Restreamer by datarhei is a free, open-source, self-hosted live streaming server for RTMP and SRT publishing to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Vimeo, with no…
Category
Media & Audio/Video Tools
Pricing
Free and open source (self-hosted), from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2015
Headquarters
Germany (open-source project)
Web AppAPIOpen SourceSelf-Hosted
Overview
Restreamer is an open-source live streaming server developed by the datarhei project that packages FFmpeg-based ingest and republishing tools behind a simple web admin interface. It is designed to be self-hosted on a server, virtual machine, or single-board computer such as a Raspberry Pi, giving the operator complete control over their video data instead of routing it through a third-party cloud platform.
Because it runs under an open license with no recurring fees, Restreamer is often used as a free alternative to commercial restreaming SaaS products for operators who are comfortable managing their own infrastructure.
Key Features
Restreamer accepts input from OBS, IP cameras, USB and network video sources, and Raspberry Pi camera modules, then republishes the stream through built-in RTMP and SRT servers to platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Vimeo, or to any custom RTMP-compatible destination such as Wowza.
The software includes a setup wizard, a simplified admin panel, support for more than 50 video formats, GPU encoding, HDMI output, free Let's Encrypt HTTPS certificates, and basic logging and system monitoring, all packaged for deployment via Docker or Podman on Linux, macOS, Windows, or Raspberry Pi hardware.
Pricing
Restreamer is completely free for both private and commercial use, with no ongoing license costs, seat limits, or feature paywalls. Operators only pay for the hardware, hosting, and bandwidth needed to run the server themselves.
Because there is no vendor-hosted tier, total cost of ownership depends entirely on where and how the server is deployed, from a low-cost Raspberry Pi 4 at home to a cloud VM or on-premises server for organizations with heavier streaming needs.
Key Features
Self-hosted architecture — Runs entirely on infrastructure the user controls, whether a Raspberry Pi, on-premises server, or cloud VM, so video never has to pass through a third-party service.
RTMP and SRT publishing — Built-in RTMP and SRT servers let operators receive a live feed from OBS or a camera and republish it to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Vimeo, or custom endpoints like Wowza.
Docker and Podman deployment — Ships as a container image that installs in minutes on Linux, macOS, Windows, Raspberry Pi, and other single-board computers.
Setup wizard and admin panel — A browser-based admin interface with a guided setup wizard makes configuring new live streams straightforward without command-line work.
Wide format and hardware support — Supports more than 50 video formats plus GPU encoding, HDMI output, and camera input from USB, network, virtual, and Raspberry Pi camera sources.
Free HTTPS via Let's Encrypt — Built-in support for free SSL certificates secures the admin panel and stream endpoints without extra configuration.
Logging and monitoring — Includes user and system monitoring plus logging so operators can track stream health and server performance.
No licensing costs — Distributed as open-source software with no subscription fees, watermarks, or usage caps for private or commercial use.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free for personal and commercial use with no recurring license fees
Full data ownership since streams run on infrastructure the operator controls
Lightweight enough to run on a Raspberry Pi for low-cost, always-on streaming appliances
Open-source codebase with an active GitHub community and Docker-based deployment
Supports multiple simultaneous input sources and more than 50 video formats
Cons
Requires the user to manage their own server, networking, and uptime
No built-in customer support team; help comes from community docs and GitHub
Lacks the unified multi-destination dashboard and analytics of paid restreaming SaaS tools
Initial setup requires more technical comfort than a hosted, no-install product
Scaling to many simultaneous streams requires the operator to provision more hardware
Pricing
Open Source Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Restreamer really free to use?
Yes. Restreamer is open-source software with no ongoing license costs for private or commercial use; the only expenses are the hardware, hosting, and bandwidth an operator supplies.
Is Restreamer the same product as Restream.io?
No. Restreamer (by the datarhei project) is a free, self-hosted, open-source streaming server, while Restream.io is a separate, unrelated paid SaaS multistreaming platform.
What hardware do I need to run Restreamer?
Restreamer runs via Docker or Podman on Linux, macOS, Windows, and single-board computers; the project recommends a Raspberry Pi 4 or newer, though it also runs on earlier Raspberry Pi models.
Which platforms can I stream to with Restreamer?
Restreamer can republish a live stream to YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, Vimeo, and other RTMP-compatible services such as Wowza.
Does Restreamer require an internet connection to set up?
You need an internet connection to pull the Docker image and, typically, to reach streaming destinations, but the server itself can run on a local network or on-premises hardware.
Who maintains Restreamer?
Restreamer is maintained by the datarhei open-source project, whose Restreamer and Core codebases are hosted publicly on GitHub.
Can I use Restreamer for commercial broadcasts?
Yes, the license permits both private and commercial use at no cost.