DJI Live BridgeDJI Live Bridge vs Restream: which one for your drone?
Both get one drone feed onto several platforms. Restream does it in the cloud: DJI Fly streams to Restream's servers, which forward the video. DJI Live Bridge does it on your own computer: DJI Fly streams over your local network to the app, which sends it to each platform. Which is better depends on where you fly and what you pay for.
In short
- Restream is a cloud service: no computer in the field, one upload, but a subscription for more than the basics.
- Restream's free plan (October 2026): 2 channels, Restream branding on the stream, no custom RTMP destinations; Standard is $19 a month.
- DJI Live Bridge is free and open source: no watermark, no channel limit, the video stays on your own computer.
- DJI Live Bridge reshapes the drone picture into vertical 1080×1920 for Instagram and TikTok and adds a virtual camera for TikTok LIVE Studio.
- You can also combine them: add Restream as a custom RTMP destination in DJI Live Bridge.
Two different approaches
- Restream (cloud): DJI Fly → internet → Restream → each platform. The controller needs internet; the computer is optional.
- DJI Live Bridge (local): DJI Fly → local Wi-Fi → your Mac or PC → each platform. The computer needs internet; the controller only needs the local network.
That single difference explains most of the comparison: the cloud saves your upload bandwidth and a computer, the local app saves a subscription and keeps the video in your hands.
Side by side
| DJI Live Bridge | Restream | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, open source | Free plan; paid from $19/month (Standard) |
| Watermark | None | Restream branding on the free plan |
| Destinations | As many as your upload allows | 2 on free, 3 on Standard, more on higher plans |
| Custom RTMP destinations | Yes | Not on the free plan |
| Instagram from DJI Fly | Yes, the app sends RTMPS | Depends on how your plan connects Instagram |
| Vertical 1080×1920 with blurred fill | Built in | Not a drone feature; the stream goes out as sent |
| Virtual camera (TikTok LIVE Studio, OBS, Zoom) | Built in | No |
| Computer in the field | Needed (or Stream My Drone on Android) | Not needed |
| Upload used | Once per destination | Once in total |
| Chat and analytics | No | Yes |
| Where the video goes | Only to your destinations | Through Restream's servers |
Restream's plans are from its pricing page in October 2026 and can change; check the current page before deciding.
When Restream is the better choice
- You want to stream straight from the controller with no computer or second phone.
- Your upload is slow and you need many destinations: the cloud sends one upload to all of them.
- You want combined chat, analytics or team features across platforms.
When DJI Live Bridge is the better choice
- You do not want a monthly bill or a watermark on your broadcast.
- You stream to Instagram or TikTok and want a proper vertical picture, not a landscape strip.
- You want to go live on TikTok without a stream key, through TikTok LIVE Studio and the built-in virtual camera.
- The footage is sensitive — a client site, an inspection — and should not pass through a third party.
- You want a preview, recording and diagnostics on a big screen next to you.
Get it for macOS or Windows; the setup is in the DJI Fly RTMP guide.
Using both together
If you already pay for Restream, keep the vertical picture and the preview from DJI Live Bridge and let Restream handle the fan-out:
- Copy Restream's RTMP detailsIn Restream, find the RTMP server URL and stream key for your encoder.
- Add a Custom RTMP destinationIn DJI Live Bridge, add a custom destination with that URL and key.
- Go liveSend the drone to the app from DJI Fly and press START LIVE; Restream forwards it to your channels.
Questions
Is DJI Live Bridge a free alternative to Restream?
For drone streaming, yes: it sends one DJI Fly feed to several platforms at no cost and without a watermark. It runs on your computer instead of in the cloud, so the computer's upload carries every destination.
Does Restream add a watermark?
On the free plan, Restream adds its branding to the stream (October 2026). Paid plans remove it.
Can I use DJI Live Bridge and Restream together?
Yes. Add Restream as a custom RTMP destination in DJI Live Bridge.
Which one works without a computer?
Restream, because DJI Fly can stream to it directly over the internet. For DJI Live Bridge you need a computer, or the Android app Stream My Drone when you fly with a DJI RC 2.
Try it with your drone
DJI Live Bridge is free and open source, for macOS and Windows. FFmpeg is built in, so there is nothing else to install.
More guides
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How to go live on Facebook with a DJI drone
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How to stream a DJI drone on Twitch
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