Free, open-source alternatives to Twitch
Live streaming platform. 4 apps you can run yourself instead of Twitch, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
OwncastBest match
Decentralized single-user live video streaming and chat server for running your own live streams similar in style to the large mainstream options.
PeerTube
Decentralized video streaming platform using P2P (BitTorrent) directly in the web browser.
Restreamer
Access H.264 real-time video streaming on your website without a streaming provider.
OvenMediaEngine
Streaming Server with Sub-Second Latency.
Side by side
| App | Stars | License | Activity | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owncast | 11,586 | MIT | Go | |
| PeerTube | 15,361 | AGPL-3.0 | Node.js | |
| Restreamer | 5,217 | Apache-2.0 | Node.js, Docker | |
| OvenMediaEngine | 3,288 | AGPL-3.0 | C++, Docker |
Why replace Twitch?
Twitch works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Twitch?
Owncast is the closest open-source replacement for Twitch in our list. PeerTube and Restreamer are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Twitch?
Yes. All 4 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.