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It depends on what your PC actually draws at the wall and which Gyre plan you need. OBS itself is free; running it locally adds your PC’s incremental electricity cost. Gyre’s listed monthly plans start at $49, with cloud delivery that does not require your computer or home connection to stay online. Measure your own power use, calculate its monthly cost, then compare that figure with the Gyre tier that fits your stream count and workflow.
What you are comparing
OBS Studio is free, open-source desktop software for recording and live streaming. It runs on your computer, so a 24/7 broadcast requires the computer and its internet connection to remain available. The electricity cost to count is the extra power used because the PC is streaming—not necessarily the full cost of a PC that would already be on. OBS’s official site describes its software and licensing at OBS Studio.
Gyre streams prerecorded files from its cloud service. Its official homepage says broadcasts continue on Gyre’s cloud infrastructure even if the creator’s laptop is off, browser is closed, or internet connection drops. That removes the need to keep your local PC and connection active to send the stream; it does not establish that every broadcast is interruption-free. See Gyre and its guide to streaming prerecorded video as live.
For a third option, StreamNeo keeps an uploaded-video YouTube stream running from the cloud, with any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot and a free first day.
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- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy ergonomic support with the integrated cushioned wrist rest.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
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- On-the-Go Convenience: With an integrated handle and lightweight design (2.8 lbs), our lap desk is portable for travel or moving around the house, offering flexibility in any space.
Gyre’s listed plans and what they include
Gyre’s official pricing page, accessed October 3, 2026, lists these one-month prices and plan limits. The page also displays lower totals for multi-month prepaid billing; confirm the current terms at checkout.
| Plan | Listed monthly price | Concurrent stream capacity | Storage and workflow features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | $49/month | One HD stream | 35 GB; no watermark |
| Start+ | $99/month | Four HD streams or one 4K stream | 75 GB; playlists and scheduling |
| PRO+ | $169/month | Eight HD streams or two 4K streams | 150 GB; playlists and scheduling |
The listed free trial is seven days and includes one Full HD 30fps stream, 20 GB storage for up to 15 files, and a Gyre watermark. Trial and paid-plan terms can change, so check Gyre’s live pricing page.
Rank #2
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- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
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- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Calculate your PC’s monthly electricity cost
Use the PC’s incremental average power draw while doing the intended streaming task, your streaming hours for the billing month, and your actual electricity price:
Monthly electricity cost = average incremental watts ÷ 1,000 × streaming hours × electricity price per kWh.
Rank #3
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- Measure watts at the wall. Use an electricity usage monitor on the whole PC and measure it while streaming in the way you plan to run it. A representative measurement is better than guessing from a component’s rated wattage.
- Count only incremental use where appropriate. If the PC would otherwise stay on, compare the extra power attributable to the streaming workload. If streaming means leaving a normally-off computer on, use the consumption associated with that decision.
- Use your bill’s all-in rate. Enter the rate you actually pay per kilowatt-hour, rather than a national average that may not match your tariff.
- Multiply by your planned hours. For a full month, use the number of hours in that billing period rather than assuming every month has the same duration.
Watts measure power; kilowatt-hours measure energy consumed over time. The U.S. Energy Information Administration explains the distinction in its guide to measuring electricity.
For context only, the EIA’s May 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook forecast an average U.S. residential summer 2026 electricity price of 18.27 cents/kWh. That is a national forecast, not a household tariff; use your own bill for a decision. The figure appears in the EIA’s May 2026 outlook table.
Rank #4
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Find your break-even point
Compare your calculated PC electricity cost with the Gyre plan you would actually buy. If electricity costs less than that plan, OBS is cheaper on the direct software-plus-electricity line items. If electricity alone costs more, Gyre may cost less on those two line items. This is not a complete cost comparison for every creator: replacement hardware or a dedicated internet connection may add costs for some setups, and those amounts depend on the individual case.
For example, a single HD channel should be compared with Gyre’s Start tier, not automatically with a higher tier whose extra stream capacity or workflow features are unnecessary. If you need multiple simultaneous broadcasts, 4K capacity, playlists, or scheduling, compare against the relevant tier instead. The available figures do not establish one universal winner or a typical PC wattage, utility rate, reliability advantage, or savings amount.
Best Value
- Spacious Design: Measuring 21.1" wide and 12" deep, our lap desk comfortably fits most laptops up to 15.6". Extra room for accessories ensures convenience.
- Enhanced Functionality: Packed with handy features, including a 5x9" precision tracking mouse pad and a built-in phone slot for seamless work or video calls. Plus, enjoy laptop support with the integrated device ledge.
- Cool Comfort: Enjoy a stable surface with our lap desk's dual bolster cushion, designed for comfort and airflow, keeping your lap cool during extended use.
- Durable Surface: Work with confidence on our lap desk's solid surface, featuring a blush pink color, ensuring optimal air circulation to prevent your laptop from overheating.
- On-the-Go Convenience: With an integrated handle and lightweight design (2.14 lbs), our lap desk is portable for travel or moving around the house, offering flexibility in any space.
Compare operational fit as well as price
- Local operation: OBS gives you a free desktop encoder, but the PC and internet connection must remain available for the stream. OBS’s site identifies it as free and open source, released under GPLv2 and usable commercially without restrictions: OBS Studio.
- Cloud operation: Gyre runs prerecorded-file streams from its cloud service, so the home PC need not stay on to send them. Its plan tiers differ in simultaneous stream capacity, storage, playlists, and scheduling.
- Encoder and connection settings: YouTube’s current guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS and resolution-specific bitrate recommendations, and recommends RTMPS for encrypted delivery. Use the settings relevant to the resolution and encoder you choose; they do not predict a particular PC’s power use or reliability. See YouTube’s encoder settings and bitrate guidance.
Monetization is a separate question
Gyre’s API guide says monetization on third-party-created streams depends on a YouTube Studio monetization default being enabled, and describes API controls for ads on eligible broadcasts. That is Gyre’s guidance, not a determination that a particular channel qualifies for monetization or will earn revenue. Review the Gyre YouTube API automation guide alongside your channel’s own YouTube Studio status. Neither a 24/7 schedule nor a streaming tool by itself establishes monetization eligibility or revenue.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is another option for a prerecorded-video YouTube stream: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. It loops the uploaded video from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Your upload streams as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one price per slot; it can automatically recover if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month.
Quick Recap
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