Livestreaming platforms grow in number every year. It is becoming essential for business marketing strategies, keeping in touch with people, holding events, and sharing information. The best live streaming platforms allow you to reach people who can’t make an in-person event, as well as expand your audience and global engagement.

With so many free live streaming platforms, as well as some paid live streaming video platforms, you have endless options when it comes to broadcasting your event. Varvid can help you stream your event to any of these platforms.

YouTube

YouTube Live is one of the top livestreaming platforms on the web, since everyone who has a Google account also has a YouTube account. With so many people on this platform, you access to the many broadcasting features of YouTube, whether you have a solo event or a full festival.

YouTube Live comes with the following features:

• Automatic live captions to increase accessibility
• Ability to interact with the audience, take questions, and get feedback
• Use automatic recording or broadcast delay
• Save broadcasts to YouTube for viewing later

Facebook Live

Facebook Live is one of the best live streaming social media platforms because of its user-friendliness. If you already have a substantial Facebook following, you can get them to join you on Facebook Live with minimal effort.

Some of the key Facebook Live features include:

• Ability to change privacy settings to make public or private events
• Access metrics to see viewer demographics and total views
• Ability to screen share, tag people, and add writing to videos
• Save videos to Facebook and watch them later

Zoom Livestreams

Zoom is a video conferencing software that allows people to chat virtually. With Zoom, you can live stream many events like classes, conferences, and webinars.

Zoom also allows attendees to watch one or more presenters at the same time. With Zoom, you can even multistream to YouTube or Facebook to reach even more participants.

Some of the notable features you’ll see with Zoom include:

• Ability to record your Zoom webinars to the cloud or on a hard drive
• Webinar transcription
• Polling and Q&A features to engage viewers during your event
• Ability to see the list of attendees

Google Hangouts and Meet

Google Meet allows you to video conference with people from anywhere in the world. Many professionals use this service because it seamlessly integrates with G Suite accounts. Now, you can live stream meetings and loop in thousands of other viewers. All you have to do is send out the link in advance.

Unfortunately, only G Suite Enterprise users can start a live stream. However, anyone can join and take part.

Vimeo Live

Vimeo has been a quality platform for video sharing for years. Now, you can access unlimited live streaming from your Vimeo premium account. If you have a Vimeo Enterprise business account, you can access more advanced features like:

• Secure showcase pages
• Love production services
• User-level analytics
• Account management and enterprise support

LinkedIn Live

LinkedIn launched LinkedIn Live in 2019, making it one of the newest streaming platforms. If you use LinkedIn and have a large following, you may consider using this platform for your event. LinkedIn Live may also be handy if you use your event for:

• Business owners or professionals
• B2B marketing
• A webinar for a specific group of people

Twitch

Twitch is a popular platform for gamers because it allows for plenty of interaction. Users can access Twitch from their computer or gaming console for fast live streaming.

Now, Twitch is home to much more than just gaming content. Twitch has one of the highest numbers of livestream hours watched out of all the live video streaming platforms.
Update as of Dec 15, 2020: Periscope and the Super Broadcaster program are terminating support as of March 31, 2021.

StreamYard

A lightweight, user friendly and increasingly evolving live streaming platform for bringing streamers and viewers together through direct engagement. StreamYard allows for streaming to major platforms simultaneously, such as Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitch, and even custom RTMP outputs.

Streamers can display live viewer comments on screen and respond to them in real time. Whilst viewers can engage with live call to action links, polls, and much more.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams Live Events allow you to broadcast your video and meeting content. Attendees can watch your event in Teams, Yammer, or Stream and interact with presenters via Q&A. With Teams, you can invite a specific group of people or open the stream to the public.

Teams Live Events are replacing Skype Meeting Broadcasts with updated features. Viewers can watch a meeting host give a presentation or performance with no interruption. Like Zoom, presenters can join the live stream from wherever they are and participate in the conversation.

DaCast

Dacast provides live streaming and video hosting services. It is easy to use and access, and users get complete control over their content. You can set up a basic account for free or unlock more perks with a paid account.  Some of the key features include:

•  Integrated paywall
• Ad-free broadcasting
• White label service
• Password protection