Comparison

Lightstream vs SRS

On the evidence we track, Lightstream leads this comparison with a composite score of 70/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

Lightstream full profile →SRS full profile →

Machine formatsMarkdownJSONGraphQLMarkdown is open. JSON and GraphQL need a free key.

★Lightstream70

SRS41

Attribute comparison across 2 tools
Attribute	LightstreamLeader	SRS
vioscaleAI score	70 / 100high · 78%	41 / 100high · 78%
Pricing
Free tierpricing.free_tier	✓	✓
Modelpricing.model	freemium	open_source
Price levelpricing.price_level	low	free
Starting pricepricing.starting_price	$9	-
Transparentpricing.transparent	✓	✓
Integrations
Countintegrations.count	6	3
Security
Scorecardsecurity.scorecard	-	6.2
Trust centersecurity.trust_center	-	https://ossrs.io/lts/en-us/security-advisories
Vulnerabilitiessecurity.vulnerabilities	-	Count: 0 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fossrs%2Fsrs&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0
Adoption
Dependent reposadoption.dependent_repos	-	0
Github starsadoption.github_stars	-	29,324
Activity
Commits last 30dactivity.commits_last_30d	-	19
Release
Cadence daysrelease.cadence_days	-	29
Historyrelease.history	-	20 items
License
Spdxlicense.spdx	-	MIT
Language
Primarylanguage.primary	-	C++
Market
Availabilitymarket.availability	Available worldwide · Popular in US	-
Content
Faqcontent.faq	6 items	5 items

Score

vioscaleAI score

Lightstream70 / 100high · 78%

SRS41 / 100high · 78%

Pricing

Free tier

Lightstream✓

SRS✓

Model

Lightstreamfreemium

SRSopen_source

Price level

Lightstreamlow

SRSfree

Starting price

Lightstream$9

SRS–

Transparent

Lightstream✓

SRS✓

Integrations

Count

Lightstream6

SRS3

Security

Scorecard

Lightstream–

SRS6.2

Trust center

Lightstream–

SRShttps://ossrs.io/lts/en-us/security-advisories

Vulnerabilities

Lightstream–

SRSCount: 0 · Source: https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fossrs%2Fsrs&per_page=100 · Last 12m: 0

Adoption

Dependent repos

Lightstream–

SRS0

Github stars

Lightstream–

SRS29,324

Activity

Commits last 30d

Lightstream–

SRS19

Release

Cadence days

Lightstream–

SRS29

History

Lightstream–

SRS20 items

License

Spdx

Lightstream–

SRSMIT

Language

Primary

Lightstream–

SRSC++

Market

Availability

LightstreamAvailable worldwide · Popular in US

SRS–

Content

Faq

Lightstream6 items

SRS5 items

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for live streaming. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Capability comparison for Live Streaming
Capability	Lightstream	SRS
Capabilities
Architecture model	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	Free open source

Capabilities

Architecture model

LightstreamBrowser cloud studio

SRS-

Simulcast multi destination rtmp output hub

Lightstream✓

SRS-

Remote guest browser invites for interviews webrtc

Lightstream-

SRS-

Custom lower thirds graphics and brand overlays

Lightstream✓

SRS-

ISO track recording for isolated guest audio video

Lightstream-

SRS-

Hardware encoding acceleration nvenc quicksync

Lightstream-

SRS-

Srt secure reliable transport protocol support

Lightstream-

SRS✓

Multi network unified aggregated chat feed

Lightstream-

SRS-

Chroma key green screen and virtual backgrounds

Lightstream-

SRS-

Ndi network device interface feed ingestion

Lightstream-

SRS-

SOC2 type ii

Lightstream-

SRS-

Gpl or permissive oss license

Lightstream-

SRS✓

Pricing model

LightstreamFlat monthly subscription

SRSFree open source

What each one is

The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.

Lightstream

Leader

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.

Independently observed

SRS

An open-source media server that handles real-time video streaming using various protocols, enabling live broadcasts and format conversions between RTMP, WebRTC, HLS, and other standards. It can be deployed on cloud infrastructure or self-hosted.

Independently observed

Pricing

List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.

Lightstream

Leader

from $9/moHybridFree tier

Free tier available. Premium at $12/mo or $9/mo on annual subscription.

FreeFree
- 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
- +2 more
Premium$12/mo or $9/mo billed annually
- 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
- +2 more

as of 2026-10-15verify ↗

SRS

Open sourceFree tier

Open source under MIT license

as of 2026-10-07verify ↗

Platform & deployment

Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.

Platform and deployment support comparison
Supports	Lightstream	SRS
WebPlatforms	✓	✗
macOSPlatforms	✗	✓
LinuxPlatforms	✗	✓
CLIPlatforms	✗	✓
Cloud / SaaSDeployment	✓	✓
Self-hostedDeployment	✗	✓

Platforms

Web

Lightstream✓

SRS✗

macOS

Lightstream✗

SRS✓

Linux

Lightstream✗

SRS✓

CLI

Lightstream✗

SRS✓

Deployment

Cloud / SaaS

Lightstream✓

SRS✓

Self-hosted

Lightstream✗

SRS✓

Integrations

What each product connects to. Counts come from the vendor's own integration directory where one exists.

Lightstream

Leader

8 total

Rainmaker
StreamElements
Twitch
YouTube
Mixer
Xbox
PlayStation
Custom RTMP

Independently observed

SRS

3 total

OBS
WordPress
FFmpeg

Independently observed

Still deciding?

Lightstream or SRS: which one depends on you

A composite score cannot know your constraints. Describe them and both get re-weighted against what you actually need, with the evidence behind every position.

Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.