Pre-recorded Live Streaming Software Compared (2026)

This guide compares nine ways to stream a recorded video as a live event: Castr, LiveReacting, OBS on a cloud server, OneStream Live, Pre-recorded Live Stream, Restream, StreamYard, Upstream and YouTube Premieres. Prices and limits come from each vendor's own pricing and help pages, checked in October 2026. Pre-recorded Live Stream publishes this guide and sells one of the nine tools, so every claim below names the plan it comes from.

💡 Quick takeaway

• Our view, the most balanced choice: LiveReacting. Setup is as simple as on the single-purpose tools: upload or import your video from Google Drive, Dropbox or YouTube, pick the date and time, connect your channels. Then the computer can be off. Videos are encoded for free, and a stream restarts on another server by itself if one fails. The same studio grows with you: live guests in a recorded stream, changes while live, API and MCP control for AI agents on every paid plan, repeat schedules and YouTube ad slots from Medium, and a 24/7 plan for a channel that never stops. Small costs $19.99 a month (1-hour videos, 720p). Medium costs $39.99, or $33 billed yearly (3-hour videos, 1080p).
• Free, for YouTube only: a YouTube Premiere. Viewers see a premiere, not a live stream.
• Lowest paid price: OneStream Live Basic, $15 a month for 1-hour videos. Pre-recorded Live Stream costs $19 a month for 3-hour videos at 1080p.
• Long videos and free hours to test: Upstream, with no length limit on paid plans and 24 free hours a month.

The short version

Prices checked October 2026 on each vendor's own pricing and help pages.

Feature matrix

"Not documented" means the vendor's own pages do not say, so we are not sure. It does not mean "no".

The tools, one by one

Castr

Best for: businesses that want their own video player, video hosting or a paywall next to the stream.

• Cheapest plan that schedules a recorded video as live: Starter, $19.99 a month, or $16.67 billed yearly.
• Video length limit: 60 minutes per file and 2 files per stream on Starter. MP4 only.
• Scheduling: a set date and time. A loop that runs 24/7 starts on Premium, $199.99 a month.

Pros

• Its own HTML5 player and video hosting on every plan.
• A paywall on every plan, with a 9% commission.
• 6 platforms at once on Starter, including custom RTMP or SRT destinations.
• A 7-day Starter trial without a credit card.

Cons

• 60 minutes per file on Starter is short for a long webinar.
• MP4 files only for pre-recorded streams.
• No loop below Premium, so a continuous channel costs $199.99 a month.
• Not on YouTube's list of verified live encoders.

LiveReacting

Best for: recorded streams that start simple and may grow into live segments, a 24/7 channel or automation.

• Cheapest plan that schedules a recorded video as live: Small, $19.99 a month, or $16 billed yearly.
• Video length limit: 1 hour at 720p on Small. Medium ($39.99, or $33 billed yearly) allows 3 hours at 1080p. The 24/7 plan has no length limit.
• Scheduling: a set date and time on Small. From Medium, and on the 24/7 plan, Advanced Scheduling repeats a stream daily, weekly or on dates you pick.

Pros

• Simple setup: upload a video, or import it from YouTube, Google Drive or Dropbox. Set the time, connect the platforms, and switch the computer off.
• Uploads are encoded for free, so common file formats work without a converter.
• If the server that runs a stream stops answering, the stream starts again on another server by itself. If a platform drops the connection, the stream reconnects. Servers run with more than one cloud provider, and video files are kept in two storage services.
• Playlists on every plan.
• Room to grow in the same studio:
  • Cut to a live camera or a guest during the recorded stream, then back to the video.
  • Change videos or overlays while live, without stopping the stream.
  • A 24/7 plan ($39.99, or $33 billed yearly) for a continuous channel.
  • An API and an MCP server on every paid plan, so code or an AI agent can create, schedule and change a stream. Upstream has both too.
  • YouTube ad slots, from Medium and on the 24/7 plan.
  • Polls, trivia, giveaways and countdowns on screen.

Cons

• Not the cheapest to start. OneStream Live Basic ($15) and Pre-recorded Live Stream ($19) cost less, and Upstream has a free plan.
• The Small plan stops at 1 hour and 720p. Repeat schedules need Medium, $39.99 a month.
• For a 24/7 channel, Upstream is cheaper at standard prices: $30 against $39.99 a month, or $24 against $33 billed yearly.
• The free plan cannot schedule a stream.
• SCTE-35 ad markers and HLS or SRT output are on the Custom plan only, by request.
• Not on YouTube's list of verified live encoders.

OBS + a cloud server

Best for: technical users who want full control and can run a server.

• Cheapest plan that schedules a recorded video as live: OBS is free. A cloud server starts at about $24 a month (DigitalOcean, 2 vCPU and 4 GB of memory).
• Video length limit: set by your server and storage.
• Scheduling: you set it up yourself on the server.

Pros

• The software is free and open source.
• No vendor limit on video length.
• OBS is on YouTube's list of verified live encoders.

Cons

• You install, schedule and watch the stream yourself.
• You pay for the server, and the server size you need for 1080p is not checked.
• If OBS runs on your own computer instead, the computer and the internet connection must stay on for the whole video.
• No vendor support if the stream stops.

OneStream Live

Best for: the lowest paid price for a short recorded stream.

• Cheapest plan that schedules a recorded video as live: Basic, $15 a month, or $12 billed yearly.
• Video length limit: 1 hour per stream on Basic, with 5 GB of storage. Standard ($39) allows 3 hours, Professional ($49) 8 hours.
• Scheduling: yes. Advanced scheduling, up to 60 days ahead, starts on Standard.

Pros

• The lowest paid entry price in this list.
• 5 platforms at once on Basic, from a list of 45+ platforms plus custom RTMP.
• Can stream into an event you already set up on YouTube.
• A free plan to test: 15 minutes, 720p, 2 platforms.

Cons

• Playlists start on Professional, $49 a month.
• Uploads are deleted after 30 to 180 days, depending on the plan.
• Takes MP4, MOV and M4V files only.
• Its 24/7 option is a $30 add-on for YouTube only, and a stream runs for 30 days at most.

Pre-recorded Live Stream

Best for: a recorded event of up to 3 hours that runs once or every week, on several platforms.

• Cheapest plan that schedules a recorded video as live: one plan, $19 a month, or $16 billed yearly.
• Video length limit: 3 hours per stream at 1080p. 4K and 60 FPS are paid upgrades.
• Scheduling: one-time or weekly. It can also attach to an event you already scheduled on YouTube.

Pros

• 6 platforms at once, plus a custom RTMP destination.
• Playlists of several videos in one stream are included.
• 30 GB of storage and files up to 6 GB. MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WebM and other formats are converted after upload.
• Your computer can be off after the upload.

Cons

• 3 hours per stream is the limit. It is not a tool for a 24/7 looping channel.
• The free plan is 720p with a watermark, one platform and 30 minutes per stream.
• No guest studio, on-screen polls or overlays are listed.
• One plan only, so there is no cheaper tier for a single short video.

Restream

Best for: teams that already multistream with Restream and sometimes need a recorded video.

• Cheapest plan that schedules a recorded video as live: the Upload & Stream add-on (Premier), $39 a month. No yearly price is shown.
• Video length limit: a 2-hour video library at 1080p on Premier. Marathon ($79) has 4 hours, Media ($239) 12 hours.
• Scheduling: yes.

Pros

• Multistreaming to 30+ platforms with one chat.
• Built-in live polls in Restream Studio.
• Can stream into an event you already set up on YouTube.
• On YouTube's list of verified live encoders.

Cons

• Pre-recorded streaming is a separate paid add-on.
• No playlists or loops on Premier. They start on Marathon, $79 a month.
• A playlist ends at 24 hours and does not loop. One video can loop up to 10 times, or 40 hours.
• Videos in a playlist can change only before it goes live. Uploads must be MP4, MOV, M4V or MKV in H.264 and AAC.

StreamYard

Best for: live shows with guests that sometimes need a recorded segment.

• Cheapest plan that schedules a recorded video as live: Core, $44.99 a month, or $35.99 billed yearly.
• Video length limit: 2 hours per video on Core, 4 on Advanced, 8 on Teams and Business.
• Scheduling: one date and time per stream, up to 365 days ahead. 5 scheduled streams at once on Core.

Pros

• A strong browser studio for live guests: 10 guests on Core.
• Records every live stream on paid plans.
• On YouTube's list of verified live encoders.
• Can stream into an event you already set up on YouTube.

Cons

• The highest entry price in this list for this job.
• A pre-recorded stream plays one video and ends. There is no playlist that plays by itself.
• A pre-recorded stream shows no comments, overlays, intro or outro, and you can replace the video only before it goes live.
• No pre-recorded streams on the free plan. You convert files yourself (MP4, up to 10 Mbps).

Upstream

Best for: 24/7 channels and videos longer than a few hours.

• Cheapest plan that schedules a recorded video as live: the free plan, with 24 hours of streaming a month. Paid plans start at $30 a month, or $24 billed yearly, for 1 stream at 1080p30.
• Video length limit: no limit on paid plans.
• Scheduling: one-time, daily or weekly.

Pros

• The free plan has every feature and no watermark.
• 10 platforms at once.
• Playlists with shuffle, and changes to a playlist apply while the stream is live.
• An API and an MCP server on every plan, and a listing on YouTube's verified live encoders.

Cons

• Priced per stream: $50 for 2 streams, $70 for 3.
• Re-encoding of uploads is metered. Paid plans include some time, and more is for sale.
• Interactive features: third-party widgets only.
• 1080p60 costs more ($40 a month for one stream).

YouTube Premieres

Best for: a new video on YouTube only, at no cost.

• Cheapest plan that schedules a recorded video as live: free, in YouTube Studio.
• Video length limit: the YouTube upload limit, 12 hours. 15 minutes until the account is verified.
• Scheduling: yes, a set date and time.

Pros

• Free, with no extra software.
• Viewers watch together at a set time, with live chat.
• After it ends, the video stays on your channel as a regular upload.

Cons

• YouTube only. No other platforms at the same time.
• YouTube shows it as a premiere, not as a live stream.
• 1080p at most.
• One upload per premiere, with no repeat schedule.

Which one to pick

Our view: LiveReacting is the most balanced choice for a recorded stream that may need more later. The setup is as simple as on the single-purpose tools, and the Small plan costs $19.99, close to the lowest paid prices here. Streams restart on another server by themselves if a server stops answering. When you need a live camera or guest, edits while live, repeat schedules, a 24/7 channel or control by an AI agent, it is in the same studio, so you do not change tools.

It is not the cheapest pick for a single job. OneStream Live Basic ($15) and Pre-recorded Live Stream ($19) start lower, Upstream has a free plan, and Upstream costs less for a 24/7 channel at standard prices ($30 against $39.99 a month).

How we compared

We read each vendor's own pricing and help pages. We did not use review sites or affiliate lists. For each tool, we took the cheapest plan that can upload a video and schedule it as a live stream. That is often not the plan on the banner: a 24/7 loop or a playlist can need a much higher plan, and the tables show where.

A cell says "Not documented" when the vendor's own pages did not answer the question. Prices change often. Check the vendor's page before you buy.

The rules for honest pre-recorded streams are the same with every tool. Say that the video is recorded, and be in the chat. Our article on fake live streams explains where the line is.

FAQ

Is a pre-recorded live stream allowed on YouTube?

Yes. YouTube publishes no rule against pre-recorded content in a live stream. The usual rules apply: follow the Community Guidelines, and stream only video and music you own or have a license for. A note such as "Recorded" in the title tells viewers the truth. Our step-by-step guide shows how to live stream a pre-recorded video on YouTube.

Can I schedule a pre-recorded video to go live?

Yes. Every tool on this page can do it. Upload the video, connect the platform and set the start time. With a cloud tool, the stream starts on its own and your computer can be off. With OBS on your own computer, the computer must stay on.

Is there free software to stream a pre-recorded video as live?

Yes, with limits. YouTube Premieres is free, but for YouTube only, and it shows as a premiere. OBS is free, but it needs your computer or a paid server to stay on. Upstream's free plan gives 24 hours of streaming a month. Pre-recorded Live Stream and LiveReacting have free plans with 3 streams a month of up to 30 minutes, in 720p. OneStream Live's free plan allows 15 minutes.

What is the cheapest paid tool?

In this list, OneStream Live Basic at $15 a month ($12 billed yearly), with 1 hour per stream and no playlists. Pre-recorded Live Stream is $19 ($16 billed yearly) with 3 hours. Castr Starter and LiveReacting Small are $19.99. The cheapest plan is not always the cheapest for your job, so check the video length and the schedule you need.

Can I loop a pre-recorded video 24/7?

Not with every tool. Upstream, the LiveReacting 24/7 plan and Castr Premium run continuous loops. OneStream Live has a 24/7 add-on for YouTube only, for up to 30 days. Restream loops one video up to 10 times or 40 hours. Pre-recorded Live Stream, StreamYard and YouTube Premieres play the video once.

What is the difference between a YouTube Premiere and a pre-recorded live stream?

A Premiere plays a new upload at a set time, on YouTube only, and YouTube labels it as a premiere. A pre-recorded live stream is a real live stream. It can go to several platforms at once and repeat on a schedule. Our YouTube guide compares the two in detail.

Related guides

• Fake live stream: what is allowed and what is not
• How to live stream a pre-recorded video on YouTube
• How to run a pre-recorded webinar

To see the plan and the free plan for Pre-recorded Live Stream, go to the homepage.