Streamlabs vs vMix (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Streamlabs grades higher than vMix: 2.6 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 by ToolGPA
Streamlabs grades higher on platforms. vMix grades higher on value for money. They get the same grade on the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Streamlabs
Live streaming apps, overlays and tools for creators
vMix
Windows live video production and streaming software
Which one is for you
Pick Streamlabs if
- Fits if you stream games or talk shows and want overlays and alerts
- Works for creators who want a desktop, phone and browser setup from one login
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want registration pages, polls or attendee follow-up, as the pricing page has none
- Tight if you stay free: 2 destinations, 1 guest and watermarks or limits in the editors
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $27 against $189 for the year
- Watch out: the Logitech G discount for Ultra members is US only, and there is no team or business plan
Pick vMix if
- Fits if you produce live video on a Windows PC
- Makes sense if you want a one-time license over a subscription
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac, as there is no Mac version
- Not for you if you want a webinar tool with registration and polls
- Tight if you buy Basic HD: 4 inputs and 1080p
- Pricey if you want updates after 12 months: another year costs $60
- Watch out: 4K, replay with more cameras and scripting need $700 to $1,200
How we grade them
| 2.6GPAStreamlabsGood | 2.2GPAvMixFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | BUltra is $27 a month or $189 a year (about $15.75 a month), at the low end of what webinar tools charge, with just one paid plan. | ABasic HD is $60 once and HD is $350 once, under a year of the category's $49 middle subscription, though Pro is $1,200. |
| Free plan and trial | CThe free Starter plan has 2 destinations, 1 guest and 1 GB of storage, and the editors add watermarks or limits. | CA 60-day fully working trial with no watermark is offered; there is no free plan. |
| Features | CScenes, overlays, alerts, multistream, a browser studio and editors, but no registration pages or polls. | CInputs, overlays, replay and calling in a production app, but no registration, polls or attendee chat, and features differ by edition. |
| Ease of use | CNo rating on record, and you connect accounts and build scenes before going live. | CNo rating on record, and it is production software with editions and a learning curve. |
| Platforms and integrations | AWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, with Twitch, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok. | DWindows only; the download page says there is no Mac version. |
| Best for | creators who stream to Twitch and YouTube | Windows live video production |
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: Streamlabs and vMix. How we grade
Price against what you get
Streamlabs starts at $15.75 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. vMix starts at $50 a month and scores 1.7.
Streamlabs scores higher and starts $34.25 a month lower. Of the other webinar and live streaming tools on the chart, none scores higher than Streamlabs for less, and 13 score higher than vMix 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
- vMix can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Streamlabs also covers video editing.
- vMix also covers screen recording and video calls.
At a glance
| Streamlabs | vMix | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $27 per month, or $189 per year | $60 one-time for Basic HD, or $50 per month for vMix MAX |
| Free plan | Starter plan, free always: free overlays and themes, 2 streaming destinations, 1 guest, limited free apps, no-fee tipping and 1 GB of storage. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | Free, fully functional 60-day trial with no watermark |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Logitech Services S.A. | StudioCoast Pty Ltd |
| Price read from | streamlabs.com | vmix.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 12, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Streamlabs
- Ultra is the only paid plan; the pricing page shows no team or business tier.
- The free Starter plan allows 1 guest and 2 destinations, and the editors add watermarks or limits.
- It is built for creator streams, so webinar features such as registration pages and polls are not part of the pricing page.
- The Logitech G discount for Ultra members is US only.
vMix
- It runs on Windows only; the download page says there is no Mac version.
- Lifetime licenses include 12 months of updates; further updates cost $60 for another 12 months.
- It is a production tool, not a webinar platform: registration, polls and attendee chat are not part of it.
- Features differ a lot by edition, so check the comparison table before buying the cheapest one.
Key features
Streamlabs
- Desktop streaming app
- Streamlabs Desktop for Windows and Mac handles scenes, overlays, alerts and streaming, with multistream and dual output on Ultra.
- Multistreaming
- The free plan streams to 2 destinations; Ultra raises that to 3 or more.
- Guests from the browser
- Talk Studio records and broadcasts from a browser with up to 12 guests, and saves up to 10 hours of recording on Pro.
- Mobile and console streaming
- A mobile app for iOS and Android and a console service that streams to Twitch without a desktop.
- Alerts, tips and Cloudbot
- Alerts and widgets, a tip page and a chat bot come with every plan; Ultra adds a custom tip domain and a custom-named bot.
- Editing and clips
- Cross Clip reformats clips for TikTok, Reels and Shorts, and the Video and Podcast Editors cover browser-based editing.
vMix
- Multi-source switching
- Mix cameras, NDI sources, video files, images, PowerPoint, web streams and desktop capture in one production.
- Remote guests with vMix Call
- Bring video callers into a production: 1 on Basic HD, 4 on HD and 8 on 4K and above.
- Streaming to several services
- Stream to services such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Vimeo while recording the same production.
- Titles and graphics
- GT Designer provides animated titles, scoreboards and tickers, and higher editions import custom designs.
- Recording and replay
- The 4K and Pro editions add MultiCorder ISO recording of each camera, and instant replay for sports and events.
- Zoom integration
- The comparison table lists Zoom integration, with one input on Basic HD and multiple inputs on higher editions.
Plans
Streamlabs
Streamlabs Starter$0
Free overlays and themes, 2 destinations, 1 guest, no-fee tipping, 1 GB of storage and basic Cloudbot.
Streamlabs Ultra$27
per month, billed monthly ($189 per year when billed annually)
1000+ overlays and themes, 3+ destinations, up to 11 guests or cameras, 60+ apps, custom tip domain, 10 GB storage, and Pro tiers of its editors and Talk Studio.
vMix
Basic HD$60
one-time lifetime license, 12 months of free updates
4 inputs (3 camera or NDI), 1920 x 1080 maximum, 1 overlay channel, 1 vMix Call caller.
HD$350
one-time lifetime license, 12 months of free updates
Up to 1000 inputs, 1920 x 1080 maximum, 8 overlay channels, 4 vMix Call callers.
4K$700
one-time lifetime license, 12 months of free updates
Adds 4096 x 2160 output, 8 callers, MultiCorder recording and instant replay with 1 camera.
Pro$1200
one-time lifetime license, 12 months of free updates
Adds instant replay with 8 cameras, extra external and virtual outputs, scripting and PTZ control.
MAX$50
per month, with updates while subscribed
Subscription with all the features of vMix Pro.
Ways to pay less
Streamlabs
- Annual discount
Annual billing saves $135
Ultra is $189 a year against $27 a month, which the pricing page states as a $135 saving.
vMix
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Streamlabs or vMix?
As of Nov 12, 2026, Streamlabs is cheaper to start with: $15.75 a month when paid by the year, against $50 a month for vMix. Streamlabs starts at $27 per month, or $189 per year, and vMix starts at $60 one-time for Basic HD, or $50 per month for vMix MAX.
Which has a free plan, Streamlabs or vMix?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Streamlabs has a free plan. vMix does not, though it has a free trial.
Which platforms do Streamlabs and vMix run on?
As of Nov 12, 2026, only Streamlabs lists a web app and macOS, iOS and Android apps. Both list a Windows 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.