Comparing the Top 13 Restream Alternatives for Multistreaming in 2023

Restream is a popular video streaming software. It has multiple tools for editing videos, streaming to multiple platforms, and improving audience engagement.

Although Restream is a powerful software, there might be better options for you because it has restricted functionalities. In such a case, choosing a Restream alternative can offer you a better opportunity to enhance your online broadcasting experience.

In this post, we’ll share everything broadcasters need to know about Restream and talk about how Restream compares to professional video hosting platforms such as Dacast.

We’ll also discuss the features of 13 alternative platforms that you can use for multicasting and similar broadcasting functions.

Streaming platforms update their pricing and capabilities regularly. We’ve updated this post with the most recent information for the top Restream.io competitors as of January 2023.

Table of Contents

• What is Restream?
• Restream vs. Dacast: A Comparison
• Shared Features Between Restream and Dacast
• How is Dacast Different?
• How is Restream Different?
• Can Restream Be Used on Its Own?
• Comparison of The 13 Best Restream Alternatives in 2023
• Conclusion

What is Restream?

 

Restream is a video streaming software that’s used primarily for simulcasting.

As a refresher, simulcasting means broadcasting a single live video to multiple platforms at once. This is used to reach larger audiences and tap into existing followings on popular social media platforms such as:

• Twitch
• TikTok
• LinkedIn Live
• Facebook 
• Instagram Live
• Twitter
• TikTok Live

Restream allows you to share professional live streams to 30+ platforms without multiple tabs or devices, and that’s significantly more than most of its competitors.

You can also engage with comments on the chat from one central place without switching platforms. Another impressive feature that Restream has recently started offering is separate audio tracks for each participant of your stream. A very useful feature for virtual events. It offers cross-platform analytics and insights as well to help you better measure success.

Cross-platform analytics can allow you to access data such as:

• Average watch time
• Maximum watch time
• Total minutes watched
• Peak time with maximum viewer numbers
• Total number of viewers

You can see all of these analytics in a single platform for every location you are streaming to. That allows you to measure your engagement across all platforms and also identify your strongest platforms at the same time.

These simulcasting functions are made possible thanks to native integrations with other popular streaming software, including OBS Studio, XSplit, and more.

In addition to simulcasting, Restream offers robust tools for editing streams, and the platform allows for heavy customization.

Restream has also recently rolled out Restream Studio, a tool built for in-browser live streaming setups.

Restream Studio offers tools such as 

• Professional overlays, logos, and backgrounds
• Add call-to-action overlay
• Highlight messages from viewers
• Custom graphics for branding streams and pre-recorded content.

Restream has pricing plans for individual creators and larger organizations, starting with a free option and ranging to an advanced plan that costs $249/month. The pricier advanced plans are billed annually, but broadcasters can opt for a month-to-month contract with a slightly higher rate. There are also custom plans available for enterprise use.

Restream vs. Dacast: A Comparison

Restream and Dacast are two valuable tools for broadcasters. As we mentioned, Restream has limited video editing capabilities. Dacast, on the other hand, is a video hosting software. 

These platforms have a bit of overlap in features, but they each have a different function in the live streaming process. That said, Dacast is not a Restream alternative but more of a Restream complement.

Shared Features Between Restream and Dacast

As we mentioned, Restream and Dacast have several live streaming features in common. Let’s take a look at the offerings that both platforms share.

Simulcasting

Simulcasting, which is also called “multistreaming,” is a  valuable tool for broadcasters. It’s what allows you to maximize your viewership by broadcasting your stream to multiple channels simultaneously. 

Since Restream is a multistreaming platform, its simulcasting feature is its strength. Broadcasters can share their streams on dozens of streaming platforms at a time, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more.

Dacast supports some simulcasting natively, but the full potential can be unlocked by integrating with a dedicated tool like Restream.

Live Streaming

Both Restream and Dacast are capable of hosting live streams. However, each company approaches this a little differently.

Live streaming is one of the main offerings from Dacast, so our platform is equipped with powerful tools for conducting live broadcasts. Restream, on the other hand, only supports in-browser live streaming.

Looking for a robust live streaming platform? Dacast has what you need, including features such as:

• Robust content delivery network 
• End-to-end low-latency video streaming 
• Video streaming security options
• Video monetization with an integrated worldwide paywall

Stream Scheduling

Broadcasters can schedule streams ahead of time with both Restream and Dacast. On Restream, you can upload a video for a particular time. 

With Dacast, you can upload a video and schedule it to play at a specific time as well. You can also pre-schedule content that’s streamed live., allowing you to share the URL and embed the video on your own website and social media platforms before the stream begins. 

That’s an excellent marketing feature because it allows you to attract a wider audience to the exact stream link and stream directly. That way, viewers don’t have to search for the link on the day off. Instead, they bookmark your page ahead of time and simply click to view.

Dacast also offers the option to showcase a countdown timer before your live stream begins.

Video Analytics

Both Dacast and Restream offer powerful video analytics tools. It’s quite handy for businesses and creators that want to track their audience’s behavior and assess the performance of their videos. Analytics is especially beneficial for sales and marketing.

On Dacast, analytics reports provide information on concurrent viewers by time, plays by time, playtime per time, and plays by location.

On Restream, you can see which platform brings the most traffic to your stream and a chart of viewership trends throughout a stream. Restream also produces analytics on audience trends and preferences.

White-Label Streaming

White-label streaming is vital for broadcasting at the professional level because it allows broadcasters to remove distracting third-party branding. Fortunately, both Dacast and Restream support white-label streaming through an HTML5 video player.

Dacast offers white-label streaming on all plans, but Restream does not. In addition to white-label streaming, Dacast offers API access, allowing full customization of your video player experience.

HD Streaming

Both platforms support HD streaming, which means they are both excellent options for delivering high-quality broadcasts to your customers. The ability to stream in HD can help maintain a great user experience.

It’s especially beneficial for e-commerce and retail businesses that use live streams to host videos, auctions, or showcase their products. Showing your viewers your products’ minute details can increase sales and your audiences’ confidence in your business.

Low Latency Streaming

Video latency is the delay between the time a video is captured and the time it reaches the viewers. Both platforms support low latency streaming, but Restream may add as much as 2 seconds of extra latency. 

Dacast has invested in tools to ensure they can provide you with the lowest latency possible. That means when you are sharing a live stream, viewers see the video as close to when it was recorded as possible.

Low latency is usually a good thing, but some users prefer some delay. That’s because latency can serve as a grace period if the network goes down on the broadcast’s end or another issue interrupts the stream.

A few seconds of delay can ensure that your viewers continue to watch the stream while your network starts back up, which usually takes a few seconds.

Live Chat

The live chat tool on Restream is one of the most notable features of the platform.

With the live chat tool on Restream, you can bring all of your chats from every platform you are streaming on together in one place. With simulcasting, having all your chats together in one place makes managing the chat experience for all of your viewers easier. 

They also have tools that allow you to call out viewers’ comments live during the chat, showcasing them on the screen. That’s a great way to increase viewers’ engagement in your streams. 

Dacast also recently rolled out a live chat tool with the help of a new partnership with RumbleTalk.

RumbleTalk is a third-party app you can download and connect to your stream that Dacast supports.

RumbleTalk offers a wide range of features, such as: 

• Live polls
• Live moderated Q&A
• Monetization options such as donations, payments, and paywall
• RESTful API
• Customize Chat Design
• Private chat conversations 

They offer a range of tools that help you control and monitor your chats, such as: 

• Slow down chat option
• Approve chat messages before going public
• Mute users

When you open your live stream up to comments, you need to moderate them as well. If you are getting more comments than you can respond to, you should slow down the chat, allowing users to send a limited number of so many chats per minute. 

If certain users distract you from conducting the live stream, you can mute them. You can also approve all messages before they go public. These tools allow you to control the live chat experience on your professional live streams.

Streaming Protocols

Several protocols make live streaming possible. RTMP is a protocol that’s important for both Restream and Dacast. Both of these platforms use RTMP ingest as a primary ingestion method, which means that they work with RTMP encoders and other RTMP-compatible sources.

WebRTC is a protocol that’s relevant to both platforms because it’s the protocol that makes webinar-style streaming and web conferencing possible. Dacast integrates with Zoom to bring web conferencing functionality to users, and Restream allows up to 10 broadcasters to present at once with a similar format. 

SRT is another necessary protocol for broadcasting. It’s what makes streaming from the browser possible. 

Both Restream and Dacast offer in-browser streaming. 

What does that mean? You can start a stream using your web browser and stream directly from the integrated webcam on your device. You don’t need any fancy setup or equipment to begin live streaming this way. In-browser web streaming makes streaming uncomplicated and straightforward.

How is Dacast Different?

Dacast is an end-to-end professional video hosting platform, so its offerings are more advanced than Restream. That’s not to say that it’s better than Restream. It just has some different functionalities.

Since Dacast is a video hosting platform and video content management system (CMS), it is fully equipped with the tools broadcasters need to store, manage, organize, and deliver video content. 

With Dacast, broadcasters can monetize their video content with subscriptions, advertisements, or pay-per-view with the help of a secure paywall. Video players are customizable with easy-to-use standard settings and player API. 

Dacast users also have access to advanced video security features, including low latency streaming, password-protected live streaming, DRM, tokenized access, IP/geographic restrictions, domain/referrer restrictions, and AES video encryption.

Dacast’s customizable HTML5 video player is easy to embed on any website or app and many social media platforms. If you want to launch your video business, that’s possible too. Dacast Expos allow you to set up a viewer-facing video gallery in just a few clicks.

Dacast also has 24/7 customer support that you can access via email, chat, or over the phone, depending on your plan type. During live events, you need a support team that can help you with any issues that arise.

Dacast is a robust video hosting service that allows you access to a full range of tools for live streaming and video-on-demand hosting. With Dacast, you can create a custom experience for your viewers.

How is Restream Different?

Restream is designed to complement platforms like Dacast, so naturally, there are a few differences to note. 

First, the primary purpose of Restream is simulcasting support. While Dacast has simulcast streaming capabilities, they’re less vast than the ones you get on Restream because Restream makes it possible to stream to over 30 platforms simultaneously. Dacast can stream to a small handful without the support of any external tool.

Another significant difference is that Restream’s live streaming tools are only supported in-browser rather than with a downloadable program.

Something else that Restream offers that Dacast does not is video editing. Restream has an online live streaming studio that helps broadcasters add backgrounds, overlays, and more. Again, Dacast has limited support for overlays, but Restream has access to more creative tools.

Last but not least, Restream offers a built-in chat tool allowing broadcasters to add a chat room to their live streams. That’s excellent for getting viewers involved and promoting engagement.

Can Restream Be Used on Its Own?

By now, you’ve likely gathered that it doesn’t have to be an “either/or” situation when it comes to Restream and Dacast. The two platforms can be used together.

Restream does not support video hosting, so you need to use it alongside professional hosting software. We recommend storing and managing your videos on a platform like Dacast and using Restream to tap into those additional features. 

Dacast supports integration with Restream, allowing you to access and use the tools of both software platforms simultaneously. Restream works best with a full video hosting service such as Dacast, which offers a range of robust video tools and support.

Comparison of The 13 Best Restream Alternatives in 2023

Restream is regarded as an impressive simulcasting and live chat tool. Still, if it’s too sophisticated for you or you’re looking for some specific features that it doesn’t have, then you should know that there are quite a few worthy alternatives on the market that you can use. 

Here are 13 platforms and tools to consider instead of Restream:

1. Wirecast

Let’s begin by first comparing Wirecast with Restream. Wirecast is a streaming software from Telestream that supports live stream capture, editing, and streaming to an unlimited number of destinations.

The advantage of this platform over Restream is that it has several extra features, including auto-archiving, remote production, playlists and organization, access to a stock media library, and social media integrations.

However, this platform is advanced, and its price reflects that. Wirecast comes in two tiers:

• Wirecast Studio for $599
• Wirecast Pro for $799.

This is a one-time payment, so you don’t have to worry about paying monthly or annual subscription fees.

Here are some more ways Wirecast is different from Restream:

• You can connect and control multiple cameras at a time
• The analytics feature isn’t as great as with Restream
• Wirecast has limited video monetization tools
• You can use Wirecast on Mac, Windows, iPad, and iPhone, while Restream is a web-based tool.

Please check out our dedicated tutorial for more information on how to simulcast on Dacast through Wirecast.

2. Switchboard Live

Switchboard Live is another reliable Restream alternative. It supports streaming to several destinations. It also has tools for video player embedding. 

The most significant difference when comparing Switchboard vs. Restream is that Switchboard doesn’t have a live chat feature while streaming. However, unlike Restream, it supports live polling, multi-camera feed, and video annotations.

The platform is also not equipped with editing tools for its live streaming studio. It’s more fundamental than Restream and other alternatives covered in this list.

Here are some more ways Switchboard Live is different from Restream:

• It supports 1-10 users, whereas Restream supports 1000+ users
• Switchboard Live offers webinars, documentation, and videos to help you learn to navigate the interface and use the platform to the fullest
• It offers a video annotations feature
• You don’t have HD video streaming on Switchboard Live.

Switchboard Live has three different pricing plans. The plans include:

• Indie Unleashed plan is $29/month, offering 1500 streaming minutes monthly.
• Pro Unleashed plan is $59/month, offering up to 4000 streaming minutes monthly
• Business Unleashed plan is $99/month, offering up to 10,000 streaming minutes monthly

All of these plans support streaming to an unlimited number of destinations.

Please check out our dedicated tutorial for more information on how to simulcast on Dacast through Switchboard Live.

3. Castr

Next, let’s talk about Restream vs. Castr. Castr offers two products for broadcasters. One is a simulcasting tool that lets you stream to multiple destinations at once. The other is live streaming and video hosting platform. There are separate fees for each of these products.

The Castr product that would be considered a Restream alternative is their simulcasting tool. Castr differs from Restream because it offers multiple kinds of ingesting rather than just RTMP ingest. The other types of ingesting that Castr supports are RTSP, HLS, and MPEG-TS.

Another unique thing about this platform is that it allows streaming to multiple Facebook pages, groups, and profiles simultaneously. 

One of Castr’s most valuable features is 24/7 support. Additionally, all plans are white-label, so you don’t have to worry about third-party branding distracting your audience.

Here are some more ways Castr is different from Restream:

• You don’t get a free version with Castr as you get with Restream
• You can’t connect multiple camera feeds to your stream when going live with Caster. You can’t split your screen in Castr nor add multiple screens
• There are no ads on any of Castr’s plans
• You get more monetization options in Castr as compared to Restream.

Castr has six multistreaming pricing plans, including

• Entry: $37.50/month
• Plus: $62.50/month
• Premium: $104.50/month
• Business: $250/month
• Enterprise: $500/month
• Custom: Advanced plans are customized, so prices vary.

Additionally, they offer plans specifically for multistreaming if that’s what you’re primarily after.

• Multistream Plus: $12.50/month
• Multistream Premium: $33.50/month
• Multistream Business: $92/month
• Multistream Enterprise: You must talk to the sales team for a quote

Castr also offers a 7-day free trial on all plans.

4. Splitstream

Splitstream is another simulcasting tool that’s a worthy Restream alternative. This tool is bare-bones, so it is best suited for broadcasters that need simulcasting tools and only simulcasting tools.

It doesn’t offer a free trial or a free version. They offer basic free accounts plus three paid plans. These include:

• Standard: $9.99/month; supports streaming to up to 15 channels at once
• Pro: $29.99/month; supports up to 30 channels at once
• Pro+: $59.99/month and supports up to 50 channels at once

Since Splitstream has a free plan, it’s a viable option for those that are seeking a free Restream alternative.

5. Prism Live Studio

Prism Live Studio is a Restream alternative focusing primarily on video editing and production instead of simulcasting. This platform does support simulcasting, but it’s not the primary function.

When evaluating Prism Live Studio vs. Restream vs. other Restream alternatives, consider that this platform is more limited than the others. It only offers multicasting to YouTube, Twitch, Periscope, Facebook, afreecaTV, V LIVE, and NAVER TV.

Broadcasters can access Prism Live Studio on both mobile and desktop apps. No pricing is published on the site, but the app can be downloaded for free on the App Store and Google Play Store.

A great feature of this platform is that you can remove the watermark while live streaming. It offers a much higher video quality than other services in the same price range. You can also enjoy extra low latency with Prism Live Studio for free.

6. Streamlabs 

Here’s the rundown on Restream vs Streamlabs. Streamlabs is another streaming tool that’s  very similar to Restream. It’s fully loaded with various live streaming tools, including simulcasting, video editing, graphic overlays, collaboration tools, and more.

Although Streamlabs has many use cases, many users use it to stream computer games.

Here are some more ways Streamlabs is different from Restream:

• Doesn’t offer a free trial
• Streamlabs works on Windows and Mac, unlike stream
• You can get customer support via 24/7 live support and chat
• Streamlabs doesn’t support multiple camera feeds
• You can’t record your sessions on Streamlabs
• There’s no option to schedule your live event on Streamlabs.

There is a free version of Streamlabs, but to access simulcasting and other premium features, users must upgrade to Prime. Streamlabs Prime costs $19/month or $149/year.

7. Resi

Resi is a streaming company with several unique streaming products. One of these products is a streaming software called Resi ProPresenter Stream, and this tool is certainly a viable Restream alternative.

ProPresenter’s top features include simulcasting, one-click streaming, enhanced automation, scheduled stream replays, and built-in tools for encoding and switching.

Resi’s products are unique because they use RSP as a transfer protocol rather than RTMP. Resi designed this protocol to improve the streaming experience for both broadcasters and viewers.

When comparing Resi vs. Restream, a key thing to consider is that Resi is known for its superior ongoing product support. Many people rave about how easy it is to do business with Resi.

Here are some more ways Resi is different from Restream:

• Doesn’t offer a free trial
• Resi has limited audience engagement tools
• You can’t put your branding on the live streams on Resi
• You can’t record your sessions on Resi
• You can live stream via Resi on Windows, Mac, Linux, iPad, and iPhone.

Pricing information is not published on the Resi website, so interested users must submit a quote request for more information.

8. Videolinq

Videolinq is another top Restream competitor with a particular focus on live stream production. It has a unique simulcasting tool that is complemented by tools for HD streaming, IP camera streaming, remote streaming, and smart OTT distribution.

There are a lot of similarities between the two platforms, but an important distinction to consider when comparing Videolinq vs. Restream is that Videolinq doesn’t offer Q&A functionality. However, it does offer video annotations, unlike Restream.

This company also offers products for team collaboration, closed captioning, stream scheduling, and video player building.

Here are some more ways Videolinq is different from Restream:

• Doesn’t offer a free version
• You can’t connect multiple camera feeds on Videolinq
• There’s no option to record your live streaming sessions on Videolinq.

Videolinq has three pricing plans, including

• Basic: $49/month for streaming to 10 destinations
• Premium: $149/month for streaming to 15 destinations

Enterprise+: $499/month. Contact Videolinq for custom Enterprise+ plan pricing.

9. BoxCast

Most Restream alternatives we’ve covered focus on simulcasting and similar tools. But when it comes to BoxCast vs Restream, one key takeaway is that BoxCast includes that functionality plus more advanced video hosting support.

BoxCast’s Broadcaster App provides a powerful alternative to Restream for broadcasters looking for one tool that does it all. This HD streaming app is capable of remote streaming, simulcasting, cloud transcoding, ticketing, broadcast monitoring, and scoreboard integrations.

Here are some more ways BoxCast is different from Restream:

• It has limited tools to engage with your audience as compared to Restream
• You can’t connect multiple camera feeds in BoxCast
• BoxCast offers good video monetization features
• You can set up your live stream on BoxCast from Windows, Mac, iPad, and iPhone.

There are three pricing plans from BoxCast, including

• Essential: $99/month
• Growth: $149/month
• Experience: $199/month.

All plans offer a 14-day free trial. Each plan also supports streaming to your website, social media sites, all RTMP destinations, and smart TV apps.

10. SplitCam

If you are looking for a Restream alternative geared more towards multi-source streaming and switching, SplitCam may be an option for you.

This software offers a variety of features for professional broadcasters, including video splitting and source switching. SplitCam can handle streams with a wide variety of resolutions, including high-definition streaming.

When comparing SplitCam vs. Restream, many people prefer SplitCam as a more economical alternative. Although Restream has a free version, it’s missing many key features that SplitCam offers. It also works seamlessly with many of the top streaming platforms and services.

Here are some more ways SplitCam differs from Restream:

• SplitCam has good video monetization options compared to Restream
• It works on Mac and Windows
• SplitCam has limited support, such as FAQ sections, webinars, tutorial videos, and phone support.

11. StreamYard

Next, let’s compare Restream vs. Streamyard. StreamYard currently supports fewer platforms than Restream, but it’s still a popular alternative. To be more specific, StreamYard only supports Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Youtube, and Twitch, whereas Restream supports over 30 platforms.

One thing StreamYard has a reputation for is its very intuitive dashboard. In comparison, Restream’s dashboard is a bit more complex. That can be very handy for new streamers who value engagement through chat.

As for unique features, StreamYard allows you to do a giveaway and choose a random commenter to win a giveaway prize to encourage engagement.

Here are some more ways StreamYard is different from Restream:

• Its audience analytics feature isn’t as great as Restearms’, so you can’t monitor your performance
• It allows limited users per live stream, so you have to have a small team (ideally less than ten users) of editors and moderators behind the scenes
• It doesn’t offer 24/7 live support.

StreamYard has three pricing plans:

• Free
• Basic: $25 monthly or $20 for the annual subscription.
• Professional: $49 monthly or $39 for the annual subscription.

12. Mobcrush

Mobcrush is a free app that lets you stream to Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, and Trovo simultaneously.

A common reason people choose Mobcrush over Restream is the ability to stream to Facebook gaming pages and Facebook groups for free. You’ll need to become a premium user to do that on Restream. Mobcrush is more geared towards mobile gaming content exclusively, whereas Restream has many more use cases.

Something to keep in mind when comparing Mobcrush vs. Restream is that Restream has more bandwidth than Mobcrush. OBS Studio users should be aware that there are some complaints online about 5-20 second long drops when streaming with Mobcrush using OBS Studio in particular. However, it’s said to have improved over the last couple of years.

With all that said, again, a significant positive about Mobcrush is that it’s completely free to use. So there’s no harm in giving it a shot and seeing how you like it.

13. OneStream

OneStream is another Restream alternative that allows you to go live on over 40 social media platforms simultaneously. It has a great plan for pre-recorded content, allowing you to schedule pre-recorded videos and streams up to 60 days in advance. Similar to Restream, it requires no software installation.

People consider OneStream vs. Restream because OneStream is about 2x cheaper to use your own branding and 5x cheaper to stream pre-recorded videos. It’s also a great Restream alternative for those with a smaller stream. However, it does not allow split-screen functionality as Restream does.

Here are some more ways OneStream is different from Restream:

• OneStream supports 1-10 users
• You can’t link multiple camera feeds in OneStream
• It doesn’t support split-screen/multi-screen live streaming
• The platform often glitches when sharing live streams on Facebook
• OneStream works on desktops with Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android devices,iPad, and iPhones.

OneStream has four pricing plans, including

• Free
• Basic: $10/month
• Standard: $39/month
• Professional: $89/month

All plans offer a 5-day free trial, and the prices quoted are if you pay monthly.. You can also purchase add-ons separately.

When to Use Restream Alternatives

Restream is powerful software, but sometimes, using Restream competitors is a better choice.

Although Restream is a top-rated platform for multistreaming and centralized chat, its free version is limited compared to other free versions. Restream pricing is also a bit higher for specific features when compared to other platforms. For example, if the ability to remove the branding is essential for you, there are cheaper options than Restream that you can use. In the same way, if streaming to Facebook business pages or if Facebook gaming is crucial for you, there are free alternatives.

Another reason to consider a Restream alternative is if you are new to broadcasting and have elementary and specific needs. For example, if you’re solely interested in launching a live game stream on Facebook, Mobcrush may be a better and free alternative. Lastly, compared to many Restream.io competitors, many people consider Restream more complex to do business with.

Conclusion

Despite some overlap between Dacast and Restream, the two platforms work very well together. Many Dacast users opt to simulcast on Restream and the Restream alternatives we’ve mentioned because they open up greater simulcasting capabilities.

Do you have more questions about simulcasting? You can research out to our knowledgeable support team for more information.

In the meantime, feel free to check out the Knowledgebase section of our website. A quick search for “simulcast” will pull up several articles to get you started.

You can also try out our platform and test all our professional broadcasting tools risk-free for 14 days. No sign-up fees or credit cards are required.

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