Compare four different limits separately: the maximum size of one uploaded file, its maximum duration, the capacity of the service’s video library, and how long the outgoing livestream can run. They are not interchangeable. A service may allow a long-running broadcast while imposing a shorter limit on each prerecorded video.
What “upload limit” means
Before comparing services, identify which limit matters for your use case. A per-file cap concerns one video; library capacity concerns everything stored in the account; broadcast duration concerns the outgoing live stream. Destination-platform behavior, such as whether YouTube archives a stream, is a separate issue.
- Maximum file size: the largest individual upload, usually expressed in GB.
- Maximum file duration: the longest individual prerecorded video the service accepts or can use in a simulive workflow.
- Library capacity: total storage, file count, or retention period. These terms may vary by plan.
- Outgoing broadcast duration: how long a hosted stream can continue, which may depend on subscription status, bandwidth, maintenance, or restart behavior.
- Platform archive duration: how much of a stream YouTube retains as an archive; this does not determine whether the live broadcast itself can continue.
Check the current plan documentation before paying: vendors can change limits, and a plan’s storage allowance does not establish a maximum duration for each file.
Published per-file limits: StreamYard
StreamYard publishes explicit prerecorded-video limits by plan. These are per-file size and duration figures, not a promise that one uploaded file can run continuously for 24 hours. The figures below are the documented plan limits in the reviewed StreamYard help pages; verify the current plan details before purchase.
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| StreamYard plan | Maximum size per prerecorded file | Maximum duration per prerecorded file |
|---|---|---|
| Core | 10 GB | 2 hours |
| Advanced | 25 GB | 4 hours |
| Teams | 25 GB | 8 hours |
| Business | 25 GB | 8 hours |
For format guidance, StreamYard supports MP4 and MOV and recommends H.264 video with AAC audio. Its format guidance repeats the 10 GB Core/Advanced and 25 GB Teams/Business file caps. These specifications describe prerecorded uploads; do not infer a 24/7 single-file streaming capability from them.
What the other services document
Restream
Restream’s help page says upload file count, video size, and duration vary by plan, but the reviewed page does not give exact size and duration caps. It lists MP4, MOV, M4V, and MKV as supported formats. Free uploads are stored for 30 days; paid uploads remain until manually deleted, according to Restream’s “What is my video storage?” page (August 5, 2026). Restream’s product page advertises continuous streaming and displays upload-library durations of 2, 4, and 12 hours on plan options; those library-duration figures should not be treated as verified maximum single-file durations.
Rank #2
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Castr
Castr documents two distinct capabilities. Its 24/7 livestream help page says continuous event duration is unlimited while the subscription remains active and there is sufficient streaming bandwidth. Separately, its simulive product page gives plan-dependent maximum prerecorded-file durations from 60 to 240 minutes. A claim about unlimited continuous events therefore does not mean an individual uploaded file can be that long.
Gyre
Gyre describes uploading videos, building playlists, and launching 24/7 broadcasts, with plan-specific storage and simultaneous-stream figures. The reviewed product page does not establish a comparable exact maximum upload size or single-file duration, so do not fill those comparison cells with a guess. Check the relevant plan terms directly before relying on a particular file.
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- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
Compare stream continuity and YouTube archives separately
Restream’s YouTube guidance says YouTube has no stream-duration limit, but archives only streams shorter than 12 hours. This is a platform archive limit, not a maximum length for a hosted broadcast. Restream separately warns that its server may undergo maintenance and restart during a continuous stream lasting more than 24 hours, and suggests restarting every 24 hours. That is a service-continuity consideration, not a YouTube archive rule.
When evaluating a 24/7 setup, look for documentation on looping and playlists, simultaneous streams, scheduled starts, recovery after disconnection, maintenance restarts, and bandwidth conditions. The reviewed details establish some of these capabilities for individual services, but do not provide a complete like-for-like comparison across every item.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
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Check formats and video settings
For an upload workflow, confirm the accepted container and encoding guidance before preparing a library. StreamYard’s guidance supports MP4 and MOV and recommends H.264 video and AAC audio. Restream lists MP4, MOV, M4V, and MKV for uploads.
For YouTube stream settings, Restream’s “Stream to YouTube” guidance (July 9, 2026) lists H.264 video, resolutions from 240p to 2160p, bitrates from 3,000 to 40,000 Kbps depending on resolution and frame rate, up to 60 fps, and a recommended two-second keyframe interval with a four-second maximum. It lists AAC or MP3 audio. These are settings documented by Restream, not a freshly tested universal preset; use the settings appropriate to your resolution, frame rate, encoder, and destination workflow.
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- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
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A practical comparison checklist
- Start with your largest file. Record its size and duration separately; a file can fall below a size cap and still exceed a duration cap.
- Match the exact plan. Put the plan name and the date you checked beside every limit. Do not compare an unspecified plan with a named tier.
- Check library rules. Confirm total storage, file count, and retention period. A retention window is not a per-file cap.
- Confirm format compatibility. Check containers and codec/audio guidance before uploading a large collection.
- Verify how “24/7” works. Establish whether the service loops one file or a playlist, supports the needed concurrent streams, and documents recovery or restart behavior.
- Separate service behavior from YouTube behavior. Check stream continuity and archive retention as different requirements.
- Recheck before purchase. Vendor plans and YouTube rules can change, so verify the current documentation and your destination configuration.
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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.
