Vidyst vs Streamlabs Desktop
Streamlabs Desktop is free on Windows and macOS and streams one horizontal and one vertical destination at no cost; more destinations need Streamlabs Ultra, which multistreams through Streamlabs' servers. Vidyst is a paid Mac app that multistreams from your Mac, with browser guests on both plans.
Streamlabs Desktop details checked on against its own pages. See 4 sources
Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later), macOS 14.2 or later. 14-day free trial, no card.
Which to choose
Choose Vidyst if…
- You want 2 to 7 destinations without a cloud relay in the path.
- You want browser guests: 2 on Basic, 10 on Creator.
- You want YouTube, Twitch and Kick chat merged, and echo cancellation for guests.
Choose Streamlabs Desktop if…
- You want one horizontal and one vertical stream for free.
- You're on Windows or an Intel Mac.
- You want cloud multistreaming, so your upload carries one stream however many platforms you reach (Ultra).
- You rely on Streamlabs' alerts, widgets and tipping tools.
Feature by feature
Each cell says how the feature is provided (built in, paid plan, plugin, separate service) and cites where it comes from.
| Feature | Vidyst | Streamlabs Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Detail Mac app for Apple silicon (M1 or later), macOS 14.2 or later.1 | Detail Windows 10 or later, and macOS 12 or later with Intel and Apple silicon builds.2 |
| Price | Paid plan Basic $10 a month or $100 a year; Creator $35 a month or $350 a year. 14-day trial, no card.3 | Paid plan Desktop app free. Ultra listed as “starting at $15.75/mo”.4 |
| Horizontal and vertical at once | Built in Horizontal and vertical canvases on both plans. Each destination goes out horizontal or vertical, and counts toward the plan's destination limit.3 | Built in Dual Output, free for one horizontal and one vertical destination.2 |
| Multistreaming | Built in From your Mac: 2 destinations on Basic, 7 on Creator. Each destination is its own upload.3 | Paid plan Three or more platforms, or several in one orientation, need Ultra. Ultra's multistreaming runs on Streamlabs' servers.2,4 |
| Remote guests | Built in Browser link, no account or install. 2 guests on Basic, 10 on Creator. You admit each guest.3 | Limited Collab Cam: 1 guest or camera free, up to 11 on Ultra.4 |
Choosing between local and cloud multistreaming
The real question is where your streams split: on your Mac, or on someone's servers.
Count your destinations
One horizontal and one vertical: Streamlabs does it free, Vidyst Basic does it for $10 a month with guests included. Three or more: Streamlabs Ultra or Vidyst Creator.
Check your upload
Vidyst sends each destination from your Mac, so your upload must carry all of them. A cloud relay like Ultra needs only one upload.
Need both?
Vidyst can send a destination to any custom RTMP server, including a relay service, so you can combine local and cloud distribution.
Pricing and cost
Prices in US dollars as each company lists them, compared on the same billing period.
| What you pay for | Vidyst | Streamlabs Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Horizontal + vertical, one each3,2 | Basic $10 a month | Free |
| 3 or more destinations3,4 | Creator $35 a month (up to 7) | Ultra, “starting at $15.75/mo” |
| Billed yearly3,4 | Basic $100, Creator $350 a year | Not stated on the Ultra page we checked |
Streamlabs' Ultra page shows a “starting at” price without saying which billing period it assumes; check checkout for the exact terms. A cloud relay changes bandwidth, not just cost: with Ultra your computer uploads one stream and Streamlabs sends it on.
Questions
Is Streamlabs Dual Output free?
Yes, for one horizontal and one vertical destination. Streaming to three or more platforms, or to several in the same orientation, needs Streamlabs Ultra.
Does Vidyst multistream through the cloud?
No. Vidyst sends every destination from your Mac. That keeps a relay out of the path but uses more upload. You can still point a destination at a relay service's RTMP address.
Can I have guests on Streamlabs?
Yes, with Collab Cam: one guest or camera free, up to 11 on Ultra. Vidyst includes 2 browser guests on Basic and 10 on Creator.
Does Vidyst work on Windows?
No. Vidyst is for Apple silicon Macs with macOS 14.2 or later. Streamlabs Desktop runs on Windows and macOS.
Try Vidyst on your next show
14 days free, no card. Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later), macOS 14.2 or later.
Sources
Vidyst’s side was checked in the Mac app and its plan catalog. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Vidyst: Download and system requirements. Checked .
- Streamlabs: Dual Output. Checked .
- Vidyst: Pricing. Checked .
- Streamlabs: Streamlabs Ultra. Checked .