An open source, self-hosted live video streaming and chat server for complete ownership of your live streams.
Owncast is an open-source, self-hosted live video streaming and chat server that allows individuals to run their own streaming platforms. It solves the problem of relying on centralized services by giving streamers complete control over their content, audience data, and moderation tools. The software works out of the box with streaming software via RTMP, providing a decentralized alternative to mainstream options.
Live streamers, content creators, and developers who want full ownership of their streaming infrastructure and prefer self-hosting over third-party platforms. It's ideal for those valuing privacy, customization, and independence.
Developers choose Owncast because it offers a turnkey, self-hosted solution with no vendor lock-in, enabling complete customization and data ownership. Its open-source nature and active community provide transparency and flexibility unmatched by proprietary services.
Take control over your live stream video by running it yourself. Streaming + chat out of the box.
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Self-hosted architecture gives streamers complete ownership over content, audience data, and moderation without vendor lock-in, as emphasized in the key features for independence.
Built-in chat functionality enables immediate audience interaction out of the box, reducing the need for external tools, as highlighted in the README's integrated features.
Supports RTMP protocol, making it compatible with popular broadcasting software like OBS and Streamlabs, ensuring easy adoption for existing streamers.
Full control over the web interface, player, and embed components allows for extensive branding and personalization, as noted in the customizable interface section.
No native support for Windows servers; installation requires Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2), which adds complexity for Windows users, as admitted in the README.
Self-hosting means users must manage their own servers, bandwidth, and uptime, which can be technically challenging and resource-intensive for non-experts.
Designed as a decentralized, single-user server, it lacks features for multi-streamer platforms or collaborative broadcasting, limiting scalability for teams.
Owncast is an open-source alternative to the following products: