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 | 4K (Pro) | 1080p |
| Frame rate | 60fps | 30fps |
| Audio quality | 320kbps | 320kbps |
| Pick your own tier | 10 tiers, 720p·24 to 4K·60 | Set by plan |
| 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 | Unlimited | 100GB |
| 2 streams price | $50/mo (4 streams) | $50/mo |
| 2 streams storage | Unlimited | 200GB |
| 4 streams price | $50/mo | $80/mo |
| Annual discount | Up to −30% | 20% off |
| Build your own shape | From $5/mo | Fixed plans |
| Pay by the hour | From $0.0260/h | Subscription only |
Pros & Cons
TheLoops
Pros
- Entry price from $5, against Upstream's $30
- Higher frame rate support (60fps vs 30fps)
- Simple, no-frills interface
- Monthly by default, up to −30% if you prepay
- 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)
- No multi-channel audio mixing
Upstream
Pros
- Unique stream designer (Figma-like editor)
- Multistream to 10 platforms included
- Advanced overlays and widgets
- 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 $5/month. You skip the learning curve and save $180/year.
Worth noting: TheLoops streams at 60fps while Upstream caps at 30fps, and its plans go up to 4K where Upstream stops at 1080p. 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 $5/month for a built shape and $15 for the 1080p·60 plan, while Upstream starts at $30/month. For basic 24/7 streaming without advanced design features, TheLoops saves you $180/year. Upstream includes multistreaming in its base plan; TheLoops has no storage cap at all on paid plans, against Upstream's 100GB.
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 goes higher. Upstream is limited to 1080p at 30fps; TheLoops does 1080p·60 on every plan, 1440p·60 on Studio and 4K·60 on Pro. For fast-moving content or gaming highlights the frame rate is what you notice first. Both offer 320kbps audio quality.