Does multistreaming use more upload bandwidth?
It depends entirely on *how* you multistream. Done one way it multiplies your upload; done another it costs you nothing extra. Here’s the difference.
Streaming bandwidth calculator
See how much continuous upload you need to multistream — and how a server-side relay changes the maths.
Local multistreaming: yes, it multiplies
If your PC sends a separate stream to each platform (via OBS multiple-output plugins or restreaming software running locally), every destination re-uploads the full stream. Three platforms at 6 Mbps is ~18 Mbps of upload — and if your connection can’t hold that, every stream suffers.
Server-side relay: no, it stays flat
With a cloud restreaming service, your encoder uploads one stream once. The service duplicates it to each destination from its own high-bandwidth servers. Your upload is the same for one platform or ten — the duplication happens off your connection entirely.
This is the single biggest reason to use a relay rather than multistreaming from your own machine.
What about download/egress costs?
On the relay side, sending to more destinations does use more of the service’s outbound bandwidth — which is why restreaming plans are usually measured in monthly egress. Your inbound feed and the relays themselves typically aren’t what you’re billed on; outbound delivery is.
Frequently asked questions
How much upload do I need to multistream?
With a server-side relay, only enough for one stream (e.g. ~6 Mbps for 1080p). The relay handles every additional destination without touching your upload.
Is restreaming cheaper than two PCs?
Usually, yes — you avoid a second encoder and a second upload connection, and you manage everything from one place.