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StreamYard vs Hive Streaming vs Livestorm Comparison

Last updated:

StreamYard

2.8(4 reviews)

Starting at $32.53 /month

  • Freelancers / Consultants
  • Large Enterprises

StreamYard is an open source live-stream broadcast software built for gamers and creators of all sizes.It offers high reliability and stability of running streams, affordable price of free and support for an unmatched ra…

Hive Streaming

5.0(3 reviews)

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Hive is streaming software that allows you to quickly and easily setup your own live broadcasting channel. It is a fast way to broadcast live and includes features like overlays, call-ins, donations and an easy to use in…

Livestorm

4.4(693 reviews)

Starting at $88 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

Livestorm is the perfect online software for hosting live events using web conferencing. It features a fully-customizable interface, mobile compatibility and a host of helpful features. It is a powerful webinar platform…

Hive Streaming leads on user satisfaction with a 5.0-star rating across 3 reviews.

StreamYard vs Hive Streaming vs Livestorm — at a glance

FeatureStreamYardHive StreamingLivestorm
Rating2.8 / 55.0 / 54.4 / 5
Reviews43693
Starting price$32.53 /monthContact for pricing$88 /Month
Free trial No No Yes
Free version No No No
Best forFreelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryLive Stream SoftwareLive Stream SoftwareVideo Conferencing Software
Integrations8+ apps
PlatformsSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/CloudSaaS/Web/Cloud
APIAvailableAvailable
Support modesOnline24/7 (Live rep), Online24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online
CertificationsGDPRSOC 2, GDPR
Data residencyGlobalUSUS

Key differences between StreamYard and Hive Streaming

  • Pricing: StreamYard starts at $32.53 /month. Hive Streaming pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: StreamYard is built for Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises, while Hive Streaming targets Large Enterprises and Medium Business.
  • User satisfaction: Hive Streaming scores higher with a 5.0-star average.
  • Deployment: StreamYard supports SaaS/Web/Cloud; Hive Streaming supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.

Compare StreamYard vs Hive Streaming vs Livestorm — and walk away knowing which one fits.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Live Stream Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

StreamYard - Live Stream Software
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Talk to an expert
Hive Streaming - Live Stream Software
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Talk to an expert

Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

StreamYard

Best for simple, professional multi-guest live streams on multiple platforms.

Choose if
  • You need an easy-to-use, browser-based streaming tool with no downloads required.
  • You want to stream simultaneously to YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitch, and custom RTMP.
  • You require a professional appearance with customizable branding and overlays for up to six guests.
Consider alternatives if
  • You need to host more than six on-screen participants simultaneously.
  • You require advanced customization options for fonts, animations, or smooth transitions.

Hive Streaming

Best for

Large Enterprises, Medium Business

Livestorm

Best for easy-to-use, browser-based webinars and virtual learning events.

Choose if
  • You need a simple, quick setup for professional webinars or training sessions.
  • Your team values strong customer support and responsive service.
  • You want a fully browser-based platform requiring no downloads for attendees.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require extensive customization of registration pages and webinar room design.
  • Your workflows depend on deep integrations with a wide variety of third-party tools.

StreamYard typically suits Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises. Hive Streaming tends to fit Large Enterprises and Medium Business better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

StreamYard is an open source live-stream broadcast software built for gamers and creators of all sizes.It offers high reliability and stability of running streams, affordable price of free ... Read More about StreamYard

Hive is streaming software that allows you to quickly and easily setup your own live broadcasting channel. It is a fast way to broadcast live and includes features like overlays, call-ins, ... Read More about Hive Streaming

Livestorm is the perfect online software for hosting live events using web conferencing. It features a fully-customizable interface, mobile compatibility and a host of helpful features. It ... Read More about Livestorm

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $32.53 , yearly
  • Not Available
  • Starts from $88 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

9.3/10

7.9/10

9.0/10

User Ratings

Based on verified Spotsaas reviews

2.8

(4)

Best Company Size

FreelancersSmall Business
Small BusinessMedium Business
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Where each option fits best

See where each product is strongest, which teams it fits, and what causes buyers to keep looking — before you commit.

Based on buyer reviews and verified product data collected by Spotsaas.

Strengths

Key strengths

StreamYard

  • Built-in engagement and branding tools: StreamYard includes features that enhance viewer experience and brand presence. Users can add overlays, banners, lower thirds, backgrounds, and custom logos directly inside the platform. Real-time comments from social platforms can appear on screen. These tools help creators produce polished, professional streams that feel custom and interactive without needing external graphics software.
  • Easy guest collaboration and remote interviews: StreamYard makes it effortless to bring guests into live broadcasts. With browser-based invites, hosts can include multiple remote participants — no downloads, plugins, or logins required. This is ideal for interviews, panel discussions, webinars, influencer collaborations, and team presentations. The streamlined guest workflow helps teams produce engaging live shows without complicated setup or coordination.
  • Multi-platform streaming with one click: A core strength of StreamYard is its ability to broadcast to multiple destinations simultaneously. Whether you’re streaming to YouTube Live, Facebook Live, LinkedIn Live, Twitch, or custom RTMP endpoints, you can reach all audiences in one session. This unified publishing saves time, increases reach, and eliminates the need to manage separate streams or encoders for each platform.
Best fit

Best fit

StreamYard

  • 51–200
  • Media & Entertainment, Marketing & Advertising, Education, Technology, Events & Conferences, Podcasts & Content Creation, Nonprofits
Watchouts

Reasons buyers look elsewhere

StreamYard

  • For shows requiring local backup, redundant capture, or high-resolution archival recording before streaming, users may opt for solutions that handle local video capture natively rather than browser-based cloud processing.
  • Some users want a tightly integrated ecosystem that includes scheduling, CRM sync, ticketing, and revenue dashboards without external workflows. Platforms designed for virtual events or OTT (e.g., Hopin, vFairs) may provide more native features.
  • Creators focused on memberships, pay-per-view streams, or detailed engagement tracking may choose platforms with built-in analytics and revenue tools. StreamYard focuses on distribution and production, not monetization layers.

Livestorm

No alternatives guidance available yet.

Software Demo

Demo

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How do StreamYard, Hive Streaming and Livestorm Compare on Features?

Total Features

10 Features

4 Features

15 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

No unique features

Get Quote
Get Quote

Compare StreamYard, Hive Streaming and Livestorm on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

        Starting From

        • $32.53 , yearly
        • Not Available
        • $88 , Billed Yearly

        Pricing Plans

        • Free

          Free

          • All essential studio features

          • StreamYard logo in your streams

          • Streaming limits

          Show more +

        • Core

          $40.95

          /month

          • All Free features with:

          • Full HD (1080p)

          • No StreamYard logo on your streams

          Show more +

        • Advanced

          $80.11

          /month

          • Everything in Core plus:

          • 4K (2160p) local recordings

          • Multistream - 8 destinations

          Show more +

        • Not Available
        • Free

          • Up to 30 active contacts/month

          • Up to 20 minutes/session

          • Up to 30 live attendees

          Show more +

        • Pro

          • Up to 500 active contacts/month

          • Up to 4 hours/session

          • Up to 500 live attendees

          Show more +

        • Business

          • Unlimited active contacts

          • Up to 4 hours/session

          • Up to 3,000 live attendees

          Show more +

        • Browse all pricing plans

        Pricing Page

        StreamYard pricing

        Pricing information not available

        Livestorm pricing

        Other Details

        Organization Types supported

        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers
        • Individuals
        • Large Enterprises
        • Medium Business
        • Small Business
        • Freelancers

        Platforms Supported

        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Mobile - Android
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Mobile - Android
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Browser Based (Cloud)
        • Mobile - iOS
        • Mobile - Android
        • Installed - Windows
        • Installed - Mac
        • Browser Based (Cloud)

        Modes of support

        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online
        • 24/7 (Live rep)
        • Business Hours
        • Online

        API Support

        • Not Available
        • Available
        • Available
        Get help choosing
        Get help choosing

        Security & Compliance

        Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

        SOC 2

        HIPAA

        ✗ No
        ✗ No

        GDPR

        ✓ Yes

        Single Sign-On (SSO)

        ✗ No

        Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

        Data Encryption

        ✓ Yes

        Audit Logs

        ✗ No

        Data Residency

        🌐 Global
        🇺🇸 US

        StreamYard vs Hive Streaming User Reviews & Rating Comparison

        User Ratings

        Rating Distribution

        173

        8

        0

        0

        1

        1

        0

        0

        0

        0

        110

        25

        2

        0

        1

        Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

        Buyer sentiment

        Users appreciate StreamYard's ease of use and professional streaming capabilities but note limitations in participant capacity and occasional connectivity issues.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Guest collaboration
        • Multi-platform streaming

        Common complaints

        • Connectivity issues
        • Limited participant capacity

        Buyer sentiment

        Buyer sentiment is very strong across 1 reviews, with consistently positive feedback.

        What buyers like

        • Quick channel setup
        • User-friendly interface
        • Includes overlays and call-ins

        Common complaints

        • Limited advanced features
        • May require stable internet
        • Subscription costs can add up

        Buyer sentiment

        Users generally praise Livestorm for its ease of use, browser-based accessibility, and strong customer support, while noting some limitations in customization and integrations.

        What buyers like

        • Ease of use
        • Customer support
        • Browser-based accessibility

        Common complaints

        • Limited customization
        • Integration limitations

        Pros and Cons

        • Easy to connect and use for non-technical users

        • Supports multiple guests joining streams seamlessly

        • Professional appearance with customizable branding and overlays

        • Internet connectivity issues can disrupt live sessions

        • Limited to six on-screen participants at a time

        • Quickly sets up channels for live broadcasting.

        • User-friendly design caters to beginners.

        • Real-time statistics help monitor performance.

        • Limited features for advanced users.

        • Performance can depend on internet quality.

        • Easy to use with intuitive settings enabling quick event setup

        • Browser-based platform requiring no software downloads

        • Excellent and responsive customer support

        • Limited customization options for registration pages and webinar room features

        • Design inconsistencies between registration pages and webinar rooms

        Positive Reviews

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        No reviews available for the product

        Integrations

        Integration with other apps

        No Integration information available.

        No Integration information available.

        List of Customers

        Customers

        No Customers information available.

        Kemira

        Kemira

        Eastman

        Eastman

        Hexion

        Hexion

        WPP

        WPP

        AB Tasty

        AB Tasty

        PayFit

        PayFit

        Media and Screenshots

        Screenshots

        No screenshots available.

        No screenshots available.

        Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

        video-0

        3 Videos

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        Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

        Frequently asked questions

        Which is better, StreamYard or Hive Streaming?
        Hive Streaming edges out the other on user ratings (5.0 vs 2.8). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
        Do StreamYard and Hive Streaming offer a free trial?
        Neither StreamYard nor Hive Streaming currently lists a free trial.
        What is the starting price of StreamYard vs Hive Streaming?
        StreamYard starts at $32.53 /month. Hive Streaming starts at Contact for pricing.
        What are the top alternatives to StreamYard?
        Top alternatives to StreamYard include Livestorm, Castr, Restream, Be.Live, Crowdcast.
        What are the top alternatives to Hive Streaming?
        Top alternatives to Hive Streaming include Livestorm, Vimeo Livestream, StreamShark, Be.Live, Rally.video.

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