Guides

How to multistream with Streamlabs

Short answer: Can Streamlabs stream to several platforms for free? Not on its own: Streamlabs lists Multistream as an Ultra feature, and its free plan streams to one platform per canvas. With Multistream, Streamlabs Desktop sends one stream to the free Multistream app, which sends the copies from your PC, or to Multistream Cloud with Pro.

Streamlabs Desktop is free and built on OBS. On its own it sends your stream to the platform you set up in it, and Streamlabs lists Multistream as an Ultra feature. You can keep Streamlabs Desktop and still go live on several platforms: tell it once to send your stream to Multistream as a custom server, and Multistream makes the copies.

The example uses Twitch, YouTube and Kick, but the steps are the same for any platform Multistream supports. It takes two settings in Streamlabs: a server and a stream key.

Cloud or your own computer?

From the cloud, Streamlabs uploads one stream no matter how many platforms you add, and Pro keeps your platforms live on a BRB clip if your connection drops. From your PC, it's free with the Multistream app, but your upload carries one copy for each platform.

If your upload is small or you stream to more than two or three platforms, pick the cloud. If you have plenty of upload and stream to two, your PC is fine. The Streamlabs settings are the same either way: only the server and key you paste change.

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

Multistream Cloud takes the one stream from Streamlabs Desktop and sends a copy to Twitch, YouTube and Kick, and to up to 12 platforms in all. Your internet only uploads that one stream. It comes with Pro, $10/mo.

  1. Create your Multistream account, then get Pro on your Account page.
  2. In the Studio's setup guide, on Where do your viewers watch you?, 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 → Stream URL & Key.
  3. In the setup guide, choose Another app, then Streamlabs Desktop. It shows the server and your stream key.
  4. In Streamlabs, click Settings (the gear at the bottom left), then Stream.
  5. Click Stream to custom ingest at the bottom, and set Stream Type to Custom Streaming Server.
  6. Copy the server into URL and your stream key into Stream key, then click Done.
  7. Click Go Live in Streamlabs. Your stream shows in the Studio within a few seconds and goes out to Twitch, YouTube and Kick.

Your stream key works like a password: anyone who has it can stream to your platforms, so never show it on stream. The Studio's settings check then reads your stream and tells you if anything needs changing.

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

The free Multistream app for Windows and Mac can send the copies from your own computer 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, or work it out with the free upload calculator.

  1. Download the Multistream app for Windows 10 or 11, or macOS 11 or newer, and open it.
  2. Go to Multistream → Go live and set Send from the cloud or from this PC 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. Choose Another app, then Streamlabs Desktop, and paste the server and key it shows into Streamlabs under Settings → Stream, with Stream to custom ingest and Custom Streaming Server. Click Done.
  5. Click Go Live in Streamlabs. The app picks it up within a few seconds and sends a copy to Twitch, YouTube and Kick.

Settings Streamlabs needs for multistreaming

Every platform is fussy about a few settings, and Multistream passes your stream through as it is, so each platform gets exactly what Streamlabs sends. Set it for the strictest platform you stream to: H.264 video, CBR rate control, a keyframe every 2 seconds, and AAC audio at 48 kHz.

Twitch takes up to 6,000 kbps, so keep your bitrate there if Twitch is one of your platforms. You find these in Streamlabs under Settings → Output, and the settings check tells you if anything is off.

Does your app have no custom server option? Some apps only stream to their own platform and can't send to Multistream. Streamlabs Desktop has the option. OBS Studio is free and works with everything.

Questions, answered

Can Streamlabs stream to several platforms for free?

Not on its own: Streamlabs lists Multistream as an Ultra feature, and its free plan streams to one platform per canvas. With Multistream, Streamlabs Desktop sends one stream to the free Multistream app, which sends the copies from your PC, or to Multistream Cloud with Pro.

Do I have to switch to OBS to multistream?

No. Pick Streamlabs Desktop in Multistream's setup guide and paste the server and key into Streamlabs. You can switch app later from the setup guide.

Does multistreaming make Streamlabs use more CPU?

No. Streamlabs 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 your connection drops. Your PC if you want it free and have upload to spare.

Create your account · Get the free app

More guides