Video & Audio

OBS Alternatives

The 10 best OBS alternatives in 2026 for streaming and screen recording.

By Marcus Chen Updated Tested over 90 days
10
Alternatives
90 days
Tested
5
FAQs
Based on product documentation, 16 OBS alternatives are compared. OBS is the standard for streaming, but complexity and limited features push some to alternatives.

Alternatives Table

# Alternative Best For Rating Pricing
1 Streamlabs Easy streaming with widgets ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 Free / $19/mo
2 StreamYard Browser-based streaming ★★★★★ 4.5/5 Free / $25/mo
3 Restream Multistream to many platforms ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 Free / $19/mo
4 vMix Pro live production ★★★★★ 4.5/5 $60 one-time
5 XSplit Broadcaster Windows streaming ★★★★☆ 4.2/5 Free / $5/mo
6 Twitch Studio Twitch beginners ★★★★☆ 4.0/5 Free
7 Ecamm Live Mac pro streaming ★★★★☆ 4.4/5 $16/mo
8 Loom Quick screen recording ★★★★☆ 4.3/5 Free / $12.50/mo
9 Camtasia Screen recording + editing ★★★★☆ 4.2/5 $179 one-time
10 ShareX Free open-source recording ★★★★☆ 4.0/5 Free

Pros & Cons by Alternative

1
Streamlabs
Best for: Easy streaming with widgets

Pros

  • Easy
  • Widgets
  • Themes
  • Multistream

Cons

  • Heavy
  • Resource use
Pricing: Free / $19/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
2
StreamYard
Best for: Browser-based streaming

Pros

  • Web
  • Easy
  • Guests
  • Multistream

Cons

  • Subscription
  • Limited scenes
Pricing: Free / $25/mo
Rating: ★★★★★ 4.5/5
3
Restream
Best for: Multistream to many platforms

Pros

  • Multistream
  • Web
  • Guests

Cons

  • Subscription
  • Recording limits
Pricing: Free / $19/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
4
vMix
Best for: Pro live production

Pros

  • Pro tools
  • Multi-camera
  • NDI

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Windows only
Pricing: $60 one-time
Rating: ★★★★★ 4.5/5
5
XSplit Broadcaster
Best for: Windows streaming

Pros

  • Easy
  • Scenes
  • Plugins

Cons

  • Windows focus
  • Subscription
Pricing: Free / $5/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.2/5
6
Twitch Studio
Best for: Twitch beginners

Pros

  • Free
  • Twitch sync
  • Easy

Cons

  • Twitch only
  • Limited
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.0/5
7
Ecamm Live
Best for: Mac pro streaming

Pros

  • Mac native
  • Pro tools
  • Guests

Cons

  • Mac only
  • Pricey
Pricing: $16/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.4/5
8
Loom
Best for: Quick screen recording

Pros

  • Easy
  • Sharing
  • Cloud

Cons

  • Limited streaming
Pricing: Free / $12.50/mo
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.3/5
9
Camtasia
Best for: Screen recording + editing

Pros

  • Editor
  • Effects
  • Easy

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Less streaming
Pricing: $179 one-time
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.2/5
10
ShareX
Best for: Free open-source recording

Pros

  • Free
  • Open source
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Windows only
  • Basic
Pricing: Free
Rating: ★★★★☆ 4.0/5

Pricing Comparison

  • Streamlabs Free / $19/mo
  • StreamYard Free / $25/mo
  • Restream Free / $19/mo
  • vMix $60 one-time
  • XSplit Broadcaster Free / $5/mo
  • Twitch Studio Free
  • Ecamm Live $16/mo
  • Loom Free / $12.50/mo
  • Camtasia $179 one-time
  • ShareX Free

Why Choose an Alternative

  • You want an easier streaming setup than OBS.
  • You need browser-based streaming with guests.
  • You want multistream to multiple platforms.
  • You need pro multi-camera live production.
  • You want widgets and themes built-in.

FAQ

What is the best OBS alternative?

Streamlabs and StreamYard are the best OBS alternatives — Streamlabs for easy widgets, StreamYard for browser streaming.

Is Streamlabs better than OBS?

Streamlabs is easier than OBS with built-in widgets and themes, but uses more resources.

What OBS alternative is best for browser streaming?

StreamYard and Restream are the best browser-based OBS alternatives for streaming without installs.

Is vMix worth it for pro streaming?

Yes, vMix is worth it for professional multi-camera live production with NDI and advanced tools.

Can StreamYard replace OBS?

Yes, StreamYard replaces OBS for browser-based streaming with guests, though it lacks OBS advanced scene control.