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For an uploaded-video loop that needs to run continuously on YouTube, Castr has the clearer documented fit: it offers a prerecorded-video workflow that can loop to YouTube without a live encoder or source. For a live camera or production feed, Castr also documents continuous streaming subject to an active subscription, sufficient bandwidth, and a source that stays live. Dacast can send an existing encoder channel to YouTube through Simulcast, but its published plans list finite monthly Simulcast-hour allowances; those figures do not establish that a standard plan supports a 24/7 schedule.
If you are choosing among ways to keep a YouTube channel live around the clock, StreamNeo is the first alternative to consider for uploaded videos: it runs the loop in the cloud, supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and includes a free first day.
Which service fits your 24/7 YouTube use case?
The key distinction is the source. A live camera or encoder feed and an uploaded-video loop are different workflows, and the services do not document them in the same way. Castr explicitly describes both continuous live-source streaming and a separate prerecorded-video loop. Dacast’s documented Simulcast flow forwards an existing encoder live channel to YouTube; the available published Simulcast-hour allowances do not establish continuous 24/7 coverage on a standard plan.
| Option | Best documented fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 1. StreamNeo | Cloud playback of uploaded videos to YouTube, with 24/7 looping and playlists. It supports the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and the first day is free. | It plays uploaded videos; it is not a live-camera service. Confirm your storage needs against the included 10 GB per slot, pooled across active slots. |
| Castr | A live source that must remain on, or uploaded prerecorded video looped continuously to YouTube without an encoder. | Bandwidth, simultaneous-stream and destination limits, plus prerecorded-file duration limits for the relevant plan. |
| Dacast | Simulcast from an existing encoder live channel to YouTube and other destinations. | Its listed monthly Simulcast-hour allowance and whether Dacast will support your exact continuous schedule on the plan or a custom arrangement. |
The vendor documentation supports these workflow distinctions, not a head-to-head reliability verdict. Dacast describes Simulcast as attaching destinations to an existing live channel; Castr documents its 24/7 conditions and prerecorded-video workflow. See Dacast’s Simulcast documentation, Castr’s 24/7 streaming guidance and prerecorded-video feature.
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Dacast: YouTube is a destination for an encoder channel
How its Simulcast flow works
Dacast Simulcast does not create the stream from scratch: you first need an encoder live channel, then attach YouTube as a destination. Dacast remains the origin in that arrangement. Its API documentation describes Simulcast as a destination attached to an existing channel.
- Create and configure a Dacast encoder live channel.
- Add YouTube as a Simulcast destination for that channel.
- Recheck the encoder ingest URL after creating destinations. Dacast warns that the ingest URL changes when Simulcast destinations are created; update the encoder configuration if needed.
- Start the encoder and verify the destination in YouTube. Dacast notes that destination-platform issues and limitations depend on the destination platform.
For the exact YouTube stream-key and encoder settings, follow the current instructions for your encoder and YouTube account; the Dacast material cited here establishes the channel-and-destination flow, not a universal encoder configuration.
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Published Simulcast hours are the main 24/7 question
Dacast’s pricing page lists 5 Simulcast hours for Starter, 10 for Event, 28 for Scale, and 40 for Custom. Its support article says the hours reset monthly and unused time does not roll over. These are Dacast-published plan figures accessed October 3, 2026, not independently measured allowances; verify current terms before purchase. A schedule that runs all month needs substantially more time than the listed standard-plan allotments, so ask Dacast directly whether a current plan or custom arrangement covers the precise schedule you need.
Sources: Dacast pricing and Dacast’s Simulcast billing explanation.
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Castr: two distinct ways to keep YouTube live
Continuous live-source streaming
Castr’s help center says continuous event streaming is supported while the subscription remains active, there is enough streaming bandwidth, and the video source stays live. The article was published December 1, 2022; treat its duration statement as subject to the account’s current plan limits and verify current bandwidth terms. An active subscription alone does not remove the need for a stable, continuously running source.
Looping prerecorded video
Castr separately documents a VOD-to-live workflow: upload a video, then schedule it or loop it continuously to YouTube. For this mode, Castr says a live encoder or source is not needed. The plan’s file-duration and simultaneous-prerecorded-stream limits still matter, so check that your intended video or playlist fits. This is the more direct documented Castr workflow when the channel needs repeating uploaded programming rather than a camera feed.
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Connect YouTube
- In Castr, choose Add Platform and select YouTube.
- Either connect the Google account or configure YouTube manually with its RTMP server and stream key.
- Confirm the selected YouTube destination and start the applicable live-source or prerecorded workflow.
Castr documents both connection methods in How to Connect YouTube with Castr. Keep the stream key private; consult YouTube’s current account and live-stream requirements for eligibility, stream configuration, and policy obligations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Published prices and resource limits
These are vendor-published plan figures, not an independent performance comparison. Dacast figures below were accessed October 3, 2026; Castr figures were accessed October 3, 2026. Prices and plan terms can change. Dacast prices shown are monthly rates billed annually.
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| Service and plan | Published price | Bandwidth | Storage | Relevant stream/destination limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dacast Starter | $39/month, billed annually | 2.4 TB annual bandwidth | 500 GB | 5 Simulcast hours monthly |
| Dacast Event | $63/month, billed annually | 6 TB upfront bandwidth | 250 GB | 10 Simulcast hours monthly |
| Dacast Scale | $165/month, billed annually | 24 TB annual bandwidth | 2,000 GB | 28 Simulcast hours monthly |
| Dacast Custom | Quote | Not stated | Not stated | 40 Simulcast hours monthly |
| Castr Starter | $19.99/month, or $16.67/month billed annually | 200 GB monthly, or 2.4 TB annual pool | 100 GB | 2 streams monthly / 3 annually; 6 destinations |
| Castr Standard | $49.99/month, or $41.67/month billed annually | 500 GB monthly, or 6 TB annual pool | 200 GB | 2 streams monthly / 3 annually; 10 destinations |
| Castr Premium | $199.99/month, or $166.67/month billed annually | 3 TB monthly, or 36 TB annual pool | 2 TB | 5 streams monthly / 10 annually; 20 destinations |
| Castr Ultra | $349.99/month, or $291.67/month billed annually | 5 TB monthly, or 60 TB annual pool | 3 TB | 10 streams monthly / 15 annually; 30 destinations |
Plan figures and the advertised 99.9% uptime SLA are listed on Dacast’s pricing page and Castr’s pricing page. The SLA is Castr’s advertised service commitment, not an independent uptime measurement. Compare the bandwidth pool and concurrency against your own schedule rather than choosing by headline price alone.
How to choose for a continuous YouTube schedule
- Uploaded programming, no live source: Castr has an explicitly documented continuous prerecorded-video loop. StreamNeo is a cloud-based option if the goal is simply to keep uploaded videos or a playlist playing on YouTube.
- Camera or production feed: Castr documents 24/7 duration with an active subscription, adequate bandwidth, and a live source. Dacast’s Simulcast can forward an encoder channel, but confirm that its current plan or a custom arrangement supports your exact monthly hours.
- Multiple simultaneous feeds or destinations: compare the tier’s concurrency and destination caps, not only the base price. Castr publishes these limits by plan; Dacast’s Simulcast hours remain a separate scheduling constraint.
- Heavy or uncertain audience demand: estimate bandwidth using your source bitrate, hours streamed, viewer count, and delivery path, then ask the provider to validate unusually high expected use. The published tiers alone do not guarantee that a particular audience load fits.
Cost and policy checks before you commit
- Ask Dacast to confirm in writing the supported Simulcast duration and billing for the exact YouTube schedule, especially for a custom arrangement.
- For Castr, verify current plan-level bandwidth, concurrency, destination, storage, and prerecorded-file duration limits against your specific workflow.
- Review YouTube’s current copyright and live-stream rules. A technical ability to loop a video does not establish that you have rights to its music, footage, or other content, or that the channel will qualify for monetization. Avoid assuming that repeated or reused material is automatically policy-compliant.
- Check that the channel and account are eligible to go live and that the stream is visible in YouTube Studio before relying on the schedule.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is for uploaded-video playback to YouTube, not live camera input. The workflow is three steps:
- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the content from the cloud.
Your computer and home connection do not need to stay on. Every slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots, playlists and 24/7 looping, and automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. Uploads stream as made, up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encode and no quality tiers; there is one flat price per slot for any supported quality. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month; other billing lengths are available, and you can cancel any time. UPI and cards are accepted in India; card checkout is available worldwide. For five or more slots, contact support.
Quick Recap
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
