Can You Multistream Natively in OBS Studio?

OBS Studio is the go-to software for live streamers, but it does not support native multistreaming to multiple platforms simultaneously out of the box. By default, OBS Studio only allows you to configure a single streaming destination in its settings. However, you can easily bypass this limitation and stream to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and other platforms at the same time using either a free OBS plugin or a cloud-based restreaming service. This article will explain why this limitation exists and guide you through the best methods to achieve simultaneous broadcasting.

The Native Limitation of OBS Studio

In the standard installation of OBS Studio, the “Stream” tab in the settings menu only provides a dropdown for a single service and stream key. This design is intended to keep the software lightweight and prevent users from accidentally overloading their computer hardware and internet upload bandwidth, as encoding and sending multiple video feeds simultaneously requires significant processing power.

To stream to multiple platforms at once, you must use one of the two workarounds detailed below.

Method 1: The OBS Multi-RTMP Plugin (Free & Hardware-Dependent)

The closest way to get “native” multistreaming inside OBS Studio is by installing a free, open-source plugin called Multiple RTMP outputs (created by developer Sorayuki).

Once installed, this plugin adds a new dock to your OBS interface where you can add as many additional streaming destinations as your system can handle.

How it works:

  1. Set your primary platform: You configure your main streaming destination (e.g., Twitch) in the standard OBS settings.
  2. Add secondary platforms: In the new Multi-RTMP dock, you click “Add new target” and enter the RTMP URL and stream key for your secondary platforms (e.g., YouTube or TikTok).
  3. Choose your encoder: You can choose to share the main OBS encoder (which saves CPU/GPU power but keeps the same bitrate/resolution) or use a separate encoder for each destination.

Pros: Completely free; no third-party branding or watermarks; total control over settings. Cons: Demands high upload bandwidth and a powerful graphics card or processor, as your PC must upload multiple streams at the same time.

Method 2: Cloud-Based Multistreaming Services (Bandwidth-Friendly)

If your computer or internet connection cannot handle encoding and uploading multiple streams at once, a cloud-based restreaming service is the best alternative. Popular services include Restream.io, Castr, and Streamyard.

How it works:

  1. You set up an account with a multistreaming service and link your various social media channels to it.
  2. In OBS Studio, you set your stream destination to the cloud service’s RTMP server and use their stream key.
  3. You start streaming in OBS. Your single video feed is sent to the cloud service, which then duplicates and distributes your stream to all your selected platforms simultaneously.

Pros: Requires no extra CPU/GPU power or internet bandwidth from your home network; easy setup. Cons: Free tiers often have limitations (such as watermarks or platform limits); premium features require a monthly subscription.