# OBS vs Streamlabs (2026)

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

Verdict: For recording, both are free with no watermark. Pick OBS Studio for Linux, open source and Mac system audio without extra drivers; pick Streamlabs Desktop for streaming tools like overlays and multistreaming.

| | OBS Studio | Streamlabs Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Score (out of 10, as a game recorder) | 8.9 | 8.3 |
| Works on | Windows, Mac, Linux | Windows, Mac |
| Free recording | Length not documented | No time limit |
| Watermark when free | No | No |
| Price | Free | From $27/mo |
| Sharing | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Recording features | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| Editing | n/a | n/a |
| Free plan | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Value for money | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Ease of use | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Platforms | 6.0 | 4.0 |


OBS Studio and Streamlabs Desktop are both free and both made for streaming as much as for recording. For a screen or game recording saved to your computer, they do the same job: neither adds a watermark and neither has its own editor. Streamlabs states that it sets no time limit on local recordings; OBS Studio's documentation doesn't mention one.

The differences are around the edges. OBS Studio is open source and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. On macOS 13 and later it records system audio with its macOS Audio Capture source. Streamlabs Desktop runs on Windows and Mac only, and on a Mac it needs the third-party BlackHole driver to record the sound from other apps.

Streamlabs is aimed at streamers: its paid Ultra plan adds multistreaming, a library of overlays and widgets and more cloud storage. If you only record, you don't need Ultra. If you want overlays and alerts without building them yourself, Streamlabs saves setup time.