The Best Church Live Stream Widget for Your Website

Your church already streams on Facebook or YouTube every Sunday. Members tune in from home, from the road, even from hospital rooms. But here's the problem: not everyone in your congregation uses Facebook. And those who do are fighting an uphill battle against notifications, ads, and the endless scroll.

A church live stream widget solves this by putting your live video directly on your church website. No distractions. No Facebook account required. And the best part? You set it up once and never touch it again.

What Is a Church Live Stream Widget?

A live stream widget is a small piece of code you add to your church website. Once it's there, it automatically detects when you go live on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitch and starts playing your stream right on your site.

Think of it like a smart TV screen for your website. When you're live, it shows the live stream. When you're not, it displays your most recent service or a custom placeholder image.

The key difference between a widget and a regular embed code: you only set it up once. A traditional Facebook or YouTube embed code changes every time you start a new stream. That means someone on your team has to grab the new code, log into your website, update the page, and publish it before the service starts. Every. Single. Week.

A widget eliminates all of that.

For a complete guide to all your embedding options — including free manual methods — see our guide on how to embed your church live stream on your website.

Why Churches Are Investing in Live Stream Widgets in 2026

The shift to online church wasn't temporary. What started as a pandemic necessity has become a permanent part of how congregations connect.

Pew Research data shows that 40% of U.S. adults who attend religious services also watch online, even when they could be there in person. They're not replacing Sunday morning — they're extending it. Members rewatch sermons during the week, share services with family in other states, and catch up when travel or illness keeps them home.

Barna Group research confirms that churchgoers across all age groups now expect a digital option. For younger generations especially, a church without an online presence feels incomplete.

This is why churches are moving beyond basic social media streaming and investing in tools that bring the experience to their own website. A dedicated widget gives you control over the viewing experience, keeps visitors on your site (closer to your giving page, event calendar, and visitor info), and works for every member regardless of their social media preferences.

The cost has also become accessible. Where full streaming platforms used to charge $100 or more per month, a live stream widget runs $7 to $9 per month — less than most churches spend on coffee for a single Sunday. That puts professional-quality live stream embedding within reach of churches of any size, from a 50-person congregation to a multi-campus organization.

Why Your Church Needs a Live Stream Widget

If you're already streaming your services, you're halfway there. But streaming only to Facebook or YouTube means you're leaving people behind.

You're Missing Members Who Aren't on Social Media

Studies show that roughly 30% of adults don't use Facebook. For older congregation members, that number is even higher. These are often your most faithful attendees, the ones who show up rain or shine. When they can't make it to church, they deserve a way to watch that doesn't require creating a social media account.

A widget on your church website gives them a direct, simple link. No login. No account. Just your service, playing on your site.

Sunday Morning Stress Is Real

If you're the tech volunteer at your church, you know the drill. Sunday morning rolls around, and you're scrambling to grab the new embed code, update the website, and make sure everything works before the service starts. It's stressful, and it's completely unnecessary.

Pro tip: With a live stream widget, your Sunday morning checklist gets a lot shorter. Connect your account once, paste the widget code once, and you're done for good.

Distraction-Free Viewing

When someone watches your service on Facebook, they see notifications, suggested videos, comments from strangers, and ads. Your church website offers a clean, focused experience where the only thing on screen is your service.

What to Look for in a Church Live Stream Widget

Not all widgets are created equal. Here's what matters most when choosing one for your church.

Automatic Live Detection

This is the most important feature. The widget should know when you go live without anyone pressing a button or updating a code. Look for a widget that uses real-time detection through webhooks or API polling, not one that requires a page refresh to start the stream.

One-Time Setup

If the solution requires you to update anything on your website each week, it's not really a widget. It's just a fancy embed code. A true widget installs once and works forever.

Works on Any Website Platform

Your church website might run on WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, Shopify, or something custom-built by a volunteer ten years ago. The widget you choose should work on all of them. Look for a simple JavaScript embed code rather than a platform-specific plugin.

Multiple Layout Options

Different pages call for different looks. Maybe you want a large, full-width player on your live stream page and a smaller grid of past services on your media page. Good widgets offer layout options like wall, grid, slider, and carousel views.

Affordable Pricing

Full church streaming platforms can cost $100 or more per month. If you're already streaming to Facebook or YouTube for free, you don't need to pay enterprise prices just to show that stream on your website. Look for a solution that starts under $10/month.

Captions and Accessibility

Accessibility matters for church worship. Both Facebook and YouTube generate automatic captions on live video, and those captions carry through to embedded widgets on your website. This is essential for deaf and hard-of-hearing members of your congregation. For recorded services, YouTube also lets you upload custom caption files for better accuracy. Look for a widget that preserves these captions without requiring extra configuration. For more on web accessibility, see the W3C Web Accessibility Initiative guidelines.

How EmbedVidio Works for Churches

EmbedVidio is a live stream widget built with churches in mind. Over 80% of our customers are churches and religious organizations, so we understand exactly what you need.

Here's how it works in three simple steps:

1. Connect your streaming account. Link your Facebook Page, YouTube channel, or Twitch account. This takes about 30 seconds.

2. Create your widget. Choose your layout, pick how many past videos to show, and customize the look to match your website.

3. Copy and paste the embed code. Add it to your church website once. That's it. You're done.

From that point on, every time you go live on Facebook or YouTube, your church website automatically starts playing the stream. No page refresh needed. No manual updates. Your congregation just visits your website and watches.

Did you know: EmbedVidio detects your live stream within seconds using real-time webhooks for Facebook and automated polling for YouTube. Your website visitors see the live stream start almost instantly.

Setting Up Your Widget for Multi-Campus and Multi-Platform Churches

If your church streams to multiple platforms or serves multiple locations, a widget can simplify what would otherwise be a logistical headache.

Streaming to Multiple Platforms

Many churches broadcast to Facebook and YouTube simultaneously using tools like Restream, OBS Studio, or StreamYard. With a manual embed, that means managing two separate embed codes and updating both every week. With a widget like EmbedVidio, you connect both your Facebook Page and YouTube channel to a single widget. It automatically detects whichever platform goes live first and displays that stream. One widget, one embed code, full coverage.

Multi-Campus and Satellite Locations

Multi-campus churches face a unique challenge: how do you stream one service to multiple campuses' websites without duplicating work? A widget-based approach lets each campus page use the same embed code pointing to the main streaming account. When the main campus goes live, every location's website updates automatically.

Some churches take this further by creating separate widgets for each campus with different connected accounts. A downtown campus might stream on YouTube while a satellite campus uses Facebook — each widget pulls from the right source without anyone switching anything manually. EmbedVidio supports connecting multiple social accounts, so your setup grows with your church.

How a Widget Compares to Other Options

Choosing the right approach depends on your church's needs and budget. Here's how the main options stack up.

Manual Embed Codes

Free, but high-maintenance. Someone has to update your website before every service. If that person is sick, on vacation, or just running late, your website shows nothing. For churches streaming once a year, this works. For weekly services, it's a headache. See our EmbedVidio vs Manual Embeds comparison for a detailed breakdown.

Full Streaming Platforms (BoxCast, Dacast, etc.)

These are powerful tools with features like DVR, analytics, chat, and custom players. They're also expensive, often $100/month or more. If your church already streams to Facebook or YouTube, you're paying for streaming infrastructure you don't need. For a direct comparison, see EmbedVidio vs BoxCast.

Live Stream Widgets (EmbedVidio)

The sweet spot for most churches. You keep streaming to Facebook or YouTube (which is free), and the widget handles getting that stream onto your website automatically. Plans start at $7/month billed yearly, and setup takes minutes.

Quick note: All EmbedVidio plans include every feature. The only difference between plans is how many widgets you can create. Most churches only need one or two.

Common Questions When Choosing a Church Widget

Before committing to any tool, churches typically have a few practical concerns. Here are the ones we hear most often.

What If We Switch Streaming Platforms?

Churches switch platforms more often than you'd think. Maybe you started on Facebook but your youth pastor wants to move to YouTube. Maybe a new volunteer is more comfortable with Twitch. A good widget doesn't lock you into one platform. With EmbedVidio, you can connect and disconnect streaming accounts anytime. If you switch from Facebook to YouTube, just update the connection in your dashboard — the embed code on your website stays the same.

Do We Need Special Equipment?

No. If you're already streaming to Facebook or YouTube, you have everything you need. Most churches stream with a smartphone, a webcam, or a basic camcorder connected to a laptop. The widget works with whatever video source your streaming platform receives. You don't need encoders, special software, or IT staff.

Is It Secure?

A live stream widget only reads from your public streaming accounts — it doesn't get access to your website's admin panel, database, or any private information. EmbedVidio connects through official Facebook and YouTube APIs using standard OAuth authentication (the same secure process you use when logging into any app with your Google or Facebook account). The embed code is a simple JavaScript snippet, similar to what you'd paste for Google Analytics or a YouTube video.

Real Churches Using Live Stream Widgets

Don't just take our word for it. Here's what actual churches say about using a live stream widget.

Hope Christian Church: "EmbedVidio automated the process for our church and took away the last minute stress on Sunday Mornings!" - Hope Vernon

Catholic Church of The Holy Trinity: "Before EmbedVidio, I had to manually add the embed code every time. This was too much work in a short time before the event began. Now I don't have to worry about it." - Silvio Miranda

Pathway Community Church: "EmbedVidio has been an essential component to reach those in our group who choose not to be on social media." - Tim Lee

South Charlotte Baptist Church: "Your app has been a definite blessing. A number of members do not use Facebook. Now, they can!" - Joseph Campbell

These are volunteer tech coordinators and church administrators, not professional IT staff. If they can set it up, so can you.

Getting Started With a Church Live Stream Widget

Ready to put your live stream on your church website? Here's what to do:

1. Start a free trial. EmbedVidio offers a 7-day free trial with no credit card required. You can test everything before committing.

2. Connect your Facebook Page or YouTube channel. Just sign in with your social media account and authorize the connection. For platform-specific setup guides, see our guide on how to embed Facebook Live on your website, plus our Facebook Live embed and YouTube Live embed pages.

3. Create your first widget. Pick your layout, choose how many past services to display, and customize the appearance.

4. Add the embed code to your website. Paste it into any page on WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or whatever platform your church uses. If you can copy and paste, you can do this.

5. Go live as usual. Stream your next service on Facebook or YouTube like you always do. Your website will pick it up automatically.

The whole setup takes about five minutes. And once it's done, you never have to think about it again.

Your week-one roadmap: On day one, create your account and connect your streaming platform — that takes five minutes. On day two or three, do a quick test stream from your phone or computer to verify the widget picks it up. Share the link with a couple of tech-savvy volunteers and get their feedback on the viewing experience. By Sunday, you'll be confident everything works. After your first live service through the widget, you'll wonder why you didn't set this up sooner.

Wrapping Up

A church live stream widget is the simplest way to get your services onto your church website without the weekly hassle of manual embed codes. It reaches members who aren't on social media, removes the stress from your Sunday morning routine, and gives your congregation a clean, distraction-free way to watch.

If your church streams weekly on Facebook or YouTube, a widget like EmbedVidio can save you time and help you reach more of your congregation. Explore our church live stream embed page for more details. Try it free for 7 days and see the difference for yourself.