The OBS Studio Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about OBS Studio in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
OBS Studio
The Insider’s Guide
Free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among screen recording and video tools, read from OBS Studio’s own pages.
Made by OBS Project · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02Insider tipsWhat most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
- 03What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 04What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 05Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 06The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 07Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from OBS Studio’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on OBS Studio’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 38 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade
OBS Studio is a free, open-source desktop program for recording video and streaming it live. You build scenes from sources such as display and window captures, webcams, capture cards, images, text and browser windows, then switch between scenes while recording or broadcasting. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux and is funded by sponsors and donations rather than paid plans.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about OBS Studio, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Help is a knowledge base, forums and a Discord, not a support desk.
- 1
Best for free live streaming and recording
OBS Studio is free, open-source software for recording video and streaming it live: you build scenes from screens, windows, webcams and capture cards and switch between them as you go.
- 2
It is free
OBS Studio has no paid plan at all. 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.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
Windows, macOS and Linux.
- 4
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.
- 5
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.
- 6
Audio mixer with filters
Each audio source can take filters such as a noise gate, noise suppression and gain, and VST plugins are supported.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 38 of 52
That is against the other screen recording and video tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
OBS Studio is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
OBS Studio at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- OBS Project, since 2012
- Category
- Screen Recording & Video
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free live streaming and recording
OBS Studio is free, open-source software for recording video and streaming it live: you build scenes from screens, windows, webcams and capture cards and switch between them as you go. It takes setup before you record anything, it won't edit a recording afterwards, and help is a knowledge base, forums and Discord rather than a support desk. Game Capture is Windows only.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Nothing 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The 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. |
| Features | C | It 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. |
| Ease of use | C | No 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. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows 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. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who OBS Studio is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Live streamers who want detailed control of scenes, sources and audio
- Recording gameplay, tutorials or presentations without paying for software
- Linux users: there is an official Flatpak and an Ubuntu PPA
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Tips
Insider tips
What most people miss: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches
7
Things most people miss, each from its own help pages
The things about OBS Studio that are easy to miss until they cost you: ways to pay less, settings worth changing and the catches at renewal or when you leave. Each one is from OBS Studio’s own pages, linked beside it.
Read on Oct 17, 2026. Read from OBS Studio's knowledge base (recording output, macOS permissions, multiple audio tracks, application audio capture, keyboard shortcuts, launch parameters and profiles) on 17 October 2026. Not tried out: these tips are what its own pages say.
- 1
Setting
Record in MKV and let OBS remux it to MP4 when you stop
OBS's recording guide recommends MKV in case a take isn't stopped cleanly. Tick "Automatically remux to mp4" in Settings, Advanced and you still get an MP4 the moment you stop. Older recordings can be converted under File, Remux Recordings.
obsproject.com - 2
Setting
On a Mac, allow Accessibility or hotkeys only work with OBS in front
OBS's macOS guide says Accessibility is what lets keyboard shortcuts work when OBS isn't the front app. Grant it, along with Screen Recording, Camera and Microphone, from the OBS Studio menu under Review App Permissions.
obsproject.com - 3
Easy to miss
Put your mic and game sound on separate tracks for editing
Click the gear in the Audio Mixer for Advanced Audio Properties and give each source its own track, keeping everything on track 1 as well so normal players still hear it all. Then switch those tracks on in Settings, Output. Later you can fix your mic level on its own.
obsproject.com - 4
Easy to miss
On Windows, record one app's sound instead of everything
On Windows 10 (version 2004 or later) or 11, add an Application Audio Capture source for each app you want heard, and set Desktop Audio to disabled in Settings, Audio to avoid echo. For apps whose window title keeps changing, like Spotify, match by executable name.
obsproject.com - 5
Shortcut
Alt-drag crops a source right in the preview
With a source selected in the preview, Alt-drag (Option on a Mac) crops it, Shift-drag stretches it and Ctrl-drag (Cmd) stops it snapping. Ctrl+F fits it to the screen, Ctrl+R resets it (Cmd on a Mac for both) and the arrow keys nudge it.
obsproject.com - 6
Easy to miss
Have OBS start recording the moment it opens
Add --startrecording or --startreplaybuffer to whatever launches OBS, and --minimize-to-tray to keep it out of the way. --scene and --profile choose what it opens with. Handy for a machine that should always be capturing.
obsproject.com - 7
Leaving
Export your profile before you move to a new computer
Profile, Import/Export saves your stream, video and output settings to a JSON file you can load into another copy of OBS. Your scenes aren't in it: OBS keeps those separately, in Scene Collections, so take them across too.
obsproject.com
Part 03 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
OBS Studio is free to use.
Sponsors and donations through Open Collective and Patreon keep it going.
OBS Studio
$0
The complete program for Windows, macOS and Linux, including recording, live streaming, the virtual camera, plugins and scripting.
The 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.
Read from obsproject.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 04 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, noise cancellation, screen recording.
But that's the smaller job: its own listing says the feature list doesn't include editing a recording afterwards.
- 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.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- Twitch
- Zoom
- Discord
Who makes OBS Studio
OBS Studio is made by the OBS Project, an open-source project run by volunteer contributors and released under the GPLv2 licence. It takes no payment for the software and is paid for by donations and company sponsorships through Open Collective and Patreon.
- Founded
- 2012obsproject.com
- Ownership
- Community project. An open-source project with no company selling the software. Its help page says OBS is developed by volunteer contributors around the world in their free time, and its footer says the OBS trademarks are registered to Wizards of OBS LLC.obsproject.com
- Funding
- Paid for by donations rather than a funding round. Its contribute page asks for recurring money through Open Collective, which it says funds core contributors, and through Patreon, which it says goes to the OBS Project business account for core developers and administrative costs. Company sponsors pledge at published tiers.obsproject.com
- Team
- Volunteer contributors around the world working in their free time; the project gives no headcountobsproject.com
- Founders and leaders
- Lain, Creator and maintainerobsproject.com
- Lately
- OBS Studio 32.2 Release Notes · Jul 21, 2026
- OBS Studio 32.1 Release Notes · Apr 2, 2026
- OBS Studio 32.0 Release Notes · Sep 22, 2025
Read on Oct 18, 2026 from the company’s own pages and from news reports. What is not stated there is left out.
Part 05 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
38/52
Other screen recording and video tools it is graded above
OBS Studio's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 38 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 6.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 46 of 52) and worst on features (C, above 0).
OBS Studio has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. OBS Studio’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 39 of 52
- AFree plan and trialAbove 46 of 52
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 52
- CEase of useAbove 0 of 52
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 5 of 52
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 46 screen recording and video tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. OBS Studio is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
OBS Studio is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 38 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade.
What you could not
- Audio cleaned up live as you speak.
- Recording the screen with its sound, and somewhere to keep the video.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
What this rests on. OBS Studio’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 06 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
StreamYard, Bandicam, Riverside, ScreenPal and Loom
The 5 tools OBS Studio is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.0GPA
StreamYard
Free plan · from $35.99/mo
Browser-based studio for live streaming and recording with guests.
- Only OBS Studio lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
- Only StreamYard lists a web app.
- OBS Studio is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.6GPA
Bandicam
Free plan · from $33.26/yr
Screen, game and webcam recorder for Windows, with a Mac edition.
- Only OBS Studio lists a Linux app.
- OBS Studio is open source, according to its own site.
- Bandicam can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.6GPA
Riverside
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Remote recording studio for podcasts and video interviews.
- Only OBS Studio lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Riverside lists a web app.
- Only Riverside lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.0GPA
ScreenPal
Free plan · from $4/mo
Screen recorder, video editor and video hosting in one low-cost suite.
- Only OBS Studio lists a Linux app.
- Only ScreenPal lists a web app.
- Only ScreenPal lists iOS and Android apps.
- 2.8GPA
Loom
Free plan · from $18/mo
Screen and camera recorder for shareable video messages.
- Only OBS Studio lists a Linux app.
- Only Loom lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Loom lists a browser extension.
Part 07 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is OBS Studio free?
Yes. OBS Studio is free to use.
How much does OBS Studio cost?
OBS Studio lists one plan. OBS Studio: $0.
What platforms does OBS Studio work on?
OBS Studio is available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does OBS Studio have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. OBS Studio is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Does OBS Studio have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. OBS Studio is listed for Windows, macOS and Linux.
Is OBS Studio open source?
Yes. OBS Studio is open source, according to its own site.
What does OBS Studio integrate with?
OBS Studio's listing names Twitch, Zoom and Discord. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes OBS Studio?
OBS Studio is made by OBS Project. An open-source project with no company selling the software.
What are the alternatives to OBS Studio?
The closest alternatives to OBS Studio in our directory are StreamYard, Bandicam, Riverside, ScreenPal and Loom.
How does OBS Studio compare with other screen recording and video tools?
OBS Studio's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 38 of the 52 other screen recording and video tools we grade, and level with 6.
Is OBS Studio good value for money?
ToolGPA grades OBS Studio A for value for money. OBS Studio has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of OBS Studio?
OBS Studio is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from OBS Studio’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from OBS Studio's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-09-15.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by OBS Project. Prices change, so check obsproject.com before you buy.
Part 08 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- OBS Studio, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/obs-studio
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "OBS Studio: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/obs-studio
Know someone choosing between screen recording and video tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/obs-studio/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded screen recording and video tools after OBS Studio, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Screen Recording & Video Insider's GuideEvery one of the 53 screen recording and video tools we grade, compared
- DaVinci Resolve Insider's GuideVideo editing, color, effects and audio post-production in one app3.4 GPA
- Zencastr Insider's GuideFree podcast recording, chat-based editing and hosting in one app3.4 GPA
- Cap Insider's GuideOpen-source screen recorder with instant share links and an editor3.2 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what OBS Studio’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. OBS Studio is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by OBS Project. Prices and plans change: check obsproject.com before you buy.