Best Live Streaming Software – Learn How to Stream on PC

If you’ve decided you want to become the next big streamer, you’ll next need to decide on what live streaming software you want to use. There are plenty of options out there, but for the most part, the top-tier streamers all use one of two pieces of software. In this guide to the best live streaming software, we’ll break down the options available and highlight which of them you should be using to put out the highest quality streams.

Since content creation has become such a booming industry, countless programs for streaming have been developed. From the expensive, professional production suites to the basic, free-to-use apps, there’s something for every streamer out there. It’s a diverse industry and no two streamers are the same, so while we’re guiding you towards the best live streaming software on the market, bear in mind that it’s up to you to make that final decision.

So, let’s take a look at the best streaming software and you can take a step closer to making that ultimate choice.

Why is Streaming Software So Important?

Let’s put it like this – if you don’t use streaming software, then you can’t be a streamer. Well, not without some extreme difficulty, anyway.

If you’re going to make use of the best live streaming software, you’ll find that you’re unlocking some key benefits, such as:

• An app that allows you to encode, upload, and ultimately broadcast a stream.
• An ability to group your sources, such as your camera, microphone, and graphics, and arrange them as you see fit.
• Stream-related assets, such as a chat, activity feed, and moderator options, all in the same window.
• An app that you can also use to record gameplay, which you can upload to YouTube, for example.

For the most part, even the best live streaming software is relatively easy to use, and even if you’re only just learning how to start streaming, you’ll be able to get to grips with it. Even then, there’s an option to make it more complex, fine-tuning the live streaming software to suit your every need, but that comes later.

There’s nothing more important to your stream than streaming software. Without it, there is no stream – it’s that simple.

How to Incorporate Software Into Your Streaming Setup

If you’ve built a world-class streaming setup, the next step is to arrange the software and apps required to actually stream. It may be the case that you’ve bought a top-tier camera, a fantastic microphone, and all the lighting and gadgets that you could ever need, but it doesn’t end there. There’s a lot of software that you can use to better your stream – some of it being paired with hardware – but having the best streaming software is what really counts.

For those looking to stream from an Xbox, PlayStation, or a Nintendo console, a laptop or a PC is needed to use live streaming software. It’s true that you can stream directly from Xbox and PlayStation consoles, but it’s a rudimentary and basic solution that offers very little in the way of customisation options. If you want to use live streaming software, you’ll need to link your consoles to a computer using a device called a capture card.

This hardware acts as a ‘middle man’ porting your game’s image onto the computer while still allowing you to see it and play it on a TV or monitor, as you normally would. Once you’ve accomplished that step, you simply download the live streaming software that you’ve chosen and get started learning how to become a streamer.

How to Choose The Best Live Streaming Software

There are a few things to consider when picking the best streaming software to suit your setup, such as:

• Make sure it works – not every streaming solution is a basic one, and the most in-depth apps will be a drain on your resources.
• Do you need to pay? – there are some apps that have premium subscriptions available, and some that need payment from the get-go.
• How knowledgeable are you? – some apps are quite complex and have a learning curve that may make some less knowledgeable users uncomfortable.
• What’s the community feedback? – some streaming software may have bad reviews because of bugs, poor leadership, or a lack of updates, so it’s worth doing a little reading before you download your software.

It’s important to stress that there aren’t that many advantages to paying for streaming software. While you may pick up a few added benefits, almost everything that a paid service provides can be secured for free online. For instance, Streamlabs Ultra offers overlays and graphics, but StreamElements has plenty of free-to-use options that help a streamer or content creator achieve the same goal.

Ultimately, as long as the software actually runs properly on your PC or laptop and you’re happy with the end result, you’ve made a good decision.

The Most Popular Live Streaming Software Solutions

1. OBS Studio

Image Credit: OBS Studio

OBS Studio is a fantastic solution for both new and veteran streamers. It’s totally free to use and more basic than its competitors, but that’s a good thing – it’s easy to get to grips with and it still allows users to push out a high-quality stream in seconds. It’s the foundation of some competing platforms, and as it’s open-source, any budding developer can work on it and produce integrations and upgrades.

For the most part, OBS Studio is the number one streaming app simply because it’s so readily available and accessible. It’s the first choice for many streamers, from the smallest creators to the most subbed Twitch streamers in the world. It can become quite complicated when you start looking at the more advanced settings, but that’s not necessary to broadcast a basic stream. Furthermore, you can also use OBS Studio to record gameplay, edit audio, and manage your entire streaming suite.

If you’re going to use this software to stream, then check out our OBS Studio guide.

2. Streamlabs

Image Credit: Streamlabs

Streamlabs is built from the foundations of OBS Studio, and as such, it looks and performs in a very similar way. However, Streamlabs is a more powerful solution, taking what OBS Studio did so well and building on it, adding further integrations, features, and more powerful widgets that can drive up the quality and engagement on a stream. Unfortunately, the downside to that fact is that Streamlabs is tougher to run, and a low-end PC or laptop may have issues broadcasting even a simple stream with Streamlabs.

There’s an optional paid upgrade on Streamlabs called Streamlabs Ultra, which brings added benefits to a person already using the platform. It’s worth stressing that it’s optional and by no means needed to grow as a streamer using the app. It’s certainly a contender for the title of best live streaming software, but it also falls behind OBS Studio because of community feedback. In 2021, controversy surfaced regarding the app’s leadership team and how it had behaved.

With that being said, you should still take advantage of our Streamlabs guide if you’re going to use this platform.

3. XSplit Broadcaster

Image Credit: XSplit

XSplit Broadcaster is a relatively powerful solution that has various versions – both paid and free. It’s often considered to be a step above OBS Studio and Streamlabs because it’s more advanced, but in that fact, it’s also tougher to use. For instance, there are very few preset solutions, and settings will need to be altered dramatically to suit your streaming setup before you can go live.

However, there are several key advantages to using XSplit Broadcaster. For example, there’s a built-in green screen solution, a feature that allows you to turn your phone into a webcam, a readily-available support function, and the ability to put in place a stream delay, which is an added safety feature. But, it’s worth bearing in mind that XSplit Broadcaster is a Windows-only application, so if you’re using a Mac or a Linux-driven device to stream from, you won’t be able to use this live streaming software.

4. Restream

Image Credit: Restream

Restream is quite unique, as it’s a cloud-based solution that permits a user to stream across multiple platforms at the same time. For instance, if you’re trying to grow on Twitch but also want to become a YouTube streamer, you can do both at the same time with Restream. Now, this goes against the terms of service for most of the best live streaming apps, so it can hinder your progress, but if you want to diversify your content availability, this is the best way to do it.

Unlike XSplit, OBS, and Streamlabs, Restream is a browser-based solution but you can link it with software like OBS Studio. At the most basic level, it’s free, but there are paid upgrades that users can take advantage of. It’s a powerful enough application, promoting cross-platform chat, guest streaming, a recording solution, and real-time, AI-driven captions, but its market share is still relatively small.

5. vMix

Image Credit: vMix

Out of every piece of live streaming software on this list, vMix is probably the least heard of, but it’s still a powerful solution nonetheless. It’s a professional streaming application, boasting countless advanced options that can empower a content creator to truly customise and optimise their stream. For instance, there’s multi-bitrate streaming, the ability to push out a stream in 4K, and instant replay buttons.

There’s a lifetime license that must be purchased for a user to be able to gain access to vMix, which is the driving reason behind its placement on this list. It’s also exclusive to Windows devices, which is another sour spot for some creators. However, it’s a great, open-ended solution to streaming software, but it’s certainly outpaced by free-to-use applications like OBS Studio and Streamlabs.

6. Wirecast

Image Credit: Wirecast

Wirecast is considered by some to be the best live streaming software on the market, but it’s a paid solution, and that can rankle with some streamers. It’s a much more technical solution, boasting GPU-accelerated encoding, multi-channel audio options, and the ability to multicast, but everything is locked behind a rather expensive paywall. If you want a lifetime license for the basic version, it’ll cost you around $479, but if you want the pro version, it’s a whopping $700 for a license.

There are several key benefits to using Wirecast Pro, but it’s a hefty investment that isn’t really recommended for brand-new streamers. With that being said, the application is constantly being updated, and for an extra, added cost of around $300 a year, you can tack on a premium support function that’ll ensure you’ve got a team to back you up if anything should go wrong with your stream at any point.

7. Lightstream

Image Credit: Lightstream

Like Restream, Lightstream is a browser-based application that is equally parts powerful but relatively simple to use. It’s backed up by a cloud solution that ensures you’re able to back up your past streams, and it has the ability to auto-detect your settings and hardware to put in place the best encoding options possible. It’s very user-friendly, and more importantly, it’s free to use. If you want to use the least resources possible to push out a great-quality stream, then Lightstream is a top solution.

However, it’s certainly not the most popular option out there. That may be due to a lack of marketing and no ‘big streamers’ utilising the application, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a Lightstream account and give it a go, just to see for yourself if it’s the best live streaming software for you.

Read Also: Best Live Streaming Apps

How to Become a Top Streamer

It’s our goal to connect you with some of the best live streaming software out there, but the rest is up to you. If you want to ultimately learn how to become a Twitch Partner or secure the most views on YouTube, there’s a long road to travel and many milestones to secure. It’s not an overnight journey, and it can take thousands of hours of effort and a lot of investment – both in terms of time and money.

If you’re out to build a community and become the next top streamer, there are several things that you must aim to do. Here are some of our best streaming tips:

• Engage with the users in your chat and spark up a conversation when they enter.
• Make use of interactive elements such as soundboards and channel point rewards to boost engagement.
• Diversify your content by uploading videos to YouTube and shorts to TikTok to build a multi-platform audience.
• Make sure your streaming setup is in good shape and that it boasts good sound and a clear picture.
• Build a brand by picking a solid name for yourself and creating great graphics.
• Use social media for free promotions – Twitter works really well for streamers.
• Create a Discord server for your growing community to communicate – you can even learn how to stream on Discord.

Ultimately, if you use the best live streaming software and apply these principles, you should find yourself in a good place. It’s a hard road and it’s oversaturated with millions of content creators, but you may be something special, and with a little luck, you might just make it as a streamer.