Live streaming is hot. In this episode, we cover the best live streaming tools we have found streaming to Facebook, YouTube, Periscope, Instagram, Twitch and RTMP.

Having the right tools to deliver your live stream content is key to building your community and brand. Here are nine of our favorite tools.

BeLive.TV

Use BeLive.tv to stream on Facebook and invite guests to join you.

Pros:

• A free account gives you 20 minutes, twice a week for streaming.
• Paid accounts start at $15/month and removes BeLive branding.
• Bring up to 4 people into your broadcast.
• If you run into tech issues, you can refresh and don’t lose your session.
• Your comments are viewable in the online platform.
• Guests have the option to come on mobile or desktop.
• Schedule posts and reminders.
• Video orientation can be changed easily.
• Simple to use overall.

Cons:

• The quality of the video is not always the best.
• You can’t initiate the broadcast from mobile.
• BeLive only streams to Facebook.

Streamyard

Use StreamYard to live stream on YouTube, Facebook, and any other network that accepts RMTP.

Pros:

• It’s free with Streamyard branding.
• Streams to Facebook, YouTube and RTMP Server, which lets you stream almost anywhere.
• For $25 a month you can add overlays, remove branding and add your logo.
• Schedule a post with information about your upcoming live stream on Facebook that also sends a reminder to your audience.
• See and share live comments on the online platform.

Cons:

• Currently in beta, but it’s an opportunity to have input on the features that are important to you.
• Doesn’t stream to Instagram.
• Not currently accessible via mobile.
• Only lets you stream to one service at a time.

Zoom

Use Zoom to stream to Facebook and invite guests to join you.

Pros:

• Good quality video.
• Very few technical issues.
• Record locally to your computer without the extra step of downloading.
• Can be used for online courses, webinars and online training.
• You can stream with Zoom to Facebook Live for an additional fee.

Cons:

• A $40/ month Pro Account is needed to stream to social media.
• Doesn’t let you see comments.

Blue Jeans

Use Blue Jeans to stream to Facebook and invite guests to join you.

Pros:

• Great quality that allows you to put in text in the lower third of the screen.
• Download a recorded video afterward.
• “Green room” where you can connect with guests before you go live.
• Conduct a regular video conference call or webinar. BlueJeans also had a telephone number attendees can call into.

Cons:

• BlueJeans is $40 a month for its BlueJeans Streaming service and it only streams to Facebook.
• It doesn’t allow you to schedule your broadcast on Facebook.
• You can’t see comments.
• Video screen display is limited.

Ecamm Live

Use ECamm if you own and mac and want to stream to Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Periscope, and/or Twitch.

Pros:

• All-in-one live streaming production platform.
• Low cost, one-time fee of $79) and a 7 day free trial.
• Streams to Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Periscope, and Twitch.
• Comments viewable in one place.
• HD quality using any connected mic and capturing device including a Canon DSLR camera and even multiple cameras.
• Easy overlays and countdown timers.
• Can play pre-recorded videos in your live stream.
• Host up to 5 guests via Skype and record Skype calls.

Cons:

• For Mac users only.
• Requires some tech know-how.

Loola

Use Loola to stream to Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LiveMe, UpLive, and 17Live.

Pros:

• Completely free platform.
• Streams to Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, LiveMe, UpLive, 17Live and they are adding new features everyday.
• Streams from desktop and mobile.
• Stream to multiple social networks at once.
• Promote Loola to remove their branding from your videos.

Cons:

• Doesn’t stream to Facebook, Periscope or Twitter.
• The ability to switch to a new mic or video isn’t clear.
• You can only stream yourself and you can’t invite guests.
• Clunky setup.

WebinarJam

Use Webinar Jam to live stream to YouTube and Facebook.

Pros:

• Built to create webinars, but you can also use it to live stream to YouTube and Facebook.
• Have 1-6 presenters at a time.
• Allows you to stream to 5,000+ people.

Cons:

• It is more expensive than some of the other options at about $479 to $568 per year.
• You can’t get info without going through their sales funnel.

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS)

Use OBS to stream to RMTP, Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and more. OBS is a free software that allows you to capture video from a variety of cameras and computer screens, and composite them together into professional-looking productions.

Pros:

• Free and open source.
• Streams to multiple platforms at the same time.
• Developers have created lots of add-ons for OBS to make it do almost anything you need.
• With a tech understanding of how the platform works, you can add overlays, multiple cameras, and other features.

Cons:

• OBS is very technical and takes a lot of computing power.
• You need a rock-solid Internet or Wi-Fi connection with upload speeds of at least 10Mbps.

Wirecast

Use Wirecast if you want to have a professional portable television studio to live stream to multiple social networks. Like OBS it allows you to use multiple camera and screen inputs. 

Pros:

• Professional live streaming software you can try free for 30 days.
• It can simultaneously stream to as many locations as you need and your computing power and bandwidth can handle.
• It has a great library of transitions and overlays.
• Feature rich for pros and can handle multiple cameras.

Cons:

• Can only bring in two remote guests at the Studio level. You can bring in seven guests at the Pro level, but it’s expensive.

How to Build Influence with Livestream Video Take Action

Go to our show notes page and scroll down to the Take Action section. Once there you can enter your name and email to get our Livestream checklist to help you plan for before, during and after your live stream. You will also be subscribed to receive updates when our podcast goes out each week.