TheLoops vs Upstream
Upstream.so stands out with a Figma-like stream designer. Both platforms multistream now, so the real trade is design tooling against price and frame rate. Which one makes sense for you?
TheLoops
Simple & affordable
Upstream
Stream designer focus
Feature Comparison
| Feature | TheLoops | Upstream |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 Streaming | ||
| Designed for 24/7 | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-restart on failure | ✓ | ✓ |
| No computer needed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Video looping | ✓ | ✓ |
| Content scheduling | ✗ | ✓ |
| Video Quality | ||
| Max resolution | 1080p | 1080p |
| Frame rate | 60fps | 30fps |
| Audio quality | 320kbps | 320kbps |
| Unique Features | ||
| Stream designer (Figma-like) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom overlays/widgets | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-channel audio mixing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Current song overlay | ✗ | ✓ |
| Live ad cuepoints | ✗ | ✓ |
| Platform Support | ||
| YouTube | ✓ | ✓ |
| Twitch | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kick | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multistream (RTMP) | 3-10 (by plan) | 10 platforms |
| Pricing | ||
| 1 stream price | $15/mo | $30/mo |
| 1 stream storage | 50GB | 100GB |
| 2 streams price | $50/mo (4 streams) | $50/mo |
| 2 streams storage | 150GB (4 streams) | 200GB |
| 4 streams price | $50/mo | $80/mo |
| Annual discount | No lock-in | 20% off |
Pros & Cons
TheLoops
Pros
- Half the entry price ($15 vs $30)
- Higher frame rate support (60fps vs 30fps)
- Simple, no-frills interface
- No annual commitment required
- Fastest setup (5 minutes)
- Consistently high availability
Cons
- No stream designer/overlay editor
- No content scheduling
- Multistreaming starts on the Basic plan (free sends to one)
- Less storage on entry plan (50GB vs 100GB)
Upstream
Pros
- Unique stream designer (Figma-like editor)
- Multistream to 10 platforms included
- More storage per plan (100GB vs 50GB)
- Advanced overlays and widgets
- Multi-channel audio mixing
- Current song overlay for music streams
Cons
- 2x the entry price ($30 vs $15)
- Lower frame rate (30fps vs 60fps)
- Steeper learning curve
- Annual commitment for best pricing
Our Verdict
This is really about what you value. If you want overlays, visualizers, and a drag-and-drop stream editor, Upstream is hard to beat. It's a creative tool as much as a streaming platform.
If you just want your videos playing 24/7 - on YouTube, Twitch and Kick at the same time - TheLoops does exactly that from $15/month. You skip the learning curve and save $180/year.
Worth noting: TheLoops streams at 60fps while Upstream caps at 30fps. For gaming or motion-heavy content, that difference is visible.
All product names, logos, and brands are property of their respective owners. This comparison is based on publicly available information and our own testing as of the publish date. Features and pricing may have changed since then.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. TheLoops starts at $15/month while Upstream starts at $30/month. For basic 24/7 streaming without advanced design features, TheLoops saves you $180/year. However, Upstream includes more storage (100GB vs 50GB) and multistreaming in their base plan.
Upstream offers a unique Figma-like stream designer where you can visually design your stream layout, add custom overlays, visualizers, current song widgets, and more. TheLoops focuses on simplicity and doesn't have an equivalent visual editor. If stream design is important to you, Upstream has the edge.
TheLoops supports up to 1080p at 60fps, while Upstream is limited to 1080p at 30fps. For fast-moving content or gaming highlights, TheLoops' 60fps support provides smoother playback. Both offer 320kbps audio quality.