For an always-on YouTube channel, Castr has the clearer documented fit of these two services—but the right choice depends on whether you are sending a live source or looping uploaded videos. Castr describes continuous live streaming subject to an active subscription and sufficient bandwidth, and separately documents a prerecorded-video workflow that can loop to YouTube. Dacast can forward an existing encoder channel to YouTube, but its published Simulcast allocations are finite monthly hour allowances. Confirm with Dacast that your plan or a custom arrangement covers your exact schedule before relying on it for uninterrupted streaming.
First decide what “always-on” means for your channel
There are two different workflows, and they are not interchangeable:
- Live source: a camera, production system, or encoder continuously sends a live feed. The service forwards that source to YouTube.
- Uploaded-video programming: you provide prerecorded videos and the service plays them as a live stream, often in a loop. This can operate without a live encoder or camera, but plan limits on files and simultaneous streams may apply.
For a live source, compare each service’s continuous-use conditions, bandwidth, and stream limits. For uploaded videos, check specifically for continuous prerecorded playout to YouTube rather than assuming that a service’s general VOD or simulcast feature provides it.
Dacast vs Castr: the practical differences
| What to compare | Dacast | Castr | What it means for 24/7 YouTube |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live source to YouTube | Simulcast forwards an existing encoder live channel to YouTube; it does not create the channel. Dacast is the origin. Dacast Simulcast API documentation | YouTube can be added through an account connection or by entering the RTMP server and stream key. Castr says a live source can run continuously while the subscription is active and bandwidth is sufficient. Castr YouTube setup · Castr 24/7 guidance | Castr states continuous-duration support with conditions. With Dacast, verify that your Simulcast hours cover the schedule. |
| Looping uploaded videos | Dacast supports VOD-to-Live generally, but the cited plan and support material does not establish continuous looping to YouTube on a standard plan. Dacast pricing and plan details | Castr documents uploading a prerecorded file and scheduling or continuously looping it to YouTube and other destinations without an encoder or live source. Concurrent-stream and file-duration limits depend on the plan. Castr prerecorded-video workflow | For an uploaded-video loop that does not need a live source, Castr’s documented workflow is the more directly established fit. Check file-duration limits against your intended programming. |
| Simulcast or destination allowances | Published allowances are 5 hours for Starter, 10 for Event, 28 for Scale, and 40 for Custom. Dacast says hours reset monthly and unused time does not roll over. Dacast pricing · Dacast Simulcast billing | The pricing page lists destination totals from 6 on Starter to 30 on Ultra/Events, alongside plan-specific concurrency and bandwidth limits. Castr pricing | Destination count is not the same as permission or capacity for one uninterrupted stream. Check continuous usage, bandwidth, and concurrency separately. |
| YouTube setup details | Create an encoder live channel, then add YouTube as a Simulcast destination. The Dacast support article warns that creating destinations changes the encoder ingest URL, so recheck the encoder configuration. Dacast simulcasting setup | Choose YouTube under Add Platform, then connect the account or enter YouTube’s RTMP server and stream key. Castr YouTube setup | In either workflow, YouTube remains a separate destination with its own stream operation and possible platform-side issues. |
What the published plans cost and include
The following are vendor-published prices and resource limits on pages accessed October 3, 2026, not independently measured performance. Dacast’s listed monthly prices are billed annually; Castr shows both monthly and annual-billing prices. Plan names and allowances can change, so confirm the current offer before purchase.
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| Service and plan | Published price | Bandwidth | Storage | Streams / destinations or Simulcast hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dacast Starter | $39/month, billed annually | 2.4 TB annual bandwidth | 500 GB | 5 Simulcast hours per month |
| Dacast Event | $63/month, billed annually | 6 TB upfront bandwidth | 250 GB | 10 Simulcast hours per month |
| Dacast Scale | $165/month, billed annually | 24 TB annual bandwidth | 2,000 GB | 28 Simulcast hours per month |
| Dacast Custom | Quote | Not stated in the cited figures | Not stated in the cited figures | 40 Simulcast hours per month |
| Castr Starter | $19.99/month, or $16.67/month billed annually | 200 GB monthly, or 2.4 TB annual pool | 100 GB | 2 streams monthly / 3 annually; 6 destinations |
| Castr Standard | $49.99/month, or $41.67/month billed annually | 500 GB monthly, or 6 TB annual pool | 200 GB | 2 streams monthly / 3 annually; 10 destinations |
| Castr Premium | $199.99/month, or $166.67/month billed annually | 3 TB monthly, or 36 TB annual pool | 2 TB | 5 streams monthly / 10 annually; 20 destinations |
| Castr Ultra | $349.99/month, or $291.67/month billed annually | 5 TB monthly, or 60 TB annual pool | 3 TB | 10 streams monthly / 15 annually; 30 destinations |
Dacast’s published Simulcast-hour figures are monthly allowances that reset without rollover. Castr’s 24/7 help article describes unlimited event duration only while the subscription stays active and there is enough bandwidth; its current pricing page lists finite bandwidth by plan. Castr also advertises a 99.9% uptime SLA on that pricing page; this is the vendor’s stated SLA, not an independent uptime measurement. Dacast pricing · Dacast Simulcast billing · Castr pricing · Castr 24/7 guidance
How to choose for your schedule
Choose Castr when you need an uploaded-video loop
Castr explicitly describes sending prerecorded files as a live broadcast and looping them continuously to YouTube. Confirm the maximum file duration and the number of prerecorded streams you can run concurrently on the plan you intend to use. If your channel uses a sequence of files, check that the workflow supports your intended schedule rather than assuming a single-file loop meets every playlist need.
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Consider Castr for a continuous live source, subject to capacity
Castr’s help guidance says the event can continue without a fixed duration limit when the subscription is active and bandwidth is sufficient, and the source itself remains live. Match your expected continuous bitrate and viewer demand to the selected plan’s bandwidth allowance; the duration statement does not remove those resource limits.
Use Dacast only after confirming the hours fit
Dacast is a destination-forwarding workflow: first create an encoder live channel, then add YouTube through Simulcast. The published allowances of 5, 10, 28, or 40 monthly hours do not establish coverage for a 24/7 schedule. Ask Dacast to confirm in writing whether the current plan or a custom arrangement supports the exact continuous schedule and what it costs. Recheck the encoder ingest URL after adding destinations.
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Estimate bandwidth before committing
For a continuously delivered stream, bandwidth demand depends on the source bitrate, how long it runs, viewer traffic, and the service’s delivery path. A low-viewer channel may have very different delivery needs from one with a large audience, even at the same video bitrate. Compare the vendor’s allowance with your expected schedule and audience, and ask the vendor to validate unusually heavy or uncertain usage. Do not treat a statement about unlimited duration as unlimited bandwidth.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common setup problems
The YouTube destination will not connect
- For Castr, confirm whether you used account connection or manual RTMP setup; if manual, check that the server and stream key are the values YouTube currently provides.
- For Dacast, verify that the encoder channel exists before attaching YouTube as a destination. After adding destinations, recheck the encoder ingest URL because Dacast says it changes during this setup.
- Confirm that the selected YouTube destination is configured and active in the streaming service. Both providers rely on YouTube as the receiving platform, so a destination-side issue may not be controlled by the forwarding service.
The stream stops before a full day
- With Castr, check that the subscription remains active, bandwidth is sufficient, and a live-source workflow is actually receiving a live source. For prerecorded playout, check the file-duration and concurrent-stream limits on the plan.
- With Dacast, compare elapsed streaming time with the plan’s monthly Simulcast hours. The published hours are finite and unused time does not roll over.
- Ask the service to confirm the exact plan limits and schedule if your use is close to an allowance or relies on a custom arrangement.
The video is not looping as intended
Verify that you selected Castr’s prerecorded-video workflow rather than configuring a live-source event. Check the selected file and its duration against the plan’s limits, then confirm whether the schedule is set to repeat continuously. Dacast’s cited material does not establish continuous prerecorded looping to YouTube on a standard plan; obtain confirmation before building a channel around that assumption.
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Or let it run in the cloud
If your goal is to keep uploaded programming live on YouTube without leaving a computer running, StreamNeo is another option to consider. Upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops the uploaded video from the cloud; it does not broadcast a live camera feed.
- Nothing has to stay on at home: your computer and home connection are not needed to keep the stream running.
- One flat price per slot for any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps; it streams the files as made, with no re-encode or quality tiers.
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Start the free first day by creating a StreamNeo account.
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