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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →To compare cloud VM prices for a YouTube loop stream, calculate the effective cost for the same region, machine, operating system, storage, and runtime—not just the advertised hourly compute rate. Add any license, disk, outbound-transfer, and required-service charges, then check what you owe if you stop or delete the VM. For a stream that runs continuously, the monthly total and billing rules matter more than the lowest short-run rate.
Build an apples-to-apples monthly estimate
Cloud VM pricing varies by provider, region, machine type, operating system and licensing, runtime, storage, and network use. A useful comparison holds those inputs constant and totals every charge needed to keep the encoder running.
- Choose one region for every quote. Machine prices and resource availability can vary by location. Google Cloud’s VM pricing page separates machine families and notes that location matters; check each provider’s current pricing for the region you plan to use.
- Match the VM configuration. Compare equivalent vCPU, memory, architecture, and performance class. A cheaper machine with less capacity is not an equivalent price.
- Use the same operating system and image. Include paid operating-system licenses or marketplace image charges. Google’s pricing documentation notes that some resources are outside the instance price.
- Set the runtime to your actual schedule. Use the hours the VM will be on in the billing period. Microsoft’s Azure pricing calculator documentation uses 730 hours as the default month for a VM example; that is a calculator convention, not a universal definition of a month. Use the selected provider’s calculator and billing terms rather than silently substituting 30 days.
- Add storage and other required services separately. Include persistent disks, snapshots, IP addresses, monitoring, backups, and support only when required, and verify whether each is separately billed.
- Estimate outbound data and check bandwidth limits. Account for the encoder’s sustained upload to YouTube, the provider’s egress pricing, and the VM’s network capacity.
A starting worksheet is compute rate × billed hours + storage + licenses + outbound transfer + required extras. This is a comparison framework, not a universal billing formula: discounts, agreements, and provider-specific rules can change the result. Check the calculator output for your account, currency, region, and agreement. Azure says its calculator can display negotiated prices when signed in, and its retail pricing data is sourced from the Azure Retail Prices API.
| Input | What to hold constant or calculate |
|---|---|
| Cloud region | Use the same region for each VM quote; pricing and availability can differ by location. |
| VM configuration | Match vCPU, memory, architecture, and performance class. |
| Operating system | Include paid OS and marketplace-image charges. |
| Runtime | Use planned hours for the billing period; use 730 hours only where the calculator assumes it. |
| Storage | Add disks and snapshots separately where applicable. |
| Network | Estimate sustained encoder upload and check egress pricing and bandwidth limits. |
| Extras | Include required IP addresses, monitoring, backups, support, or other separately metered services. |
Understand what hourly and monthly prices actually mean
Hourly rates help with short or variable runs
An hourly rate makes it easier to estimate a test or a stream that runs only part of a month. For a 24/7 loop, multiply by the planned billed hours—but first confirm the provider’s definition of billable time, rounding, and what continues to incur charges after shutdown.
#1 Best Overall
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Monthly plans can make continuous use easier to budget
A fixed monthly price or an hourly charge capped at a monthly plan price can simplify budgeting when the VM runs most or all of the month. Amazon Lightsail states: “For every Lightsail plan you use, we charge you the fixed hourly price, up to the maximum monthly plan cost.” Its published billing FAQ lists a lowest-plan starting rate of $0.0067 USD/hour and $5 USD/month. Treat those figures as a published example, not a recommendation or a like-for-like quote: check the plan configuration and region before comparing it with another provider.
Do not assume that every provider calculates its monthly price from 730 hours or offers an hourly cap. For example, Google’s Compute Engine documentation says usage charges are summarized in the billing cycle; use its current calculator and terms to check the applicable line items and discounts.
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Stopped is not always deleted
Check the billing consequences of both actions. AWS says Lightsail instances accrue charges even while stopped, and plan charges continue until the instance is deleted. If deleted before month-end, the bill is prorated by hours used. Other services and providers can have different rules, so confirm what happens to the VM, attached storage, and any reserved resources in your account before relying on a shutdown to reduce cost.
Include the stream’s network and archive requirements
Size the VM’s outbound stream, not the audience
In a typical setup, the VM runs the encoder and sends one feed to YouTube; YouTube transcodes the live stream for viewers. Do not multiply the VM’s outbound stream rate by the audience size as if the VM delivered every viewer’s playback. You still need to check that the VM can sustain the encoder’s upload bitrate and that the provider’s egress policy and network limits suit the stream.
Rank #3
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YouTube’s current encoder settings table recommends H.264 at 5–14 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps and 6–17 Mbps for 1080p at 60 fps. These are YouTube’s recommended encoder bitrate ranges, not estimates of VM cost. See YouTube’s live encoder settings. Google Cloud notes that egress capacity can have per-instance and per-flow limits that vary by machine series; check the specific VM’s limits and the selected provider’s network terms.
Keep the stream key private
YouTube’s encoder setup uses a stream URL and stream key, and its settings recommend RTMPS, a secure extension of RTMP. Treat the key like a password: do not expose it in public scripts, screenshots, or logs. Follow YouTube’s instructions for setting up a live stream encoder and use the stream URL and key shown in YouTube Studio.
Rank #4
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Separate continuous broadcasting from archiving
A continuously running loop is not the same as a guaranteed full-length recording. YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived and warns, “If your stream exceeds 12 hours, it may not be captured at all.” Its DVR guidance also says rewind capability may be limited or unavailable for very long streams. If you need an archive, plan for that separately; the official guidance does not promise an intact archive of a 24/7 feed. See YouTube’s live stream archive guidance and DVR controls.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Compare provider quotes and check the result
Use each provider’s calculator with the same worksheet, then compare effective totals and the conditions behind them. A single headline rate cannot establish a universal winner without knowing the workload and billing terms.
The Tool Desk
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- Monthly total for equivalent resources, location, OS, storage, and runtime.
- What is billed while stopped, and what is prorated or retained after deletion.
- Availability of the chosen machine and required resources in your region.
- Included transfer, egress fees, and sustained network capacity for the encoder bitrate.
- Whether the VM can run the selected encoder reliably at the target resolution and frame rate.
- Any separately charged disks, licenses, IP addresses, monitoring, backups, or support.
Before starting a long-running loop, compare the calculator estimate with the billing terms for your specific account and plan. A price shown for one region, configuration, or agreement should not be treated as a global rate.
Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is simply to keep uploaded videos playing as a YouTube live stream, StreamNeo is the #1 option to consider: it loops from the cloud at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, and the first day is free.
- Upload a recording or build a playlist.
- Add your YouTube stream key once.
- Go live; StreamNeo loops the video from the cloud.
Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. Every slot supports the video as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, with no re-encode or quality tiers; StreamNeo automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. The service is for uploaded videos and streams to YouTube only. See StreamNeo or all plan lengths and pricing; UPI and cards are accepted in India, and cards are available worldwide. Start the free day with no card at StreamNeo registration.
Quick Recap
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.
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