# Castr vs Owncast

**Leader by Vioscale score:** Castr

| Attribute | Castr | Owncast |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 70.6 (44% (low)) | 21.7 (7% (low)) |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | Consolidates live video streaming, hosting, multistreaming to multiple destinations, recording, and monetization into a single platform with 24/7 human support included. | An open source streaming server that runs on your infrastructure using standard protocols, featuring built-in chat, moderation, custom branding, and no subscription fees or viewer limits. |
| 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":"free_open_source","gpl_or_permissive_oss_license":true}` |
| integrations.count | 5 | 2 |
| 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":"Mastodon","native":true,"category":"social","direction":"bidirectional"},{"name":"ActivityPub","native":true,"category":"social","direction":"bidirectional"}]` |
| market.availability | `{"primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | - |
| platform.support | `{"ios":true,"web":true,"android":true}` | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":false,"name":"Starter","summary":"$19.99/month or $199.99/year (2 months free)","features":["Multiple ingest protocols and SRT","Embedded player and video analytics","Cloud recording and Live-to-VOD"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":19.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Standard","summary":"$499.99/year","features":["SRT/RTMP pull links"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":499.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Premium","summary":"$199.99/month or $1,999.99/year (2 months free)","features":["Adaptive bitrate and custom transcoding","API access and three team members"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":199.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"$3,499.99/year","features":["Low-latency playback and HLS for VOD","Dedicated support on annual billing"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":3499.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Events","summary":"$7,499.99/year","features":["Branded web app included","Native mobile and TV apps available as add-ons"],"components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":7499.99,"period":"year","currency":"USD"}],"contactSales":false}],"addOns":[{"name":"DRM"},{"name":"Native mobile and TV apps"}],"summary":"From $19.99/month ($199.99/year with 2 months free). Free 7-day trial on Starter plan.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://castr.com/pricing/","retrievedAt":"2026-09-01T14:45:16.675Z","freeTrialDays":7,"startingPrice":{"amount":19.99,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month","year"]}` | `{"type":"open_source","summary":"Free and open source with no subscriptions or viewer limits.","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://owncast.online","retrievedAt":"2026-09-01T14:45:48.812Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | freemium | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | mid | free |
| pricing.starting_price | `{"amount":19.99,"currency":"USD"}` | - |
| pricing.transparent | yes | - |
| reliability.sla_pct | 99.9 | - |
| reliability.status_page | yes | - |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.gdpr | yes | - |
| security.trust_center | - | https://owncast.online/security |

## Capabilities (Live Streaming)

| Capability | Castr | Owncast |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **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 |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:25:30.627Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*