OBS Studio vs SimpleScreenRecorder (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, we pick OBS Studio: it is third in our ranking of screen recording and video tools, and they share a 2.8 GPA.
Checked Oct 5, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
OBS Studio grades higher on platforms. SimpleScreenRecorder grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
OBS Studio
Free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming
Which one is for you
Pick OBS Studio if
- Fits if you stream live and want control of scenes, sources and audio
- Works for recording gameplay, tutorials or talks without paying for software, on Linux too
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want to trim or edit afterwards, as its feature list doesn't include editing a recording
- Not for you if you want a click-and-share recorder, since you build scenes and sources first
- Too light for anyone who wants a support desk, since help is a knowledge base, forums and a community Discord
- Watch out: Game Capture is Windows only, and the Mac version needs macOS 13 or newer
- Skip it if you want to record from a phone or a browser, as no mobile or web version is listed
Pick SimpleScreenRecorder if
- Fits if you play or demo on Linux and want an OpenGL capture like Fraps
- Works for people who want to pick their own codecs and keep the software free
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use Windows or a Mac, as there is no build for either
- Not for you if you want to edit the recording, because it only records
- Watch out: live streaming is labelled experimental by the author
- Watch out: the Arch Linux package moved to AUR in April 2023 for lack of a maintainer, and the vendor warns simplescreenrecorder.com is a fake site
How we grade them
| 2.8GPAOBS StudioGood | 2.8GPASimpleScreenRecorderGood | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | ANothing to pay, ever. It's free and open source under the GNU GPL v2 with no paid edition, against a category whose middle plan is $10 a month. Sponsors and donations through Open Collective and Patreon keep it going. | AFree software under the GNU GPL, with no paid plan. A program anyone can download and run. |
| Free plan and trial | AThe whole program is free on Windows, macOS and Linux: recording, live streaming, the virtual camera, plugins and scripting. There is no paid tier waiting further in and no cap to reach. | AThe whole program is free, with no cap or watermark. |
| Features | CIt does the record-and-stream job completely, with scenes, an audio mixer with VST filters, Studio Mode, an 8-scene Multiview and a virtual camera. But that's the smaller job: its own listing says the feature list doesn't include editing a recording afterwards. | BWhole-screen, region and OpenGL capture, pause and resume, a live preview and many codecs and formats. Streaming is marked experimental by the author. |
| Ease of use | CNo store rating on record, and there's real setup here: you build scenes out of sources before you record anything, and streaming means pointing it at a service or a custom server. Help is a knowledge base, forums and a Discord, not a support desk. | CNo store rating on record. Settings are laid out in a wizard, but codec and format choices are yours to make. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWindows 10 and 11, macOS 13 or newer and Linux, so computers only, with no web version and no phone app. There is a plugin API and Lua and Python scripting, and the Game Capture source is Windows only. | DLinux only. The page lists distributions and no Windows, Mac, web or phone builds, and no integrations. |
| Best for | free live streaming and recording | recording games and screens on Linux |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: OBS Studio and SimpleScreenRecorder. How we grade
Price against what you get
OBS Studio has no paid plan and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. SimpleScreenRecorder has no paid plan and scores 2.0.
On this chart the two sit in the same place: the same score for the same starting price. Of the other screen recording and video tools on the chart, none scores higher than OBS Studio for less, and none scores higher than SimpleScreenRecorder for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- OBS Studio also covers noise cancellation.
At a glance
| OBS Studio | SimpleScreenRecorder | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Starts at | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Free and open source under the GNU GPL v2, with no paid edition. The project is funded by sponsors and by donations through Open Collective and Patreon. | Free software distributed under the GNU General Public License; no paid plans. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | OBS Project | Maarten Baert |
| Price read from | obsproject.com | maartenbaert.be |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
OBS Studio
- It captures and mixes video in real time; the feature list on its site does not include editing a recording afterwards.
- Downloads are offered for Windows 10 and 11, macOS 13.0 or newer, and Linux; no mobile or browser version is listed.
- The Game Capture source is Windows only, according to the quick start guide.
- Help comes from a knowledge base, forums and a community Discord server rather than a vendor support desk.
SimpleScreenRecorder
- Linux only; the project page lists distributions and no Windows or Mac builds.
- The page says the Arch Linux package moved to AUR in April 2023 for lack of a maintainer.
- The vendor warns that simplescreenrecorder.com is a fake site and that only the maartenbaert.be page is official.
Key features
OBS Studio
- Scenes and sources
- Compose a scene from window and display captures, webcams, capture cards, images, text and browser windows, and set up as many scenes as you need.
- Recording and live streaming
- Record to a local file or stream to one of the included services or a custom server. A replay buffer can save recent footage with a hotkey.
- Audio mixer with filters
- Each audio source can take filters such as a noise gate, noise suppression and gain, and VST plugins are supported.
- Studio Mode and Multiview
- Studio Mode lets you preview and adjust a scene before it goes live. Multiview shows 8 scenes at once and cues any of them with a click.
- Virtual camera
- Sends an OBS scene, or a single source, to any app that accepts a webcam, such as Zoom or Discord.
- Plugins and scripting
- An API supports native plugins and scripts written in Lua or Python, and community-made plugins are shared in the site's Resources section.
SimpleScreenRecorder
- Screen and OpenGL capture
- Records the entire screen, part of it, or an OpenGL application directly, similar to Fraps on Windows.
- Pause and resume
- Recording can be paused and resumed with a button or a hotkey, with live statistics such as file size and frame rate.
- Preview while recording
- An optional preview shows what is being captured so a wrong setting is noticed before the recording ends.
- Many codecs and formats
- Encodes through libav/ffmpeg libraries, so it supports many codecs and file formats, with custom codec options.
- Experimental live streaming
- Can also stream live, which the author labels experimental, with a how-to page for it.
Plans
OBS Studio
OBS Studio$0
The complete program for Windows, macOS and Linux, including recording, live streaming, the virtual camera, plugins and scripting.
SimpleScreenRecorder
Free$0
The whole program, distributed under the GNU General Public License.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, OBS Studio or SimpleScreenRecorder?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both OBS Studio and SimpleScreenRecorder are free to use.
Which has a free plan, OBS Studio or SimpleScreenRecorder?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both OBS Studio and SimpleScreenRecorder have a free plan.
Which platforms do OBS Studio and SimpleScreenRecorder run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only OBS Studio lists macOS and Windows apps. Both list a Linux app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.