13 Best Streaming Software In 2022 (YouTube, Twitch, Game)

Whether you are a vlogger, a newbie trying to gain some audience or an avid gamer who loves sharing their best moments, streaming your work over the Internet has never been easier.

It is a whole industry around this aspect now – gamers from all over the world make money streaming their most successful ventures. Vloggers stream all kinds of random things that their audience might be interested in. 

Blogging was yesterday, and vlogging is today. From this point of view, your options are countless.

Choosing the best streaming software out there may feel easy. You try one after another, only to realize that not every platform can match your needs.

On the same note, a Twitch streaming software that works for millions of users is more likely to work for you if you’re streaming on Twitch. But it will not help if you want to stream the same content on YouTube.

Here’s the help you needed, the best streaming software for all needs!

Our Streaming Related Articles:

• Best Laptops for Streaming
• Best Microphone for streaming

13 Best Streaming Software for Twitch, YouTube and Others in 2022

1. Streamlabs OBS

Used by Pro Streamers too

Streamlabs OBS is the most popular streaming software amongst video gamers. The streaming software is a result of a merger between two streaming software firms, Streamlabs and OBS Studio in 2018. It again, in 2019, was acquired by Logitech for $89 million.

The merger made a lot of sense as a lot of gamers used Streamlabs in conjunction with OBS Studio to stream their live videos. 

SLOBS, as it is commonly known, is an open-source streaming and broadcasting software. For gamers and individuals who love to engage in live video streaming.

The user-friendly interface coupled with the abundance of tools allows you to create unique overlays that will help you build your brand. It also comes with a wide range of plugins that allows you to change audio and video effects with a click of a button.

StreamLabs OBS offers you different encoding options. It supports NVENC as a hardware encoder, which puts the load on your GPU freeing up some CPU processing power.

SLOBS is the all-in-one live streaming software that has everything you need to get started right away. You can set up different elements of your stream from subscriber alerts to backups in minutes.

Easily record videos and stream them to multiple or the same platform in digital format!

2. Twitch Studio

Live streaming tool for Twitch users

Twitch Studio is the live streaming software for those who want to try out streaming quickly without all the fuss. If you’re a gamer and decided to try out broadcasting your gameplay videos to the world, this is one of the streaming platforms you want to get.

Twitch Studio is designed to be quick and easy to set up. You’ll be able to enjoy guided customization and automated detection of possible configurations that you’ll normally have to do manually on most streaming software.

One of the most difficult settings to get right is your bitrate whenever you’re starting streaming. You’ll have to think of your resolution, framerate, and internet speeds if you’re doing it manually.

With Twitch Studio, the encoding software takes all of these into account and decides it for you.

You will have to play with fewer settings, allowing you to start streaming right away. It automatically selects the best video quality for your stream.

Overall, Twitch Studio is a powerful broadcasting software for new streamers. It allows you to create content that you want without fussing over the technical details. 

It also comes with community-building tools so you can interact with your audience whenever you go live. Alerts and Twitch chat are built-in so you don’t have to waste hours looking for the right plugin.

If you’re looking for live streaming software that’s free and easy to use, this is the one for you.

3. NVIDIA Shadowplay

Live Streaming Software for NVIDIA users

NVIDIA ShadowPlay is a game recording and streaming software that’s built for GeForce graphics cards. It’s incredibly popular with gamers since it’s easy to use, and pairs up perfectly with your NVIDIA card.

At its core, ShadowPlay is a recording software and comes with features such as “Instant Replay” that continuously records the last 5 minutes of your gameplay. This feature comes in handy if you perform an in-game highlight and want to save it to share with everybody.

You can set up hotkeys so when a moment comes, all you need to do is press it and the software will do its job of saving it to your hard drive.

It also comes with a “Broadcast Live” feature, which is basically streaming your gameplay to platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch. It’s not as versatile as most dedicated software since it can only stream up to 720p/30fps on Facebook, 1080p/60fps on Twitch, and 1440p/60fps on YouTube.

ShadowPlay uses the NVENC software encoder that uses GPU power to encode your stream. Most live streaming software uses the CPU, and streaming can be intensive.

This encoding software splits these two tasks so you get a much better streaming experience.

However, this solution has its downsides especially if you’re using an older graphics card. But if you do have the hardware like an RTX card, you’ll be able to take full advantage of these software encoders as it’s certainly better than relying on your CPU.

It is excellent for Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook. You can download the streaming software free of charge.

4. Xsplit Gamecaster

Best Live Streaming Software for Beginners

XSplit Gamecaster is the best streaming software for beginners and intermediate users who are passionate about the games they play. It’s easy and intuitive to use that enables you to start streaming in a matter of minutes.

Its lightweight interface does not use a lot of resources thereby channeling all your processing power to your games. This gives you a better streaming and recording experience with better game performance.

GameCaster enables you to personalize and customize your stream with overlays. It’s one of the best ways to produce high-quality live broadcasts or recordings with the support of professional video editing tools and plugins.

One downside of GameCaster is that its settings don’t go deep enough to allow you to select a preferred framerate. You won’t know whether you’re streaming at 30fps or 60fps unless your viewers tell you.

Gamecaster does come with a premium subscription which opens up a lot of additional features like streaming at 1080p and above and removing the watermark. You’ll also get more personalization options to add your branding on your streams with advanced overlays.

If you’re looking for a professional-grade video streaming software that has a lower learning curve, the XSplit Gamecaster is the one for you. It’s stable and consistent giving you the confidence to stream the content that you want without worrying about the details.

5. Gameshow

Live Streaming Platform for those who play with scenes

Gameshow is a video recording and streaming platform that gives you better control over your live broadcasts. It’s a paid software with a free version, but it’s incredibly affordable at just below $30.

Getting the paid version gives you full access to all its features including noise reduction, Twitter feed integration, and gaming overlay templates. It’s also easy to use with setups to Twitch and YouTube in a few clicks.

The software also supports game recording for the times you don’t want to broadcast. So, whether you’re doing live streams on Twitch or recording gameplay videos for your YouTube channel, this software should do the trick.

Users can customize video effects, add logos, and design templates to suit their personal preferences. You can also record in HD with this live streaming software for Mac.

Overall, Gameshow is an excellent video streaming software. The free version with its limits and watermark can be annoying, but getting the premium version is worth it. This is a good alternative if you’re already spending monthly on XSplit. 

6. vMix

Live streaming platform for high-end productions and studio users

vMix is the best free streaming software developed by an Australian software developer firm. It is definitely one of the most downloaded live streaming software because of its capacity to record and stream live videos seamlessly without lagging.

It is quite versatile and allows streaming HD and 4K content as well. With vMix, users can source videos from a variation of gadgets like memory cards, webcams, NDI, digital discs, PowerPoint presentations, photos, audio playlists, and lots more.

Uploading live videos is also possible. It is great for use while streaming live sports events as it comes with replay, slow motion, and live score features. This streaming software is compatible with Windows only.

It has a 3D acceleration feature for more sophisticated streams too. However, not all features are available for free.

vMix is the live streaming software that’s most effective in producing high-quality content from multiple sources without overworking your computer. It also supports real-time chroma keys or green screens and can take your production levels to new heights.

Most video streaming software will have a hard time mixing videos from different live cameras together, but vMix has this all figured out. So, if a project calls for something that requires you to use videos from multiple platforms simultaneously, this is the software to use.

7. OBS Studio

Best Twitch Streaming Software who wants full control of their show

Widely known as OBS Studio, the Open Broadcaster Software Studio is one of the best open-source streaming services, free to download and use at any time for close to unlimited streaming.

Worth mentioning, OBS Studio is The broadcasting software around!

OBS Studio allows you to stream your content seamlessly across multiple platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch. It’s a powerful program that comes with lots of additional features and settings that enable you to have full control of your stream.

It can get a little complicated to use, but they do include a setup wizard that will help you optimize your stream to ease your learning curve.

OBS Studio is also a recording tool so you can save your gameplay if you’re not up to streaming live. You can save your videos and upload them later to your channel on YouTube or Facebook.

It also has a studio mode that enables users to stream with quality sound filters, mixers, and other tools for video editing. This free streaming software enables users to utilize a variety of plugins, like the WebSocket API.

Users can also customize their streaming screens to their personal tastes and engage in the live streaming of their videos. OBS Studio is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS.

8. Wirecast

Live streaming software for those using multiple cameras and sources

Wirecast is the streaming software that gives you TV production studio-quality capabilities on your computer. You’ll be able to create high-quality content without spending money on a live TV studio.

It’s one of the best live stream platforms for broadcasting sports events, seminars, news, gaming, and other events. The tools it has at your disposal include video switching and mixing, and these come in handy if you are using videos from multiple sources.

This streaming software is perfect for streaming live sporting events as it comes with replay, live scores, and time features. Video conferencing with this app is easy as it comes with an inbuilt video conference tool.

Wirecast comes in two versions: Wirecast Studio and Wirecast Pro. Wirecast Studio is a more basic version of the platform, while Wirecast Pro has all of the features of the Studio and is targeted at professional users.

One great feature of Wirecast is the ability to record and engage in live streaming of videos at the same time without any lagging. This streaming software supports Windows and macOS.

Wirecast is an excellent live streaming platform as long as you’re willing to pay for quality. The upgrade is a bit steep, and some users might choose a free or more affordable solution. However, if you’re working at a professional level and need the tools, it’s worth every penny.

9. LightStream

Unlimited streaming platform for podcast and talk shows

Lightstream is one of the best streaming software that you can find that’s simple to use and light on your computer’s resources.

It is a cloud-based live stream platform, which means you don’t need to download or install it on your PC.

You have the added flexibility since it runs in the cloud allowing you to stream just about anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.

Despite being a free cloud-based live streaming platform, it comes with a lot of features like overlays, remote guests, custom scenes, etc.

You’ll also get to enjoy seamless switching between video sources so you can showcase your guests or a video file you want to show your viewers.

Lightstream is a useful tool for podcasters and those doing talk shows since the software does all of the video encodings and mixing on the cloud. You and your guests don’t have to do a thing but start talking and the software will do the rest.

It’s not just for podcasts, but gamers, too. Console gamers will enjoy its cloud capture feature; no need to get a high-end PC or a capture card to process streams and broadcast!

10. FFsplit

Lightweight live streaming platform

FFsplit is another software that promises quality live video recording and streaming. It is very popular among amateur and professional video buffs because of its intuitive, user-friendly interface.

With FFsplit, users can share their videos across various social media platforms at the same time without any buffering.

This best YouTube streaming software allows users to enrich their live videos with good-looking overlay designs, easy recording from webcams, great sound quality, sound filters, NDI compatibility, hotkey shortcuts, graphics enhancement tools, customized plugins and so much more.

An advantage of using FFsplit is that it does not take up resources as it’s running. If you’re using a PC that’s not the fastest out there, but still want to produce live-stream content, this is the software to get.

Overall, FFsplit is a lightweight live stream tool that lets you build a feed from different video sources like a webcam and video files you want to include. It’s optimized to offer you the best performance so you don’t have to worry about slowing down your PC.

11. Restream

Restream is probably the best streaming software that allows you to distribute your live stream on multiple platforms like Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, simultaneously, i.e., multistream.

Not all video streaming software can broadcast your content to multiple platforms.

It even offers native integration to the most popular streaming platforms like OBS Studio, XSplit, and more.

It’s also one of those live stream software that does it all seamlessly, thanks to its “Real-time Platform and Channel Toggling” capabilities. This means you’ll be able to launch a stream on a platform without restarting the software.

It might seem daunting, but Restream does come with a feature that allows you to schedule your live streams. This feature enables you to announce and build up hype and eventually start streaming with fans already on your channel.

The best thing about Restream is that you’ll be able to see all your important statistics in just a single dashboard. You should be able to see which platform delivers the most viewers, watched minutes, and other stats that can help you take your live stream sessions to the next level.

12. OneStream

OneStream is the best streaming service out there that supports both live and pre-recorded videos. You can then publish your content to over 40 social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, and many more.

For live content, you can pair up OneStream with other streaming tools like OBS, XSplit, Zoom, and Wirecast. It allows you to multicast to other platforms by simply configuring it using your custom RTMP streaming settings.

The advanced features where OneStream excels is in how it handles pre-recorded videos. It allows you to schedule a video by uploading the file into the system, picking a date, and selecting platforms to play it in.

This way, you’re only running a single hardware encoder and help you save on precious computing power for multi-tasking all the way through. You’ll be able to start streaming automatically and interact with your viewers at the same time.

OneStream is cloud software, which means you won’t need to install anything on your Windows systems.

All you really need is a stable internet connection to get your live and pre-recorded content into as many screens as possible.

13. Dacast

Dacast is not your usual live streaming software. Yes, you get the premium features of other platforms, but you also get more monetization options for your content. If you’re looking for a streaming service that will cater to your on-demand broadcasts, Dacast can be your first-choice.

It’s a live streaming software that will host and manage your advanced live production videos coupled with secure hosting. Now, you’ll be able to store all your live and recorded videos in one place.

The best thing with Dacast is its more advanced features that focus on monetization like paywalls, subscriptions, pay-per-view, and advertisements. It gives you many opportunities on how you want to earn with your live streams and videos.

Overall, Dacast allows you to host, broadcast, and monetize your streams on one platform. It’s a complete solution that offers secure video hosting, VODs, video player, and streaming.

Whether you’re a business that needs a video platform for your events or an individual that wants to showcase your content, this is the live streaming software for you.

Conclusion

Bottom line, deciding on the best streaming software is not that hard when you know what to expect. Some options are more suitable for complete newbies, while others are aimed at both beginners and professionals. 

Choose the right software based on what you expect from this experience, as well as your personal needs.