About Owncast
Owncast is free, open source software for running your own live stream. You install it on a server you control, point your broadcasting software at it, and your viewers watch on a page you own.
What it does
Owncast accepts a live stream over standard streaming protocols and publishes it to a web page with a built-in chat. Moderators can manage chat, and you can add custom emotes and user accounts. The page can be branded and placed on your own domain, and you can send notifications to followers when you go live.
Key features
- Live video streaming to your own server
- Built-in chat with moderation tools
- Works with standard broadcasting software
- Custom branding on your own domain
- Notifications when you go live
Who it's for
Streamers and musicians who want full control over their broadcast, community groups that run their own live events, and self-hosting fans who want to avoid subscription platforms.
Pricing and good to know
Owncast is open source under the MIT license, with no subscriptions or viewer limits from the software itself. You pay for the server and the bandwidth used by viewers, which can be significant for popular streams. Setup needs some server experience, and you should test the stream before going live.
Highlights
- Live video streaming to your own server
- Built-in chat with moderation tools
- Works with standard broadcasting software
- Custom branding on your own domain
- Notifications when you go live
