There are a lot of live streaming services available for you to use. Some popular ones include Amazon Live, Instagram Live, and Facebook Live. You can even stream on YouTube or Twitch! The benefits of using these platforms range from reaching more people to increasing your popularity

There are many factors that go into choosing the right social media platform for your business such as who you want to reach and how often you plan on posting content. If those factors sound confusing it is because they kind of is! That’s why we created this infographic with all the information you’ll need in order to pick which one is best for your business!

Every platform on our list has a social component or is part of a social media platform. This allows other users to follow you or subscribe to your channel in order to receive notifications when you go live.

The live streaming services we selected are also free to use, though some do offer paid premium plans.

Let’s look at the top 10 free live streaming site in 2021.

1. Restream

There are so many great streaming platforms available today that picking just one can be difficult. But what if you weren’t restricted to a single platform? When you multistream with Restream, you can go live on over thirty platforms at the same time.

Restream is a free and simple-to-use service. To get started, all you need is a Restream account. You can add channels like Facebook, Twitch, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, and Mixcloud, and your broadcast will be uploaded to all of them at the same time.

2. Live on YouTube

YouTube tops our list of live streaming services due to its massive user base — two billion users per month. YouTube is one of the most universal live streaming platforms available, with users from all over the world and of all ages. YouTube discovered that channels with a weekly live stream get up to 40% more subscribers.

YouTube Live, in addition to providing a large number of viewers, also provides powerful analytics and monetization options for your live videos. Because YouTube is also a video storage platform, each of your live streams is saved so that users can watch the replay whenever they want. YouTube Live also includes a native chat function, allowing viewers to send messages to you and each other during the stream.

YouTube Live is best suited for…well, pretty much anyone. Individual content creators, as well as organizations from a variety of industries, can be found on the platform.

The disadvantage of YouTube Live is its size. Because there are so many creators on the platform, making your live videos stand out may be difficult. Also, while YouTube Live is free, if you begin monetizing videos, you will be subject to the revenue share policy.

3. Live on Facebook

Facebook, like YouTube, is a social media behemoth, with 2.7 billion monthly active users worldwide. Facebook, like YouTube, appeals to a wide range of demographics, with Millennials constituting the largest group of users.

With Facebook Live, you can leverage an existing network of users, especially if you’re already active on the platform. Monetization options, live broadcasting from desktop and mobile, analytics, editing recorded versions of live videos, live chat, and scheduling live streams are among the key features. You can start a live stream from your personal profile, a page, or a group.

One of the drawbacks of Facebook Live is the time limit for streaming and the restrictions on monetization.

4. LinkedIn Live

LinkedIn is no longer just a professional networking site; it is also a content creation platform. You can find articles, videos, and live videos from influencers, brands, and other industry professionals. LinkedIn is the first website that nine out of ten executives would visit for professional content. Furthermore, the average LinkedIn user has twice the purchasing power of the average internet user.

The features of LinkedIn Live include live chat, moderation tools, and analytics. You can also create a LinkedIn event and stream directly to it. Previous live streams can be saved as recordings in LinkedIn Live.

5. Twitch

You can’t talk about live streaming platforms without mentioning Twitch. The live streaming service initially catered to gamers but expanded rapidly to other categories by 2020. Twitch received 5.4 billion hours of global attention in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Twitch allows you to upload live videos and save previous broadcasts for later viewing. Twitch also has the most comprehensive chat feature of any major live streaming platform. Live streamers can use bots to manage audience participation and receive subs or gifts, as well as create custom emotes for their chat. Subscriptions (subs), badges, gifted subs, emotes, donations, and ads are all ways to monetize live videos on Twitch.

Twitch should be one of the first platforms you consider if you’re a gamer. Even if you aren’t a gamer, there may be an audience for your content. In 2020, the Just Chatting channel skyrocketed in popularity, and other channels such as IRL, music, and art are also popular.

Twitch, with its various monetization options, is an excellent way to earn money from live streaming. To qualify, you must be a Twitch Partner or Affiliate.

6. Live TikTok

TikTok, as a video-based platform geared toward virality, provides a fantastic opportunity for live streamers. Although TikTok is dominated by short video clips, there is still room for live video creators to find an audience. If your content is geared toward Gen-Zers (people under the age of 25), having a presence on TikTok will be extremely beneficial.

If you have TikTok followers, going live can help you establish a stronger presence on the platform. Because most videos are less than one minute long, going live for 30 minutes can help your profile stand out. Because live videos aren’t recorded, they can make your content appear more exclusive.

Not everyone has the ability to go live on TikTok. Only accounts with 1,000 or more followers are eligible. Furthermore, monetization options (virtual gifts) are not available unless you are 18 years old or older.

7. Instagram Live

Instagram is no longer just a place to share photos with your friends. On the platform, you can also find on-demand and live videos from your favorite brands and influencers. In fact, Instagram accounts for 13% of all social media live stream viewers.

Instagram provides plenty of opportunities for live streamers to share content through Stories, IGTV, and live video. When you go live on Instagram, your followers will receive an alert so they can tune in. Instagram will also save your live streams to IGTV so that anyone can view them later. Instagram Live also has a live chat feature and allows you to invite guests to join you on your live stream.

At the moment, you can only go live on Instagram from a mobile device using the app. If you want to use Instagram with an encoder, you must obtain the RTMP link and key from a third-party service.

8. Clubhouse

You wouldn’t think Clubhouse, as a live audio-only platform, would be a good home for live streamers. Clubhouse, on the other hand, is ideal for streamers to engage in direct conversations with their fans. Because you only have audio to worry about, Clubhouse can be a less intimidating way to get used to live broadcasting for those who are just starting out.

You can start a room on Clubhouse, and other app users will see it in their feeds and can join your room to listen. You can plan an event on Clubhouse ahead of time and promote it by sending out the link using this format. The variety of events on Clubhouse is impressive, ranging from seminars to Broadway musical performances. Clubhouse Payments, which allows users to send tips and donations to their favorite creators, was also recently added to the app.

Clubhouse, on the other hand, has a few limitations. It’s currently only available on iOS, and you can only broadcast from within the app. It’s also invite-only, so you’ll have to either know someone who’s already on Clubhouse or join a waiting list.

10. Mixcloud

Mixcloud is a platform for audio creators to live stream their work. The most common types of content on Mixcloud are live music, radio shows, DJ mixes, and podcasts. Mixcloud has 20 million monthly listeners despite having a fraction of the users of YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram.

Mixcloud has licensing agreements with major record labels, allowing creators hosting radio shows to play music by their favorite artists without fear of infringement. All of your live shows will also be archived so that fans can watch them again later. If you want to create live music content of any kind, you can find an audience on Mixcloud.

With all of these options on the table, it can seem like an impossible task to pick a live streaming service. A lot goes into selecting the best platform for you and your brand – is this something that you’ve already considered? If not, we are here to help! We have years of experience working with both established brands and new streamers alike. No matter what type of business or organization you represent, if there’s one thing that our team has learned over time, it’s that no two companies are identical in their needs when it comes to marketing services. That means understanding who your target audience is is key before diving headfirst into any campaign strategy. Contact us today so we can get started finding out more

Jeremy Lee

Jeremy Lee is a seasoned digital marketing director and strategist with over two decades of experience in the industry. As the founder of Sotavento Medios, I manage a diverse portfolio of over 50 businesses, helping brands grow through advanced search strategies and digital innovation. My work focuses on bridging the gap between traditional search engine optimisation and the evolving world of AI-driven answer engines.