# Castr vs Lightstream

| Attribute | Castr | Lightstream |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 72.8 (59% (medium)) | 69.6 (78% (high)) |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"Consolidates live video streaming, hosting, multistreaming to multiple destinations, recording, and monetization into a single platform with 24/7 human support included. It is indexed under Live Streaming.","source":"https://castr.com/pricing/","question":"What is Castr?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Castr offers a free tier, so you can start without paying. Paid plans start at $19.99 per month. Prices are published openly on the vendor's own pricing page. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://castr.com/pricing/","question":"Is Castr free?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Castr supports the web, iOS and Android. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://castr.com/pricing/","question":"What platforms does Castr support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have only confirmed a cloud / SaaS deployment for Castr, so it appears to be vendor-hosted. If a self-hosted option exists we have not found it documented publicly.","source":"https://castr.com/pricing/","question":"Can Castr be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 5 integrations for Castr, including Wirecast, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitch. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://castr.com/pricing/","question":"What does Castr integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have independently confirmed GDPR for Castr. Certifications we do not list are ones we have not been able to verify from public sources, which is not the same as Castr not holding them. Always confirm compliance directly before you rely on it.","source":"https://castr.com/pricing/","question":"What security certifications does Castr have?","confidence":0.6}]` | `[{"answer":"Lightstream is a streaming toolkit that enables creators to add professional overlays, graphics, transitions, and effects to their live streams across platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Mixer. It's designed to simplify stream production without requiring advanced technical knowledge. It is indexed under Live Streaming.","source":"https://golightstream.com/lightstream-studio-pricing-updates/","question":"What is Lightstream?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Lightstream offers a free tier, so you can start without paying. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://golightstream.com/lightstream-studio-pricing-updates/","question":"Is Lightstream free?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed browser-based access to Lightstream. That is the extent of what we could verify from public sources, so it may well offer desktop or mobile clients we have not indexed.","source":"https://golightstream.com/lightstream-studio-pricing-updates/","question":"What platforms does Lightstream support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have only confirmed a cloud / SaaS deployment for Lightstream, so it appears to be vendor-hosted. If a self-hosted option exists we have not found it documented publicly.","source":"https://golightstream.com/lightstream-studio-pricing-updates/","question":"Can Lightstream be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"We have confirmed 5 integrations for Lightstream, including Rainmaker, StreamElements, Twitch, YouTube and Mixer. This is what we could verify from public sources, so the vendor may support others we have not indexed.","source":"https://golightstream.com/lightstream-studio-pricing-updates/","question":"What does Lightstream integrate with?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Lightstream is available worldwide. The vendor is headquartered in the United States.","source":"https://golightstream.com/lightstream-studio-pricing-updates/","question":"Where is Lightstream available?","confidence":0.75}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true}` | `{"cloud":true}` |
| description.long | Castr provides live streaming delivery with multistreaming to multiple destinations, video hosting, live-to-VOD conversion, and branded OTT platform features. All plans include a paywall, ad insertion support, and multi-CDN delivery backed by a 99.9% uptime SLA. | A suite of tools that enables streamers to enhance their live broadcasts with professional effects, overlays, transitions, and text without requiring advanced video editing expertise. |
| features.capabilities | `{"pricing_model":"flat_monthly_subscription","architecture_model":"browser_cloud_studio","simulcast_multi_destination_rtmp_output_hub":true,"srt_secure_reliable_transport_protocol_support":true}` | `{"pricing_model":"flat_monthly_subscription","architecture_model":"browser_cloud_studio","simulcast_multi_destination_rtmp_output_hub":true,"custom_lower_thirds_graphics_and_brand_overlays":true}` |
| integrations.count | 30 | 6 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Wirecast","native":true,"category":"broadcasting","direction":"inbound"},{"name":"YouTube","native":true,"category":"video","direction":"outbound"},{"name":"Facebook","native":true,"category":"social","direction":"outbound"},{"name":"LinkedIn","native":true,"category":"social","direction":"outbound"},{"name":"Twitch","native":true,"category":"streaming","direction":"outbound"},{"name":"Payment Gateways","native":true,"category":"payments"}]` | `[{"name":"Rainmaker","native":false},{"name":"StreamElements","native":false},{"name":"Twitch","native":true},{"name":"YouTube","native":true},{"name":"Mixer","native":true},{"name":"Xbox","native":true,"direction":"inbound"},{"name":"PlayStation","native":true,"direction":"inbound"},{"name":"Custom RTMP","native":true,"direction":"outbound"}]` |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | `{"primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` | `{"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":false,"name":"Starter","summary":"$19.99/mo or $199.99/year with 7-day free trial","features":["Multiple ingest protocols","SRT support","Embedded player","Video analytics","Cloud recording","Live-to-VOD"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":19.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":199.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Live streaming with multiple ingest protocols and embedded analytics","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Simulcast","summary":"$499.99/year","features":["SRT/RTMP pull links","Multi-destination support","Ad support"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":499.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Multi-destination broadcasting with pull links and ad support","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Professional","summary":"$199.99/mo or $1,999.99/year","features":["Adaptive bitrate","Custom transcoding","API access","Three team members included","Access controls"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":199.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":1999.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Advanced streaming with adaptive bitrate, transcoding, and API access","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"$3,499.99/year","features":["Low-latency playback","HLS for VOD","Dedicated support on annual billing","Failover support","Advanced playout"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":3499.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Broadcast-critical workflows with failover, advanced playout, and low-latency streaming","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"OTT Platform","summary":"$7,499.99/year","features":["Branded web app included","CMS included","SVOD support","TVOD support","30+ payment gateways","Native mobile and TV apps available as add-ons"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":7499.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Complete branded OTT service with web app, CMS, and subscription capabilities","contactSales":false}],"addOns":[{"name":"DRM (Widevine, FairPlay, PlayReady)"},{"name":"Native Mobile and TV Applications"}],"summary":"From $19.99/mo or $199.99/year. Starter includes 7-day free trial. All plans month-to-month, optional annual billing saves 2 months.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://castr.com/pricing/","retrievedAt":"2026-10-02T10:51:09.853Z","freeTrialDays":7,"startingPrice":{"amount":19.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` | `{"type":"hybrid","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Free","summary":"Free","features":["Cloud capture for Xbox and PlayStation","Simulcasting with up to 5 destinations including Custom RTMP","Stream templates and overlays","XPN alerts and overlays","720p streaming","10 hour limit per stream","Lightstream Studio logo on all streams"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":0,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"Core Studio features with limitations","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"resolution":"720p","guest_count":"0","destinations":"5","streaming_hours_per_stream":"10"}},{"free":false,"name":"Premium","summary":"$12/mo or $9/mo billed annually","features":["Remove Lightstream Studio logo from streams","Add up to 10 guests to your stream","Import URLs from any 3rd party service","720p and 1080p streaming","48 hour limit per stream","Up to 20 scenes","RTMP video sources (coming soon)"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":12,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},{"kind":"fixed","amount":9,"period":"month","currency":"USD","commitment":"annual"}],"description":"Core Studio features plus advanced capabilities","contactSales":false,"includedLimits":{"scenes":"20","resolution":"1080p","guest_count":"10","streaming_hours_per_stream":"48"}}],"summary":"Free tier available. Premium at $12/mo or $9/mo on annual subscription.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://golightstream.com/?ae_global_templates=pricing-tables","retrievedAt":"2026-10-15T21:01:22.270Z","startingPrice":{"amount":9,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | freemium | freemium |
| pricing.price_level | mid | low |
| pricing.starting_price | `{"amount":19.99,"currency":"USD"}` | `{"amount":9,"currency":"USD"}` |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| reliability.sla_pct | 99.9 | - |
| reliability.status_page | yes | - |
| security.gdpr | yes | - |

## Capabilities (Live Streaming)

| Capability | Castr | Lightstream |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Capabilities** |  |  |
| Architecture model | Browser cloud studio | Browser cloud studio |
| Simulcast multi destination rtmp output hub | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remote guest browser invites for interviews webrtc | - | - |
| Custom lower thirds graphics and brand overlays | - | ✓ |
| ISO track recording for isolated guest audio video | - | - |
| Hardware encoding acceleration nvenc quicksync | - | - |
| Srt secure reliable transport protocol support | ✓ | - |
| Multi network unified aggregated chat feed | - | - |
| Chroma key green screen and virtual backgrounds | - | - |
| Ndi network device interface feed ingestion | - | - |
| SOC2 type ii | - | - |
| Gpl or permissive oss license | - | - |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly subscription | Flat monthly subscription |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-15T23:52:07.192Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*