Streamrun (Recommended)

Streamrun.com (Cheapest)

Streamrun actually really impressed me. I had a catastrophic server failure on a trip to Vegas, and set it up quickly on the $0.39/hour model and it saved the entire trip. Setup was instant, I didn't have to wait like I would have expected to with a traditional server, and I learned a lot about it in the process.

Pros:

• Offers instant 2 week free trial that doesn't require a debit/credit card to use.

• Cheapest player in the game currently at $25/month for unlimited access.

• Best entry level for people who do less IRL with the pay-as-you-go $0.39/hour model.

• Includes audio noise cancellation on the server level.

• Offers multistreaming and unique dual format (horizontal and vertical from one device).

Cons:

• Stream editor is a little more complex to a complete beginner.

• No full remote server access option.

• If you end your stream but don't end the instance, you are still charged the hourly rate.

Setting up a simple server flow

I decided to share what my flow looks like in my editor to achieve a very similar result to my personal server. This is how I have my Streamrun setup right now:

So what are we looking at? Streamrun has a unique editor for building a flow for how your stream works. It can look intimidating at first, but I assure you it is very easy to figure out. When you're logged into the editor, you can drag-and-drop items from a menu on the left, and then drag lines from each one to the next one. It's very simple.

How my flow works

Input Stream -> Disconnect Screen (Failover) -> Chat Overlay -> Ad Overlay -> Transparent PNG Overlay -> Output Stream Input Stream - gives you a Stream URL and Stream Key that you use on your device. I put this as a connection in IRL Pro, and when I go live, I actually stream to this Stream URL and Stream Key. Failover - Renamed in my screenshot to 'Disconnect Screen' gives you the option to display an image if the stream loses connection, so the stream doesn't actually end. This is also where you can set text for low bitrate. Overlays - This is how you add things like a chat overlay, sponsors, etc. You should note that each additional html overlay costs an additional $0.10/hour if you're on the hourly model. So I actually pay $0.49/hour for this setup. In this screenshot, I have two overlays setup, one for chat, and one for an ad sponsorship I have. Remember - you can also just run overlays on your streaming device. This is how I also run my alertbox. Transparent PNG Overlay - For this, I created one 1920x1080p transparent image, and then placed my Kick and Discord links where I actually wanted them on that image. I did this just to make it easier. Output Stream - This is where you connect the platform(s) you want to stream to.

How to actually go live, and end the stream

To start and stop your stream, go to the Dashboard and click the green 'Run' button to first start your instance. Then, on the next page, you click the 'Start' button to actually start the stream.

There is also an 'End' button on this page. IF YOU END HERE, but do not end the actual instance, you are still being charged the hourly rate, even when you aren't using the server. I don't even hit the 'End' button, I just hit the 'Stop Instance' button to end my stream.