ComparisonComparison6 min read

Belabox Cloud vs IRLServer: How the Two Differ

Belabox cloud is good for a reason. How IRLServer compares as the other option with a custom tuned SRTLA relay, real Belabox remote control, and simple card payments.

Official Belabox cloud, from the people behind Belabox, is a strong, respected service. Very few options besides it offer both a tuned SRTLA relay and a real way to remote control a Belabox. We are one of them, which makes this a comparison between two services that overlap on the things that matter most.

Custom SRTLA
tuned relay
Card payments
simple checkout
Global
SG · US · EU · Scandinavia

What we have in common

  • A custom tuned SRTLA relay, not the plain open source defaults. Both of us tune the part of SRTLA that actually decides field performance.
  • Real Belabox remote control. Change bitrate, restart the encoder, and adjust settings from your phone from any network. See connect Belabox.
  • A focus on keeping bonded streams alive rather than on breadth of features.

Where we differ

  • Payment. We take normal card payments through Stripe. Belabox cloud runs on GitHub Sponsors, with emailed vouchers as the other route. If you would rather just pay with a card, that is a real, everyday difference.
  • Regions. Global servers with unlimited bandwidth: Singapore, the US, the EU, and Scandinavia, so you connect to one near you.
  • Independent option. We are a separate provider, which means a second place to go if you want different regions, payment, or a different support relationship.
  • Wider toolset. Free tools (bitrate calculator, NOALBS config generator, OAuth generator) and a clip player for your BRB screen sit alongside the relay.

Side by side

IRLServerBelabox cloud
Custom tuned SRTLA relayyesyes
Belabox remote controlyesyes
Paymentcard / StripeGitHub Sponsors or emailed voucher
Global servers (SG, US, EU, Scandinavia)yescheck their site
Extra free tools and clip playeryescheck their site
Pricingsee planscheck their site

Confirm the moving parts on their site

Regions and pricing change. We are not going to quote Belabox cloud's current plans for them. Check their site for the latest and compare on what each plan actually includes.

Who should pick which

  • Pick IRLServer if card payments, our regions, our wider tool set, or European support fit you better.
  • Pick Belabox cloud if you prefer running everything with the team that builds the Belabox itself and their setup suits you.

Both run a real tuned relay and both let you remote control the box, so the decision comes down to payment, regions, and who you would rather deal with when something breaks.

The other common comparison is against a managed toolkit, which is a different trade entirely: IRLServer vs IRLToolkit.

FAQ

Is IRLServer just a Belabox cloud clone?
No. We run our own tuned SRTLA relay and our own Belabox remote control. We are simply one of the only options besides official Belabox cloud with that combination, plus global servers and card payments.
Should I leave Belabox cloud for IRLServer?
Only if our regions, payment, or support fit you better. Belabox cloud is genuinely good. The right pick comes down to where you stream, how you want to pay, and which support you prefer.
How do I pay for each one?
IRLServer takes normal card payments through Stripe. Belabox cloud runs on GitHub Sponsors, with emailed vouchers as the other option. If you would rather just pay with a card, that is a real difference.

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