How to Set Up the OBS Multiple RTMP Output Plugin (2026 Guide)

Streaming to multiple platforms at the same time used to mean running two copies of OBS or paying for a cloud restreaming service. The OBS multiple RTMP output plugin changed that. I have used this plugin across Windows, macOS, and Linux, and in this guide I will walk you through every step from download to going live on Twitch, YouTube, and Kick at the same time.

This guide covers installation, target setup, stream key lookup, bandwidth planning, and troubleshooting. Whether you are a new streamer or a seasoned broadcaster looking to save money on restreaming services, you will find exactly what you need here.

The Free Stream Hosting team has tested this setup extensively, so every step below comes from hands-on experience.

Table of Contents

• What is the OBS Multiple RTMP Output Plugin?
• Prerequisites Before Installing the OBS Multiple RTMP Plugin
• How to Install the OBS Multiple RTMP Output Plugin
  • Installing on Windows
  • Installing on macOS
  • Installing on Linux
• How to Add Streaming Targets in OBS Multiple RTMP
• Where to Find Stream Keys and RTMP Server URLs
• Bandwidth Planning for Multi-Platform Streaming
• GPU Encoder Limits and Shared vs Standalone Encoders
• Troubleshooting Common OBS Multiple RTMP Issues
• OBS Multiple RTMP vs Cloud Restreaming Services
• Frequently Asked Questions
  • How to install multiple RTMP outputs plugin OBS?
  • Can you have multiple outputs in OBS?
  • How to setup RTMP in OBS?
  • What is the best multi-stream plugin for OBS?
  • Why is OBS Multiple RTMP not showing up?
• Conclusion

What is the OBS Multiple RTMP Output Plugin?

The OBS multiple RTMP output plugin is a free, open-source extension for OBS Studio that lets a single OBS instance send separate RTMP streams to multiple destinations simultaneously. Instead of running two OBS processes and doubling your CPU load, you add streaming targets inside one dock and go live on every platform from one window.

RTMP stands for Real-Time Messaging Protocol, the standard protocol that platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick use to receive live video. The plugin creates additional RTMP output channels within OBS so each platform gets its own connection, stream key, and bitrate settings.

The plugin is hosted on the official OBS forum and the developer’s GitHub releases page. It has a 4-star rating from over 80 user reviews, and the developer continues to release updates for newer OBS versions.

Prerequisites Before Installing the OBS Multiple RTMP Plugin

Before you install anything, confirm your system meets the minimum requirements. The plugin needs OBS Studio version 27 or newer. I recommend running the latest stable OBS release to avoid compatibility issues that cause crashes.

Check your OBS version by opening OBS and clicking Help, then About. If you are below version 27, update OBS first through the built-in updater or by downloading the latest installer from obsproject.com.

Your operating system matters too. The plugin provides separate builds for Windows (64-bit), macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), and Linux. Make sure you download the build that matches your system.

Bandwidth is the most overlooked prerequisite. If your upload speed cannot handle multiple streams, you will see dropped frames and disconnections. I cover the bandwidth math in detail later, but as a rule of thumb, you need at least 1.5x your total target bitrate as available upload bandwidth.

Finally, gather your stream keys from each platform before you start. The installation and target setup goes much smoother when you have everything ready.

How to Install the OBS Multiple RTMP Output Plugin

Installing the plugin takes about five minutes. The process differs slightly between Windows, macOS, and Linux, so I have broken down each one.

Installing on Windows

Step 1: Close OBS completely. The installer cannot write files if OBS is running.

Step 2: Download the Windows installer from the official GitHub releases page. The file you want ends in -Windows-Installer.exe. Avoid third-party download sites, as some bundle unwanted software.

Step 3: Run the installer. By default, it installs to C:Program Filesobs-studioobs-plugins64bit. Some users have reported the installer does not let you change the directory. If your OBS lives on a different drive, you can manually copy the plugin files after installation.

Step 4: Launch OBS. Go to View in the top menu, then Docks, and look for Multiple RTMP outputs in the list. Click it to open the dock.

If the dock does not appear in the list, the plugin did not install correctly. I cover fixes for this in the troubleshooting section below.

Installing on macOS

Step 1: Close OBS.

Step 2: Download the macOS build from the GitHub releases page. Apple Silicon users (M1, M2, M3) should grab the ARM build. Intel Mac users need the x64 build.

Step 3: The macOS download is a .pkg installer. Double-click it and follow the prompts. The plugin installs to your OBS application support folder automatically.

Step 4: On macOS, you may need to allow the plugin through Gatekeeper. Go to System Settings, Privacy & Security, and click Allow Anyway if you see a security warning about an unidentified developer.

Step 5: Open OBS and enable the dock from View, Docks, Multiple RTMP outputs.

Installing on Linux

Step 1: Close OBS.

Step 2: Linux installation depends on how you installed OBS. If you used Flatpak, you need the Flatpak build of the plugin. If you built OBS from source, you compile the plugin from source as well.

Step 3: For the Flatpak version, download the Flatpak package and run it through your software center or terminal. The plugin lands in the correct Flatpak plugin directory automatically.

Step 4: For binary installations, copy the plugin files to /usr/lib/obs-plugins/ or ~/.config/obs-studio/plugins/ depending on your distribution.

Step 5: Launch OBS and verify the dock appears in View, Docks.

Users on Ubuntu 26 have reported the plugin works great with the latest OBS version, so Linux support is solid as long as you match the plugin build to your installation method.

How to Add Streaming Targets in OBS Multiple RTMP

Once the plugin is installed and the dock is visible, adding streaming targets is straightforward.

Step 1: Open the Multi RTMP dock if it is not already visible. You will see a panel with an Add New Target button.

Step 2: Click Add New Target. A dialog appears asking for a name, RTMP server URL, and stream key.

Step 3: Enter a descriptive name like “Twitch” or “YouTube Live” so you can identify each target at a glance.

Step 4: Paste the RTMP server URL for your platform. I have provided the common URLs in the next section.

Step 5: Paste your stream key. Treat stream keys like passwords. Anyone with your key can stream to your channel.

Step 6: Choose your encoder setting. The plugin offers two modes. Use OBS encoder shares the main OBS encoder, which saves CPU and GPU resources. Use standalone encoder creates a separate encoder instance for that target, letting you set a different bitrate and resolution per platform.

Step 7: Set your video parameters. If using a standalone encoder, you can specify a different bitrate, resolution, and frame rate. For example, you might stream 1080p60 to YouTube and 720p30 to Twitch from the same OBS scene.

Step 8: Click OK to save the target. Repeat for each platform.

Step 9: When you are ready to go live, click the Start button next to each target in the dock. You can start and stop targets individually, which is useful if one platform has a hiccup.

Where to Find Stream Keys and RTMP Server URLs

Each platform hides its stream key and RTMP URL in a slightly different place. Here are the common RTMP server URLs and where to find your stream key on each platform.

Twitch: RTMP server is rtmp://live.twitch.tv/app. Find your stream key in your Twitch Creator Dashboard under Settings, Stream.

YouTube Live: RTMP server is rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2. Find your stream key in YouTube Studio under Create, Go Live, Stream.

Kick: RTMP server is rtmp://fa723fc1b171.global-contribute.live/inet (this can vary, check your Kick dashboard). Find your stream key in your Kick Creator Dashboard under Stream Settings.

Facebook Live: RTMP server is rtmps://live-api-s.facebook.com:443/rtmp. Find your stream key in Facebook Live Producer.

I recommend saving these URLs somewhere accessible so you do not have to hunt for them every time you set up a new target.

Bandwidth Planning for Multi-Platform Streaming

Bandwidth is the number one reason streamers run into problems with the multiple RTMP plugin. When you stream to two or more platforms, your upload connection carries the total combined bitrate.

Here is the formula I use: Total upload needed = sum of all target bitrates + 20% headroom.

For example, if you stream 6000 Kbps to YouTube and 6000 Kbps to Twitch using standalone encoders, your total bitrate is 12000 Kbps. Add 20% headroom and you need at least 14.4 Mbps of dedicated upload bandwidth.

If you use encoder sharing (the “Use OBS encoder” option), each target uses the same stream output, so the total upload equals the number of targets multiplied by your single stream bitrate. Sharing one 6000 Kbps stream to two platforms means you upload 12000 Kbps total.

Test your upload speed at fast.com or speedtest.net. If your sustained upload speed is below your calculated total, you will experience dropped frames and connection drops. Reduce your bitrate or reduce the number of targets.

A practical recommendation: if you have 20 Mbps upload, stick to two platforms at 6000 Kbps each. If you have 10 Mbps upload, consider streaming to one platform locally and using a cloud service for the second.

GPU Encoder Limits and Shared vs Standalone Encoders

This is a topic most guides skip, but it is critical if you use a GPU encoder like NVENC. GPUs have a hard limit on concurrent encoder sessions. On consumer NVIDIA cards, the limit is typically 3 simultaneous NVENC sessions.

If you set every target to use a standalone NVENC encoder, you will hit this limit fast. Two targets plus your main OBS output already uses 3 sessions. Adding a third standalone NVENC target will fail silently or produce errors.

The solution is encoder sharing. When you choose Use OBS encoder for a target, the plugin reuses the main OBS encoder session instead of creating a new one. This does not count against your GPU encoder limit.

Use standalone encoders only when you need a different bitrate or resolution per platform. For most streamers who just want the same stream on multiple platforms, shared encoding is the better choice.

If you use the x264 software encoder instead of NVENC, the limit is your CPU. Multiple standalone x264 encoders will spike your CPU usage and may cause OBS to lag. Again, encoder sharing is your friend here.

Troubleshooting Common OBS Multiple RTMP Issues

Here are the problems I see most often, along with the fixes that actually work.

Plugin not showing up in the Docks menu: This usually means the plugin files are in the wrong directory or OBS is running a version the plugin does not support. Verify your OBS version is 27 or newer. Check that the plugin files are in obs-plugins/64bit on Windows or the equivalent path on your OS. Reinstall using the correct installer for your system.

Failed to connect to server error: This is the most common error and has several causes. First, check that your RTMP server URL is correct and includes no trailing spaces. Second, verify your stream key is current and has not been regenerated on the platform. Third, some platforms require you to be live or have a live event created before the connection works. Fourth, try disabling any VPN or proxy that might interfere with RTMP traffic.

Frame drops on one or more targets: Frame drops almost always point to insufficient bandwidth. Run the bandwidth calculation above. If your upload speed is adequate, check whether your ISP throttles RTMP traffic, which some providers do during peak hours.

OBS crashes after installing the plugin: This indicates a version mismatch. Make sure you downloaded the plugin build that matches your OBS version. If you recently updated OBS, check the GitHub releases page for a newer plugin build. The developer typically releases updates within days of major OBS updates.

Connection works sporadically: Some users report that only 1 out of 50 connection attempts succeeds. This is often a platform-side issue, particularly with YouTube’s ingest servers. Try switching to a different RTMP server URL if your platform offers multiple ingest points.

OBS Multiple RTMP vs Cloud Restreaming Services

Cloud services like Restream, Castr, and Switchboard handle multi-platform streaming on their servers. You send one stream to the cloud service, and they redistribute it. The OBS multiple RTMP plugin does the redistribution on your own machine.

The advantage of the plugin is that it is free and adds zero latency between your OBS output and each platform. The advantage of cloud services is that they reduce your upload bandwidth requirement and handle transcoding for different quality tiers.

If your upload bandwidth is limited or you need platform-specific transcoding, a cloud service makes sense. If you have plenty of bandwidth and want to keep things free, the OBS plugin is the way to go. Many professional streamers use both: the plugin for primary platforms and a cloud service as a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Learning how to set up the OBS multiple RTMP output plugin opens up multi-platform streaming without monthly fees. The setup takes under ten minutes once you have your stream keys and RTMP URLs ready.

Remember the three things that trip up most streamers: verify your OBS version, calculate your bandwidth needs before going live, and use encoder sharing unless you need different quality settings per platform. If you hit connection errors, check your RTMP URL and stream key first, then your network.

I have been using this plugin for multi-platform broadcasting and it handles Twitch plus YouTube streaming without issues when configured correctly. The key is getting the fundamentals right the first time.

If you found this guide helpful, bookmark it for future reference and share it with fellow streamers who want to expand their reach across multiple platforms.