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Runnel.live alternatives

7 Best Runnel.live Alternatives for Low-Cost 24/7 Streaming (2026)

Updated October 16, 2026

Runnel.live is a low-cost, YouTube-first cloud service for looping uploaded playlists. It advertises $6 per stream per month, prorated by the minute, plus separate upload charges that vary by media quality.

Runnel supports up to 4K60, horizontal or vertical video, queue looping, shuffle, bulk upload, and one-time scheduled starts. Rumble and Twitch are only partly supported, and Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are not supported. You can create as many streams as you like, but account limits and server capacity still apply.

The alternatives below are direct cloud playout services or hybrid products with an explicit persistent channel. They are not padded with generic webinar or live-Studio tools.

This guide is based on each vendor's public pages, not on hands-on uptime tests.

Best alternatives

  1. 1Streamloop logo
    Streamloop

    Managed YouTube broadcasts, compatible RTMP output, usage billing by resolution and frame rate, and live playlist publishing.

  2. 2Live247 logo
    Live247

    YouTube-only usage billing with 4K60, HDR, 100 GB per stream, and midstream file replacement.

  3. 3Gyre logo
    Gyre

    Fixed subscriptions with broad destination support and higher-tier multiple HD or 4K streams.

  4. 4SubSub Live logo
    SubSub Live

    A centralized content library reused across many separate usage-billed streams with YouTube and Facebook positioning.

  5. 5LiveReacting logo
    LiveReacting

    A dedicated 24/7 plan with multiple destinations plus guests, overlays, games, polls, and advanced scheduling.

  6. 6Upstream logo
    Upstream

    A browser designer and Studio bundled with persistent 24/7 cloud playout and multistreaming.

  7. 7Playout.video logo
    Playout.video

    Calendar-programmed channels with fallback, multistreaming, a browser Studio, and live takeover.

★ Our pick
1Streamloop logo

Streamloop

Managed YouTube broadcasts, compatible RTMP output, usage billing by resolution and frame rate, and live playlist publishing.

Starts at
$10 per 30 days at 1080p30
Best for
Managed YouTube broadcasts, compatible RTMP output, usage billing by resolution and frame rate, and live playlist publishing.

Streamloop turns prerecorded video and audio playlists into cloud streams at up to 4K60. One stream can send the same video to up to 5 destinations at the same time. At most one of them can be a YouTube channel connected by login. Live Scenes adds live inputs and graphics. In the Streamloop dashboard, choose Scene when you create a stream.

What's good
  • Billed by the minute at the rate for your quality, and nothing while a stream is stopped
  • Play in order, shuffle without repeats, or describe a custom order in plain words
  • Published playlist edits take effect at the next clip boundary without restarting
  • YouTube channel connected by sign-in, plus any compatible RTMP or RTMPS destination
  • Imports from Google Drive, Yandex Disk, YouTube, other video sites and direct file links
  • Documented REST, GraphQL, and OAuth-protected MCP interfaces
Where it's not a fit
  • Costs can exceed Runnel's $6 headline at higher resolutions or frame rates.
  • No webcam or guest studio, and each stream stops at 5 destinations.

Streaming is billed by the minute, only while live: one 24/7 stream at 1080p is about $10 per 30 days. Start with a $1 trial week, which becomes a monthly plan unless you cancel, or top up and pay as you go.

2Live247 logo

Live247

YouTube-only usage billing with 4K60, HDR, 100 GB per stream, and midstream file replacement.

Starts at
$0.0273 per active stream-hour
Best for
YouTube-only usage billing with 4K60, HDR, 100 GB per stream, and midstream file replacement.

Live247 runs MP4 video or MP3 audio playlists on YouTube from the cloud. Each active stream uses its own YouTube key and is billed separately; the service does not currently support Facebook, Twitch, generic RTMP, or one-feed multistream distribution.

What's good
  • Low usage rate for continuous 1080p YouTube streaming
  • Up to 4K60, vertical video, and documented 10-bit HDR support
  • Sequential or random video/audio playlists with midstream replacement
  • 100 GB of storage per stream, with paid extra storage if you need more
  • Future activation and deactivation scheduling
Where it's not a fit
  • It costs $0.0273 per hour at 1080p or below and twice that at 1440p or above, which is higher than Runnel's base rate.
  • It supports YouTube only.

One free streaming hour with coupon NEWUSER; no card required to start

3Gyre logo

Gyre

Fixed subscriptions with broad destination support and higher-tier multiple HD or 4K streams.

Starts at
From $49/month
Best for
Fixed subscriptions with broad destination support and higher-tier multiple HD or 4K streams.

Gyre runs prerecorded streams continuously from its cloud to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Instagram, X, Kick, MixCloud, or another RTMP-key destination. Each destination is configured as a separate stream with its own key and consumes available stream capacity; it is not one-key fan-out.

What's good
  • Unattended 24/7 cloud playout with unlimited streaming hours
  • Broad named destination support plus RTMP-key delivery
  • Start+ and PRO+ add playlists, scheduling, 4K capacity, and multiple HD slots
  • Paid plans include 35 GB to 150 GB of storage
Where it's not a fit
  • Paid plans start at $49 monthly, and the entry Start plan excludes playlists and scheduling.
  • The seven-day trial automatically converts to Start+ at $99 unless canceled.

7 days; 1 HD stream at 1080p30, 20 GB, up to 15 files, watermark; auto-converts to Start+ unless canceled

4SubSub Live logo

SubSub Live

A centralized content library reused across many separate usage-billed streams with YouTube and Facebook positioning.

Starts at
From $0.06 per streaming hour, plus storage
Best for
A centralized content library reused across many separate usage-billed streams with YouTube and Facebook positioning.

SubSub Live reuses uploaded media across looping, shuffled, or sequential cloud playlists. It markets YouTube and Facebook support and unlimited simultaneous streams, but public evidence describes separate usage-billed streams rather than one-feed multi-destination fan-out, and the operational workflow is strongly YouTube-centric.

What's good
  • Pay-as-you-go billing with no idle streaming charge
  • Original quality up to 4K without published quality-tier gates
  • Shared content library reusable across multiple separate streams
  • Loop, shuffle, sequence, order, and timing controls
  • Free starter credits without a card
Where it's not a fit
  • Its public pricing does not expose a dependable universal storage unit price.
  • It recommends restarting or refreshing continuous streams about every 72 hours.

Bonus credits for approximately 10+ streaming hours, depending on quality and file size; no card

5LiveReacting logo

LiveReacting

A dedicated 24/7 plan with multiple destinations plus guests, overlays, games, polls, and advanced scheduling.

Starts at
Free; dedicated 24/7 from $39.99/month
Best for
A dedicated 24/7 plan with multiple destinations plus guests, overlays, games, polls, and advanced scheduling.

LiveReacting combines a full browser studio and interactive show tools with cloud prerecorded uploads and a separate persistent 24/7 product. Normal paid tiers allow unlimited monthly starts but remain limited to one, three, eight, or 24 hours per event; destination counts are not independent program concurrency.

What's good
  • Full browser studio with guests, scenes, layouts, branding, and live editing
  • Games, polls, trivia, giveaways, comments, countdowns, and AI Host features
  • Cloud prerecorded streaming with playlists and advanced schedules
  • Direct YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch integrations plus custom RTMP
  • Dedicated 24/7 tier with configurable quality and concurrency
Where it's not a fit
  • The base continuous plan costs $39.99 monthly before quality or concurrency upgrades.
  • Its interactive Studio may be excessive for a simple low-cost loop.

Permanent Free plan: 3 streams/month, up to 30 minutes each, 720p

6Upstream logo

Upstream

A browser designer and Studio bundled with persistent 24/7 cloud playout and multistreaming.

Starts at
From $24/mo yearly / $30/mo monthly
Best for
A browser designer and Studio bundled with persistent 24/7 cloud playout and multistreaming.

Upstream is a YouTube Verified software encoder for 24/7 streams, with a Canva-like Stream Designer for overlays, embedded websites and widgets, plus multistreaming to up to 10 destinations.

What's good
  • YouTube Verified software encoder
  • Stream Designer: overlays, embedded websites, widgets, custom fonts
  • Multistream to up to 10 destinations
  • Well-reviewed, responsive chat support
  • 100GB storage on the free plan
Where it's not a fit
  • Paid plans cost materially more than Runnel's $6-per-stream model.
  • The free plan is limited to 24 streaming hours per month.
7Playout.video logo

Playout.video

Calendar-programmed channels with fallback, multistreaming, a browser Studio, and live takeover.

Starts at
Free; persistent channels from $29/month
Best for
Calendar-programmed channels with fallback, multistreaming, a browser Studio, and live takeover.

Playout.video combines persistent cloud playlists, recurring calendar programming, fallback content, and a full browser Live Studio. A programmed channel can continue behind a live takeover and resume afterward, while standard plans multistream to two through ten simultaneous destinations.

What's good
  • Creator provides a persistent 24/7 channel from $29/month
  • Channel adds recurring calendar execution, fallback, and auto-start/stop
  • Full browser Live Studio with guests, screen sharing, layouts, and recording
  • Hybrid live takeover can sit over an autonomously progressing playlist
  • Broad native and custom RTMP destination support
Where it's not a fit
  • It is a broader and more expensive channel platform than Runnel.
  • Calendar automation starts at $49 monthly on Channel.

Permanent Free plan; no time-limited trial. Free sessions stop after five hours and include a watermark.

Real cost

What a 24/7 stream actually costs, by quality

Streamloop bills by the minute. Pick a resolution and frame rate, and pay only while you are live. Optional monthly credit plans are also available. Below is the cost of a stream running nonstop for a full 30 days.

720p

30 fps
$5
60 fps
$7.50

1080p

Most popular

30 fps
$10
60 fps
$15

1440p (2K)

30 fps
$20
60 fps
$30

4K (2160p)

30 fps
$30
60 fps
$45

Metered by the minute, so a week of streaming costs about a quarter of these figures, and a day about a thirtieth. Files that need encoding add a one-time ~$0.005 per minute of encode time; files that are ready to stream skip it. Uploads and idle loops are free, and so is the first 30 GiB of large-playlist storage.

A 1080p stream running 24/7 on Streamloop is about $10/month, and you only pay while it is live. For comparison, Runnel.live lists: $6 per stream per month.

Comparison

Runnel.live compared to the others

All the features that matter, side by side.

Streamloop stays fixed. Open a tool to compare its full feature set.

Runnel.live logoRunnel.liveVSStreamloop logoStreamloop

Pricing & access

Pay-as-you-go, no subscription
Runnel.live
Prepaid credit and minute-prorated usage; no lock-in
Streamloop
Top up by card or crypto and pay as you go; a monthly plan is optional
Trial
Runnel.live
No free trial; you add credit before your first stream
Streamloop
$1 trial week by card, which becomes a monthly plan unless you cancel
Starting price
Runnel.live
$6 per separate stream per month, prorated by minute
Streamloop
720p24: $4 per 30 live days; billed by the minute, monthly plan optional
720p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + upload fees
Streamloop
$4 at 24fps; $5 at 30fps
1080p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus HD upload charges of $0.07/GB
Streamloop
$10 at 30fps
1440p / 2K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + uploads
Streamloop
$20 at 30fps
2160p / 4K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus 4K upload charges of $0.50/GB
Streamloop
$30 at 30fps; $45 at 60fps

Streaming quality

720p / 30fps
Runnel.live
✓
Streamloop
✓
1080p / Full HD
Runnel.live
✓
Streamloop
✓
60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 60fps
Streamloop
24, 30 or 60 fps
Up to 4K @ 60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 4K
Streamloop
Up to 2160p/4K
Vertical / portrait streaming
Runnel.live
Horizontal and vertical output
Streamloop
Portrait and landscape output
HDR streaming publicly documented
Runnel.live
HDR is not mentioned
Streamloop
HDR to YouTube only

Production & design

Stream designer / layout builder
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
Yes, in Live Scenes, Streamloop's mode for live inputs and graphics: a layered scene editor with an AI assistant.
Image, video & logo overlays
Runnel.live
Overlays are not supported
Streamloop
Yes, in Live Scenes, Streamloop's mode for live inputs and graphics: image, logo, text, clock, countdown and video layers.
Embed live websites & graphs
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
Yes, in Live Scenes, Streamloop's mode for live inputs and graphics: any web page can be a layer.
Interactive alerts & widgets
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
No native alerts or polls. Live Scenes, Streamloop's mode for live inputs and graphics, can show a third-party chat or alert page.
Custom fonts in overlays
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
Partly. Live Scenes, Streamloop's mode for live inputs and graphics, uses the Google Fonts catalog; no font upload.
Browser Live Studio (camera)
Runnel.live
No browser production studio
Streamloop
No browser studio, webcam or guests. Live Scenes, Streamloop's mode for live inputs, takes OBS, vMix or IP camera feeds up to 1080p60.

Sources & inputs

MP4 / MKV / AVI / MOV upload
Runnel.live
MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM; no AVI
Streamloop
MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM, AVI, MPEG and MXF
Separate audio track (music / voiceover)
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
Separate audio and audio playlists: MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, Opus
Import from Google Drive / Dropbox
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
Google Drive, Yandex Disk, YouTube, other video sites and direct file links.
Playlists with custom ordering
Runnel.live
Bulk-uploaded queue can loop and shuffle
Streamloop
Drag to reorder; play in order, shuffle without repeats, or describe a custom order in plain words
Custom loop logic (shuffle, loop counts)
Runnel.live
✓
Streamloop
In order, shuffle without repeats, or a custom order in plain words; no loop counts
Edit the stream live (swap / skip / reorder)
Runnel.live
You can upload more videos while live; reordering a live queue is not described
Streamloop
Publish playlist edits while live; they start at the next item. No skip button.

Destinations

YouTube (one-click OAuth)
Runnel.live
YouTube via stream key
Streamloop
✓
Custom RTMP (any platform)
Runnel.live
Alternate RTMP/RTMPS URLs accepted; query-string URLs rejected
Streamloop
Any compatible RTMP destination
Twitch / Facebook / Kick / TikTok
Runnel.live
Built for YouTube; Twitch and Rumble partly supported; no Facebook, Instagram or TikTok; Kick unclear
Streamloop
Twitch, Facebook, Kick, TikTok, and others through compatible RTMP endpoints
Multistream to several destinations
Runnel.live
Each destination requires a separate stream and key
Streamloop
Up to 5 destinations per stream. Each one after the first adds $6 per 30 days at 1080p while live.
One-click YouTube (no stream key)
Runnel.live
Users create a YouTube event and stream key separately
Streamloop
Official Google OAuth connection; manual stream-key option also available
SRT ingest
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
Yes, in Live Scenes, Streamloop's mode for live inputs: SRT, RTMP, RTSP and HLS. Plain loops take uploaded files only.

Lifecycle & automation

True 24/7 continuous loop
Runnel.live
Queues can loop continuously
Streamloop
Continuous cloud loop while active and funded
YouTube broadcast lifecycle automation
Runnel.live
No; you create each YouTube event yourself
Streamloop
Can create and synchronize broadcast metadata, privacy, thumbnail, latency, DVR, recording, and schedule
Scheduling
Runnel.live
One-time future start; recurring schedules are not described
Streamloop
Immediate/future start; duration, end time, or open-ended
MCP / agent integration
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
OAuth-protected hosted MCP for streams, playlists, uploads, destinations, usage, and billing
YouTube ad cue points
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
✕
Edit title / description / thumbnail live
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
✓
Public API
Runnel.live
No public API listed
Streamloop
Public OpenAPI REST interface plus documented GraphQL
Unlimited loop without manual rescheduling
Runnel.live
Continuous queue loop; inactive streams are purged after two months
Streamloop
Can run indefinitely until stopped, credit is exhausted, or destination action is required

Limits & inclusions

Storage included
Runnel.live
Unlimited storage advertised; each upload has a one-time fee, and inactive streams with videos are deleted after 2 months
Streamloop
Uploads are free. The first 30 GiB of large-playlist storage is free, then $0.35 per GiB-month while live.
Concurrent streams / slots
Runnel.live
Unlimited streams advertised, but support sets account limits and a start can wait for a free server
Streamloop
Multiple separate streams are supported; no public account hard cap is documented
Max multistream destinations
Runnel.live
One destination per separately created stream
Streamloop
5 per stream, with at most one connected YouTube channel
Videos per playlist
Runnel.live
No published limit (bulk-upload as many videos as you like)
Streamloop
1000 items per playlist
Max upload size / length
Runnel.live
100 MB to 100 GB and 20 seconds to 4 days per file
Streamloop
15 GiB per file
Team / multi-user access
Runnel.live
✓
Streamloop
Shared workspaces with email invites and owner, admin and member roles
No watermark
Runnel.live
✓
Streamloop
No watermark on any plan

Reliability & support

Automatic monitoring & recovery
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
Automatic monitoring, restart and reconnection
Backup streams
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
No. You do not set up a backup stream. A failed stream restarts automatically.
Chat / email support
Runnel.live
✓
Streamloop
Email only, with replies typically within 24 hours
Uptime guarantee / compensation
Runnel.live
✓
Streamloop
No contractual uptime compensation or recovery-time SLA published
In-app viewer analytics
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
YouTube concurrent viewers only

Trust & account

Trustpilot rating
Runnel.live
4.5 (14 reviews)
Streamloop
Only one review so far, so no useful rating yet
YouTube-Verified encoder
Runnel.live
Not listed as verified encoder
Streamloop
✕
Two-factor authentication
Runnel.live
✕
Streamloop
No. You sign in with Google, an email link or a passkey, with no extra second step.
Runnel.live logoRunnel.liveVSLive247 logoLive247

Pricing & access

Pay-as-you-go, no subscription
Runnel.live
Prepaid credit and minute-prorated usage; no lock-in
Live247
Prepaid usage credit; optional balance auto-refill
Trial
Runnel.live
No free trial; you add credit before your first stream
Live247
NEWUSER provides one free streaming hour, not a broad trial
Starting price
Runnel.live
$6 per separate stream per month, prorated by minute
Live247
$0.0273/h at ≤1080p; $0.0546/h at ≥1440p
720p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + upload fees
Live247
$19.66 for 720 hours; about $19.94 per average calendar month
1080p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus HD upload charges of $0.07/GB
Live247
$19.66 for 720 hours; about $19.94 per average calendar month
1440p / 2K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + uploads
Live247
$39.31 for 720 hours; about $39.88 per average calendar month
2160p / 4K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus 4K upload charges of $0.50/GB
Live247
$39.31 for 720 hours; about $39.88 per average calendar month

Streaming quality

720p / 30fps
Runnel.live
✓
Live247
✓
1080p / Full HD
Runnel.live
✓
Live247
✓
60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 60fps
Live247
Up to 60fps
Up to 4K @ 60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 4K
Live247
Up to 4K
Vertical / portrait streaming
Runnel.live
Horizontal and vertical output
Live247
Vertical uploads are supported
HDR streaming publicly documented
Runnel.live
HDR is not mentioned
Live247
10-bit HDR is publicly documented

Production & design

Stream designer / layout builder
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕
Image, video & logo overlays
Runnel.live
Overlays are not supported
Live247
✕
Embed live websites & graphs
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕
Interactive alerts & widgets
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕
Custom fonts in overlays
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
No overlay designer
Browser Live Studio (camera)
Runnel.live
No browser production studio
Live247
No browser camera/guest production studio

Sources & inputs

MP4 / MKV / AVI / MOV upload
Runnel.live
MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM; no AVI
Live247
MP4 video and MP3 audio only
Separate audio track (music / voiceover)
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
MP3 audio playlists are supported; broader audio mixing is not documented
Import from Google Drive / Dropbox
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
Google Drive and Dropbox import are not documented
Playlists with custom ordering
Runnel.live
Bulk-uploaded queue can loop and shuffle
Live247
Video or audio playlists; sequential or random order
Custom loop logic (shuffle, loop counts)
Runnel.live
✓
Live247
✓
Edit the stream live (swap / skip / reorder)
Runnel.live
You can upload more videos while live; reordering a live queue is not described
Live247
Files can be reordered or replaced while streaming

Destinations

YouTube (one-click OAuth)
Runnel.live
YouTube via stream key
Live247
YouTube via stream key
Custom RTMP (any platform)
Runnel.live
Alternate RTMP/RTMPS URLs accepted; query-string URLs rejected
Live247
No generic RTMP destination support
Twitch / Facebook / Kick / TikTok
Runnel.live
Built for YouTube; Twitch and Rumble partly supported; no Facebook, Instagram or TikTok; Kick unclear
Live247
YouTube only
Multistream to several destinations
Runnel.live
Each destination requires a separate stream and key
Live247
No cross-platform fan-out; each YouTube stream is separate
One-click YouTube (no stream key)
Runnel.live
Users create a YouTube event and stream key separately
Live247
Uses a YouTube stream key; no direct account access required
SRT ingest
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕

Lifecycle & automation

True 24/7 continuous loop
Runnel.live
Queues can loop continuously
Live247
Continuous cloud playout while credit remains
YouTube broadcast lifecycle automation
Runnel.live
No; you create each YouTube event yourself
Live247
YouTube event guidance is provided, but managed account lifecycle automation is not
Scheduling
Runnel.live
One-time future start; recurring schedules are not described
Live247
Future activation and deactivation can be queued
MCP / agent integration
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕
YouTube ad cue points
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕
Edit title / description / thumbnail live
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕
Public API
Runnel.live
No public API listed
Live247
No public API is documented
Unlimited loop without manual rescheduling
Runnel.live
Continuous queue loop; inactive streams are purged after two months
Live247
Playlist loops continuously until stopped or credit is exhausted

Limits & inclusions

Storage included
Runnel.live
Unlimited storage advertised; each upload has a one-time fee, and inactive streams with videos are deleted after 2 months
Live247
100 GB per stream; extra storage is paid and billed only while live
Concurrent streams / slots
Runnel.live
Unlimited streams advertised, but support sets account limits and a start can wait for a free server
Live247
No published hard account cap; every active stream is separately billed
Max multistream destinations
Runnel.live
One destination per separately created stream
Live247
One YouTube key/destination per separate stream
Videos per playlist
Runnel.live
No published limit (bulk-upload as many videos as you like)
Live247
No published limit
Max upload size / length
Runnel.live
100 MB to 100 GB and 20 seconds to 4 days per file
Live247
100 GB included per stream; no public per-file maximum found
Team / multi-user access
Runnel.live
✓
Live247
✕
No watermark
Runnel.live
✓
Live247
✓

Reliability & support

Automatic monitoring & recovery
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕
Backup streams
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕
Chat / email support
Runnel.live
✓
Live247
✓
Uptime guarantee / compensation
Runnel.live
✓
Live247
No published SLA
In-app viewer analytics
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕

Trust & account

Trustpilot rating
Runnel.live
4.5 (14 reviews)
Live247
No Trustpilot profile found
YouTube-Verified encoder
Runnel.live
Not listed as verified encoder
Live247
Not listed as verified encoder
Two-factor authentication
Runnel.live
✕
Live247
✕
Runnel.live logoRunnel.liveVSGyre logoGyre

Pricing & access

Pay-as-you-go, no subscription
Runnel.live
Prepaid credit and minute-prorated usage; no lock-in
Gyre
✕
Trial
Runnel.live
No free trial; you add credit before your first stream
Gyre
7 days, watermark, 1080p30, 20 GB; converts to $99 Start+
Starting price
Runnel.live
$6 per separate stream per month, prorated by minute
Gyre
$49/mo Start; $99/mo Start+; $169/mo PRO+
720p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + upload fees
Gyre
$49/mo (HD tier)
1080p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus HD upload charges of $0.07/GB
Gyre
From $49 for a 30-day Start subscription
1440p / 2K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + uploads
Gyre
Not priced separately
2160p / 4K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus 4K upload charges of $0.50/GB
Gyre
4K starts on Start+ at $99/mo for one 4K slot

Streaming quality

720p / 30fps
Runnel.live
✓
Gyre
✓
1080p / Full HD
Runnel.live
✓
Gyre
✓
60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 60fps
Gyre
Full HD 60fps on paid plans; trial is Full HD 30fps
Up to 4K @ 60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 4K
Gyre
4K on Start+ and PRO+; the plan table does not list a 4K frame rate
Vertical / portrait streaming
Runnel.live
Horizontal and vertical output
Gyre
Vertical video is advertised on all plans
HDR streaming publicly documented
Runnel.live
HDR is not mentioned
Gyre
HDR is not mentioned

Production & design

Stream designer / layout builder
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Image, video & logo overlays
Runnel.live
Overlays are not supported
Gyre
✕
Embed live websites & graphs
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Interactive alerts & widgets
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Custom fonts in overlays
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
No overlay designer
Browser Live Studio (camera)
Runnel.live
No browser production studio
Gyre
✕

Sources & inputs

MP4 / MKV / AVI / MOV upload
Runnel.live
MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM; no AVI
Gyre
✓
Separate audio track (music / voiceover)
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Import from Google Drive / Dropbox
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Playlists with custom ordering
Runnel.live
Bulk-uploaded queue can loop and shuffle
Gyre
Included in trial, Start+, and PRO+; excluded from Start
Custom loop logic (shuffle, loop counts)
Runnel.live
✓
Gyre
✓
Edit the stream live (swap / skip / reorder)
Runnel.live
You can upload more videos while live; reordering a live queue is not described
Gyre
Start+/PRO+ playlists can be updated while streaming

Destinations

YouTube (one-click OAuth)
Runnel.live
YouTube via stream key
Gyre
Direct YouTube channel authorization or stream-key setup
Custom RTMP (any platform)
Runnel.live
Alternate RTMP/RTMPS URLs accepted; query-string URLs rejected
Gyre
RTMP-key destinations supported
Twitch / Facebook / Kick / TikTok
Runnel.live
Built for YouTube; Twitch and Rumble partly supported; no Facebook, Instagram or TikTok; Kick unclear
Gyre
YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Instagram, X, Kick, MixCloud
Multistream to several destinations
Runnel.live
Each destination requires a separate stream and key
Gyre
No one-key fan-out; each destination is a separate configured stream
One-click YouTube (no stream key)
Runnel.live
Users create a YouTube event and stream key separately
Gyre
Direct YouTube channel authorization is supported; stream-key setup is also available
SRT ingest
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕

Lifecycle & automation

True 24/7 continuous loop
Runnel.live
Queues can loop continuously
Gyre
24/7 duration and unlimited streaming hours
YouTube broadcast lifecycle automation
Runnel.live
No; you create each YouTube event yourself
Gyre
YouTube API creates, syncs and stops broadcasts after channel authorization
Scheduling
Runnel.live
One-time future start; recurring schedules are not described
Gyre
Included in trial, Start+, and PRO+; start, stop, or both
MCP / agent integration
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
YouTube ad cue points
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Edit title / description / thumbnail live
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Public API
Runnel.live
No public API listed
Gyre
✕
Unlimited loop without manual rescheduling
Runnel.live
Continuous queue loop; inactive streams are purged after two months
Gyre
Continuous playout; subject to subscription and destination availability

Limits & inclusions

Storage included
Runnel.live
Unlimited storage advertised; each upload has a one-time fee, and inactive streams with videos are deleted after 2 months
Gyre
35 GB Start; 75 GB Start+; 150 GB PRO+; trial 20 GB
Concurrent streams / slots
Runnel.live
Unlimited streams advertised, but support sets account limits and a start can wait for a free server
Gyre
1 HD; 4 HD or 1 4K; 8 HD or 2 4K by paid tier
Max multistream destinations
Runnel.live
One destination per separately created stream
Gyre
One destination per stream; total is limited by HD/4K stream slots
Videos per playlist
Runnel.live
No published limit (bulk-upload as many videos as you like)
Gyre
No published limit
Max upload size / length
Runnel.live
100 MB to 100 GB and 20 seconds to 4 days per file
Gyre
Trial: 20 GB and up to 15 files; no per-file limit listed for paid plans
Team / multi-user access
Runnel.live
✓
Gyre
✕
No watermark
Runnel.live
✓
Gyre
Paid plans are unwatermarked; trial is watermarked

Reliability & support

Automatic monitoring & recovery
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Backup streams
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Chat / email support
Runnel.live
✓
Gyre
Email
Uptime guarantee / compensation
Runnel.live
✓
Gyre
99.9% yearly uptime target in its Terms; no compensation stated
In-app viewer analytics
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕

Trust & account

Trustpilot rating
Runnel.live
4.5 (14 reviews)
Gyre
4.4/5 (47)
YouTube-Verified encoder
Runnel.live
Not listed as verified encoder
Gyre
Listed as a YouTube Live verified encoder
Two-factor authentication
Runnel.live
✕
Gyre
✕
Runnel.live logoRunnel.liveVSSubSub Live logoSubSub Live

Pricing & access

Pay-as-you-go, no subscription
Runnel.live
Prepaid credit and minute-prorated usage; no lock-in
SubSub Live
Pay as you go; $0 while idle
Trial
Runnel.live
No free trial; you add credit before your first stream
SubSub Live
Bonus credits for about 10+ hours; no card
Starting price
Runnel.live
$6 per separate stream per month, prorated by minute
SubSub Live
From $0.06 per streaming hour, plus storage; use SubSub's calculator for a quote
720p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + upload fees
SubSub Live
No flat 30-day price; streaming hours and storage are billed separately
1080p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus HD upload charges of $0.07/GB
SubSub Live
No flat 30-day price; streaming hours and storage are billed separately
1440p / 2K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + uploads
SubSub Live
No flat 30-day price; streaming hours and storage are billed separately
2160p / 4K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus 4K upload charges of $0.50/GB
SubSub Live
Up to 4K, with no flat 30-day price published

Streaming quality

720p / 30fps
Runnel.live
✓
SubSub Live
✓
1080p / Full HD
Runnel.live
✓
SubSub Live
✓
60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 60fps
SubSub Live
Frame rate is not stated
Up to 4K @ 60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 4K
SubSub Live
Original quality up to 4K
Vertical / portrait streaming
Runnel.live
Horizontal and vertical output
SubSub Live
Horizontal and vertical content
HDR streaming publicly documented
Runnel.live
HDR is not mentioned
SubSub Live
HDR is not mentioned

Production & design

Stream designer / layout builder
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
Image, video & logo overlays
Runnel.live
Overlays are not supported
SubSub Live
✕
Embed live websites & graphs
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
Interactive alerts & widgets
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
Custom fonts in overlays
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
No overlay designer
Browser Live Studio (camera)
Runnel.live
No browser production studio
SubSub Live
No browser camera/guest production studio

Sources & inputs

MP4 / MKV / AVI / MOV upload
Runnel.live
MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM; no AVI
SubSub Live
SubSub says any format works; it lists no specific file types
Separate audio track (music / voiceover)
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
Import from Google Drive / Dropbox
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
Playlists with custom ordering
Runnel.live
Bulk-uploaded queue can loop and shuffle
SubSub Live
Loop, shuffle, or sequential playback with order and timing
Custom loop logic (shuffle, loop counts)
Runnel.live
✓
SubSub Live
Loop/shuffle/sequence
Edit the stream live (swap / skip / reorder)
Runnel.live
You can upload more videos while live; reordering a live queue is not described
SubSub Live
SubSub says you can adjust the mix at any time

Destinations

YouTube (one-click OAuth)
Runnel.live
YouTube via stream key
SubSub Live
✓
Custom RTMP (any platform)
Runnel.live
Alternate RTMP/RTMPS URLs accepted; query-string URLs rejected
SubSub Live
Custom RTMP is not mentioned
Twitch / Facebook / Kick / TikTok
Runnel.live
Built for YouTube; Twitch and Rumble partly supported; no Facebook, Instagram or TikTok; Kick unclear
SubSub Live
YouTube only on SubSub's current pages; other platforms are not mentioned
Multistream to several destinations
Runnel.live
Each destination requires a separate stream and key
SubSub Live
No; each stream is separate and billed on its own
One-click YouTube (no stream key)
Runnel.live
Users create a YouTube event and stream key separately
SubSub Live
No; you start by creating the stream in YouTube Studio
SRT ingest
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕

Lifecycle & automation

True 24/7 continuous loop
Runnel.live
Queues can loop continuously
SubSub Live
Automated continuous streaming is supported
YouTube broadcast lifecycle automation
Runnel.live
No; you create each YouTube event yourself
SubSub Live
No; you create the stream in YouTube Studio yourself
Scheduling
Runnel.live
One-time future start; recurring schedules are not described
SubSub Live
Order and timing scheduler included
MCP / agent integration
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
YouTube ad cue points
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
Monetization eligible
Edit title / description / thumbnail live
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
Public API
Runnel.live
No public API listed
SubSub Live
No public API listed
Unlimited loop without manual rescheduling
Runnel.live
Continuous queue loop; inactive streams are purged after two months
SubSub Live
24/7 supported, but SubSub recommends restarting every 72 hours

Limits & inclusions

Storage included
Runnel.live
Unlimited storage advertised; each upload has a one-time fee, and inactive streams with videos are deleted after 2 months
SubSub Live
Storage is billed, with no public rate or cap
Concurrent streams / slots
Runnel.live
Unlimited streams advertised, but support sets account limits and a start can wait for a free server
SubSub Live
Unlimited simultaneous streams advertised
Max multistream destinations
Runnel.live
One destination per separately created stream
SubSub Live
Not stated; each stream seems to go to one destination
Videos per playlist
Runnel.live
No published limit (bulk-upload as many videos as you like)
SubSub Live
No published limit
Max upload size / length
Runnel.live
100 MB to 100 GB and 20 seconds to 4 days per file
SubSub Live
No file-size or length limit is listed
Team / multi-user access
Runnel.live
✓
SubSub Live
Organization access with a shared balance
No watermark
Runnel.live
✓
SubSub Live
Watermarks are not mentioned

Reliability & support

Automatic monitoring & recovery
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
Backup streams
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
Chat / email support
Runnel.live
✓
SubSub Live
Email
Uptime guarantee / compensation
Runnel.live
✓
SubSub Live
No published SLA
In-app viewer analytics
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕

Trust & account

Trustpilot rating
Runnel.live
4.5 (14 reviews)
SubSub Live
No Trustpilot reviews (0 on its subsub.cc profile)
YouTube-Verified encoder
Runnel.live
Not listed as verified encoder
SubSub Live
Not on YouTube's list, though SubSub says it is
Two-factor authentication
Runnel.live
✕
SubSub Live
✕
Runnel.live logoRunnel.liveVSLiveReacting logoLiveReacting

Pricing & access

Pay-as-you-go, no subscription
Runnel.live
Prepaid credit and minute-prorated usage; no lock-in
LiveReacting
✕
Trial
Runnel.live
No free trial; you add credit before your first stream
LiveReacting
Permanent Free plan, not a time-limited trial
Starting price
Runnel.live
$6 per separate stream per month, prorated by minute
LiveReacting
Free; Small $19.99/mo; dedicated 24/7 $39.99/mo
720p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + upload fees
LiveReacting
$39.99/mo; $33 annual equivalent
1080p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus HD upload charges of $0.07/GB
LiveReacting
$39.99/mo; $33 annual equivalent
1440p / 2K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + uploads
LiveReacting
No 1440p tier; the next step above 1080p is 4K at 2x the price
2160p / 4K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus 4K upload charges of $0.50/GB
LiveReacting
Only on upgraded plans

Streaming quality

720p / 30fps
Runnel.live
✓
LiveReacting
✓
1080p / Full HD
Runnel.live
✓
LiveReacting
✓
60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 60fps
LiveReacting
Paid 1.5× option on Small+ and 24/7; 4K60 is 3×
Up to 4K @ 60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 4K
LiveReacting
Paid 2× quality option on Medium+, Enterprise, and 24/7
Vertical / portrait streaming
Runnel.live
Horizontal and vertical output
LiveReacting
Portrait, square or landscape output
HDR streaming publicly documented
Runnel.live
HDR is not mentioned
LiveReacting
✕

Production & design

Stream designer / layout builder
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
Scenes, layouts, branding, media, text, and overlays
Image, video & logo overlays
Runnel.live
Overlays are not supported
LiveReacting
Images, video, text, comments, branding, and interactive layers
Embed live websites & graphs
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
✕
Interactive alerts & widgets
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
Polls, trivia, giveaways, countdowns, comments, and AI Host
Custom fonts in overlays
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
Font choice for text layers; uploading your own font is not documented
Browser Live Studio (camera)
Runnel.live
No browser production studio
LiveReacting
Full browser studio with guests, cameras, screens, scenes, and layouts

Sources & inputs

MP4 / MKV / AVI / MOV upload
Runnel.live
MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM; no AVI
LiveReacting
MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WMV, FLV and 4 more formats; encoded on upload
Separate audio track (music / voiceover)
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
Studio music/audio is supported; a separate prerecorded replacement-audio workflow is not clearly documented
Import from Google Drive / Dropbox
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
Google Drive, Dropbox and YouTube import on paid plans
Playlists with custom ordering
Runnel.live
Bulk-uploaded queue can loop and shuffle
LiveReacting
Loop, rerun, and scheduled prerecorded playlists
Custom loop logic (shuffle, loop counts)
Runnel.live
✓
LiveReacting
✓
Edit the stream live (swap / skip / reorder)
Runnel.live
You can upload more videos while live; reordering a live queue is not described
LiveReacting
Studio projects and live content can be edited while broadcasting

Destinations

YouTube (one-click OAuth)
Runnel.live
YouTube via stream key
LiveReacting
✓
Custom RTMP (any platform)
Runnel.live
Alternate RTMP/RTMPS URLs accepted; query-string URLs rejected
LiveReacting
Custom RTMP supported; interactive comments/games and metadata controls are limited there
Twitch / Facebook / Kick / TikTok
Runnel.live
Built for YouTube; Twitch and Rumble partly supported; no Facebook, Instagram or TikTok; Kick unclear
LiveReacting
YouTube, Facebook, Twitch direct; other platforms through custom RTMP
Multistream to several destinations
Runnel.live
Each destination requires a separate stream and key
LiveReacting
Simultaneous destination distribution is plan-limited
One-click YouTube (no stream key)
Runnel.live
Users create a YouTube event and stream key separately
LiveReacting
Direct YouTube integration is documented
SRT ingest
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
SRT output on a custom plan only; SRT input not documented

Lifecycle & automation

True 24/7 continuous loop
Runnel.live
Queues can loop continuously
LiveReacting
Persistent operation is a separate 24/7 product
YouTube broadcast lifecycle automation
Runnel.live
No; you create each YouTube event yourself
LiveReacting
Native destination and scheduling are documented; full lifecycle ownership is not established
Scheduling
Runnel.live
One-time future start; recurring schedules are not described
LiveReacting
Basic on Small+; repeat/multi-date Medium+; four-week horizon and 3-minute gaps
MCP / agent integration
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
MCP server included with every paid plan
YouTube ad cue points
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
YouTube ad slots on Medium and up; SCTE-35 on a custom plan
Edit title / description / thumbnail live
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
✓
Public API
Runnel.live
No public API listed
LiveReacting
REST API included with every paid plan
Unlimited loop without manual rescheduling
Runnel.live
Continuous queue loop; inactive streams are purged after two months
LiveReacting
Dedicated 24/7 plan has unlimited duration

Limits & inclusions

Storage included
Runnel.live
Unlimited storage advertised; each upload has a one-time fee, and inactive streams with videos are deleted after 2 months
LiveReacting
Plan allowances from 0.5 GB to 150 GB; 24/7 includes 100 GB at base quality
Concurrent streams / slots
Runnel.live
Unlimited streams advertised, but support sets account limits and a start can wait for a free server
LiveReacting
Paid plans: unlimited streams at once. 24/7 plan: 1 to 20 streams at checkout, up to 1,000 on request
Max multistream destinations
Runnel.live
One destination per separately created stream
LiveReacting
1 Free; 3 Small; 6 Medium; 10 Large; 20 Enterprise; 5 on 24/7
Videos per playlist
Runnel.live
No published limit (bulk-upload as many videos as you like)
LiveReacting
No published limit
Max upload size / length
Runnel.live
100 MB to 100 GB and 20 seconds to 4 days per file
LiveReacting
24/7: 10 GB/file and 100 GB storage at base quality; standard limits vary by plan
Team / multi-user access
Runnel.live
✓
LiveReacting
✕
No watermark
Runnel.live
✓
LiveReacting
Watermark on free plan

Reliability & support

Automatic monitoring & recovery
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
✓
Backup streams
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
✕
Chat / email support
Runnel.live
✓
LiveReacting
Chat / email
Uptime guarantee / compensation
Runnel.live
✓
LiveReacting
No published SLA
In-app viewer analytics
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
YouTube views, watch time and revenue per stream on paid plans

Trust & account

Trustpilot rating
Runnel.live
4.5 (14 reviews)
LiveReacting
4.2 (7)
YouTube-Verified encoder
Runnel.live
Not listed as verified encoder
LiveReacting
Not listed as verified encoder
Two-factor authentication
Runnel.live
✕
LiveReacting
✕
Runnel.live logoRunnel.liveVSUpstream logoUpstream

Pricing & access

Pay-as-you-go, no subscription
Runnel.live
Prepaid credit and minute-prorated usage; no lock-in
Upstream
✕
Trial
Runnel.live
No free trial; you add credit before your first stream
Upstream
Free, 24h/mo
Starting price
Runnel.live
$6 per separate stream per month, prorated by minute
Upstream
From $24/mo yr / $30 mo
720p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + upload fees
Upstream
30fps: $24/mo yearly, $30 monthly. 60fps: $36/mo yearly, $40 monthly
1080p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus HD upload charges of $0.07/GB
Upstream
30fps: $24/mo yearly, $30 monthly. 60fps: $36/mo yearly, $40 monthly
1440p / 2K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + uploads
Upstream
No 1440p option; 4K at 30fps is $63/mo yearly, $70 monthly
2160p / 4K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus 4K upload charges of $0.50/GB
Upstream
30fps: $63/mo yearly, $70 monthly. 60fps: $108/mo yearly, $120 monthly

Streaming quality

720p / 30fps
Runnel.live
✓
Upstream
✓
1080p / Full HD
Runnel.live
✓
Upstream
✓
60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 60fps
Upstream
✓
Up to 4K @ 60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 4K
Upstream
✓
Vertical / portrait streaming
Runnel.live
Horizontal and vertical output
Upstream
✓
HDR streaming publicly documented
Runnel.live
HDR is not mentioned
Upstream
✕

Production & design

Stream designer / layout builder
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✓
Image, video & logo overlays
Runnel.live
Overlays are not supported
Upstream
✓
Embed live websites & graphs
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✓
Interactive alerts & widgets
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✓
Custom fonts in overlays
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✓
Browser Live Studio (camera)
Runnel.live
No browser production studio
Upstream
✓

Sources & inputs

MP4 / MKV / AVI / MOV upload
Runnel.live
MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM; no AVI
Upstream
✓
Separate audio track (music / voiceover)
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✓
Import from Google Drive / Dropbox
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✕
Playlists with custom ordering
Runnel.live
Bulk-uploaded queue can loop and shuffle
Upstream
✓
Custom loop logic (shuffle, loop counts)
Runnel.live
✓
Upstream
✓
Edit the stream live (swap / skip / reorder)
Runnel.live
You can upload more videos while live; reordering a live queue is not described
Upstream
✓

Destinations

YouTube (one-click OAuth)
Runnel.live
YouTube via stream key
Upstream
✓
Custom RTMP (any platform)
Runnel.live
Alternate RTMP/RTMPS URLs accepted; query-string URLs rejected
Upstream
✓
Twitch / Facebook / Kick / TikTok
Runnel.live
Built for YouTube; Twitch and Rumble partly supported; no Facebook, Instagram or TikTok; Kick unclear
Upstream
✓
Multistream to several destinations
Runnel.live
Each destination requires a separate stream and key
Upstream
✓
One-click YouTube (no stream key)
Runnel.live
Users create a YouTube event and stream key separately
Upstream
✓
SRT ingest
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✕

Lifecycle & automation

True 24/7 continuous loop
Runnel.live
Queues can loop continuously
Upstream
✓
YouTube broadcast lifecycle automation
Runnel.live
No; you create each YouTube event yourself
Upstream
✓
Scheduling
Runnel.live
One-time future start; recurring schedules are not described
Upstream
✓
MCP / agent integration
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
MCP server on every plan
YouTube ad cue points
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✓
Edit title / description / thumbnail live
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✕
Public API
Runnel.live
No public API listed
Upstream
Live Streaming API on every plan
Unlimited loop without manual rescheduling
Runnel.live
Continuous queue loop; inactive streams are purged after two months
Upstream
✓

Limits & inclusions

Storage included
Runnel.live
Unlimited storage advertised; each upload has a one-time fee, and inactive streams with videos are deleted after 2 months
Upstream
100GB on the free plan
Concurrent streams / slots
Runnel.live
Unlimited streams advertised, but support sets account limits and a start can wait for a free server
Upstream
1 on the free plan; paid plans priced per concurrent stream
Max multistream destinations
Runnel.live
One destination per separately created stream
Upstream
10
Videos per playlist
Runnel.live
No published limit (bulk-upload as many videos as you like)
Upstream
No published limit
Max upload size / length
Runnel.live
100 MB to 100 GB and 20 seconds to 4 days per file
Upstream
✕
Team / multi-user access
Runnel.live
✓
Upstream
✓
No watermark
Runnel.live
✓
Upstream
✓

Reliability & support

Automatic monitoring & recovery
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✓
Backup streams
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✓
Chat / email support
Runnel.live
✓
Upstream
✓
Uptime guarantee / compensation
Runnel.live
✓
Upstream
✓
In-app viewer analytics
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✕

Trust & account

Trustpilot rating
Runnel.live
4.5 (14 reviews)
Upstream
4.5 (243)
YouTube-Verified encoder
Runnel.live
Not listed as verified encoder
Upstream
✓
Two-factor authentication
Runnel.live
✕
Upstream
✓
Runnel.live logoRunnel.liveVSPlayout.video logoPlayout.video

Pricing & access

Pay-as-you-go, no subscription
Runnel.live
Prepaid credit and minute-prorated usage; no lock-in
Playout.video
✕
Trial
Runnel.live
No free trial; you add credit before your first stream
Playout.video
Permanent Free plan, not a trial; 5-hour watermarked sessions
Starting price
Runnel.live
$6 per separate stream per month, prorated by minute
Playout.video
Free; Creator $29/mo; Channel automation $49/mo
720p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + upload fees
Playout.video
Persistent channels from Creator at $29/mo or $19/mo annually
1080p 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus HD upload charges of $0.07/GB
Playout.video
Persistent channels from Creator at $29/mo or $19/mo annually
1440p / 2K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6/mo + uploads
Playout.video
1080p30 is the documented base; no separate 1440p tier
2160p / 4K 30-day price
Runnel.live
$6 streaming plus 4K upload charges of $0.50/GB
Playout.video
Business $149/mo plus a $40/mo 4K add-on

Streaming quality

720p / 30fps
Runnel.live
✓
Playout.video
✓
1080p / Full HD
Runnel.live
✓
Playout.video
✓
60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 60fps
Playout.video
Channel or Business plus $10/mo; 4K60 requires both add-ons
Up to 4K @ 60fps
Runnel.live
Up to 4K
Playout.video
Business plus $40/mo 4K add-on
Vertical / portrait streaming
Runnel.live
Horizontal and vertical output
Playout.video
Portrait production and output are supported
HDR streaming publicly documented
Runnel.live
HDR is not mentioned
Playout.video
HDR output is not publicly documented

Production & design

Stream designer / layout builder
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
Preset/custom layouts, overlays, lower thirds, clips, and compositions
Image, video & logo overlays
Runnel.live
Overlays are not supported
Playout.video
Overlay templates can be assigned to calendar blocks
Embed live websites & graphs
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
Channel add-on $29/mo; Business includes embed with higher viewer allowance
Interactive alerts & widgets
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
✕
Custom fonts in overlays
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
✓
Browser Live Studio (camera)
Runnel.live
No browser production studio
Playout.video
WebRTC guests, cameras, screen share, layouts, recording, and channel takeover

Sources & inputs

MP4 / MKV / AVI / MOV upload
Runnel.live
MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM; no AVI
Playout.video
Cloud media uploads supported; current pricing sources do not publish one definitive format list
Separate audio track (music / voiceover)
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
Studio mixer
Import from Google Drive / Dropbox
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
YouTube URL only
Playlists with custom ordering
Runnel.live
Bulk-uploaded queue can loop and shuffle
Playout.video
Loop, shuffle, inline swaps, fallback, and autonomous progression
Custom loop logic (shuffle, loop counts)
Runnel.live
✓
Playout.video
✓
Edit the stream live (swap / skip / reorder)
Runnel.live
You can upload more videos while live; reordering a live queue is not described
Playout.video
Playlist swaps and future schedule transitions can be edited live

Destinations

YouTube (one-click OAuth)
Runnel.live
YouTube via stream key
Playout.video
✓
Custom RTMP (any platform)
Runnel.live
Alternate RTMP/RTMPS URLs accepted; query-string URLs rejected
Playout.video
Custom RTMP/RTMPS output begins on Creator
Twitch / Facebook / Kick / TikTok
Runnel.live
Built for YouTube; Twitch and Rumble partly supported; no Facebook, Instagram or TikTok; Kick unclear
Playout.video
25+ supported platforms including major native integrations
Multistream to several destinations
Runnel.live
Each destination requires a separate stream and key
Playout.video
One channel can send to several destinations
One-click YouTube (no stream key)
Runnel.live
Users create a YouTube event and stream key separately
Playout.video
Native YouTube destination integration
SRT ingest
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
✕

Lifecycle & automation

True 24/7 continuous loop
Runnel.live
Queues can loop continuously
Playout.video
Persistent channels begin on Creator; Free stops after 5 hours
YouTube broadcast lifecycle automation
Runnel.live
No; you create each YouTube event yourself
Playout.video
Destination connection and scheduling are documented; complete lifecycle ownership is not
Scheduling
Runnel.live
One-time future start; recurring schedules are not described
Playout.video
Free/Creator can build calendars; Channel+ executes one-time and recurring automation
MCP / agent integration
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
✕
YouTube ad cue points
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
✕
Edit title / description / thumbnail live
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
✕
Public API
Runnel.live
No public API listed
Playout.video
✕
Unlimited loop without manual rescheduling
Runnel.live
Continuous queue loop; inactive streams are purged after two months
Playout.video
Paid Live Channels have no session cap

Limits & inclusions

Storage included
Runnel.live
Unlimited storage advertised; each upload has a one-time fee, and inactive streams with videos are deleted after 2 months
Playout.video
10 GB Free; 100 GB Creator; 150 GB Channel; 250 GB Business
Concurrent streams / slots
Runnel.live
Unlimited streams advertised, but support sets account limits and a start can wait for a free server
Playout.video
One concurrently live channel per seat; buy additional seats for more
Max multistream destinations
Runnel.live
One destination per separately created stream
Playout.video
2 Free; 5 Creator; 8 Channel; 10 Business
Videos per playlist
Runnel.live
No published limit (bulk-upload as many videos as you like)
Playout.video
No published limit
Max upload size / length
Runnel.live
100 MB to 100 GB and 20 seconds to 4 days per file
Playout.video
1 h Free; 4 h Creator; 8 h Channel; 12 h Business
Team / multi-user access
Runnel.live
✓
Playout.video
Workspace members and per-seat concurrent channels
No watermark
Runnel.live
✓
Playout.video
Paid plans are unwatermarked; Free is watermarked

Reliability & support

Automatic monitoring & recovery
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
Fallback content and automatic recovery are documented
Backup streams
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
Fallback programming and auto-recovery; redundant backup ingest is not generally documented
Chat / email support
Runnel.live
✓
Playout.video
Chat / email
Uptime guarantee / compensation
Runnel.live
✓
Playout.video
No public compensation-backed uptime SLA found
In-app viewer analytics
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
✕

Trust & account

Trustpilot rating
Runnel.live
4.5 (14 reviews)
Playout.video
Profile claimed, no reviews yet
YouTube-Verified encoder
Runnel.live
Not listed as verified encoder
Playout.video
Not listed as verified encoder
Two-factor authentication
Runnel.live
✕
Playout.video
✕
★ Key differentiator✓ Feature included✕ Not included- Not publicly documented
Decision guide

Which one should you choose?

A quick decision framework based on what you actually need.

The lowest fixed YouTube-first sticker priceRunnel.live · Its $6-per-stream monthly price remains unusually low, provided upload charges and platform limits are acceptable.
Managed YouTube setup or arbitrary compatible RTMPStreamloop · It works with any compatible RTMP destination and can create and manage your YouTube broadcasts, while still playing playlists on its own.
YouTube-only 4K60 and HDR with large included per-stream storageLive247 · It bills by usage and stands out for quality, storage per stream and swapping files mid-stream.
Broad destinations and fixed multi-stream subscriptionsGyre · Higher tiers package several HD or 4K stream slots, storage, playlists, and scheduling.
A shared catalog reused across many separate channelsSubSub Live · Its library and usage-billed streams are designed for catalog-scale reuse.
Interactive overlays and guests on a persistent channelLiveReacting · The dedicated 24/7 plan includes a much broader production toolkit.
Calendar automation and live takeoverPlayout.video · It is the most TV-style alternative in the shortlist.
FAQ

Runnel.live alternatives: FAQ

The questions people actually ask before switching

Is Runnel.live really $6 per month?

Runnel charges $6 a month per stream, billed by the minute. Uploads cost extra, based on quality, so $6 is not the full first-month cost.

What does unlimited streams mean on Runnel.live?

You can create as many streams as you like, but each one is billed on its own and sends to one destination. One $6 payment does not cover unlimited channels. Runnel also says account limits apply and a stream can wait for a free server.

Which alternative supports more destinations?

Gyre, LiveReacting, Upstream and Playout.video support more platforms or custom RTMP. One Streamloop stream can send to up to 5 destinations, including any compatible RTMP destination. Runnel is built for YouTube, with only partial Twitch and Rumble support.

Which Runnel alternative has better content management?

SubSub Live has a reusable central library, and Playout.video adds calendar programming and fallback. Streamloop lets you edit a playlist while it is live, and Gyre adds playlist reuse on higher tiers.

Do Runnel.live uploads stay forever?

No. Runnel's help page says streams with videos are deleted automatically after two months without activity.

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