13 of the best live stream platforms you should consider

Live streaming is a popular and powerful tool for connecting with and engaging an audience in real time, with many platforms offering capabilities like monetization options, live chat, and more. Live streams are used for a growing number of purposes, too — webinars, town halls, corporate events, and entertainment, among others. In this article, we’ll compare the top live-stream platforms, their pros and cons, and what you should be looking for when selecting one.  

Benefits of live streaming for your business

Businesses are increasingly turning to live streaming as a way to connect and interact with their audience in a more meaningful way — with live chat and other interactive features, live streaming turns traditional one-way video communication into dynamic, two-way interactions. They’re used for town hall meetings, marketing, virtual conferences, product launches and announcements, building brand awareness, webinars, and much more. 

Live streaming platforms provide the tools businesses need to easily plan and execute live streams — including tools for monetization, marketing and distribution, simulcasting across social media networks, and audience engagement. These easy-to-use platforms put live streaming within reach for businesses of all sizes. 

Host a live stream with Vimeo →

Tips for choosing the right live-streaming platform

Before diving into the details of the best live-streaming platforms and their offerings, here’s a breakdown of the crucial features and main factors to consider when you’re evaluating and choosing a live-streaming solution. 

• Cost. Cost is going to be one of your biggest concerns in choosing a live-streaming platform, obviously. Choose a platform that falls within your budget but has a decent list of features. You also need to pick one that is scalable so that when your business grows, it accommodates a higher volume of live streams and viewers. 
• High-quality streaming. Seek a live-streaming solution that offers high-quality streaming — 720p or 1080p — and also adaptive streaming, which adjusts the quality of the stream depending on the viewer’s network conditions so they’re always seeing the best-quality stream they can.
• Audience engagement tools. Engaging your audience is the key to making sure that they remember what you had to say and come back for more. Live chat, polls, Q&A, reactions, clickable links, shoppable links, and CTAs are all helpful features to increase engagement.
• Customization options. Keep your brand prominent with a live stream platform that lets you upload your logo, brand colors, overlays, and layout.
• Multi-platform streaming. If you want to maximize your reach, streaming cross-platform on social media sites like YouTube, X, Facebook, and Instagram is the way to go. If you’d like to broadcast to multiple channels at once, look for a live-stream platform that supports simulcasting.
• Analytics and reporting. Data analysis, such as how many total views you got, how long your viewership stuck around (or where they might’ve dropped off), where your audience is watching from, and on what devices, provides strong insights that can help you improve your live streams over time and can guide your video marketing strategy.
• Monetization tools. Generate a new source of income by making your live streams possible via subscriptions, pay-per-view, donations, etc.
• Security and privacy. Maybe you don’t want everyone to watch your live streams. If so, you’ll want to use a live-stream platform that offers strong security and access controls such as password protection, domain-level security, and role-based permissions.
• Integration with third-party tools. Integrate with third-party tools like CRMs and other marketing platforms to sync your live-stream analytics, leads, and other data. A live stream solution with built-in integrations makes this easy. 
• Pre-recorded live streams. Want the appearance of being live without actually being live? On platforms that support pre-recorded live streams, you can schedule a recording to be posted at a specific time, and it will still feel live to your audience — especially if you use it to include truly live elements afterward, such as a Q&A.
• Accessibility features. For inclusivity and accessibility, consider a live stream solution that is accessible from various devices (e.g., smartphone, desktop, smart TV, etc.), includes real-time captions and subtitles, and localization options. You also want to make sure the platform is compatible with your live-stream setup — whatever it is you’re using for audio or video input, like your camera and mic.

The best live-streaming platforms: A side-by-side comparison

For a quick look at how some of the top live-streaming platforms compare, check out our comparison chart below. 

13 of the top live stream platforms online

Vimeo is hands-down the best live-stream platform (in our humble opinion — but we might be a little biased). Unfortunately, we don’t have a ton of experience testing these platforms ourselves — and we don’t want to mislead you in the process — but we do know a decent amount about what to look for in a quality live-stream platform, so we’ll walk you through some of the top contenders in the space so that you can figure out which livestream platform is best for you.

1. Vimeo live stream platform

Full of tools to make the process of live streaming easier on you, Vimeo empowers you to give a premium viewing experience to a global audience. With our ad-free, fully embeddable, customizable video player, broadcast your live streams simultaneously to social media. With Vimeo OTT, you can build a membership site with subscriptions, charge for your livestream, offer them pay-per-view, sell them on demand after the stream, etc. Or you can even take advantage of Vimeo to make short clips that you can post on social media (or GIFs) for maximum reach.

Vimeo’s adaptive bitrate technology — which determines the network conditions of the viewer, adapting the stream quality and guaranteeing the best quality stream available to the viewer — is a necessity for delivering professional virtual events or conferences. Using our browser-based production studio, you can go live and manage your live stream, as well as record your screen and edit (and repurpose) your video content in your browser after the stream ends. And you can even broadcast live and control your streams on the go using our iPhone and Android apps.

Our built-in teleprompter and AI script generator allow your performance to shine anywhere. Our tools for monitoring stream health help you keep everything in check, and notify you if anything goes wrong. And if you’re on the Enterprise plan, backup streams can give you peace of mind, keeping your viewers in the flow without any interruptions, no matter the case.

Pros

• High-quality streaming (720p or 1080p)
• Browser-based production studio
• Simulcasting to social media 
• Adaptive bitrate technology 
• Backup streams (Enterprise Plan required)
• AI script generator and teleprompter
• Audience engagement tools
• Advanced analytics
• Real-time stream health monitoring
• Pre-recorded live streams
• Privacy settings and access controls
• Embeddable video player
• Customizable, ad-free video player
• Branded invitation and reminder emails 
• iPhone and Android apps
• Monetize your live streams with subscriptions and more

Cons

• Video storage limits (based on plan)
• Some features may only be available on higher-tier plans

Get started with Vimeo live streaming →

2. YouTube live stream platform

YouTube is one of the most visited websites globally, which means that you can introduce your work to a whole new audience on the platform. Its other major draw is that it’s completely free to use and has no limits on video storage or bandwidth. That being said, viewers will have to watch ads — before and during your streams — unless they pay for a YouTube Premium subscription. Unlike Vimeo, your audience doesn’t have to pay a dime for an ad-free experience.

Live streams have no time cap, but if you’re depending on the archived footage, remember that it can only archive streams of up to 12 hours. To stream live on YouTube, you do have to be a verified user, and you need at least 1,000 subscribers to stream on mobile.

Pros

• Free to use
• Stream pre-recorded content 
• Large audience 
• Unlimited video storage
• Unlimited bandwidth 
• Analytics dashboard 
• Viewable on mobile or desktop 
• Live chat
• Stickers, super chats, and channel memberships for monetization 

Cons

• Verified account required to stream live 
• Must have 1,000+ subscribers to stream on mobile  
• Ads before and during streams (unless viewers subscribe to YouTube Premium) 
• Limited video editing tools 
• Video player is not customizable 

3. Zoom livestream platform

Zoom is a live streaming tool that helps to conduct virtual meetings and events. Similar to Vimeo, Zoom lets you share your screen and host pre-recorded live events — and simulcast to social media, if your plan lets you. There’s no AI script writer or teleprompter, however, so you’re left to get past writer’s block and deliver your presentation with fluent ease.

If you’ll edit your live streams after they’re complete, however, Zoom’s editing functionality won’t compare to Vimeo’s, as it only grants you the ability to trim videos’ start and endpoints, whereas Vimeo offers a full video editing suite to perfect and repurpose your live streams.

Pros

• Live chat
• Stream in 720p or 1080p
• Pre-recorded live events
• Simulcasting to social media 
• Up to 1 million view-only attendees (for Zoom Webinars, depending on license)

Cons

• Limited video editing tools
• Stream quality is based on your plan
• No AI script generator or teleprompter
• Some features are only available on higher-tier paid plans 

4. Webex live stream platform

With live interpreters for real-time translations in over 100 languages, Webex can help you engage with a more global audience. Similar to Vimeo, Webex also boasts a customizable video player with embeddable video, along with an audience engagement toolbox that offers Q&A, live chat, polls, emoji reaction, gamification, and gesture recognition. On a Basic account, you can listen for a maximum of 40 minutes, but you can stream up to 24 hours on higher-tier plans.

Editing capabilities are limited in Webex, though, so if you want to keep live streams from your Webex meetings and use them later, whether for social media or live events, you’ll probably have to download your live streams to repurpose them on other platforms, but Webex uses a proprietary video format — which means that the process of converting your video files adds a few more steps in that process. (Vimeo integrates with Webex to automatically upload your Webex recordings, saving you time.)

Pros

• Stream in up to 1080p quality 
• Pre-recorded live events
• Simulcasting to social media
• Screen sharing 
• Real-time analytics 
• Customizable video player
• Stream up to 24 hours
• Real-time translation in 100+ languages
• Stage and content management  

Cons

• No AI script writer or teleprompter
• Limited to 1,000 or 100,000 attendees, depending on product 
• Limited to 40 minutes on Basic plan 
• Limited editing capabilities 

5. Dacast live stream platform

Dacast allows you to stream to almost any device. Its video player is fully customizable with no ads, that way, you can create a branded viewing experience. Advanced video analytics enable you to track the performance of your live streams, and simulcasting to social media platforms lets you reach a wider audience. Dacast has monetization features for live streams, but it lacks embedded editing tools and embedded chat that Vimeo offers. 

Pros 

• Ad-free, customizable video player
• Compatible with nearly any device
• Live captions and subtitles
• 1080p broadcasting
• Simulcasting 
• Adaptive bitrate streaming  
• Video monetization 

Cons

• No built-in chat
• No video editing capabilities 
• Limited bandwidth on lower-tier plans
• No free plan   

6. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform for teams. Everything from VOIP to group chats and live and recorded presentations like webinars are used by businesses. It offers some useful tools for live streaming, including an analytics dashboard, automatic closed captions, and live translation. Teams doesn’t come with a built-in teleprompter or an AI scriptwriter, however, like Vimeo does, nor can you embed Teams videos or live streams on other sites, limiting your reach.

Pros

• Analytics dashboard
• Automatic closed captions and summaries 
• Video library 
• Live translation
• Town halls can be up to 30 hours long (webinars limited to 4 hours) 

Cons

• No AI script writer or teleprompter
• Limited video editing capabilities
• AI tools require a Copilot License
• Limited to 1,000 attendees 
• Videos cannot be embedded on other sites 

7. Wistia live stream platform

Wistia is a video hosting platform for marketers. Includes a video library and an analytics dashboard, as well as a customizable video player and ad-free video content. You can collect registration information to follow up with leads after the conclusion of your stream. On the downside, customization and audience engagement options are far fewer than what you will find with Vimeo. In addition to that, the Wistia Advanced plan limits you to 2-hour livestreams and 500 attendees. 

Pros

• Browser-based platform
• Dual-stream recording 
• Ad-free, customizable video player
• Lead generation tools 
• Private link sharing, password protection, and admin permissions 

Cons

• Limited video storage
• Can only simulcast to up to 5 locations
• Low attendee limits 
• Limited stream length 
• Limited editing capabilities

8. Kaltura livestream platform

Just as Wistia is for marketers, Kaltura is geared towards educators — it develops tailored corporate video solutions. It offers support for 4K HD quality, as well as 360 and custom resolutions. Kaltura, like Vimeo, offers an ad-free customizable video player and allows you to set permissions to share videos privately — but it restricts you to just 1,000 attendees on the Business Plan. And since it’s per TB, your costs can grow dramatically.

Pros

• 4K HD, 360, and custom resolutions
• Ad-free, customizable video player
• Private video sharing and permissions 
• Advanced video analytics
• Video library 

Cons

• 1,000 attendee limit on Business plan
• Priced per TB, which can quickly add up 
• No built-in recording studio 

9. Brightcove live stream platform

Brightcove was recently acquired by Bending Spoons, so things may change, or services may be disrupted. You can easily customize it and monetize your videos with ads and subscriptions as well as deliver streams through adaptive bitrate technology to deliver the highest quality viewing experience possible based on the viewer’s network conditions.

It also offers tools to help hold your audience, and it allows for 24/7 linear streaming — ingesting streams from multiple feeds, and then editing and distributing them live from a studio or control room. It has unlimited video storage but can be complex for the average user, especially in configuring integrations. This is unlike Vimeo’s simple platform, browser-based production studio, and seamless integrations.

Pros

• Ad integrations for monetization 
• Unlimited video storage
• Customizable video player 
• Auto-generated tags and descriptions
• Editing capabilities 
• Adaptive bitrate technology
• Supports 24/7 linear streaming 
• Audience engagement tools 

Cons

• Expensive for average users
• Setup can be complicated for integrations
• Recent acquisition may lead to disruptions and changes 

10. Panopto live stream platform

Like Vimeo, Panopto provides a customizable video player, embeddable video, video analytics, a video library, and the ability to run pre-recorded live events. Panopto has no attendee limit, but it doesn’t let you simulcast to social media and other platforms. Panopto lets you engage your audience with polls, surveys, and quizzes, but not to the extent of Vimeo, which offers Q&A, live chat, and the ability to add clickable links and CTAs to your videos.

Pros

• Pre-recorded live events
• Unlimited attendees
• Customizable video player
• Video analytics 
• Video library 
• Embeddable video 
• Audience engagement tools 

Cons

• No customizable registration forms
• Does not support simulcasting
• Limited video editing tools 

11. ON24 live stream platform

ON24 offers attendee networking features and audience engagement tools like live chat and polls and allows for multi-session live streams. You can create bespoke registration pages to capture those leads, and you get in-depth analytics on the event itself. ON24 has a customizable video player like Vimeo and allows embedded videos on websites. But ON24 doesn’t allow simulcasting to any other social media or sites, and the default limit is 5,000 attendees. You can file a Large Event Request for extra attendees, but this tends to get pricey.

Pros

• Pre-recorded live streams
• Customizable landing pages and form builders
• Attendee networking
• Embeddable video 
• Video analytics 
• Customizable video player 
• Audience engagement tools 

Cons

• Does not support simulcasting
• Limited to 5,000 attendees 
• Expensive for larger audiences

12. GoToWebinar

Webinar and live streaming platform GoToWebinar allows you to run pre-recorded live events and join or present on desktop and mobile. You can even embed videos on other websites with GoToWebinar. Engagement tools for the audience include polls, Q&A, surveys, and handouts. However, the video editing options on GoToWebinar are limited when compared to Vimeo, meaning you can’t take your live streams, polish them up, and repurpose them quite as well as you can using Vimeo. GoToWebinar also has low attendee limits, and while it supports simulcasting, you can only do it via RTMP connection.

Pros

• Screen sharing
• Compatible with desktop and mobile
• Audience engagement tools
• Video analytics 
• Pre-recorded live events
• Video library 
• Customizable registration forms and emails

Cons

• Low attendee limits
• Limited video editing tools
• Simulcasting available only through RTMP connections

13. RingCentral Events (formerly Hopin) 

RingCentral Events (previously Hopin) lets you design custom live streams and virtual get-togethers, as well as pre-recorded live streams, and multi-track multi-day events. It also includes tools for networking and engagement among attendees — polls, surveys, Q&A, chat and emoji reactions, as well as closed captions and AI-powered caption translation for accessibility. Although you can host up to 100,000 participants, the pricing for the platform is proportionate to the registration per event — making it something one of the more expensive options as it relates to other live-streaming platforms.

Pros

• Up to 100,000 attendees
• Custom branding
• Attendee networking
• Audience engagement tools
• Video and event analytics 
• Browser-based viewing experience 
• Multi-track, multi-day events 
• Pre-recorded live streams 

Cons

• Expensive, with pricing scaled based on number of attendees
• No video editing capabilities 

Live streaming FAQ:

Can I make money from live streaming? 

You can monetize your live streams with ads, sponsorships, access to the streams through subscriptions, providing previous streams on a pay-per-view, video-on-demand basis, and even donations. Some of the live stream platforms, such as Vimeo, YouTube and Dacast, have built-in monetization tools.

Can I embed my live stream on my website? 

Most live-streaming tools give you embed code which allows you to embed your live streams on your website. But if you’re looking for an embeddable solution, not every platform offers this, so you’ll want to check out the features of any live-stream platform that you’re considering.

Can I live stream pre-recorded content? 

The majority of the popular live-streaming platforms provide the option of creating a “live” experience from pre-recorded content with scheduling functionality. Platforms like Vimeo, for example, let you add more interactive features such as Q&A to enhance the “live” feel.

Can you live stream for free? 

Some platforms, like YouTube, for instance, have free options for live streaming. But they can have drawbacks, like ads that run before and even during your streams, or limits on features or attendees.

Can I live stream on multiple platforms simultaneously? 

Not all platforms offer simulcasting, the ability to live stream on multiple platforms at the same time. Some platforms only allow simulcasting via RTMP, which could be slightly more complicated to set up.

Conclusion: Which platform for live streaming is best for you?

Choosing the right live-streaming platform depends on your budget, the features you need, and how many attendees you expect to watch your streams. While each live-streaming platform has its own strengths, Vimeo stands out as an all-around, end-to-end solution for the complete video lifecycle — with tools for video creation, video editing, and marketing and distribution tools. 

Vimeo’s ad-free, customizable video player with high-quality streaming and adaptive bitrate technology allows you to create a branded and uninterrupted viewing experience. Our advanced analytics, audience engagement tools, and unique monetization options — like subscriptions and pay-per-view — allow you to create a reliable revenue stream. 

You can simulcast your live streams across multiple social media platforms with Vimeo, meaning you can expand your reach without having to manage different streams on each platform individually. Plus, our browser-based production studio allows for easy live-stream management on the go, and with our mobile apps for iPhone and Android, you can manage your live streams from virtually anywhere. A comprehensive suite of video editing tools and AI-powered capabilities allow you to repurpose your live stream content, maximizing your return on investment for every stream. These and other capabilities make Vimeo the ideal choice for brands and creators looking for an end-to-end live streaming and video marketing platform.

Live stream with Vimeo →