There is no single price for relaying a local OBS loop to YouTube. A managed relay charges its plan rate; a self-managed VPS adds server rental and any billable outbound traffic. The key traffic figure is the relay’s stream bitrate: before overhead, a continuous 6 Mbps output sends about 1.94 TB in 30 days, while 10 Mbps sends about 3.24 TB. These are calculations, not provider quotes. You still need a working local OBS-to-relay connection, so a relay does not remove every failure point.
What you are paying for
A relay sits between the OBS computer and YouTube. OBS sends the feed to the relay; the relay sends it onward to YouTube. That divides the job into an incoming local-to-cloud connection and an outgoing cloud-to-YouTube connection.
- Managed relay: a subscription or other plan charge. Check whether its exact plan permits prerecorded looping, continuous duration, and the stream quality you need; public pricing alone does not establish eligibility.
- Self-managed VPS: server rental plus any outbound traffic charges above the included allowance. You also operate and monitor the relay software.
In either model, the local OBS computer and its upload connection must deliver the source to the relay. If OBS stops, the local internet connection fails, or the source feed disappears, the relay cannot forward missing input. The relay shifts the YouTube-facing connection to the cloud; it does not guarantee an uninterrupted stream.
Estimate monthly relay traffic from bitrate
For a continuous 30-day month, the ideal decimal traffic volume is bitrate in Mbps × 0.324 TB. The estimate covers outbound relay-to-YouTube data before protocol overhead. It is calculated from elapsed time and bitrate, not measured provider usage.
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| Stream bitrate | Estimated outbound traffic in 30 days |
|---|---|
| 5 Mbps | About 1.62 TB |
| 6 Mbps | About 1.94 TB |
| 10 Mbps | About 3.24 TB |
| 14 Mbps | About 4.54 TB |
A 31-day month is 31/30 of the corresponding 30-day estimate. Actual billing can differ because of transport overhead, provider metering rules, and whether the relay forwards or transforms the stream. If it creates multiple outputs, estimate each output separately. Do not count the incoming leg as outbound traffic unless the provider’s tariff or topology bills it that way. Check how the provider defines billable egress and whether it measures decimal TB/GB.
Compare the two cost models
| Cost or operating question | Managed relay service | Self-managed cloud VPS |
|---|---|---|
| Base charge | Subscription tier and billing period | Server type, region, and billing period |
| Traffic | Check included transfer, caps, and whether the plan supports your stream duration | Compare bitrate-derived output with regional included egress and check the excess rate |
| Continuous loop | Confirm that the exact plan permits prerecorded looping and 24/7 duration | Configure the relay process and watchdog; check that the workload complies with provider terms |
| Encoding | Ask whether the service forwards or re-encodes, and what quality it supports | Forwarding generally uses less CPU than transcoding; transcoding needs depend on codec and resolution |
| Operations | Usually less server administration; service support and plan limits still apply | You handle updates, restart behavior, monitoring, security, and recovery |
| Failure paths | Local OBS-to-service and service-to-YouTube connections both matter | Local OBS-to-VPS and VPS-to-YouTube connections both matter |
Managed relay example: Restream
Restream’s pricing page showed a free plan and paid monthly plans of $19 Standard, $49 Professional, and $239 Business in the result accessed in 2026. Prices can vary by region, billing cycle, and promotion, so confirm the current Restream pricing page. Its channel limits and features vary by tier.
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Restream’s help article says maximum active channel count depends on subscription and that higher plans unlock features including prerecorded streaming. That does not by itself establish that a specific plan permits an unattended 24/7 loop, its maximum duration, or the intended usage. Confirm those details with the current terms or support before choosing a plan for this purpose: Restream’s channel and plan guidance.
VPS example: Hetzner
Hetzner’s traffic documentation lists 20 TB of included traffic for EU CX, CPX, and CAX Cloud Server products. US and Singapore allowances vary by product and can be materially lower. On a simple volume comparison, a 10 Mbps output’s estimated 3.24 TB per 30 days fits within that EU allowance before overhead and other traffic; it is not a complete price estimate. Check the current allowance for the selected product and region at Hetzner’s traffic documentation.
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The allowance is separate from server rental. Hetzner says a cloud server continues to be billed while it exists even if powered off, and outgoing traffic beyond included amounts can be charged. Prices depend on server type and location, as well as project currency and VAT treatment. Deleting a resource may stop server charges but can affect restoration and availability. Verify current terms and pricing for the specific server and region using Hetzner’s billing guidance and Hetzner’s billing overview. These documents do not establish one universal VPS monthly price.
Choose the bitrate and configure YouTube safely
Match bitrate to the loop
YouTube’s official encoder guidance gives H.264 recommendations of 6 Mbps for 720p60 and 5 Mbps for 1080p30. Its recommended bitrate depends on resolution, frame rate, and codec, so use the value for your actual output rather than selecting a higher bitrate without a quality need. The bitrate also drives the relay’s approximate traffic volume. Consult YouTube’s live encoder settings for current recommendations.
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Use the stream URL and protect the key
- Enable live streaming for the channel and confirm eligibility before planning a continuous event. YouTube says live streaming requires channel verification and no live-streaming restriction in the preceding 90 days. See YouTube’s live-streaming eligibility guidance.
- In YouTube Live Control Room, obtain the stream URL and stream key, then enter the appropriate destination credentials in OBS or the relay, depending on which service is acting as the encoder. YouTube describes the key as a password-like credential that routes and authorizes the feed. Keep it private and reset it if exposed; follow YouTube’s encoder setup instructions.
- Use RTMPS where supported. YouTube’s encoder guidance recommends constant bitrate (CBR) and a two-second keyframe interval, not exceeding four seconds. Apply settings that match the selected resolution, frame rate, and codec.
- Test the actual loop, including motion and audio, and monitor YouTube’s stream health. Leave upload headroom on the local OBS-to-relay path; YouTube recommends 20% room in its network guidance. A network disruption can break the stream. See YouTube’s encoder and network guidance and YouTube’s stream health troubleshooting.
Plan around long-running events
YouTube’s encoder setup guidance says, “All streams under 12 hours will be automatically archived.” That statement concerns archive behavior; it is not a guarantee that a stream longer than 12 hours will remain live or be archived as one video. Do not infer indefinite event support from it. For a continuous loop, verify current YouTube limits and plan an operational strategy for ending and restarting events if needed. See YouTube’s live stream archive guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot the common cost and connection surprises
- Traffic exceeds the estimate: check actual bitrate, days streamed, overhead, other server traffic, and whether the provider bills the incoming leg or uses a different unit. Recalculate from the outgoing rate and the provider’s own metering rules.
- Stream drops when OBS or the home connection fails: the relay depends on that incoming feed. Check the local encoder and upload path; the relay cannot restore source video that never arrived.
- YouTube reports a weak or unstable stream: check YouTube’s stream health, reduce bitrate if the local upload cannot sustain it, and preserve upload headroom. Test the real loop rather than relying only on a static image.
- Stream key fails or may have been exposed: verify the correct URL and key are configured at the encoder or relay, then reset the key in YouTube if compromised. Treat the replacement as a secret.
- VPS costs continue while it is off: check whether the server still exists. Hetzner documents billing while a cloud server exists, even powered off; deletion can stop server charges but affects recovery and availability.
- A paid managed plan appears to lack loop controls: a plan’s public price or prerecorded-stream feature does not prove it allows a 24/7 unattended loop. Confirm duration, loop behavior, and usage terms before paying.
Or let it run in the cloud
StreamNeo is a YouTube-only cloud service for keeping an uploaded video or playlist live. Upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops it from the cloud, so your computer and home connection do not have to stay on. It automatically recovers if YouTube drops the stream. Videos stream as uploaded, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot rather than quality tiers. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly billing is $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
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