, cost remains its biggest drawback, as its free plan is quite limited. To get full HD, remove the watermark, and access multistreaming, you need a paid plan, which can be considerably more expensive than some alternatives, especially at higher tiers.
StreamYard is also not as granular or flexible as a full desktop production suite like OBS Studio or vMix. You can't add complex custom plugins or very intricate scene animations that require deep software control. There is also no dedicated mobile app for studio control, and any mobile browser is not fully optimized to provide a mobile app experience for producing the stream (though guests can join from mobile).
- When to use it: StreamYard is an excellent choice for podcasters and interviewers, as the guest invitation system and local recording features are perfect for this. Anyone who values simplicity and reliability will also love StreamYard as it's a "set it and forget it" solution that generally works flawlessly.
It would also be worth giving an honorable mention to some other multistreaming tools like Castr, Livepush, PolyStreamer, XSplit Broadcaster, vMix, and Wirecast. These software have different advantages like VOD streaming, cloud recording, and pre-recorded live streaming, giving creators different options depending on what they are looking for.
Important considerations for multistreaming
Internet bandwidth: A stable and strong internet connection with sufficient upload bandwidth is crucial because multistreaming requires sending your video feed to multiple destinations, which can be demanding.
Computer specifications: If you're using desktop software like OBS, ensure your computer has enough processing power (CPU and GPU) and RAM to handle the encoding and streaming simultaneously. Cloud-based solutions offload much of this, making them more accessible for less powerful machines.
Platform exclusivity: Be aware of any exclusivity agreements you might have with certain platforms (e.g., Twitch affiliates/partners sometimes have exclusivity clauses for live content). Always check the terms of service for each platform you intend to multistream to.
Content strategy: Think about how you'll engage audiences across different platforms. While multistreaming offers wide reach, tailoring your content or interactions slightly for each platform can increase effectiveness.
Analytics and optimization: Regularly review your stream analytics to understand which platforms your audience is most active on and how they're engaging. Use this data to optimize your multistreaming strategy.
By carefully considering your needs, budget, and desired features, you can select the best multistreaming tool to help you reach a wider audience and grow your online presence. Of course, choosing between these often comes down to your technical comfort, hardware specifications, and specific feature priorities.
If you're new to streaming or have a less powerful machine, Meld Studio or StreamElements SE.Live might offer a more accessible entry point into multistreaming while still providing powerful features. If you're an OBS veteran and value absolute control and customizability above all else, the Multi-RTMP plugin remains a solid free choice.
