The best software for 24/7 live streaming
Match the tool to the job: loop a video, multistream a show, or self-host.
Skip the setup. Stream to YouTube 24/7 from the cloud.
Upload once, paste your stream key, and StreamZop keeps it live around the clock with automatic restarts.
- No PC or OBS
- Live in ~2 minutes
- Auto-restart 24/7
- Free plan, no card
The best tool for a 24/7 stream depends on what you are streaming. To loop a pre-recorded video around the clock, a cloud looper such as StreamZop is simplest. To broadcast a live show to many platforms at once, a multistream studio like Restream or StreamYard fits. To keep full control and not mind leaving a machine on, self-hosted OBS or FFmpeg works. The mistake most people make is reaching for a live-production tool for what is really a pre-recorded live stream job, then paying for guests, overlays and multistreaming they never use. The features that actually matter for an always-on channel are automatic restart, clean loop handling and stable long-run encoding, none of which a webcam studio is built around. Match the tool to the single job in front of you and the choice, and the cost, get much simpler.
Cloud loopers for pre-recorded 24/7 streams
These run an uploaded video as a continuous live stream from the cloud, so no computer stays on. StreamZop and Upstream are built specifically for this, with automatic restarts if the connection drops. The Castr and OneStream Live alternatives also offer pre-recorded and scheduled streaming alongside broader feature sets like video hosting and multistreaming. This category is the right fit for lo-fi, ambience, gameplay loops, replays and other always-on channels, and it is the simplest way to stream 24/7 on YouTube without dedicating hardware. Because the video is uploaded once and looped, you set it and leave it, rather than babysitting an encoder for weeks on end.
Multistream studios for live shows
Restream and StreamYard are built for going live in real time, often to several platforms at once, with a browser studio for guests, overlays, lower-thirds and branding. They are excellent for live production, webinars and talk shows, but they are not designed around looping a recorded file 24/7. Some plans can schedule pre-recorded video, yet the always-on loop is a side feature rather than the core job. If your workload is really an always-on channel, the Restream alternative and StreamYard alternative comparisons cover where a purpose-built looper fits better.
Self-hosted with OBS or FFmpeg
OBS is a free desktop encoder, and FFmpeg can loop a file to an RTMP URL from the command line with a single command. Both are powerful and cost nothing to license, but they run on your own machine, which has to stay on, online and stable the whole time. A crash, a reboot, an operating-system update or a Wi-Fi drop ends the stream unless you build your own monitoring and auto-restart, typically a watchdog script or a service on a rented server. For developers comfortable with the command line and an always-on box, this is the cheapest route; for everyone else the maintenance overhead usually outweighs the saving. If you want the always-on result without keeping a machine running, see how to stream 24/7 without OBS or without a PC.
What to look for in a 24/7 tool
The features that matter for an always-on stream are different from the ones that matter for a live show. Prioritise automatic restart, so a dropped connection does not leave the channel dark overnight; clean loop handling, so a single file or playlist repeats without a visible seam; and stable long-run encoding at a fixed bitrate and keyframe interval. Live-production extras such as guest links, screen sharing and scene switching add cost and complexity you will not touch on a looped channel. Match the tool to the job and you avoid paying for a studio to do work a looper does better.
How to choose
If you want a recorded video live 24/7 without babysitting hardware, pick a cloud looper. If you produce live shows and want them everywhere at once, pick a multistream studio. If you want zero software cost and full control, and you can dedicate an always-on machine, self-host with OBS or FFmpeg. Many creators end up running both: a cloud looper for the always-on channel, and a studio for the occasional live event. For side-by-side breakdowns, see all our alternatives and comparisons.
24/7 streaming tools compared
Put your video live 24/7, without a PC.
Upload once, paste your stream key, and StreamZop keeps it live around the clock with automatic restarts.
- No PC or OBS
- Live in ~2 minutes
- Auto-restart 24/7
- Free plan, no card
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to stream 24/7?+
For a pre-recorded video, a cloud looper such as StreamZop keeps it live without a PC. For a live show to many platforms, use a multistream studio. For full control, self-host with OBS or FFmpeg on an always-on machine.
Can you stream 24/7 for free?+
Yes, with OBS or FFmpeg on your own always-on computer, though that ties up the machine and its power. Cloud services like StreamZop start free with trial credits, then charge per stream.
Is OBS good for 24/7 streaming?+
OBS works, but it runs on your computer, so the machine must stay on and stable the whole time. A crash or reboot ends the stream unless you build your own monitoring.
What is the cheapest 24/7 streaming service?+
Self-hosting with FFmpeg is free if you already run a server. Among hosted tools, compare per-stream pricing; StreamZop is built to be low-cost for the single job of looping video 24/7.
Can Restream or StreamYard stream 24/7?+
They can broadcast for long stretches, and some plans let you schedule pre-recorded video, but they are built for live production rather than an always-on loop. For a video that repeats around the clock, a cloud looper is simpler and usually cheaper.
Do I have to keep OBS running the whole time?+
Yes. If you self-host with OBS, the program and the computer have to stay on and online for the entire run. A cloud looper removes that requirement by running the stream on remote servers.
What software do most streamers use to stream?+
For live shows, most streamers use OBS Studio or Streamlabs to capture and broadcast in real time, which is the right choice for going live with a camera or gameplay. But for an always-on channel that loops a pre-recorded video 24/7, a cloud looper like StreamZop is simpler, since it runs the broadcast for you with no OBS and no PC left on.