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Best Hive Streaming Alternatives: 12 Compared, With Free Options (2026)

Explore 12 alternatives to Hive Streaming, vetted by our editors with real user reviews, pricing, and feature comparisons.

12 top free Hive Streaming alternatives, compared

Quick answer

The Hive Streaming alternatives worth knowing first are Be.Live, BoxCast and Castr. Be.Live earns the top SpotScore (9.6) and a 4.65★ rating. See how all 12 stack up on score, rating, and price below.

If Hive Streaming isn't the right fit on price, features, or ease of use, these 12 live stream software free alternatives are the strongest options. We rank them by SpotScore, which blends real-user satisfaction with market presence, then by star ratings and pricing model. Every tool here is vetted by our editors. Scan the table first, then read the full breakdown below.

ProductSpotScoreRatingPricingBest for
Be.LiveTake your online presence to the next level.9.6★★★★★ 4.65(28)FreeFree Trial · One-time license · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
BoxCastEffortless live streaming to your favorite platforms.9.2★★★★★ 4.91(64)Freefrom $99/moteams of all sizes
CastrUnleash your live streaming potential.8.9★★★★★ 4.69(27)Freefrom $12.50/moteams of all sizes
Wowza Streaming EngineEmpowering seamless live streaming experiences.8.7★★★★★ 4.88(4)Freefrom $195 per month first instance includedteams of all sizes
VideolinqStream, interact, and expand with ease.8.5★★★★★ 4.66(60)Freefrom $15/moteams of all sizes
LivestormConnect, engage, and learn through live webinars.9★★★★★ 4.61(138)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
CrowdcastConnect, engage, and grow with seamless live streaming.9.8★★★★★ 4.63(73)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
RestreamStream to any device, anywhere, with ease.9.5★★★★★ 4.9(266)FreeFreemium · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
StreamYardGo live and connect with your audience.9.3★★★★★ 4.88(182)FreeFreemium · Quotation Based · Subscriptionteams of all sizes
MuviStream to audiences effortlessly with Muvi.9.2★★★★☆ 4.41(90)FreeFree Trial · Subscription · Quotation Basedteams of all sizes
vMixStream like a pro with vMix.9.2★★★★☆ 4.39(20)FreeFree Trial · Freemium · One-time licenseteams of all sizes
OneStreamEffortlessly stream your content to global audiences.9.1★★★★★ 4.92(773)FreeFreemium · Subscriptionteams of all sizes

9.6

SpotScore

Be.Live - Live Stream Software

Be.Live

Take your online presence to the next level.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

28 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Be.Live?

Be.Live is an easy to use software that lets you stream live videos of absolutely anything, from live video game streams on Twitch, to live videos of your phone screen on UStream, all the way up to full fledged live concerts. With Be.Live, you can take your skills to the next level by using ...

Read more about Be.Live
Free TrialTry Free →

9.2

SpotScore

BoxCast - Live Stream Software

BoxCast

Effortless live streaming to your favorite platforms.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.9

64 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is BoxCast?

BoxCast is a desktop streaming application that makes it incredibly easy to stream live and recorded video to Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Instagram and YouTube. This software provides you with slow motion controls with no loss of resolution when streaming at 720p or 1080p. It also includes ...

Read more about BoxCast
Free TrialTry Free →·

BoxCast offers custom pricing plan

8.9

SpotScore

Castr - Live Stream Software

Castr

Unleash your live streaming potential.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

27 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Castr?

Castr Live Streaming is the next generation of interactive live streaming for broadcasters and viewers. It is a video app designed to bring you the ability to combine pre-recorded and live material into a single stream. Whether you are a professional broadcaster, popular online personality, ...

Read more about Castr
Free TrialTry Free →·

Castr offers custom pricing plan

8.7

SpotScore

Wowza Streaming Engine - Live Stream Software

Wowza Streaming Engine

RECOMMENDED

Empowering seamless live streaming experiences.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

4.9

4 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is Wowza Streaming Engine?

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 software provides you with our highest level of media processing, transcoding ...

Read more about Wowza Streaming Engine
Free TrialTry Free →·

Wowza Streaming Engine offers custom pricing plan

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8.5

SpotScore

Videolinq - Live Stream Software

Videolinq

Stream, interact, and expand with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.7

60 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Videolinq?

Videolinq offers a streamlined approach to crafting professional-grade live broadcasts for online sharing, making the process both time-efficient and cost-effective. Their suite of services encompasses features such as generating closed captions, user-friendly player customization without ...

Read more about Videolinq
Free TrialTry Free →

9.0

SpotScore

Livestorm - Video Conferencing Software

Livestorm

RECOMMENDED

Connect, engage, and learn through live webinars.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

4.6

138 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Livestorm?

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 that connects people and their ideas, in real time, through live video. ...

Read more about Livestorm
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $88/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan

9.8

SpotScore

Crowdcast - Live Stream Software

Crowdcast

Connect, engage, and grow with seamless live streaming.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.6

73 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Crowdcast?

Crowdcast is real-time live streaming and recording software for business. It is a free, live video broadcast software that allows you to host a professional live video broadcast. Crowdcast also includes all the tools one needs to live stream, screen share and record sessions on any device at ...

Read more about Crowdcast
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $20/Month when Billed Yearly

9.5

SpotScore

Restream - Live Stream Software

Restream

Stream to any device, anywhere, with ease.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.9

266 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Restream?

Restream is a revolutionary software to live stream from any video source in the world to any device in the world. It is the easiest way to capture your live event and share it on social media instantly. Restream's technology was made with simplicity in mind, by using only a single click to ...

Read more about Restream

Starts from $16/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan

9.3

SpotScore

StreamYard - Live Stream Software

StreamYard

Go live and connect with your audience.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.9

182 verified reviews

Add to compare

watch-demo

Watch Demo

What is StreamYard?

StreamYard is a browser-based live streaming studio for podcasters, interviewers, and independent content creators who bring multiple guests on screen without setting up dedicated broadcasting software. It supports up to 6 simultaneous on-screen participants with branded overlays, lower thirds, ...

Read more about StreamYard

Starts from $32.53/month when yearly, also offers free forever plan

9.2

SpotScore

Muvi - Live Stream Software

Muvi

Stream to audiences effortlessly with Muvi.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

90 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is Muvi?

Muvi makes it easier than ever to launch a multi-device audio and video streaming platform with no hassles. With Muvi, you can create your own White Label streaming platform and start broadcasting to your audience in just a few clicks. Plus, you can also create your own Radio Channel and start ...

Read more about Muvi
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $399/Month

9.2

SpotScore

vMix - Live Stream Software

vMix

Stream like a pro with vMix.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Start Free Trial

4.4

20 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is vMix?

vMix is professional live streaming software, making it easy to show your video game play or other real-time media in high quality on your computer screen. Whether you're a gamer streaming on Twitch, a blogger broadcasting your latest product review or an entertainer doing a Facebook Live - ...

Read more about vMix
Free TrialTry Free →·

Starts from $60, also offers free forever plan

9.1

SpotScore

OneStream - Live Stream Software

OneStream

Effortlessly stream your content to global audiences.

Best for: SMB teams · Mid-market · Enterprise

Try for Free

4.9

773 verified reviews

Add to compare

What is OneStream?

OneStream Live is a cloud-based live streaming platform for content creators, digital marketers, and social media teams who need to broadcast simultaneously to multiple platforms including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch. It handles scheduling, DVR looping, and multi-platform distribution from a ...

Read more about OneStream

Starts from $8/Month when Billed Yearly, also offers free forever plan

Hive Streaming competitors, compared

Across Live Stream Software, 12 products compete directly with Hive Streaming. The strongest overlap is with Be.Live, BoxCast and Castr. Each is compared against Hive Streaming on rating, pricing and feature coverage below.

Tools similar to Hive Streaming

Searches for "sites like Hive Streaming" and "apps like Hive Streaming" land on the same set of options as "Hive Streaming alternatives" — the 12 options below cover both, whether you want a like-for-like replacement or something lighter.

Why these tools are worth your time

Be.Live9.6Best for teams of all sizes

Covers live broadcasting with real-time platform integration, image sharing, and product carousel features.

Watch for: Limited overlay and background options.

BoxCast9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Easy to use plug-and-play solution for live streaming, eliminating complex hardware setups.

Watch for: Not many advanced customization options may be available for experienced users.

Castr8.9Best for teams of all sizes

User-friendly platform that is easy to understand and implement, suitable for beginners.

Watch for: Limited customization tools for advanced features like SRT links may be a drawback.

Wowza Streaming Engine8.7Best for teams of all sizes

Strong developer tooling — REST API, SDK support, and webhook/event hooks for integrations.

Watch for: Costs can increase with scale — Bandwidth and CDN charges add to core platform usage.

Videolinq8.5Best for teams of all sizes

Beginners can live stream to multiple platforms without technical expertise.

Watch for: Steeper learning curve initially, can be complex without proper guidance for newcomers.

Livestorm9Best for teams of all sizes

Event setup is quick with a straightforward settings interface.

Watch for: Registration page and webinar room offer limited customization options.

Crowdcast9.8Best for teams of all sizes

Low barrier to entry for hosting live events, suitable for both simple and large-scale productions.

Watch for: Browser support is limited and technical glitches occur, especially when large numbers of users join simultaneously.

Restream9.5Best for teams of all sizes

Excellent customer service with responsive and supportive tech team.

Watch for: Limited selection in the Marketplace for additional apps and connectors, restricting advanced functionalities.

StreamYard9.3Best for teams of all sizes

Easy to connect and use, suitable for non-tech users.

Watch for: Internet connectivity issues can disrupt sessions.

Muvi9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Professional and attentive support team that resolves issues promptly.

Watch for: Inconsistent customer service experiences reported, impacting user satisfaction.

vMix9.2Best for teams of all sizes

Easy setup and quick learning curve, suitable for beginners.

Watch for: Higher system requirements for optimal performance, may require powerful hardware.

OneStream9.1Best for teams of all sizes

Excellent customer service with friendly and knowledgeable support team members.

Watch for: Limited ability for team members to edit the look of the livestream for the main host.

Why teams look for a Hive Streaming alternative

When teams go looking for a Hive Streaming alternative, it's often because of issues like these:

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

What to weigh when comparing Hive Streaming alternatives

Here's what the data says about these 12 live stream software free alternatives: 12 offer a free tier; paid plans run $12.5–$195, with Castr the cheapest entry point; and OneStream is the highest rated at 4.92★ across 773 reviews.

How the list is built.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Stuck on something? We're here to help with all the questions and answers in one place.

The top-rated alternatives to Hive Streaming are OneStream (4.9★), BoxCast (4.9★), Restream (4.9★). Compare all 12 alternatives side-by-side above.

When evaluating alternatives to Hive Streaming, prioritize: HD Video Streaming, Event Scheduling, Audience Engagement, Audience Analytics, transparent pricing, free trial availability, and integrations with your existing tools. Use the filters above to compare by feature, budget, and team size.

Migration difficulty depends on how deeply Hive Streaming is integrated into your workflows. Most alternatives offer data export/import tools and dedicated onboarding support. We recommend narrowing to 2–3 options, running a free trial, and checking each vendor's migration guides before committing.

Which Hive Streaming alternative is right for you?

  • On a budget / just exploring: start with a free tier — Be.Live, BoxCast and Castr let you evaluate without paying upfront.
  • If real-user ratings matter most: OneStream has the strongest star rating (4.92★) among the options with verified reviews.
  • Want the safest pick: Be.Live has the highest Spotsaas Score (9.6) in this list — a strong default if you're unsure.

Replacing Hive Streaming: how to switch

Migrating from Hive Streaming works best in stages. Export your data, confirm the new tool accepts it, and check that your essential workflows hold up. Try a short pilot before rolling out, and leave Hive Streaming running until you're confident. Most picks above offer free testing.

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