If you're looking to stream sports with StreamYard, you'll quickly discover a critical limitation: StreamYard does not support browser-source or URL overlays. This means you can't add a live, updating scoreboard to your stream using StreamYard alone.
The Problem: No Live Web Overlays
StreamYard's overlays are limited to static uploaded assets:
- PNG/JPG images
- GIF animations
- Pre-recorded video clips
What StreamYard cannot do:
- Add browser sources (URLs)
- Display live HTML/JavaScript overlays
- Show real-time updating scoreboards
- Support dynamic data-driven graphics
This limitation makes StreamYard unsuitable for sports streaming where live score updates are essential. (StreamYard Help Center)
StreamYard Workaround (Not Recommended)
If you absolutely must use StreamYard, there's one complex workaround:
- Set up your stream in OBS with browser-source scoreboards
- Use OBS Virtual Camera to send the composited video to StreamYard
- StreamYard treats the OBS output as a camera input
This approach is cumbersome and defeats the purpose of using StreamYard's simplicity. (How to Use OBS Virtual Camera with StreamYard)
Better Alternatives for Sports Streaming
Here are streaming tools that do support browser-source overlays for live scoreboards:
OBS Studio (Free, Recommended)
- Browser Source Support: Yes, full support
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Setup: Add browser source → Paste scoreboard URL
- Guide: How to add a scoreboard to OBS
Streamlabs Desktop (Free)
- Browser Source Support: Yes, identical to OBS
- Platform: Windows, Mac
- Setup: Add browser source → Configure URL
- Guide: Streamlabs scoreboard setup
vMix (Professional)
- Browser Source Support: Yes, "Web Browser" input
- Platform: Windows
- Setup: Add input → Web Browser → Enter URL
- Guide: vMix scoreboard integration
Ecamm Live (Mac Only)
- Browser Source Support: Yes, "Web Widget" overlay
- Platform: Mac only
- Setup: Add overlay → Web Widget → Configure URL
- Guide: Ecamm Live scoreboard setup
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | StreamYard | OBS Studio | Streamlabs | vMix | Ecamm Live |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browser/URL Overlays | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Live Scoreboards | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Price | $20-49/mo | Free | Free | $60+ | $16-40/mo |
| Ease of Use | Very Easy | Moderate | Easy | Complex | Easy |
| Platform | Web-based | Win/Mac/Linux | Win/Mac | Windows | Mac |
Recommended Setup for Sports Streaming
For Beginners
Use OBS Studio + KeepTheScore 1. Download OBS Studio (free) 2. Create a scoreboard at KeepTheScore.com 3. Add browser source in OBS with your scoreboard URL 4. Full setup guide
For Mac Users
Use Ecamm Live + KeepTheScore 1. Get Ecamm Live 2. Create your scoreboard at KeepTheScore.com 3. Add Web Widget overlay 4. Complete instructions
For Professionals
Use vMix + KeepTheScore 1. Install vMix 2. Set up scoreboard at KeepTheScore.com 3. Add Web Browser input 4. Detailed guide
Getting Your Scoreboard URL
All the recommended alternatives work with KeepTheScore scoreboards:
- Create your scoreboard at KeepTheScore.com
- Customize colors, fonts, and layout
- Copy the overlay URL
- Paste into your streaming software's browser source
Our scoreboards update in real-time and can be controlled from any device, making them perfect for live sports streaming.
FAQ
Q: Can I screen-share a scoreboard website in StreamYard? A: Yes, but it appears as a separate window, not an overlay. You lose compositing control and it looks unprofessional.
Q: Will StreamYard add browser-source support? A: There's no indication in their documentation or roadmap that this feature is planned.
Q: What if I need StreamYard for remote guests? A: Use OBS to composite your stream with scoreboards, then send to StreamYard via Virtual Camera for guest management.
Q: Can I use animated GIFs for scores in StreamYard? A: GIFs don't update with live data. You'd need to constantly upload new GIFs, which is impractical.
Conclusion
While StreamYard excels at simplifying streaming with remote guests and multi-platform broadcasting, it's not suitable for sports streaming due to its lack of browser-source overlay support. For professional sports broadcasts with live scoreboards, choose OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, vMix, or Ecamm Live instead.
Ready to add a scoreboard to your stream? Create your free scoreboard and follow our guides for your chosen streaming software.
🏀 Basketball streamers: Check out our basketball scoreboard guide for OBS
🏈 Football streamers: See our football scoreboard guide for OBS
📊 Need a leaderboard instead? Try our leaderboard overlay guide
