Lesson 2.6 - Aitum and Restream
Aitum and Restream.io. Multi-platform simulcast tools. Allows broadcasting to multiple platforms simultaneously from a single source stream.
Aitum:
- OBS plugin that adds multi-platform output natively to OBS
- Direct ingest to multiple platforms from a single OBS stream
- One-time payment ($30-50 for the plugin) or subscription
- Lower latency than Restream (single-hop architecture)
Restream.io:
- Cloud-based service that takes one stream and distributes to 30+ platforms
- Subscription pricing: free tier (2 platforms), $19/month Standard (5 platforms), $49/month Pro (10+ platforms)
- Higher latency due to cloud distribution (1-3 seconds added)
- Built-in chat aggregation (see chat from all platforms in one panel)
When to use which:
- Aitum: 2-3 platform simulcast, OBS-native preference, low-latency priority
- Restream: 4+ platform simulcast, chat aggregation needs, multi-platform repurposing of recordings
Multi-streaming considerations:
- Verify it doesn't violate your Partner agreement (Twitch Partners had restrictions; check current rules)
- Bandwidth requirements double — 12 Mbps for one platform becomes 24 Mbps for two
- Chat fragmentation is real — viewers on different platforms can't see each other's messages without aggregation
For most streamers: simulcasting Twitch + YouTube is the standard pair. Aitum is the right choice. Restream becomes worth it at 4+ platforms.
