Skip to content

Vidyst vs StreamYard

Like StreamYard, in 4K and for less.

Stream in 4K at 60 fps. Go live on 7 platforms for $35 a month. Your video stays on your Mac.

Try Vidyst freeSee the comparison

Free for 14 days, no card needed. For Macs with Apple silicon.

The Vidyst studio on a Mac, live to YouTube, Twitch, X and Instagram at once. The host's music software fills the screen with her camera in the corner, a viewer's comment is shown on screen, the layout picker below switches between eight layouts, and one live chat on the right collects comments from every platform.

Why Vidyst.

Vidyst is a Mac app that does the work on your Mac, not in the cloud. You get sharper video, more control and more platforms, for less money.

Vidyst is made for you if you

  • Care about video quality
  • Record locally in high quality
  • Want vertical clips next to your wide stream
  • Want more platforms without a bigger bill
  • Work on an Apple silicon Mac

Podcasters, interview shows and tutorial makers.

  • 7platforms for $35 a month
  • 10guests on Creator
  • 2formats, wide and tall, on any platform
  • 4Klive at up to 60 fps
Made for quality

More quality. More control. Less money.

4K at 60 fps, live

Sharp text and smooth motion for your viewers, not just in the recording.

StreamYardLive tops out at 1080p and 30 fps. 4K is local recording only.

Wide and tall on any platform

Send a wide and a vertical stream from one take, wherever you go live.

StreamYardBoth at once: YouTube only, paid plans, 2 destinations.

Pro audio on every mic

Shape your sound with a compressor, leveler, high-pass filter and mic delay.

StreamYardNo compressor, EQ or mic delay documented.

You control the encoder

Pick H.264 or HEVC, and set bitrate, frame rate and latency. Record in ProRes.

StreamYardFixed bitrate: 4500 kbps at 1080p, with no controls.

Feature by feature

Vidyst vs StreamYard.

Showing all 17 features.

  • Built in
  • Partial
  • Not built in
FeatureVidystStreamYard
Price
7 or more platformsBuilt in. $35 a month on Creator.Partial. $88.99 a month on Advanced, or $68.99 billed yearly.
Entry planBuilt in. $10 a month on Basic: 2 platforms and 2 guests.Partial. Free plan: 720p, a StreamYard logo, one destination.
Free trialBuilt in. 14 days, no card needed.Partial. 7 days on Core and Advanced.
Video quality
Live resolutionBuilt in. 4K at up to 60 fps.Partial. 1080p at 30 fps. 4K is local recording only, on Advanced and up.
Encoder and bitrateBuilt in. H.264 or HEVC. Set bitrate, frame rate and latency.Not built in. Fixed: 4500 kbps at 1080p, 3000 at 720p. No controls.
Where video is processedBuilt in. On your Mac.Partial. In the browser and the cloud. Quality follows each person’s connection.
Streaming
MultistreamBuilt in. 2 platforms on Basic, 7 on Creator.Built in. 3 on Core, 8 on Advanced.
Wide + vertical live at onceBuilt in. Any platform, from one take.Partial. Both formats to one platform: YouTube only, paid plans, 2 destinations.
Recording
FormatsBuilt in. MP4, MOV, MKV and ProRes, up to 4K60.Partial. MP4 (H.264). The mixed file is 1080p at 30 fps.
If something goes wrongBuilt in. Saved up to the moment it stopped, with nothing to set up.Partial. Per-person recording must be switched on before the session, not after.
Audio
Compressor, leveler, high-passBuilt in. Built in.Not built in. None documented.
Mic delayBuilt in. 5 ms steps.Not built in. None documented.
System audioBuilt in. Built in.Partial. Tab audio, through the browser’s screen share.
Guests and chat
GuestsBuilt in. Browser link, no account. Backstage and lobby.Built in. Browser link, no account. Greenroom before you go live.
Paid messagesBuilt in. Super Chats, Bits, memberships and gifts.Partial. YouTube Super Chats, memberships and Jewels, starred automatically.
Mac extras
Virtual cameraBuilt in. Built in.Not built in. None. It can only take one in as a camera.
Stream DeckBuilt in. Plugin installs from Settings.Partial. Through Elgato’s app, driving StreamYard’s keyboard shortcuts.

StreamYard details checked on October 15, 2026 against its pricing page and help center. Prices are monthly unless noted. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

Why creators switch

Studio quality. No price shock.

StreamYard’s Core plan is $44.99 a month for 3 destinations. Vidyst starts at $10, and 7 destinations is $35.

  • 7 platforms for $35

    StreamYard needs its $88.99 Advanced plan for 8.

  • Your video stays on your Mac

    Video and audio are processed on your Mac, not in the cloud. They only leave for the places you stream to.

  • Recordings survive a crash

    Saved up to the moment it stopped, with nothing to set up.

  • Edit-ready files

    Record in ProRes or HEVC, up to 4K at 60 fps.

  • Virtual camera and system audio

    Use your show in other apps, and share sound from any app on your Mac.

Pricing

More platforms. Less money.

Vidyst Creator gives you 7 platforms and 10 guests for $35 a month. StreamYard needs its $88.99 Advanced plan for 8 platforms.

StreamYard plans

  • Free720p, StreamYard logo, one destination
  • Core · $44.99/mo1080p, 3 destinations
  • Advanced · $88.99/mo8 destinations, 4K local recording
  • BusinessPrice not public

Billed yearly: Core is $35.99 and Advanced is $68.99 a month. Core and Advanced are for individual use; company use needs a Teams or Business plan.

Vidyst

14 days free
Basic$10a month2 platforms, 2 guests
Creator$35a month7 platforms, 10 guests
  • 7 platforms for $35
  • 4K60 live and ProRes recording
  • Wide and vertical on any platform
  • Pro audio and a virtual camera
Try free for 14 days

Switching from StreamYard?

Common questions from people who stream with StreamYard today.

Vidyst Creator is $35 a month for 7 destinations and 10 guests. To get 8 destinations on StreamYard you need Advanced at $88.99 a month, or $68.99 billed yearly.

Not live. StreamYard tops out at 1080p and 30 fps, and 4K is for local recording on Advanced and up. Vidyst streams in 4K at up to 60 fps.

To one platform, only on YouTube, on a paid plan, and it uses two of your destinations. Vidyst sends both formats to any platform from one take.

No. Guests join Vidyst from a browser link, with no account needed.

No. Vidyst is a Mac app, so your video is processed on your Mac instead of in the cloud. It needs a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 14.2 or later.

Yes. 14 days free, no card needed.

Your next show, in 4K.

Bring a guest, go live on two platforms in 4K and keep a ProRes copy. Then compare.

One Vidyst stream fanning out live to YouTube, Twitch, X and Instagram, with a viewer count on each platform.
Download for macOS

Free for 14 days, no card needed. Apple silicon, macOS 14.2 or later.

Compare Vidyst with others.