# OBS vs NVIDIA ShadowPlay (2026)

Source: https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/compare/nvidia-app-vs-obs-studio/
By Sam Fisher. Part of The Best Screen Recorder (https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/). Method: https://thebestscreenrecorder.com/how-we-test/

Verdict: If you have an NVIDIA graphics card, ShadowPlay in the NVIDIA App is the quickest way to record games and save instant replays. Pick OBS Studio for any hardware, Mac or Linux, and full control over scenes and sources.

| | NVIDIA App | OBS Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Score (out of 10, as a game recorder) | 7.0 | 8.9 |
| Works on | Windows | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Free recording | Length not documented | Length not documented |
| Watermark when free | No | No |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Sharing | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Recording features | 6.0 | 9.0 |
| Editing | n/a | n/a |
| Free plan | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Value for money | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Ease of use | 6.0 | 8.0 |
| Platforms | 2.0 | 6.0 |


Both are free. The difference is what they need and how much they do.

**NVIDIA ShadowPlay**, the recorder in the NVIDIA App, needs an NVIDIA GeForce graphics card and Windows. It records up to 8K, or 4K at 120 fps, and up to 240 fps on RTX 40 and 50 Series cards. Instant Replay saves the last moments of play with one hotkey, and Highlights saves key moments automatically in supported games. It has no editor and no share link.

**OBS Studio** runs on Windows, Mac and Linux with any graphics card. You build scenes from screens, windows, webcams and other sources, which suits streaming and tutorials as well as games. It has no editor either.