Software · head to head
StreamYard vs BlueJeans
The short version
- Only StreamYard has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: StreamYard the free plan stamps a StreamYard logo on every stream, caps local recordings at 2 hours per month, allows 6 on screen participants and 1 seat; BlueJeans shut down. Verizon announced the closure on 8 August 2023 and wound the service down through the first half of 2024, starting with the Basic tier and free trials on 31 August 2023
- They diverge on capability: StreamYard covers Multi-streaming, BlueJeans covers HD and 4K video.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which StreamYard and BlueJeans actually diverge.
| Attribute | StreamYard | BlueJeans |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $10/month |
| Pricing model | freemium | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android |
| Founded | 2018 | 1983 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in StreamYard
- Multi-streaming
- Custom branding
- Guest management
- Recording
- YouTube
- Twitch
Only in BlueJeans
- HD and 4K video
- Audio conferencing
- Recording and playback
- Chat and messaging
- Virtual backgrounds
- Hand raising
- Breakout rooms
- Outlook
Both cover
- Screen sharing
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
StreamYard
- Browser based live streaming to YouTube, Facebook and other destinations at oncenot BlueJeans
- Recording remote guest interviews and podcasts with on screen brandingnot BlueJeans
- Running small webinars with a live viewer audiencenot BlueJeans
BlueJeans
- Enterprise meetingsnot StreamYard
- Healthcare consultationsnot StreamYard
- Financial servicesnot StreamYard
- Government communicationsnot StreamYard
- Large eventsnot StreamYard
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
StreamYard
- The free plan stamps a StreamYard logo on every stream, caps local recordings at 2 hours per month, allows 6 on screen participants and 1 seat
- 1080p full HD, watermark removal and unlimited streaming require the Core plan at $44.99 per month billed monthly
- Core limits multistreaming to 3 destinations; 8 destinations require Advanced at $88.99 per month
- Core caps permanent recording storage at 50 hours
- 4K local recording, on air webinars for up to 100 viewers, extra camera and transcript downloads are Advanced only
- The free trial on paid plans runs 7 days
BlueJeans
- Shut down. Verizon announced the closure on 8 August 2023 and wound the service down through the first half of 2024, starting with the Basic tier and free trials on 31 August 2023
- bluejeans.com no longer resolves
- Verizon bought it for $400 million in 2020 and closed it citing a changing market, so there is no successor product to move to within the same vendor
Pricing, plan by plan
StreamYard
Free- FreeFree
- 20-hour streaming
- StreamYard branding
- Basic features
- Basic$25/month
- No branding
- Custom overlays
- 6 guests
- Professional$49/month
- Full HD
- 10 guests
- Recording
BlueJeans
$10/month- Essentials$10/month
- 100 participants
- HD video
- Screen sharing
- Pro$15/month
- 300 participants
- 4K video
- Virtual backgrounds
- Business$20/month
- 500 participants
- Custom branding
- Advanced security
- Enterprise$undefined/month
- Unlimited participants
- Custom deployment
- Dedicated account team
Which should you pick?
Choose StreamYard if
- You need multi-streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want custom branding.
Choose BlueJeans if
- You need hd and 4k video.
- You work on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
- You also want audio conferencing.
Questions people ask
- Is StreamYard or BlueJeans better?
- Neither clearly leads. StreamYard starts at Free and BlueJeans at $10/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, StreamYard or BlueJeans?
- StreamYard has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for StreamYard and $10/month for BlueJeans.
- Does StreamYard or BlueJeans run on more platforms?
- StreamYard runs on Web. BlueJeans runs on Web, Windows, Macos, Ios, Android.
- Can I use StreamYard for free?
- Yes. StreamYard has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BlueJeans starts at $10/month.
- What is StreamYard best used for?
- StreamYard is most often used for browser based live streaming to youtube, facebook and other destinations at once, recording remote guest interviews and podcasts with on screen branding, running small webinars with a live viewer audience. Of those, browser based live streaming to youtube, facebook and other destinations at once and recording remote guest interviews and podcasts with on screen branding are not what BlueJeans is typically brought in for.
- What can StreamYard do that BlueJeans cannot?
- StreamYard covers Multi-streaming, Custom branding, Guest management, Recording. BlueJeans covers HD and 4K video, Audio conferencing, Recording and playback, Chat and messaging. Both handle Screen sharing.