Cost Effective Alternative to LiveU
The LiveU series of live video transmission and video streaming solutions are very popular within the live streaming industry. Whether we're talking about video professionals, event companies or media outlets, LiveU is almost always on the comparison matrix when choosing such a service, along with Teradek, Peplink, Mushroom Networks, etc.
If you have the money and resources, you can definitely go for a LiveU hardware unit plus the subscription for live video. You can also rent one for your event or live broadcast. However, there is a cheaper, more cost-effective alternative to LiveU that can help you get the fastest, most reliable and secure Internet for your live streaming broadcasts: Speedify. Learn more about it in this article.
LiveU vs. Speedify - Which is Better
Looking for an alternative to LiveU? Here's how Speedify compares from the point of view of fast, reliable and secure Internet:
|
LiveU |
Speedify |
|
|
Typical equipment - what you get for what you pay |
Dedicated hardware bonding device + streaming service subscription |
Software subscription to run directly on supported devices |
|
Portability - can be used on the go |
Some solutions only - e.g. LiveU Solo |
Yes, depending on the device it’s running on: laptop, mobile device |
|
Supported connection types |
Wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular |
Wired Ethernet, Wi-Fi, cellular |
|
Supported operating systems |
All |
All major ones - Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux |
|
Technology |
LiveU Reliable Transport (LRT) |
|
|
Maximum bitrate |
20 Mbps for streaming / 60 Mbps for file transfer (LU600 HEVC) |
1 Gbps (Speedify with dedicated server) |
|
Cost |
Starting at $995 for the LiveU solo + $450 / year for the LRT service |
Both solutions work very well for use cases such as:
- IRL live streaming
- remote learning
- online and hybrid events - including wedding videography, concerts, etc.
- reporting from the field
- entertainment
- houses of worship
Why Choose Speedify as an Alternative to LiveU
As you can see above, there are three main differentiators when it comes to LiveU vs. Speedify:
- hardware vs. software-only - LiveU claims at least some of their solutions are "one touch, wireless live streaming", given you get that preconfigured dedicated hardware. Speedify's solution defaults prioritize live streaming while running on any supported device. Being a software-only service, Speedify is much more versatile and portable. It's not limited to specific bandwidths and you don't need additional power or equipment to get great results when live streaming or transferring files.
- Cost - LiveU has an initial investment of at least $995 for their Solo, as well as a monthly or yearly subscription cost for their LRT technology. With Speedify, you only pay for the monthly or yearly subscription, which is more affordable on its own than the one from LiveU.
- Flexibility - with LiveU you are commited to their dedicated bonding hardware. Speedify allows you to turn any supported device into a bonded streaming machine. If you want, you can even create your own bonded Internet router and use it in a similar way to a LiveU hardware device.
Looking for a real world use case? Read about Doug Piper's decision to live stream beer tasting using Speedify after considering a LiveU setup.
Speedify - the Best Alternative to LiveU
Speedify is the only app that can combine multiple internet sources into one bonded super-connection for more stable and secure live streaming, video calling, and web browsing. Its channel bonding technology uses all available connections at the same time instead of switching between them.
The main benefit of this is getting a stable connection, with failover protection, which is very important when live streaming anything. If one of your connections fails or becomes unusable, Speedify will route all the data through the other working connection(s) until performance is on par with the initial connection. Speedify automates all of this activity. You don’t have to do anything, and you most likely won’t even notice anything different is happening.
As a VPN, the Speedify alternative to LiveU provides advanced encryption, without forcing you to sacrifice speed or reliability. Speedify is compatible with all recent computers and mobile devices. Please check the updated system requirements on the download page.
Download Speedify
Speedify is the only app that combines your wifi, cellular, wired, and even your friend’s phone signals – and turns them into one ultra-fast and super secure link that keeps you all connected for the best possible live streaming, video calling, or just posting to your favorite app.
