Wowza Streaming Engine vs StreamYard vs Livestorm Comparison
Wowza Streaming Engine
Starting at $195 per month first instance included
- Free Trial
- Large Enterprises
- Medium Business
Wowza Streaming Engine is complete live streaming software that powers mission-critical applications across the globe. It is easy to use, reliable and scalable for live streaming content of any size. This media server so…
StreamYard
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…
Livestorm
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…
Wowza Streaming Engine leads on user satisfaction with a 4.8-star rating across 48 reviews.
Wowza Streaming Engine vs StreamYard vs Livestorm — at a glance
| Feature | Wowza Streaming Engine | StreamYard | Livestorm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8 / 5 | 2.8 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Reviews | 48 | 4 | 693 |
| Starting price | $195 per month first instance included | $32.53 /month | $88 /Month |
| Free trial | Yes | No | Yes |
| Free version | No | No | No |
| Best for | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business | Freelancers / Consultants, Large Enterprises, Medium Business | Large Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business |
| Category | Live Stream Software | Live Stream Software | Video Conferencing Software |
| Integrations | 9+ apps | 8+ apps | — |
| Platforms | SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac | SaaS/Web/Cloud | SaaS/Web/Cloud |
| API | Available | — | Available |
| Support modes | 24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online | Online | 24/7 (Live rep), Business Hours, Online |
| Certifications | — | GDPR | SOC 2, GDPR |
| Data residency | Global | Global | US |
Key differences between Wowza Streaming Engine and StreamYard
- Pricing: Wowza Streaming Engine starts at $195 per month first instance included, while StreamYard starts at $32.53 /month.
- Free trial: Wowza Streaming Engine offers a free trial; StreamYard does not.
- Target audience: Wowza Streaming Engine is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while StreamYard targets Freelancers / Consultants and Large Enterprises.
- User satisfaction: Wowza Streaming Engine scores higher with a 4.8-star average.
- Deployment: Wowza Streaming Engine supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac; StreamYard supports SaaS/Web/Cloud.
Compare Wowza Streaming Engine vs StreamYard vs Livestorm — and walk away knowing which one fits.
Which tool fits your team best
Which is actually cheaper for your team size
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.
Biggest differences
Features
Pricing
Buying details
Security
Buyer feedback
Integrations
Product tour
Other options
Talk to an expert Talk to an expert | Talk to an expert Talk to an expert |
Biggest differences
Start here before you go deeper into features.
Robust, scalable live streaming platform for technical enterprise teams.
- You need flexible, developer-friendly streaming with REST API and SDKs.
- Your organization requires both live and on-demand streaming capabilities.
- You want deployment options including on-premises and cloud-native environments.
- You are a small, non-technical team seeking turnkey streaming solutions.
- You want to avoid complex setup and high costs at large scale.
Best for simple, professional multi-guest live streams on multiple platforms.
- 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.
- You need to host more than six on-screen participants simultaneously.
- You require advanced customization options for fonts, animations, or smooth transitions.
Best for easy-to-use, browser-based webinars and virtual learning events.
- 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.
- 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.
Wowza Streaming Engine: Robust, scalable live streaming platform for technical enterprise teams. StreamYard: Best for simple, professional multi-guest live streams on multiple platforms.
Description | Wowza Streaming Engine is complete live streaming software that powers mission-critical applications across the globe. It is easy to use, reliable and scalable for live streaming content of ... Read More about Wowza Streaming Engine | 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 | 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 |
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Spotsaas ScoreWhat's this? ↗ | 8.7/10 | 9.3/10 | 9.0/10 |
User RatingsBased on verified Spotsaas reviews | |||
Best Company Size | 51-500 employees500+ employees | 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.
Key strengths
- Broad compatibility with encoding and playback tools: Wowza’s support for industry-standard encoders (OBS, Wirecast, vMix) and playback players (Video.js, JW Player, THEOplayer) ensures compatibility with professional production tools and robust playback. This interoperability helps teams leverage their existing tech stack without lock-in, expand streaming capabilities quickly, and maintain high quality across devices.
- Scalable delivery via CDN partnerships: Wowza integrates with leading CDN providers, enabling global, low-latency streaming at scale. Using CloudFront, Akamai, Fastly, or similar networks, businesses can reach viewers worldwide while optimizing performance. This CDN flexibility supports large events, enterprise needs, and broad audience distribution without relying on a single delivery network.
- Supports live and on-demand content in one platform: With Wowza, teams can simultaneously manage live broadcasts and on-demand video libraries. This dual support eliminates the need for separate systems, streamlines content workflows, and enables unified delivery for events, archived content, and hybrid viewing experiences. It’s ideal for conferences, webinar series, and media services that need both scheduled and on-demand streaming.
- 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.
No key benefits available yet.
Best fit
- 1,000+
- Media & Broadcasting, Entertainment, Sports, Education, Government, Enterprise IT, Events & Live Streaming, OTT & Video Platforms
- 51–200
- Media & Entertainment, Marketing & Advertising, Education, Technology, Events & Conferences, Podcasts & Content Creation, Nonprofits
No best-fit guidance available yet.
Reasons buyers look elsewhere
- Organizations without developer resources may choose platforms with simpler dashboards, templates, and guided workflows rather than API-driven infrastructure.
- Some businesses want built-in subscription, pay-per-view, or DRM ecosystems without custom development. Alternatives can bundle these monetization features more tightly.
- Teams that want a quick, out-of-the-box streaming solution with minimal setup may choose fully managed SaaS platforms over Wowza’s more customizable but technical offerings.
- 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.
No alternatives guidance available yet.
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How do Wowza Streaming Engine, StreamYard and Livestorm Compare on Features?
Total Features | 10 Features | 10 Features | 15 Features |
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Unique Features | No unique features | No unique features | No unique features |
Get Quote | Get Quote |
Compare Wowza Streaming Engine, StreamYard 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.
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Other Details
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Get help choosing | Get help choosing |
Security & Compliance
Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.
SOC 2 | — | — |
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HIPAA | — | ✗ No |
GDPR | — | ✓ Yes |
Single Sign-On (SSO) | — | ✗ No |
Multi-Factor Auth (MFA) | — | — |
Data Encryption | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Audit Logs | — | ✗ No |
Data Residency | 🌐 Global | 🌐 Global |
Wowza Streaming Engine vs StreamYard User Reviews & Rating Comparison
User Ratings | |||
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Rating Distribution | |||
Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI | Buyer sentiment Users appreciate Wowza Streaming Engine's powerful developer tools, broad compatibility, and scalability, though some find it complex and costly at scale. What buyers like
Common complaints
| 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
Common complaints
| 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
Common complaints
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Pros and Cons |
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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. |
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List of Customers
Customers |  Bloomberg  ESPN  Reuters | No Customers information available. |  WPP  AB Tasty  PayFit |
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Media and Screenshots
Screenshots |  2 Screenshots | No screenshots available. |
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Videos |  3 Videos |  3 Videos |
Alternatives
Alternatives |
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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, Wowza Streaming Engine or StreamYard?
- Wowza Streaming Engine edges out the other on user ratings (4.8 vs 2.8). That said, the best pick depends on your use case — use the comparison tables above to evaluate each dimension.
- Do Wowza Streaming Engine and StreamYard offer a free trial?
- Wowza Streaming Engine offers a free trial. StreamYard does not.
- What is the starting price of Wowza Streaming Engine vs StreamYard?
- Wowza Streaming Engine starts at $195 per month first instance included. StreamYard starts at $32.53 /month.
- What are the top alternatives to Wowza Streaming Engine?
- Top alternatives to Wowza Streaming Engine include Livestorm, Restream, StreamShark, Be.Live, Streamster.
- What are the top alternatives to StreamYard?
- Top alternatives to StreamYard include Livestorm, Castr, Restream, Be.Live, Crowdcast.