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What you are comparing
Compute Engine and EC2 are virtual machines you can configure to run an encoder or relay continuously and send its output to YouTube. A looped prerecorded file, a live camera feed that must be encoded, and a relay of an already encoded feed place different demands on CPU, memory, storage and network capacity. Identify which workflow you have before choosing a VM.
This is a comparison of a VM sending a feed to YouTube—not a comparison of complete services that ingest, transcode and distribute video to viewers. If your stream is hosted on YouTube, the cloud VM’s outbound feed goes to YouTube’s ingest endpoint; viewers watch through YouTube.
Compare the costs that make up a 24/7 bill
There is no defensible single monthly price without a region, instance type, operating system, disk, stream profile and expected running hours. Both providers’ calculator results depend on those inputs, and the VM is only one part of the bill.
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| Cost or constraint | Google Compute Engine | AWS EC2 | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compute runtime | Depends on the selected machine, region and runtime; use the Compute Engine pricing information and calculator. | On-Demand charges accrue from launch until stop or termination. Linux and several other listed operating systems bill per second for partial instance-hours, with a 60-second minimum. See EC2 On-Demand Instance Pricing. | Use the same region, OS, machine capacity and monthly running hours in each estimate. Include any discounts only if you qualify and expect to keep them. |
| Outbound internet transfer | Google’s product overview states that standard network tier includes up to 200 GB per month outbound and that premium-tier outbound transfer starts at $0.08 per GB. Confirm current applicability and rates for your configuration in the calculator. | AWS states that 100 GB/month of internet data transfer out is free across AWS services and regions, except China and GovCloud; usage across the listed services affects aggregate rate tiers. Confirm current scope and charges on the pricing page. | Estimate the stream’s monthly outbound payload and check how the applicable allowance, tier and region affect the bill. |
| Storage and other resources | Boot/data disks and any network resources you select can add charges. | Storage and network resources are separate from the instance charge and can add charges. | Include boot and data disks, IP or network resources where applicable, and any additional services. Do not assume the VM price includes them. |
| Network capacity | Per-instance egress ceilings depend on machine series and destination; the documented general limit is around 2 Gbps per vCPU, with exceptions. | A comparable stream-specific sustained-throughput figure is not established by the cited EC2 pricing page. | Treat published bandwidth limits as ceilings, not guaranteed throughput to YouTube. Measure the actual route and workload. |
Google documents bandwidth limits and their dependencies in Compute Engine network bandwidth documentation. Actual throughput can be lower because of the machine and destination, NIC configuration, drivers, packet size, protocol overhead, flow count, guest operating system, congestion and competition with disk I/O. A maximum egress figure does not show what your stream will sustain.
Do not choose an advertised entry-level VM solely because its listed starting price is low. A small shared-core instance may not have enough capacity for your encoder, and a prerecorded file loop can have very different compute needs from live encoding. Validate the candidate with the intended codec, resolution and frame rate.
Rank #2
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Estimate the stream’s transfer volume
A continuous feed accumulates outbound data. For a first estimate, multiply the target bitrate by the hours you expect to stream, then convert the result from bits to bytes. Add a margin for protocol overhead and reconnects, and use the result to examine the provider’s transfer pricing. The bitrate is not the full VM bill, and a transfer allowance does not mean the stream has no compute or storage cost.
Use YouTube’s recommended H.264 bitrate for the profile you actually plan to send. YouTube’s current encoder settings guidance lists these recommendations:
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Rank #3
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
| Resolution and frame rate | Recommended H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|
| 240p–720p at 30 fps | 4 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 6 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 10 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 12 Mbps |
| 1440p at 30 fps | 15 Mbps |
| 1440p at 60 fps | 24 Mbps |
| 2160p at 30 fps | 30 Mbps |
| 2160p at 60 fps | 35 Mbps |
These are YouTube ingest recommendations for H.264, not a VM sizing guide or a promise of stable throughput. YouTube’s guidance gives separate minimum and maximum ranges for AV1 and H.265; do not apply the H.264 figures to those codecs.
Choose between Compute Engine and EC2
Use a like-for-like decision rather than choosing from a general claim about provider pricing or reliability. The available pricing pages do not establish a universal winner for this workload, and there is no like-for-like end-to-end reliability comparison here.
Rank #4
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| Decision axis | Compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder workload | Codec, resolution, frame rate, source type, and whether encoding uses CPU, GPU or an already encoded feed. | This determines compute and memory requirements. Looping a file differs from encoding a live camera feed. |
| Monthly compute | Exact VM type, operating system, region, running hours and applicable discounts. | A continuously running instance incurs ongoing compute charges. |
| Outbound transfer | Target bitrate, actual stream hours, region, network tier and monthly allowance. | Continuous outbound traffic adds up; pricing rules and allowances differ. |
| Network performance | Applicable VM egress limits, route to YouTube, and measured sustained throughput. | A published maximum is not a guarantee of stream stability. |
| Recovery | Process supervision, VM restart behavior, health checks, alerts and recovery target. | A running VM does not by itself ensure the encoder process or YouTube connection recovers from a fault. |
| Architecture | One outbound feed to YouTube versus a service that also transcodes or distributes to viewers. | These are different workloads with different costs. |
Keep viewer-distribution architectures separate
AWS’s Live Streaming on AWS implementation guide describes a broader pipeline using MediaLive, MediaPackage and CloudFront, including delivery to viewers. One example estimates a total of $1,505.60 per hour under its stated assumptions: roughly 10,000 viewers, US East (N. Virginia), and specified bitrate, cache and highest-bitrate assumptions. That example is not an EC2 price for one encoder sending a stream to YouTube. It illustrates how serving viewers through a distribution architecture can have a very different cost profile.
A practical comparison and validation procedure
- Define the stream. Write down whether the source is a prerecorded loop, live camera feed or relay; choose the codec, resolution, frame rate and target bitrate.
- Set the operating assumptions. Choose a region for each provider, the operating system, expected monthly running hours, disk needs and a recovery objective. Keep the assumptions comparable.
- Estimate outbound data. Multiply target bitrate by expected streaming hours, convert bits to bytes and allow for protocol overhead and reconnects. Check each provider’s current regional network charges and any applicable transfer allowance.
- Price both configurations. Use the Google Cloud and AWS calculators for the intended machine, region, OS, disks, runtime and transfer. Compare total monthly estimates, not just instance rates.
- Test the actual encoder profile. Run a sustained test and monitor CPU or GPU use, memory, throughput, dropped frames and process restarts. A theoretical network ceiling is not a substitute for a measured run.
- Check recovery before relying on it. Test what happens when the encoder process exits, the VM restarts or the YouTube connection drops. Confirm that alerts reach someone who can act, and that the stream returns as intended.
YouTube ingest and stream-key basics
YouTube supports RTMP and RTMPS and recommends RTMPS, its secure extension of RTMP. Its encoder guidance recommends a two-second keyframe interval and says not to exceed four seconds. Set the encoder to match the selected YouTube profile, then confirm the stream health in YouTube Studio before relying on an always-on setup.
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- Use the stream key associated with the intended YouTube live stream, and treat it as a credential: do not expose it in screenshots, public logs or shared configuration.
- Check that the encoder’s codec, resolution, frame rate and bitrate align with the selected profile and YouTube’s recommendations.
- Review YouTube’s copyright and monetization requirements for the content you plan to loop. A cloud VM does not grant rights to music, video or other material, and continuous availability does not make reused content eligible for monetization.
- Confirm the channel’s live-streaming access and stream setup in YouTube Studio before configuring an unattended feed.
Common problems and what to check
- Stream drops when the VM is still running: Check whether the encoder process stopped, lost its input or lost its connection to YouTube. Configure process supervision and verify the reconnect behavior rather than assuming the VM’s state guarantees a live stream.
- Encoder reports unstable upload or dropped frames: Compare measured sustained throughput with the stream bitrate, including overhead. Check VM egress limits, the destination route, CPU/GPU saturation, disk I/O and guest network settings.
- Stream starts but YouTube reports an issue: Verify the stream key, ingest protocol and selected profile. Check codec-specific bitrate guidance and set a two-second keyframe interval, staying within YouTube’s four-second maximum.
- Estimated cost is higher than expected: Separate compute, disk and outbound transfer; check region and network tier, running hours and whether usage is aggregated with other services. Do not compare a single VM against a multi-service viewer-distribution estimate.
- Stream does not recover after a restart: Check that the encoder starts automatically, has access to its input and key, and can reconnect to YouTube. Test the full restart path and alerting before leaving it unattended.
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want a prerecorded YouTube stream without keeping a VM, encoder or home computer running, StreamNeo is a cloud service built for that workflow: upload a recording or playlist, add your YouTube stream key once and go live. It loops uploaded video to YouTube; it does not stream from a camera.
- Nothing has to stay on at home: StreamNeo runs the loop in the cloud.
- One flat price per slot for any quality up to 4K 60fps as uploaded, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
- Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
- The first day is free with no card required (one free day per account).
- Monthly: $9.99 per month.
Each slot includes one always-on stream, 10 GB storage per slot pooled across active slots, looping and playlists, and StreamNeo team support. The product is the same on every plan; only the billing period changes. UPI and cards are available in India; card checkout is available worldwide. See StreamNeo pricing, or start your free first day.
Quick Recap
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