If you’re searching for an Upstream review, you’re probably deciding between it and StreamYard, Restream or Gyre, and you want to know if it’s worth moving to. This is my honest answer as someone who uses it: what Upstream does well, where it falls short, what it costs and who should pick something else.
Last updated: 1 November 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert
Part of the Upstream live streaming series.
In one paragraph
Upstream is cloud streaming software from Croatia that combines a browser studio, multistreaming to 10 platforms and 24/7 streams from your videos. The free plan gives 24 hours a month with no watermark; paid plans start at $30 a month. I like it because it’s easy to set up and does several jobs in one place. Its main gap is separate guest recordings.
Why listen to me? I’m Alan Spicer, a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 with six Silver Play Buttons. I’ve coached 500+ creators, audited 500+ channels and published live streaming tutorials on my channel since the Google Hangouts On Air days. I use Upstream myself. I like it and found it easy to use and set up, which matters, because most of my clients don’t want to learn broadcast software. I’m also an affiliate for StreamYard and Gyre, so this review gives every tool its due.
Jump to a section
- What is Upstream?
- Upstream features that matter
- What it’s like to use
- Upstream pricing in short
- Upstream pros and cons
- Upstream vs StreamYard, Restream and Gyre
- Who Upstream is for (and who it isn’t)
- Is Upstream safe and allowed on YouTube?
- Can Upstream help you get monetised?
- People also ask
- Upstream review FAQ
- Final verdict
⚡ QUICK ANSWER: Is Upstream worth it?
Yes, for most creators who stream on a schedule or want a 24/7 channel. The free plan gives 24 hours a month to 10 platforms with no watermark, and $30 a month runs an unlimited stream. Pick StreamYard instead if you need separate guest recordings.
THE VERDICT
Upstream: 4.5 / 5 ★★★★½
An easy-to-use, all-in-one cloud streaming tool: a browser studio, multistreaming to 10 platforms and 24/7 streams, with a free plan that has no watermark. It records the whole show rather than each guest, so interview podcasters who edit later may prefer StreamYard.
Affiliate link: I earn a commission if you upgrade to a paid plan through it, at no extra cost to you. The free plan needs no card.
What is Upstream?
Upstream is cloud live streaming software. It lets you go live from your browser with guests, send one stream to up to 10 platforms at once, and turn a playlist of videos into a channel that stays live around the clock. Because it runs on Upstream’s servers, your computer can be switched off while a scheduled or 24/7 stream plays.
It’s a young, small company. Upstream says on its About page that it started in 2023 in Zagreb, Croatia, and the legal entity is Zukunft d.o.o. It’s also listed among the software encoders on YouTube’s list of YouTube Live verified encoders, alongside OBS, StreamYard, Restream and Gyre.
10
platforms per stream, every plan
24 hrs
free streaming every month
$30
a month for one unlimited stream
0
watermarks, including free
Upstream features that matter
Upstream’s feature list is long, but these are the parts that change what you can do.
| Feature | What it does | Who it helps most |
|---|---|---|
| Live Studio | Browser studio: guests join by link with no account, up to 10 on stage, screen sharing and layouts | Podcasters, interview and Q&A shows |
| Multistreaming | One stream to up to 10 of 30+ platforms; YouTube, Twitch and Kick connect without a stream key | Anyone growing on more than one platform |
| 24/7 streaming | Loops a playlist of your videos in order or shuffled, from the cloud | Lofi, ambient, sermon and archive channels |
| Pre-recorded live | Schedule a finished video to go live once or on repeat; shows as Upcoming on YouTube | Launches, premieres and webinars |
| Stream Designer | Overlays: logos, text, images, platform badges and a live chat box | Anyone who wants consistent branding |
| Multichat | Comments from every platform in one feed and one on-screen chat box | Multistreamers |
| Stings, jingles and ads | Inserts that play between videos on a 24/7 stream | Radio-style and music channels |
| Separate audio and video playlists | Loop music and visuals independently | Music and ambient channels |
| Team access | Invite your team with roles, on every plan | Agencies and small teams |
| API and MCP server | Run streams from code or from an AI assistant | Developers and power users |
Source: Upstream product pages, checked 19 October 2026.
The part I’d underline is that the free plan and paid plans have the same features. You’re paying for hours and simultaneous streams, not to switch features on.
What it’s like to use
Upstream is easy to use and easy to set up. That’s the headline from my own use, and it’s the thing I care most about when recommending a streaming tool to a client, because most creators give up on live when the software fights them.
Connecting YouTube, Twitch and Kick is a sign-in rather than a hunt for stream keys; Facebook and custom RTMP destinations need the key pasting once. From there you either open Live Studio and go live from the browser, or upload videos, build a playlist and publish. Overlays live in one place (Stream Designer) and apply to the stream wherever it goes.
The practical win: one tool covers the weekly live show and the always-on channel. Plenty of creators pay for StreamYard for one job and a 24/7 tool for the other. Upstream runs both from one account, and Live Studio can even run on top of a 24/7 stream that’s already live.
Upstream pricing in short
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 24 hours a month, 1 stream, 1080p at 30 fps, 10 destinations, 100 GB, no watermark |
| 1 stream | $30 a month, or $24 a month billed yearly | Unlimited hours, every feature |
| 2 / 3 streams | $50 / $70 a month | Two or three streams running at once |
| 4+ streams | $20 a stream ($16 billed yearly) | Volume pricing for multi-channel setups |
Source: Upstream pricing page, checked 19 October 2026. Prices in US dollars; VAT may be added. 60 fps and 4K are paid options.
If you’re weighing up whether a 24/7 channel will cover its cost, start with my guide to increasing your YouTube RPM with livestreaming.
Upstream pros and cons
What it does well
- Free plan with no watermark, no card and every feature
- Up to 10 platforms per stream on every plan
- Browser studio, multistreaming and 24/7 streams in one tool
- Easy to use and quick to set up
- Simple per-stream pricing, cheaper per stream as you grow
- Team access, API and MCP on every plan
Where it falls short
- Records the whole stream, not each guest separately
- No webinar features
- Chat shows every platform but replies are more limited than Restream’s
- Free plan is 24 hours a month at 1080p and 30 fps
- Young, small company (founded 2023)
- Prices in US dollars, with VAT on top where it applies
Want live streams that grow the channel?
Upstream gets you on air everywhere. On a free call I’ll help you turn that into a format, schedule and platform plan that builds subscribers and watch hours.
- You go live regularly but growth has stalled
- You’re planning a 24/7 channel and want to check the niche first
- You want live to help you reach 4,000 hours before 1 February 2027
- You stream to several platforms and don’t know which is working
Upstream vs StreamYard, Restream and Gyre
Each rival is better at something. Here’s the fair version.
| Compared with | Where the rival is better | Where Upstream is better |
|---|---|---|
| StreamYard | Separate recordings of each guest on paid plans; webinars | Free plan with no logo; 10 platforms on every plan; 24/7 and looping streams |
| Restream | Cheaper for live-only multistreaming ($19 for 3 platforms); chat replies across platforms | 10 platforms on every plan; no branding on free; 24/7 included |
| Gyre | Can be cheaper for several 60 fps YouTube loops; YouTube-focused 24/7 features such as traffic redirection | Free plan instead of a trial; $30 vs $49 for one stream; multistreaming, overlays and a live studio |
Based on each provider’s pricing page, checked 19 October 2026.
I go into each in more depth in Gyre vs Upstream and my StreamYard review.
Who Upstream is for (and who it isn’t)
Upstream suits you if you run a weekly show or podcast and want it on several platforms, you want a 24/7 music, ambient or archive channel, you manage several channels or clients, or you’d rather not run OBS on your own PC.
Look elsewhere if you edit interview podcasts and need each guest on a separate track (StreamYard), you need webinar registration, or you only stream games from a powerful PC and want alerts and widgets (OBS Studio or Streamlabs).
Is Upstream safe and allowed on YouTube?
Yes. Upstream is on YouTube’s list of verified encoders, and streaming pre-recorded video or a 24/7 playlist is a normal use of YouTube Live. What gets channels in trouble is the content, not the tool: re-uploaded videos you don’t own, music without the rights, or misleading “live” claims. My guide to the YouTube algorithm and live streams covers how YouTube treats live content.
Watch the platform rules: each platform sets its own limits. Facebook caps a live at 8 hours, Instagram at 4 and Twitch at 48, and Upstream pauses or reconnects outputs to fit. Upstream itself tells users to check Twitch’s simulcast rules before showing other platforms’ chat on Twitch.
Can Upstream help you get monetised?
Indirectly. Archived public live streams count toward YouTube’s watch-hour target, and from 1 February 2027 new applicants need 1,000 subscribers plus 8,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months, or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. Anyone assessed before that date still uses the 4,000-hour rule. My 2027 monetisation requirements guide and qualified watch hours explainer explain what counts.
A tool doesn’t create demand, though. If nobody watches the stream, it adds no hours. Use live to serve an audience you’re already building, as I explain in YouTube live streaming strategy.
People also ask
Is Upstream legit?
Yes. Upstream is run by Zukunft d.o.o. in Zagreb, Croatia, and is listed on YouTube’s list of YouTube Live verified encoders. Payments go through Stripe.
Is Upstream free?
Upstream has a free plan with 24 hours of streaming a month to up to 10 platforms, no watermark and no card. Paid plans start at $30 a month.
Who owns Upstream?
Upstream’s About page names co-founders Mario Jankovic and Domagoj Franc, and the company behind it is Zukunft d.o.o., registered in Zagreb, Croatia.
Is Upstream better than StreamYard?
For multistreaming, 24/7 streams and a free plan without a logo, yes. For interview shows that need separate guest recordings, StreamYard is better.
Upstream review FAQ
What is Upstream used for?
Upstream is used to go live from a browser with guests, to send one stream to up to 10 platforms at once, and to run 24/7 or scheduled streams from pre-recorded videos in the cloud, with your computer switched off.
Do I need OBS to use Upstream?
No. You can go live from your browser in Live Studio or stream uploaded videos from the cloud. If you prefer OBS, you can send its feed to Upstream over RTMP and let Upstream multistream it.
Can Upstream run a 24/7 YouTube stream?
Yes. You upload videos, set the playlist to loop in order or shuffled, and publish. It needs a paid plan, from $30 a month, because a stream that never stops uses about 720 hours a month.
How many guests can join Upstream Live Studio?
Upstream’s Live Studio page says up to 10 people on stage. Guests join from a link in their browser with no account and need camera and microphone access.
Does Upstream record my streams?
Yes. Stream recordings are included on every plan. Upstream records the stream as a whole rather than recording each guest as a separate file.
Which platforms does Upstream support?
YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Facebook, Instagram, Rumble and Mixcloud are built in, and TikTok and other services connect through custom RTMP or SRT. Upstream says 30+ platforms in all, up to 10 at once.
Can I use Upstream for a podcast?
Yes. Guests join Live Studio from a link, you can share a screen and switch layouts, and the episode goes to your platforms live. If you edit episodes with each voice on a separate track, StreamYard records guests separately.
Is my rating of Upstream sponsored?
No. I’m an Upstream affiliate, so I earn a commission if you upgrade through my links, but the rating is my own editorial view. I’m also an affiliate for StreamYard and Gyre, and I’ve listed where each beats Upstream.
Final verdict
Upstream earns 4.5 out of 5 from me. It’s easy to use, it does the jobs of a browser studio, a multistreaming service and a 24/7 streaming tool in one account, and the free plan is good enough that many people never need to pay. The gaps are separate guest recordings and webinars, so interview podcasters who edit afterwards should look at StreamYard first.
Start on the free plan, prove your format, and upgrade when you run out of hours. Testing it costs nothing and needs no card.
About the author
Alan Spicer has been a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 and creating on YouTube since 2012. He holds six YouTube Silver Play Buttons, has coached 500+ creators and run 500+ channel audits, and spent 2020–2021 on the vidIQ customer success team. He works with creators and brands on YouTube growth, live strategy and monetisation from Huddersfield, usually fuelled by tea. Read client results.
Related reading
Want a live strategy that grows your channel?
On a free call I’ll look at your channel and map out where live streams, 24/7 or weekly, fit your plan for subscribers, watch hours and income. I’m a YouTube Certified Expert with six Silver Play Buttons and 500+ channel audits behind me.
Sources
- Upstream, About, pricing, Live Studio, features and platform limits, checked 19 October 2026.
- YouTube Help, YouTube Live verified encoders.
- StreamYard, pricing; Gyre, pricing; Restream pricing page, checked 19 October 2026.
Affiliate disclosure: I’m an affiliate for Upstream, StreamYard and Gyre, so I may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. My rating is my own editorial view. Prices and programme terms change, so check current terms on each provider’s site.
Discover more from Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
