OBS Studio vs Streamlabs Multistream

OBS Studio is free, open-source software for video recording and live streaming on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It captures and mixes video and audio from windows, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture cards. Users can arrange unlimited scenes, switch with customizable transitions, and preview scenes and sources in Studio Mode before going live. Multiview can monitor eight scenes. The audio mixer has per-source filters, with VST plugin support, and hotkeys cover many recording and streaming actions. An API, native plugins, and Lua or Python scripts provide ways to extend the software. OBS supports streaming platforms including Twitch and YouTube, and streams connect directly from a user’s computer to the service. It is distributed under GPLv2 and may be used commercially subject to the license terms. The download page lists Windows 10 and 11 support, macOS 13.0 or newer, and Linux distribution through Flathub or an Ubuntu 24.04-or-newer PPA. The listed plan costs nothing, with no watermarks or usage limitations.

Streamlabs Multistream sends one live broadcast to multiple destinations, with Streamlabs servers splitting the incoming stream into separate feeds. This cloud processing avoids requiring extra upload bandwidth for each destination. Listed destinations include Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, Kick, Facebook, Instagram, Patreon, X, and custom RTMP endpoints. Dual Output provides horizontal and vertical canvases, with one destination per canvas available for free. Multichat can read and post comments on YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook Pages; it can read chat on Kick, X, and Facebook Profiles. Creators can customize titles and descriptions for each platform and set layout and resolution for each Dual Output canvas. The service works with Streamlabs Desktop, the OBS Plugin with Ultra, the mobile app, or other streaming software configured through the Dashboard and RTMP credentials. Stream Shift lets a creator move a stream between a PC and a mobile device or another computer without ending it. A free plan is available; paid access starts at $15.75/mo billed annually. Supported platforms are web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.