vMix vs Wirecast

The deepest split between these two products is the operating system they run on. vMix runs on Windows only, while Wirecast runs on both Mac and Windows. vMix prints its limits per edition, from a Basic HD edition capped at 4 inputs up to editions with 1000, and sells them as lifetime licences from $60 to $1200. Wirecast sells Studio and Pro subscriptions at $59 or $79 monthly, with guests, ISO recording and cloud multistreaming held back for Pro. Choose by the machines you own first, then by whether you prefer buying or renting.

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Both are reviewed in full in our live streaming software ranking: vMix and Wirecast.

1. 01

   Windows only against Mac and Windows

   vMix states it creates live streams from your Windows PC, and no Mac version appears on the pages we read. Wirecast says it is compatible with both Mac and Windows, and describes one product across the two. A studio built around a single Windows machine loses nothing by choosing vMix. A team with a MacBook in the editing room, or a client who insists on macOS, cannot run vMix at all, which makes Wirecast the only candidate for mixed fleets.

   Edge: Wirecast

2. 02

   Four inputs on the cheapest edition, 1,000 on the rest

   vMix publishes its input limits by edition. Basic HD allows 4 total inputs, of which 3 can be camera or NDI sources, while every other edition allows 1000. Instant replay covers 1 camera on one edition and 8 cameras on others, and SRT outputs rise from 1 to 4. Wirecast's pricing page lists no input cap for Studio or Pro, so a direct input-for-input comparison cannot be drawn from what we saw. Check the cap with Telestream before sizing a large show.

   Edge: vMix

3. 03

   Paying once or paying monthly

   vMix lists lifetime editions at Basic HD $60, HD $350, 4K $700 and Pro $1200, plus a Max subscription at $50 per month. Wirecast sells only subscriptions: Studio at $59 monthly or $34 per month billed yearly, Pro at $79 monthly or $42 yearly. Across a few years the vMix lifetime price comes out lower than a Wirecast subscription, though Wirecast's yearly rate narrows the gap per month. Wirecast also offers no perpetual licence, and vMix's Max tier is a subscription too.

   Edge: vMix

4. 04

   Remote guests, ISO recording and cloud output

   Wirecast splits these features across tiers. Studio includes 2 Rendezvous remote guests and NDI input only. Pro adds NDI output, cloud multistreaming, 7 remote guests, ISO recording, PTZ control and multi-track audio. vMix Call is listed at 1, 4 or 8 callers depending on edition, and the home page names ISO source recording, NDI, SRT and IP cameras. Each vendor ties its guest count to the tier you pay for, so neither side wins this round outright.

   Depends on the buyer

5. 05

   Updates after the first year

   On vMix lifetime editions, free updates run for the first 12 months only, and the home page notes vMix 29 is free for anyone who bought after January 2023. Max stays updated while you stay subscribed. Wirecast has no update window to track, since a subscription runs for as long as you keep paying. The vMix lifetime buyer must decide at month thirteen whether to pay for the next version or stay on the one installed.

   Edge: Wirecast

6. 06

   Trying it and who stands behind it

   vMix offers a free 60 day trial, and its licence names StudioCoast Pty Ltd under the laws of Queensland, Australia. Wirecast offers a fully functional trial with no time limit and no credit card, and its terms name Telestream 2 LLC under California law. The old Telestream Wirecast address now redirects to wirecast.io. An open-ended trial lets you test a show for months, whereas vMix's 60 days force a decision on a set date, which suits a team with a firm launch.

   Edge: Wirecast

Does vMix have a Mac version?

vMix describes itself as software for your Windows PC, and no Mac edition is shown anywhere we looked. The vendor's own tagline is about live streams from a Windows PC. A Mac user would need Windows hardware or a different tool such as Wirecast.

Which Wirecast tier do you need for ISO recording?

Pro. The pricing page lists ISO recording, cloud multistreaming, NDI output, PTZ control and multi-track audio under Pro only. Pro costs $79 monthly or $42 per month billed yearly, against $59 or $34 for Studio.

Is a vMix lifetime licence really lifetime?

The licence has no end date, but free updates last 12 months on lifetime editions. After that, no upgrade price appears in the material we checked. Max is the exception, since it is a subscription at $50 per month and stays current while you pay.

• vMix purchase page: edition prices, the $50 Max subscription, 4 versus 1000 inputs, caller and SRT counts, 12-month updates.
• vMix home page: Windows PC positioning, 60 day trial, vMix 29 free after January 2023, NDI, SRT and ISO inputs.
• vMix licence text: StudioCoast Pty Ltd as provider and Queensland governing law.
• Wirecast pricing page: Studio and Pro monthly and yearly rates, guest counts, tier feature split, Telestream redirect.
• Wirecast home page: untimed trial without a card and Mac plus Windows compatibility.
• Wirecast terms of use: Telestream 2 LLC named, California law.