OBS VPS Streaming Setup 2026: 24/7 YouTube, Twitch & Kick Broadcasts

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Quick answer: A streaming VPS lets you run 24/7 broadcasts without keeping your home PC on. You'll need 4-8GB RAM, 2-4 CPU cores, and at least 100GB storage for

Written by Space-Node Team – Infrastructure Team – 15+ years combined experience in game server hosting, VPS infrastructure, and 24/7 streaming solutions. Learn more

Quick answer: A streaming VPS lets you run 24/7 broadcasts without keeping your home PC on. You'll need 4-8GB RAM, 2-4 CPU cores, and at least 100GB storage for a reliable stream. Expect to pay €10-30/month for quality streaming VPS hosting. The setup uses FFmpeg for encoding and can stream to YouTube, Twitch, Kick, or any RTMP destination simultaneously.

Why Use a VPS for Streaming?

Running 24/7 streams from your home PC has major drawbacks:

  • Electricity costs - A PC running 24/7 costs €30-90/month in power
  • Hardware wear - Constant use shortens component lifespan
  • Internet instability - Home connections drop, killing your stream
  • Noise and heat - Your PC is always on, always loud
  • Can't use your PC - It's dedicated to streaming

A VPS solves all of these. For €10-30/month, you get a dedicated machine that streams 24/7 without touching your home setup.

VPS Streaming Requirements

For 1080p Streams

| Component | Minimum | Recommended |

|-----------|---------|-------------|

| RAM | 4GB | 6-8GB |

| CPU | 2 cores | 4 cores |

| Storage | 50GB | 100GB+ |

| Bandwidth | 10 Mbps upload | 25+ Mbps |

For 4K Streams

| Component | Minimum | Recommended |

|-----------|---------|-------------|

| RAM | 8GB | 12-16GB |

| CPU | 4 cores | 6-8 cores |

| Storage | 100GB | 200GB+ |

| Bandwidth | 35 Mbps upload | 50+ Mbps |

Bandwidth by Stream Quality

| Resolution | Frame Rate | Bitrate | Monthly Usage (24/7) |

|------------|-----------|---------|----------------------|

| 720p | 30 fps | 3,000 kbps | ~950 GB |

| 720p | 60 fps | 4,500 kbps | ~1.4 TB |

| 1080p | 30 fps | 4,500 kbps | ~1.4 TB |

| 1080p | 60 fps | 6,000 kbps | ~1.9 TB |

| 1440p | 30 fps | 9,000 kbps | ~2.9 TB |

| 1440p | 60 fps | 12,000 kbps | ~3.8 TB |

| 4K | 30 fps | 20,000 kbps | ~6.5 TB |

| 4K | 60 fps | 35,000 kbps | ~11 TB |

Important: Choose a VPS with unlimited bandwidth to avoid massive overage bills.

Setting Up Your Streaming VPS

Step 1: Server Setup

After deploying your VPS (Ubuntu 22.04 recommended):

# Update system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install essential packages
sudo apt install ffmpeg screen htop nano -y

# Optional: Install for video management
sudo apt install mediainfo -y

Step 2: Create Working Directories

# Create directories for your streams
mkdir -p ~/streams/videos
mkdir -p ~/streams/playlists
mkdir -p ~/streams/logs

Step 3: Upload Your Content

Use SCP or SFTP to upload videos:

# From your local machine
scp -r /path/to/videos/* user@your-vps-ip:~/streams/videos/

Or use wget to download directly:

cd ~/streams/videos
wget https://example.com/your-video.mp4

FFmpeg Streaming Commands

Basic Loop Stream (Single Video)

Stream one video on loop to YouTube:

ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i ~/streams/videos/video.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
  -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR-STREAM-KEY

Playlist Loop (Multiple Videos)

First, create a playlist file:

# Create playlist.txt
for f in ~/streams/videos/*.mp4; do
  echo "file '$f'" >> ~/streams/playlists/playlist.txt
done

Then stream the playlist:

ffmpeg -re -f concat -safe 0 -stream_loop -1 -i ~/streams/playlists/playlist.txt \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
  -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR-STREAM-KEY

YouTube Optimal Settings (1080p60)

ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i ~/streams/videos/video.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset medium -b:v 6000k -maxrate 6000k -bufsize 12000k \
  -g 60 -keyint_min 60 -sc_threshold 0 \
  -pix_fmt yuv420p \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 48000 \
  -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR-STREAM-KEY

Twitch Optimal Settings (1080p60)

ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i ~/streams/videos/video.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 6000k -maxrate 6000k -bufsize 12000k \
  -g 120 -keyint_min 120 \
  -c:a aac -b:a 160k -ar 48000 \
  -f flv rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/YOUR-STREAM-KEY

Multi-Platform Streaming

Stream to YouTube and Twitch simultaneously:

ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i ~/streams/videos/video.mp4 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 5000k -maxrate 5000k -bufsize 10000k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 160k -ar 48000 \
  -f tee -map 0:v -map 0:a \
  "[f=flv]rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUTUBE-KEY|[f=flv]rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/TWITCH-KEY"

Running Streams in Background

Using Screen

Keep your stream running after disconnecting:

# Start a screen session
screen -S stream

# Run your FFmpeg command
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i video.mp4 ...

# Detach from screen: Ctrl+A, then D

# Reattach later
screen -r stream

Using Systemd Service

Create a proper service for auto-restart:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/stream.service

[Unit]
Description=24/7 Video Stream
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=root
WorkingDirectory=/root/streams
ExecStart=/usr/bin/ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i /root/streams/videos/video.mp4 -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR-STREAM-KEY
Restart=always
RestartSec=10

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable and start:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable stream
sudo systemctl start stream

# Check status
sudo systemctl status stream

Auto-Restart Script

For more control, use a wrapper script:

nano ~/streams/stream.sh

#!/bin/bash

STREAM_KEY="YOUR-STREAM-KEY"
VIDEO_DIR="/root/streams/videos"
LOG_FILE="/root/streams/logs/stream.log"

while true; do
    echo "$(date): Starting stream" >> "$LOG_FILE"
    
    ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i "$VIDEO_DIR/video.mp4" \
        -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k -maxrate 4500k -bufsize 9000k \
        -c:a aac -b:a 128k -ar 44100 \
        -f flv "rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/$STREAM_KEY" 2>> "$LOG_FILE"
    
    echo "$(date): Stream stopped, restarting in 30 seconds" >> "$LOG_FILE"
    sleep 30
done

chmod +x ~/streams/stream.sh

# Run in screen
screen -S stream
./stream.sh

Advanced Streaming Setups

Adding Overlays and Text

Add a text overlay with current time:

ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i video.mp4 \
  -vf "drawtext=text='%{localtime}':fontsize=24:fontcolor=white:x=10:y=10" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR-KEY

Picture-in-Picture

Add a small overlay video:

ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i main.mp4 -i overlay.mp4 \
  -filter_complex "[1:v]scale=320:180[pip];[0:v][pip]overlay=W-w-10:H-h-10" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 5000k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR-KEY

Scheduled Playlists

Different content at different times:

nano ~/streams/scheduled-stream.sh

#!/bin/bash

HOUR=$(date +%H)

if [ $HOUR -ge 6 ] && [ $HOUR -lt 12 ]; then
    PLAYLIST="morning.txt"
elif [ $HOUR -ge 12 ] && [ $HOUR -lt 18 ]; then
    PLAYLIST="afternoon.txt"
else
    PLAYLIST="evening.txt"
fi

ffmpeg -re -f concat -safe 0 -stream_loop -1 \
  -i "/root/streams/playlists/$PLAYLIST" \
  -c:v libx264 -preset veryfast -b:v 4500k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 128k \
  -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR-KEY

24/7 Radio Stream

For audio-only streams with static image:

ffmpeg -re -loop 1 -i background.jpg -stream_loop -1 -i playlist.mp3 \
  -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast -tune stillimage -b:v 500k \
  -c:a aac -b:a 192k -ar 44100 \
  -shortest -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/YOUR-KEY

Troubleshooting Stream Issues

Stream Keeps Stopping

Causes:

  • Network issues on VPS
  • YouTube/Twitch rate limiting
  • VPS running out of resources

Fixes:

# Check VPS resources
htop

# Check network
ping google.com -c 10

# Use auto-restart wrapper script

Poor Quality Output

Causes:

  • Preset too fast (ultrafast/superfast)
  • Bitrate too low
  • Source video already low quality

Fixes:

  • Use "medium" or "slow" preset if CPU allows
  • Increase bitrate (check platform limits)
  • Use higher quality source files

Audio/Video Sync Issues

Causes:

  • Variable frame rate source
  • Incorrect timestamp handling

Fixes:

# Add these flags
-vsync cfr -af aresample=async=1:first_pts=0

High CPU Usage

Causes:

  • Preset too slow
  • Resolution too high for CPU
  • Too many filters

Fixes:

  • Use "veryfast" or "superfast" preset
  • Reduce output resolution
  • Simplify or remove filters

"Connection Refused" Errors

Causes:

  • Wrong RTMP URL
  • Invalid stream key
  • Platform issues

Fixes:

  • Verify stream key
  • Check platform status
  • Try backup ingest servers

VPS vs Home PC: Cost Comparison

Home PC 24/7 Streaming

| Cost | Monthly |

|------|---------|

| Electricity (200W average) | €25-45 |

| Internet (dedicated upload) | €0-50 |

| Hardware depreciation | €10-20 |

| Total | €35-115 |

VPS Streaming

| Cost | Monthly |

|------|---------|

| 8GB VPS with unlimited bandwidth | €15-30 |

| Total | €15-30 |

Savings: €20-85/month, plus:

  • No noise in your home
  • No heat generation
  • Use your PC for other things
  • Better uptime reliability

Choosing a Streaming VPS

Must-Have Features

✅ Unlimited Bandwidth - 24/7 streaming uses terabytes monthly

✅ Good Network - At least 1Gbps port speed

✅ Enough CPU - 4 cores minimum for 1080p

✅ SSD Storage - For reading video files quickly

✅ European Location - For low latency to YouTube/Twitch EU servers

Avoid

❌ Metered bandwidth - You'll get huge overage bills

❌ Shared hosting - CPU contention kills encoding

❌ No refund policy - Test before committing

❌ Poor network - Cheap providers have inconsistent routing

Monitoring Your Stream

Basic Monitoring

# Check if FFmpeg is running
pgrep ffmpeg

# Check CPU/RAM usage
htop

# Check network usage
vnstat

Stream Health Script

nano ~/streams/monitor.sh

#!/bin/bash

# Check if stream is running
if ! pgrep -x "ffmpeg" > /dev/null; then
    echo "Stream stopped! Restarting..."
    systemctl restart stream
fi

Add to crontab:

crontab -e
# Add:
*/5 * * * * /root/streams/monitor.sh

Platform-Specific Tips

YouTube

  • Use primary ingest: rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/
  • Backup ingest: rtmp://b.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/?backup=1
  • Enable DVR for viewers to rewind
  • Set stream for "unlisted" if testing

Twitch

  • Find nearest ingest at twitch.tv/broadcast/ingest
  • Keep bitrate under 6000 kbps unless partnered
  • Use rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app/ for most regions

Kick

  • Ingest: rtmp://ingest.kick.com/live/
  • Similar settings to Twitch work well

Our Streaming VPS

At Space-Node, we offer VPS plans optimized for 24/7 streaming:

  • Unlimited bandwidth - No data caps or throttling
  • NVMe storage - Fast video file access
  • Netherlands location - Great routing to EU streaming servers
  • 1Gbps network - More than enough for multiple streams
  • 24/7 support - Help when you need it

Check VPS Plans →

For turnkey streaming solutions: View Streaming VPS →

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use OBS on a VPS?

Not directly—OBS requires a GUI. VPS streaming uses FFmpeg instead, which is command-line based but equally capable. FFmpeg can do everything OBS does for 24/7 streams: encoding, overlays, multi-platform output, and more. It's actually more efficient for automated streaming.

How much bandwidth does 24/7 streaming use?

A 1080p30 stream at 4,500 kbps uses approximately 1.4TB per month. 1080p60 at 6,000 kbps uses about 1.9TB. 4K streaming can exceed 10TB monthly. Always choose a VPS with unlimited bandwidth to avoid surprise bills.

What's the best VPS for YouTube streaming?

Look for a VPS with unlimited bandwidth, at least 4 CPU cores, 6-8GB RAM, and a European location for optimal routing to YouTube's servers. Netherlands or Germany-based VPS providers typically offer the best connectivity for EU-focused streaming.

Can I stream to multiple platforms at once?

Yes, FFmpeg supports multi-output streaming. You can send the same stream to YouTube, Twitch, Kick, and other RTMP destinations simultaneously. This doubles/triples bandwidth usage, so ensure your VPS can handle it.

Is VPS streaming cheaper than home PC streaming?

Usually yes. A home PC running 24/7 costs €35-115/month in electricity, wear, and internet. A streaming VPS costs €15-30/month. You also avoid heat, noise, and can use your home PC for other things.

How do I prevent my stream from stopping?

Use a systemd service or wrapper script that automatically restarts FFmpeg if it crashes. Monitor your stream with cron jobs, and use YouTube's backup ingest server for redundancy. Keep your VPS updated and use a reliable hosting provider.

About the Author

Space-Node Team – Infrastructure Team – Experts in game server hosting, VPS infrastructure, and 24/7 streaming solutions with 15+ years combined experience.

Since 2023
500+ servers hosted
4.8/5 avg rating

Our team specializes in Minecraft, FiveM, Rust, and 24/7 streaming infrastructure, operating enterprise-grade AMD Ryzen 9 hardware in Netherlands datacenters. We maintain GDPR compliance and ISO 27001-aligned security standards.

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OBS VPS Streaming Setup 2026: 24/7 YouTube, Twitch & Kick Broadcasts