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How to multistream with OBS

OBS Studio sends your stream to one place: whatever you set in Settings → Stream. To be live on several platforms, something has to make the extra copies. That's either a cloud service (OBS uploads once, the service sends the copies) or your own PC (OBS or an app sends every copy from your connection).

Multistream does both. Below, the example uses Twitch, YouTube and Kick, but the steps are the same for any of the platforms Multistream supports.

Cloud or your own PC?

From the cloud, your upload carries one stream no matter how many platforms you add, and if OBS drops, the cloud can keep your platforms live on a BRB clip. From your PC, it's free, but your upload carries one copy per platform and a dropped connection ends every stream.

If your upload is small or you stream to more than two or three platforms, the cloud is the safer choice. If you have plenty of upload and stream to two, your PC is fine.

Method 1: Multistream Cloud (one upload for every platform)

Multistream Cloud takes one stream from OBS and sends a copy to Twitch, YouTube and Kick, and to up to 12 platforms in all. Your internet only uploads that one stream, so adding a platform doesn't need a faster connection. It comes with Pro, $10/mo.

  1. Create your Multistream account, then get Pro on your Account page.
  2. In the Studio, step 1 (Pick platforms), click Add a platform and add each one:
    • Twitch: click Sign in with Twitch, then Authorize in the Twitch window. Multistream reads your stream key for you.
    • YouTube: click Sign in with YouTube and pick your channel's Google account. Multistream Cloud then starts your YouTube broadcast by itself, so it doesn't sit in preview.
    • Kick: click Sign in with Kick, log in and click Allow. Or paste the Stream URL and stream key from Kick's Creator Dashboard → Settings → Stream Key.
  3. Install Multistream for OBS (Windows 10 or 11, OBS 31 or newer) and open OBS. The Multistream dock opens on the right.
  4. In the dock, click Sign in with your browser and approve it.
  5. The dock's pre-flight check looks at your OBS settings, Multistream Cloud, your platforms and where OBS sends. If OBS isn't sending to Multistream yet, click Point OBS at Multistream.
  6. Click Go live on 3. After a 3, 2, 1 countdown, OBS starts streaming and Twitch, YouTube and Kick go live.

If OBS or your internet drops, Pro keeps your platforms live on your BRB clip for up to 30 minutes, and when OBS is back you carry on in the same broadcast, with the same chat. Turn it on under Disconnect protection.

Method 2: the free Multistream app (from your own PC)

The free Multistream app for Windows can send the copies from your own PC instead. Your upload then carries one copy for each platform, and if your PC's internet drops, your platforms drop with it. Run the app's Speed test first to see what your connection can carry.

  1. Download the Multistream app for Windows 10 or 11 and open it.
  2. Go to Multistream → Go live and set Where the relay runs to This PC.
  3. Open Setup guide and click Add a platform for Twitch, YouTube and Kick. Twitch, YouTube and Kick accounts you've connected in the app add in a click; the others take their stream key.
  4. Install Multistream for OBS and open OBS. Without Pro, the Multistream dock sends your stream through the app on this PC, so keep the app open.
  5. Click Go live on 3 in the dock. Your PC uploads one copy for each platform.

Settings OBS needs for multistreaming

Every platform is fussy about a couple of settings. Multistream's settings check reads OBS's settings and tells you what to change: H.264 video, a keyframe every 2 seconds, and a bitrate each platform accepts (Twitch takes up to 6,000 kbps).

Using Twitch's Enhanced Broadcasting? It only works when OBS streams to Twitch itself. Multistream can send the copy for the other platforms alongside it: see how to multistream and keep Enhanced Broadcasting.

Questions, answered

Can OBS stream to multiple platforms by itself?

Not out of the box: OBS's Stream settings take one destination. A multistream service or tool makes the other copies.

Is there an OBS multistream plugin?

Yes. Multistream's free tools for OBS (the Twitch tool, which keeps Enhanced Broadcasting, and the Vertical tool for a 9:16 picture) start and stop with Start Streaming, and the free Multistream app or Multistream Cloud sends the copies.

Does multistreaming make OBS use more CPU?

With Multistream, OBS encodes your stream once as usual; the copies are made by the cloud or by the app, which copies the stream without encoding it again.

Which is better, cloud or PC multistreaming?

Cloud if your upload is limited, you stream to several platforms, or you want your platforms to stay live if OBS drops. Your PC if you want it free and have upload to spare.

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