Owncast
Open-source · self-hostable · replaces 2 SaaS tools on os-alt
owncast/owncast · alive · ★ 11.2k · last commit today · 188 open issues
License: MIT
Good fit for Streamers who want a Twitch-like single-channel experience under their own domain with no platform cut.
Weak at No multi-channel directory or discovery; chat is single-room (no IRC-style rooms or Twitch's emote economy).
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli twitch prints
the Twitch comparison table including Owncast.
how the CLI works →
Replaces these SaaS
- Twitch · Live streaming + chat
Run `docker run -p 8080:8080 -p 1935:1935 -v $HOME/owncast-data:/app/data owncast/owncast`. Set the RTMP stream key in the admin panel; point OBS or Streamlabs at `rtmp://your-host:1935/live` and start streaming. Owncast ships with built-in chat (auth via Fediverse follow or guest), customizable themes, and Fediverse notifications when you go live so Mastodon followers get pinged. There's no backfill — past streams stay on Twitch unless you download VODs and host them on a separate site.
- YouTube (creator) · Video hosting + publishing
Owncast is live-streaming-shaped, not VOD-shaped, but covers the 'go live + chat + my own brand' slice of YouTube Live. Run `docker run -p 8080:8080 -p 1935:1935 -v $HOME/owncast-data:/app/data owncast/owncast`. Point OBS at `rtmp://your-host:1935/live` with the stream key from the admin panel. Past streams archive automatically as VOD entries.
README badges for the SaaS this replaces
Maintainers and forks: drop a badge in your README to link readers from the SaaS-comparison page back to your repo.
