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ClickMeeting

ClickMeeting is a browser-based webinar solution, that brings the power of webinars and video conferencing to organizations of any size, or freelancers. It improves team collaboration, boosts effective communication, and makes o...Read more about ClickMeeting

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Crowdcast

Crowdcast helps businesses and content creators launch and manage webinars, question-and-answer sessions, workshops, live streams and online summits to engage with customers. The built-in customizable landing pages allow enterpris...Read more about Crowdcast

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EventMobi

EventMobi is a cloud-based event management solution for businesses of any size across a variety of industries. Primary features include event apps, multiple event management, registration, check-in, live polls, surveys, gamificat...Read more about EventMobi

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INSIDE

INSIDE is a live chat solution designed to help businesses in eCommerce, retail, travel, government and finance sectors connect with customers via chatbot, email, SMS, video call and other communication channels. Agents can target...Read more about INSIDE

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Glisser

Glisser is an audience engagement solution that helps organizations manage virtual meetings, live events, courses and more. The audience Q&A and live polling modules enable users to raise queries, give feedback and visualize opini...Read more about Glisser

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webMOBI

webMOBI is a cloud-based event management solution for small, midsize and large businesses. It is suitable for company meetings, trade shows, sporting events, festivals and association meetings. Modules include event apps, school ...Read more about webMOBI

4.4 (5 reviews)

Nextech AR Solutions

At Nextech AR, we offer a Digital Experience Platform that empowers our customers to reach internal, external and partner audiences across time zones and languages, in a virtual, hybrid or face-to-face environment. Nextech AR’s cu...Read more about Nextech AR Solutions

4.7 (3 reviews)

Restream

Restream is a live streaming solution that helps businesses of all sizes distribute video content across multiple social media channels including Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube and Twitch. It lets users create customizable chat boxes...Read more about Restream

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CommuniCloud Video

CommuniCloud is a video conferencing solution, designed to help small to large businesses collaborate with team members or clients via video or audio meetings. Features include scheduling, meeting room management, multiple device ...Read more about CommuniCloud Video

4.0 (3 reviews)

Zoom

Zoom Meetings is a cloud-based video conferencing software solution that allows organizations in the educational, financial, health care, and government sectors to conduct virtual meetings and collaborate in real-time using integr...Read more about Zoom

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Livestorm

Livestorm enables powerful, yet pain-free video engagements at scale. Our end-to-end video engagement platform enables organizations to create professional video engagements that can be easily managed in one place. Livestorm is a...Read more about Livestorm

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SpotMe

SpotMe is a B2B event engagement solution tailored for companies looking to host high-touch events. All event management, video production and app building tools are included, directly from your browser. The solution is suitable f...Read more about SpotMe

XSplit Broadcaster

XSplit Broadcaster is a live streaming and screen recording solution that helps gaming and esports event organizers to capture screens from multiple external applications, such as Zoom, Teams, and Discord. It allows employees to c...Read more about XSplit Broadcaster

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Freestone

"They are innovative and...working on future updates that will be beneficial to our members who participate in our programs. We are extremely likely to recommend Freestone." - Kansas Bar Association Enjoy turnkey webinars, webcas...Read more about Freestone

Events Locker

Event Hub is a cloud-based customer relationship management solution that helps businesses manage partnership applications, paperwork, payments and logistics for event vendors/sponsors. Key features include sponsorship management,...Read more about Events Locker

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Wisembly

Wisembly is a cloud-based event management solution that enables businesses of all sizes plan, organize and manage workshops, conferences, seminars and more. The platform lets organizations design polls and surveys using images, w...Read more about Wisembly

3.0 (2 reviews)

Hubilo

Hubilo is the webinar platform built for engagement and event excellence. Hubilo's mission is to drive engagement - first and foremost - yielding greater business results. Engagement with your deeply branded experience, paired wit...Read more about Hubilo

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eyeson

eyeson is a cloud-based video conferencing software that is suitable for businesses of all sizes. The solution is suitable for business teams that operate mainly through online communication as. eyeson provides features such ...Read more about eyeson

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Ecamm Live

Ecamm Live is an all-in-one live streaming & video production studio for Mac. With Ecamm Live, video creation is easy, professional, and fully customizable. If you can think it, you can create it in Ecamm Live. With Ecamm Live yo...Read more about Ecamm Live

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GoTo Webinar

As an online webinar solution that powers millions of webinars each year, GoTo Webinar now comes as part of GoTo Connect, an all-in-one communications software built for SMBs. GoTo Webinar offers scheduling, engagement and publis...Read more about GoTo Webinar

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Buyers Guide

Last Updated: March 16, 2023

All types of businesses, including small firms and corporates, stream content online to attract and engage their audiences. Streaming live events, such as seminars, conferences, and concerts, allows businesses to reach out to global audiences who can’t be physically present at an event.

However, recording and broadcasting videos in real time require technical knowledge. You’ll have to hire experts to encode videos to your desired streaming platform or your website. Also, the process is time-consuming, and if elements such as the background or volume are not edited professionally, audience engagement can take a hit.

This is where live streaming software becomes useful. With a built-in encoder, the tool converts your videos into the digital format so you can stream them on a platform of your choice. It broadcasts live events over the internet while allowing you to measure streaming performance and audience feedback and engagement.

In this buyers guide, we explain what live streaming software is, its features and benefits, and the considerations you should keep in mind to select the right platform for your business.

Here’s what we'll cover:

What is live streaming software?

Live streaming software is a software tool that encodes live videos and feeds into a suitable format to broadcast over the internet in real time. It’s used by businesses and individuals to promote themselves and entertain a live audience over social media channels, YouTube, or other platforms.

A live streaming platform lets users capture, stream, record, and share live content as well as interact with the audience through real-time engagement options, such as live chat.

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Audience analytics in Restream software (Source)

Common features of live streaming software

Software features vary by product or vendor, but most live streaming software tools have the following overlapping features:

Real-time broadcasting

Live broadcast video, audio, or other media over the internet. Allow your audience to not only watch or listen but also participate in events via engagement options such as live chat.

Audience analytics

Track and analyze viewership metrics such as audience behavior, engagement, geographical breakdown, duration of views, and viewership by device. This information will help you develop a stronger target audience, improve content for future events, and boost performance.

Audience engagement

Engage viewers using tools such as live surveys, live polls, chats, and Q&A sessions. Turn your attendees into active participants, and understand their opinions to serve them better.

Access controls/permissions

Use permission settings to control who within or outside your organization can access your live streams.

Performance Monitoring

Use analytics to monitor streaming performance. Track details such as average watch time or the number of viewers during a specific period to analyze the performance of live streams and make changes in upcoming programs.

Session recording

Record live video sessions for future use. Share the recorded videos on different platforms or embed them on your website to increase reach.

Social media streaming

Live stream content on social media channels, such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, to attract viewers and bring them back to your own website.

Event scheduling

Plan the time of a virtual event (e.g., meeting, conference, product launch), duration of the event, agenda of the event, etc.

Video monetization tools

Get paid for the videos you stream online. This can be done by inserting ads, charging audiences to access your video, or letting viewers purchase an interaction with the streamer. You can also generate revenue by selling digital products, such as paid memberships, online courses, or digital downloads.

What type of buyer are you?

Before purchasing live video streaming software, you should assess which buyer category you belong to. The majority of buyers fall into the following categories:

  • Individuals: Buyers in this category are mainly artists, travelers, and hobbyists who live stream to entertain their audience, promote their talent, or interact with viewers. Such users need a tool that provides live broadcasting along with basic features such as engagement tracking metrics, chat activity, and screen sharing. An easy-to-use live streaming software platform that provides all basic features free of cost would be beneficial for such buyers. Free streaming software products are suitable for small to midsize events.

  • Businesses: Businesses mostly use live video streams to inform and engage their followers, provide product updates, promote new products, and host large events to attract new consumers. They need a tool that can deliver high-quality videos, generate leads, and be configured to any platform or device. These buyers should opt for a live streaming software platform that can embed streams to their company websites; provide customizable templates and video captioning; support content monetization; and offer a live analytics dashboard that offers insights into metrics such as audience demographics, viewing behaviors, and highest viewing hours. These features will help businesses increase reach to engage stakeholders and customers better.

Benefits of live streaming software

Listed below are some benefits you can expect from using a live streaming app:

  • Real-time engagement: Live streaming software lets you broadcast your content to thousands of people across the globe in real time. For example, you can create live Q&As to reply to audience questions, create weekly shows to maximize exposure, chat with your viewers during events, and much more. Real-time interaction helps you understand your customers better and build stronger relationships with them.

  • Increased awareness and reach: Unlike physical events, live streams let you invite as many people as you want to your events since they don’t have any space constraints. Viewers from across the globe can attend your live event. You can also record the events and share them later on to engage even more people.

  • Analytics tracking: Live streaming software offers a built-in activity dashboard to measure the success of your events. The dashboard helps track performance metrics such as the number of viewers, audience behavior patterns, viewer engagement, geographical breakdown, duration of views, and viewership by device. This information will allow you to identify your audience, discover new opportunities, and refine your strategies for future broadcasts.

Key considerations

Here’s something to keep in mind when purchasing a live streaming system:

  • Business needs: Live streaming tools are unique in terms of features and pricing models. Price can vary based on the number of hosts, events, hours, or participants you want. Many vendors also provide a free or an open source software version that you can consider. Therefore, assess your needs before making a purchase.

If your company hosts live events for a large number of participants and requires advanced features such as access control and permissions, video editing, animation, unlimited viewers, and live channels, you can opt for a subscription-based platform. But if you stream to fewer viewers, look for a free live video streaming app with basic features such as compatibility with video editing platforms, limited streaming hours, screen sharing, and custom graphics.

Market trends to understand

Here’s a trend in the live streaming software market that you should be aware of:

  • Edge computing is enhancing the quality and speed of streaming content. Live streaming software has made it easy for companies to reach audiences across geographies. But a large number of live viewers can degrade the video quality, cause network lag, and lead to untimely buffering, among other issues. To overcome these, live streaming software providers are using edge computing technology, which can offer greater scalability and rapid delivery of content by reducing the volume of data moving through networks. Using advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, the technology allows users to offer effective content searchability, content suggestions, interactive video features, and a personalized audience experience.

Note: The application selected in this article is an example to show a feature in context and is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation. It has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.