obsproject/obs-studio
FreeOBS Studio - Free and open source software for live streaming and screen recording
FreeFree tier
About obsproject/obs-studio
OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is free and open-source software designed for capturing, compositing, encoding, recording, and live streaming video content. It is highly efficient and widely used by content creators, gamers, and professionals to stream to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Live, and others. OBS supports real-time video/audio mixing, scene composition, and a variety of input sources including screen capture, game capture, webcam, and audio devices. It is cross-platform and distributed under the GNU General Public License v2. The project is maintained on GitHub with an active community for support and development.
Key Features
High-performance real-time video/audio capturing and mixing
Scene composition with customizable transitions
Support for multiple streaming platforms (Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Live, etc.)
Screen, game, webcam, and audio source capture
Efficient encoding with support for H.264, H.265, and others via FFmpeg
Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Extensible via plugins and scripting
Built-in audio mixer with filters
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free and open source
- Highly customizable with plugins and themes
- Supports a wide range of input sources and streaming platforms
- Active community and frequent updates
- Low resource usage relative to features
Cons
- Initial setup can be complex for beginners
- Some advanced features require third-party plugins
- Documentation can be overwhelming for new users
Best For
Live streaming gameplay to Twitch or YouTubeRecording software tutorials or screencastsProfessional live event streaming (e.g., conferences, webinars)Video production with compositing multiple sourcesBroadcasting to Facebook Live or other RTMP services
FAQ
Is OBS Studio completely free?
Yes, OBS Studio is free and open-source software distributed under the GNU General Public License v2.
What platforms does OBS Studio support?
OBS Studio runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Can I stream to multiple platforms at once?
While OBS itself streams to a single destination, you can use third-party services or plugins to simulcast to multiple platforms.
Where can I get help or documentation?
Help and documentation are available on the official OBS website (obsproject.com), the community forums, and the GitHub wiki.