Multistreaming lets you broadcast to Twitch, YouTube, Kick, and other platforms at the same time, so you reach every audience without picking a single home base. Here's how to set it up in 2026, and how to choose between cloud and local approaches.
Quick Answer
For most creators, a cloud service like Restream or Aitum's multistream is the best option — you send one stream and it fans out to every platform, so you only pay bandwidth for a single upload. Go local (OBS plugin) only if you have plenty of upload headroom and need the lowest possible latency.Cloud vs Local Multistreaming
The single biggest decision is where the stream gets duplicated. That choice drives your bandwidth bill, your latency, and how much your PC has to work.
- Cloud multistream sends one encode to a relay server (Restream, Aitum, or similar), which re-broadcasts it to every destination. Your PC uploads once.
- Local multistream duplicates the stream on your own machine and uploads a separate copy to each platform. Two destinations mean two full uploads.
For anyone on a typical home connection, cloud multistreaming is usually the safer path because home upload speeds rarely support several simultaneous high-bitrate uploads.
Method 1: Cloud Relays (Restream / Aitum)
How it works: You send one RTMP stream to the relay's ingest server, and it re-broadcasts to all your connected platforms. Pros:- Only uses bandwidth for one stream, regardless of how many platforms you add
- Supports dozens of destinations from a single dashboard
- Built-in chat aggregation so you can read every platform's chat in one window
- Free tiers exist to test the workflow
- Adds a small amount of latency (typically a few seconds) as the relay re-broadcasts
- Free tiers usually add branding or limit destination count
- Paid plans are a recurring cost
1. Create an account with your chosen relay and connect Twitch, YouTube, and Kick
2. Copy the relay's custom RTMP URL and stream key
3. In OBS, open Settings → Stream → Service: Custom, and paste them
4. Start streaming — the relay handles the fan-out
Method 2: OBS Multiple Output Plugin (Local)
How it works: A plugin makes OBS push your stream to several RTMP endpoints directly from your PC. Pros:- Free and self-contained, with no third-party service in the path
- No relay latency
- Full control over each destination's settings
- Multiplies your upload requirement — two destinations means roughly double the upload
- Extra CPU or GPU load if you run separate encodes per platform
- More manual configuration and troubleshooting
1. Install a multiple-RTMP-output plugin for OBS
2. Open its panel and add each platform's RTMP URL and stream key
3. Start the additional outputs alongside your main stream
Method 3: Streamlabs / Other Built-in Multistream
Some broadcasting suites include multistreaming as a paid feature. It's convenient because it's integrated into one UI, but it typically relies on your local upload for each destination and carries higher baseline resource usage. If you're deciding on software, our OBS vs Streamlabs comparison covers the tradeoffs.
Bandwidth Requirements
This is where the cloud-vs-local difference becomes concrete. With a local method, each destination consumes its own upload; the practical rule is to keep total stream bitrate under about 75% of your upload speed to avoid dropped frames.
| Method | Destinations | Bitrate Each | Practical Upload Needed |
| Local (OBS plugin) | 2 | 6,000 Kbps | ~16–18 Mbps |
| Local (OBS plugin) | 3 | 6,000 Kbps | ~24–27 Mbps |
| Cloud relay | Any number | 6,000 Kbps | ~8–10 Mbps |
Bitrate Settings for Multistreaming
When one encode goes to several platforms, you must target the most restrictive platform in your lineup, because you're sending the same stream to all of them.
- Twitch: ~6,000 Kbps for non-partners (partners up to ~8,000), CBR recommended
- Kick: up to ~8,000 Kbps
- YouTube: very generous, no practical cap at 1080p60
Platform Restrictions to Know
Rules change, so always confirm against current platform terms, but the general landscape in 2026:
- Twitch: Simulcasting to other live platforms is permitted for most creators, though some Partner contracts add conditions — check yours before going multi-platform.
- YouTube and Kick: Generally no exclusivity restrictions on live simulcasting for typical creators.
For platform-specific ingest details and recommended settings, browse the platform settings pages and the Twitch and Kick references.
Bottom Line
Cloud multistreaming (Restream, Aitum, and similar relays) is the right call for most creators: it keeps your upload to a single stream, adds chat aggregation, and scales to any number of platforms. Reserve local OBS multistreaming for high-upload connections where a few seconds of relay latency actually matters. Either way, lock your bitrate to the most restrictive platform and verify your connection first.