Top 12 Best Free Live Stream Software

Live stream software is becoming increasingly popular and is an indispensable tool for streamers, content creators, and businesses who want to interact directly with their audience. Choosing the right software will help you have high-quality, professional broadcasts that attract viewers. This article will introduce you to the top 12 best free livestream software available today, including optimal choices for Facebook livestream software and professional livestream software.

OBS Studio

OBS Studio is an open-source live stream software that is completely free and the most popular among the streamer community. OBS Studio allows you to broadcast live on many different platforms such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, etc. Pros:

• Free and open source: Completely free for everyone to use: No feature limitations, no ads.
• Multi-platform support: Live stream to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Mixer, and many other platforms.
• Highly customizable: Allows you to customize layouts, add multiple input sources, transitions, and professional effects.
• High-quality recording: Can record broadcasts in high quality, suitable for editing and re-uploading.
• Large support community: Supported by a large user community, with many tutorials and extension plugins.

Cons:

• The initial interface can be a bit complicated: Newcomers may take time to get used to the interface and features.
• Requires a good computer configuration: Needs a computer with a powerful enough configuration to run smoothly, especially when using multiple input sources and effects.

Simple Livestream

Simple Livestream is a professional live stream software developed by a Vietnamese team. Pros:

• Simple interface: Easy to use, suitable for beginners.
• Vietnamese language support: The interface and user guide are entirely in Vietnamese, making it easy for users to operate.
• Many built-in features: Supports live streaming to Facebook, Youtube, TikTok,…
• Supports creating minigames: Helps increase interaction with viewers.

Cons:

• Few advanced features: Compared to OBS Studio, Simple Livestream has fewer customization features.
• Has a paid version: Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.

GoStream

GoStream is a professional live stream software that supports multi-platform live streaming. Pros:

• Live stream from pre-recorded videos: Allows replaying pre-recorded videos as a live stream.
• Supports simultaneous live streaming: Live stream to multiple platforms at the same time.
• Schedule broadcasts: Set a timer for automatic broadcasting.
• Create minigames: Increase interaction with viewers.

Cons:

• Has a paid version: Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.
• Sometimes experiences connection errors: Some users have reported connection errors when using it.

GameCaster

GameCaster is a free live stream software specializing in game live streaming. Pros:

• Optimized for Gaming: Comes with effects, frames, and overlays specifically for games.
• Easy to use: Friendly interface, easy to install and use.
• Multi-platform support: Live stream to popular platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook.

Cons:

• Few customization features: Not as many customization options as OBS Studio.
• Contains ads: The free version includes ads.

Screen Stream Mirroring

Screen Stream Mirroring is a professional livestream software for mobile phones. It allows you to live stream your phone screen to various platforms. Pros:

• Easy to use: Simple to install and use.
• Multi-platform support: Live stream to Facebook, YouTube, Twitch,…
• Live stream phone screen: Share your phone screen with viewers.

Cons:

• Image quality can be affected: Image quality depends on the network connection and the phone.
• Has a paid version: Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.

XSplit Broadcaster

XSplit Broadcaster is one of the first live stream software to appear. It comes in two versions: Broadcaster for professional streaming and Gamecaster for game streaming. Pros:

• Intuitive interface: User-friendly interface, easy to use, especially for beginners.
• Diverse features: Offers many features such as recording, streaming, video editing, and adding effects.
• Plugin support: Integrates many extension plugins to enhance functionality.
• Stable stream quality: Provides stable and smooth stream quality.

Cons:

• Only on Windows: Only supports the Windows operating system, no version for macOS or Linux.
• Limited features in the free version: The free version has limitations on resolution, number of scenes, and a watermark.
• Requires high computer specs: Needs a powerful computer to run smoothly, especially when using many features.

vMix

vMix is a professional live stream software with many advanced features. Suitable for events, live television programs. Pros:

• Professional features: Supports multiple input sources, transitions, effects,…
• High image quality: Allows live streaming with resolutions up to 4K.
• NDI support: Allows video signal transmission over the network, simplifying device connections.

Cons:

• High cost: vMix is paid software with a rather high price.
• Requires a powerful computer configuration: Needs a very powerful computer to run vMix.

NVIDIA Geforce Experience

NVIDIA Geforce Experience is software that comes with NVIDIA graphics cards. It supports the ShadowPlay feature for recording and live streaming games. Pros:

• Optimized for gaming: Optimizes game performance, helping to minimize lag and stutter during live streams.
• Easy to use: Simple interface, easy to install and use.
• Free: Free for users of NVIDIA graphics cards.

Cons:

• Only supports NVIDIA graphics cards: Can only be used with NVIDIA graphics cards.
• Few customization features: Does not have as many customization features as OBS Studio.

Wirecast

Wirecast is a professional live stream software with many advanced features. Suitable for events and live television programs. The software helps you instantly live stream, record, produce, and encode unlimited video sources and easily stream live to multiple servers and platforms at the same time. Pros:

• Professional features: Supports multiple input sources, transitions, effects,…
• High image quality: Allows for high-resolution live streaming.
• Multi-platform support: Live stream to various platforms.
• Simple interface: Simple drag-and-drop is very easy for new users.
• Multiple input sources: Has many input sources such as cameras, microphones, audio files, web, …
• Add network input sources: Easily add network input sources like NDI, Web stream, IP stream.

Cons:

• High cost: Wirecast is paid software with a rather high price.
• Requires a powerful computer configuration: Needs a very powerful computer to run Wirecast.

Live Stream Streamlabs

Streamlabs is a professional livestream software famous for its features that support streamers. Pros:

• Integrated with many support tools: Provides tools such as chatbot, alerts, donations,…
• Easy to use: Friendly interface, easy to install and use.
• Multi-platform support: Live stream to popular platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook.

Cons:

• Has a paid version: Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.
• Can be resource-intensive: Some users report that Streamlabs is heavy on computer resources.

Twitch Studio

Twitch Studio is a live stream software developed by Twitch. It helps you easily start streaming on the Twitch platform. Pros:

• Optimized for Twitch: Built-in integration with Twitch features.
• Easy to use: Simple interface, easy to install and use.
• Free: Completely free for Twitch users.

Cons:

• Only supports Twitch: Can only stream to Twitch.
• Few customization features: Does not have as many customization features as OBS Studio.

OneStream

OneStream is a professional livestream software that allows live streaming of pre-recorded videos to multiple platforms. Pros:

• Live stream from pre-recorded videos: Allows replaying pre-recorded videos as a live stream.
• Supports simultaneous live streaming: Live stream to multiple platforms at the same time.
• Schedule broadcasts: Set a timer for automatic broadcasting.

Cons:

• Has a paid version: Some advanced features are only available in the paid version.
• Few interactive features: Does not have as many interactive features for viewers as other live stream software.
• Intuitive interface: Has an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Suitable for beginners.

Conclusion

Above are the top 12 best free and paid live stream software available today. The choice of which software to use depends on your needs and purposes. If you are just starting out, OBS Studio or Simple Livestream are suitable choices. If you need professional livestream software with many advanced features, vMix or Wirecast are options worth considering. If you want Facebook livestream software, most of the software above supports this platform. Carefully consider factors such as features, price, interface, etc., to choose the software that suits you best.