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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThere is no evidence-backed universal winner. For a YouTube gaming stream relayed through a cloud VM, the bill depends on the VM, how long it runs, outbound data, region, and account terms. Both AWS and Azure state that the first 100 GB/month of internet egress is free under their respective terms, but that does not make every stream free or establish which provider costs less.
“VOD livestream” can mean either a live broadcast that is later available as a video-on-demand replay, or a prerecorded video played as a live stream. The comparison below treats it as a live gaming stream sent to YouTube, which may then be archived as a replay. It does not assume a separate VOD hosting workflow.
What you are paying for when a cloud VM sends a stream to YouTube
For a basic setup, the VM encodes or relays one outgoing feed to YouTube. YouTube handles viewer playback and its own transcoding in this architecture, so do not add a cloud-origin delivery charge for every viewer as if the VM were serving the audience directly. The relevant comparison is the VM and its resources plus the data sent from that VM to YouTube. Provider calculator estimates should use the same workload before you compare totals.
- Compute: the VM’s operating system and CPU/memory shape, multiplied by the hours it is powered on. A VM left running continuously can cost considerably more than one started only for scheduled broadcasts.
- Outbound data: the stream’s bitrate multiplied by its live hours, priced under the selected region’s current egress rules and free allowance.
- Other resources: disk, public IP, snapshots, monitoring, and any reserved or static resources the setup needs. The published pricing information cited here does not establish a complete comparable monthly total for these items.
- Commercial terms: discounts, taxes, currency conversion, and negotiated agreements can change the bill. Azure says its estimates are not price quotes and may vary with agreement, date, and exchange rate; AWS says listed prices exclude applicable taxes and duties. Azure bandwidth pricing · AWS EC2 On-Demand pricing
Estimate outbound data from bitrate and stream hours
YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends 17 Mbps for H.264 at 1080p60. At a steady 17 megabits per second, one hour sends about 7.65 decimal GB: 17 Ă— 3,600 Ă· 8 Ă· 1,000. That is a calculation from the recommended bitrate, not a published YouTube traffic statistic. Allow for audio, protocol overhead, variable bitrate behavior, and the actual hours streamed when estimating. YouTube live encoder settings
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Use this estimate to determine the data volume to enter in each provider’s calculator. For example, multiply approximately 7.65 GB by the number of hours streamed at that bitrate; do not treat the result as a complete bill or assume every hour will use precisely that amount.
How AWS and Azure egress terms compare
| Provider | Published allowance or rate relevant here | What it does—and does not—show |
|---|---|---|
| AWS | 100 GB/month of internet data transfer out is stated as free. AWS says the allowance is aggregated across AWS services and regions, subject to stated China and GovCloud exceptions. AWS EC2 On-Demand pricing | The reviewed pricing information does not establish the applicable India/Asia overage rate for this workload. Check the current calculator and account terms. |
| Azure | The first 100 GB/month of internet egress is stated as free across Azure regions. For Asia-origin egress, the next 10 TB tier is listed at $0.12/GB using Microsoft’s Premium Global Network routing preference, or $0.11/GB using its transit ISP routing preference. Azure bandwidth pricing | These are published estimates, not a personalized quote; the page says pricing can vary. The selected routing preference and applicable tier matter. |
The two 100 GB allowances have their own provider terms; do not assume they stack across multiple accounts or that every traffic category is treated identically. Confirm which traffic is covered for the chosen route and account. The visible Azure Asia tier cannot establish that Azure is cheaper than AWS when the matching AWS overage rate and VM quote have not been established.
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Make a fair, workload-matched quote
- Define the schedule. Write down the monthly live hours and whether the VM will stop between broadcasts. Compare the same powered-on time on both providers.
- Match the VM and operating system. Choose comparable CPU and memory for the same encoder or relay workload, and use the same operating system assumptions. Compare the selected VM prices in the providers’ current calculators rather than relying on a generic starting price.
- Set the stream parameters. Record resolution, frame rate, codec, and bitrate. Use the corresponding YouTube guidance as a planning reference; actual bitrate and data use can vary.
- Calculate outbound volume. Multiply bitrate by stream hours, convert bits to bytes, and enter the same estimated volume for each provider. Apply each provider’s region-specific egress rules and allowance.
- Add required resources. Include disks, public IPs, snapshots, monitoring, and other resources needed by your design. The two providers’ calculators may not present identical defaults, so inspect line items rather than comparing only a headline total.
- Check your real terms. Apply eligible account discounts, agreement pricing, taxes, and currency conversion. Recalculate close to deployment because cloud prices and terms can change.
Use YouTube’s settings to make the traffic estimate realistic
YouTube recommends RTMPS, a secure extension of RTMP. Its current encoder guidance lists H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1; up to 60 fps; constant bitrate (CBR); and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. Recommended bitrate varies by resolution, frame rate, and codec. For 1080p60, the listed recommendation is 17 Mbps for H.264 and 12 Mbps for AV1 or H.265/HEVC. YouTube live encoder settings
Set the encoder and stream key for the YouTube broadcast you intend to run, then test a representative workload and watch YouTube’s stream health indicators. For a cost estimate, use the actual chosen bitrate and expected live hours rather than assuming 1080p60 applies to every gaming stream.
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Do not confuse a YouTube relay with AWS IVS
AWS Interactive Video Service (IVS) is a separate managed live-video product. Its pricing is expressed per viewer-hour and video quality, unlike a VM relay sending one feed to YouTube, where YouTube handles audience playback. IVS is relevant only if you need a separately managed interactive streaming service; its viewer-hour rates are not a like-for-like price for the VM-to-YouTube design. AWS announced India edge locations in Mumbai and Chennai on April 22, 2021. AWS IVS pricing · AWS announcement on India edge locations
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With StreamNeo, upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. Your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card; the monthly price is $9.99 per month. See StreamNeo or its plans. For a live camera broadcast rather than uploaded video playback, this is not the right tool.
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