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Webinars · head to head

Google Meet vs StreamYard

Google Meet logo

Google Meet

Webinars

Get on a video call in seconds

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
StreamYard logo

StreamYard

Webinars

Professional live streaming made easy

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Google Meet google Meet only available as part of Google Workspace subscription; no standalone free option; 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
  • They diverge on capability: Google Meet covers Video conferencing, StreamYard covers Multi-streaming.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Google Meet and StreamYard actually diverge.

Attributes where Google Meet and StreamYard differ
AttributeGoogle MeetStreamYard
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb
Founded19982018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Webinars).

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 Google Meet

  • Video conferencing
  • Chat
  • Real-time captions
  • Hand raise
  • Grid view
  • Google Calendar
  • Gmail
  • Google Drive

Only in StreamYard

  • Multi-streaming
  • Custom branding
  • Guest management
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitch
  • Custom RTMP

Both cover

  • Screen sharing
  • Recording
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Google Meet

  • Video conferencing for remote teamsnot StreamYard
  • Educational virtual classroomsnot StreamYard
  • Large-scale webinars with up to 1,000 participantsnot StreamYard

StreamYard

  • Browser based live streaming to YouTube, Facebook and other destinations at oncenot Google Meet
  • Recording remote guest interviews and podcasts with on screen brandingnot Google Meet
  • Running small webinars with a live viewer audiencenot Google Meet

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Google Meet

  • Google Meet only available as part of Google Workspace subscription; no standalone free option
  • Starter plan limits Meet to 100 participants; Standard tier required for 150 participants
  • Organisation-wide user cap of 300 users on Starter, Standard, and Plus plans
  • Enterprise tier requires custom pricing and sales contact; no transparent per-user cost
  • Free tier (from basic Google account) limits meetings to 60 minutes with 3+ participants

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Google Meet

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 100 participants
    • Up to 60 minutes per meeting
  • Google Workspace Starter$4.76/month
    • Up to 100 participants
    • 24-hour meeting duration
  • Google Workspace Standard$9.52/month
    • Up to 150 participants
    • 24-hour meeting duration
    • Recording capability
  • Google Workspace Plus$14.77/month
    • Up to 500 participants
    • 24-hour meeting duration
    • Attendance tracking

StreamYard

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Basic studio features
    • Local recordings 2 hours per month
    • 6 on-screen participants
  • Core$44.99/month
    • Full HD 1080p
    • Multistream to 3 destinations
    • Unlimited streaming and recording
  • Advanced$88.99/month
    • 4K recording
    • Multistream to 8 destinations
    • 15 backstage participants

Which should you pick?

Choose Google Meet if

  • You need video conferencing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want chat.
Google Meet review

Choose StreamYard if

  • You need multi-streaming.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want custom branding.
StreamYard review

Questions people ask

Is Google Meet or StreamYard better?
Neither clearly leads. Google Meet starts at Free and StreamYard at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Google Meet or StreamYard?
Google Meet starts at Free and StreamYard at Free.
Does Google Meet or StreamYard run on more platforms?
Google Meet runs on Web, Mobile. StreamYard runs on Web.
Can I use Google Meet for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Google Meet best used for?
Google Meet is most often used for video conferencing for remote teams, educational virtual classrooms, large-scale webinars with up to 1,000 participants. Of those, video conferencing for remote teams and educational virtual classrooms are not what StreamYard is typically brought in for.
What can Google Meet do that StreamYard cannot?
Google Meet covers Video conferencing, Chat, Real-time captions, Hand raise. StreamYard covers Multi-streaming, Custom branding, Guest management, YouTube. Both handle Screen sharing, Recording, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Google Meet: What are the participant limits in Google Meet's free plan?

The free version of Google Meet allows up to 100 participants per meeting. One-on-one calls and mobile calls have unlimited duration, but group meetings are limited to 60 minutes.

Source
StreamYard: Is there a free trial?

Yes, StreamYard offers a 7-day free trial and a 7-day money-back guarantee on your first purchase.

Source
Google Meet: How long can meetings last on paid Google Workspace plans?

All paid Google Workspace plans (Starter, Standard, Plus, Enterprise) support up to 24-hour meeting durations, removing the 60-minute limit of the free tier.

Source
StreamYard: What is the annual discount for Core plan?

The Core plan costs $44.99 per month when billed monthly, but only $35.99 per month when billed annually, representing 22% savings.

Source
Google Meet: What participant limits apply to different Google Workspace tiers?

Starter tier supports 100 participants, Standard supports 150, Plus supports 500, and Enterprise tier supports up to 1,000 participants for in-domain live streaming.

Source
StreamYard: What are the differences between Core and Advanced plans?

Advanced plan adds 4K recording, multistream to 8 destinations instead of 3, and 15 backstage participants. Core plan provides 1080p HD, multistream to 3 destinations, and 50 hours cloud storage.

Source
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