Alternatives · Webinars
Lightstream alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the best Lightstream alternative for most people is Restream (2.4 GPA), second in our ranking of webinar and live streaming tools. The best free one is Streamlabs (2.6 GPA).
Lightstream compared with 6 alternatives: Streamlabs, Restream, Castr, Ecamm, Be.Live and 1 more.
Lightstream has a free plan. Paid plans start at $12 per month, or $9 per month on an annual subscription. 4 of the 6 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 12, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Lightstream sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| LightstreamThis tool | Free plan · from $12/mo | Yes | Web |
| Streamlabs | Free plan · from $27/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Restream | Free plan · from $19/mo | Yes | Web |
| Castr | Free trial · from $16.67/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Ecamm | Free trial · from $16/mo | Trial only | macOS |
| Be.Live | Free plan | Yes | Web |
| VDO.Ninja | Free | Free | Web |
Price against what you get
Lightstream starts at $9 a month and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Streamlabs scores higher without starting lower. VDO.Ninja starts lower without scoring higher.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Lightstream
Streamlabs
Live streaming apps, overlays and tools for creators
- Streamlabs starts at $27 per month, or $189 per year.
- Streamlabs also lists Windows, macOS, iOS and Android apps.
- Streamlabs also covers video editing.
- Streamlabs does not cover video calls, which Lightstream does.
Suits: Streamers on Twitch, YouTube or Facebook who want overlays and alerts
Restream
Multistream one live video to YouTube, Twitch, LinkedIn and more
- Restream starts at $19 per month, billed monthly ($190 a year billed annually).
- Restream also covers transcription and webinars.
- Restream does not cover video calls, which Lightstream does.
Suits: Creators who go live on several platforms at the same time
Castr
Multistreaming, video hosting and 24/7 playout in one service
- Castr starts at $16.67 per month, billed annually ($19.99 billed monthly).
- Castr has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Lightstream.
- Castr does not cover video calls, which Lightstream does.
Suits: Churches and schools streaming services or events to several platforms
Ecamm
Mac app for live streaming, recording and multistreaming
- Ecamm starts at $16 per month, billed annually ($20 billed monthly).
- Ecamm has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Lightstream.
- Ecamm also lists a macOS app.
- Ecamm lists no web app, which Lightstream has.
- Ecamm also covers screen recording.
Suits: Mac users who stream solo shows or interviews to several platforms
Be.Live
Browser-based studio for live streaming to social platforms
- Be.Live also covers video editing.
- Be.Live does not cover video calls, which Lightstream does.
Suits: Social media hosts streaming to Facebook, YouTube and other platforms at once
VDO.Ninja
Free browser tool for bringing remote video guests into OBS
- VDO.Ninja is free.
- VDO.Ninja is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- VDO.Ninja does not cover multistreaming, which Lightstream does.
Suits: Streamers and podcasters who already use OBS and need remote guests
Limits worth knowing in Lightstream
- The free plan puts a Lightstream Studio logo on every stream and caps video at 720p.
- Guests, 1080p and URL imports are Premium-only.
- RTMP video sources are marked as coming soon on the pricing section.
- It is a streaming studio for creators and has no webinar registration or attendee tools.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Lightstream?
The alternatives to Lightstream in this directory are Streamlabs, Restream, Castr, Ecamm, Be.Live and VDO.Ninja. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Lightstream.
Is there a free alternative to Lightstream?
Yes. VDO.Ninja is free to use. Streamlabs, Restream and Be.Live have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Lightstream alternatives work on Windows?
The Lightstream listing does not include a Windows app. Streamlabs lists one.
Which Lightstream alternatives work on macOS?
The Lightstream listing does not include a macOS app. Streamlabs and Ecamm list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 18, 2026 to Nov 12, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.