# OBS Studio Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra > Is OBS Studio the right Screen Recording solution for you? Explore 1074 verified user reviews from people in industries like yours to make a confident choice. Source: https://www.capterra.com/p/164144/OBS/reviews --- OBS Studio 4.7 (1074) [View alternatives](https://www.capterra.com/p/164144/OBS/alternatives/) Provider data verified by our Software Research team, and reviews moderated by our Reviews Verification team. [Learn more](https://www.capterra.com/our-story/) * * * Last updated June 3rd, 2026 # Reviews of OBS Studio Ease of use 4.1 Customer Service 4.2 ## Pros and Cons in Reviews Don M Asst. ManagerTelecommunications, 11 - 50 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “What I like most about OBS Studio is its powerful, free, and highly customizable streaming and recording capabilities, which allow me to create professional-quality content without any cost.“ March 27, 2026 AL Amber L People Reporting and Communications OfficerNon-Profit Organization Management, 501 - 1,000 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I filmed some videos that were way too quiet (whilst using a headset microphone) and I had to refilm.“ July 15, 2025 Destiny C OwnerBroadcast Media, Self-employedUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “From its overall performance and broadcasting quality & speed, to using a digitally implemented green screen & even quality adjustment options, you really CAN live broadcast to your fans with almost studio like quality!“ December 7, 2025 FP Francesco P CEOArts and Crafts, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “Still the interface is not as user friendly as you may wish.“ June 2, 2026 Destiny C OwnerBroadcast Media, Self-employedUsed the software for: 1-2 years. “With OBS you can sync your usual broadcasting fees to the software & give yourself the ability to then integrate so many different features that you almost couldn't find a way to use them all if you tried.“ December 7, 2025 JA Julian A IT TechnicianEducation Management, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “It is a bit too much going on the screen for people who are new to technology or have no experience with this type of software.“ April 23, 2025 CD Caleb D Project ManagerWriting and Editing, 2 - 10 employeesUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “I prefer OBS to system-default recording methods because I can set OBS to record specific screens and audio sources. When multiple programs are contributing to recorded audio, I can use OBS to raise/lower the volume of audio pulled from certain programs.“ April 14, 2025 SW Steven W Laboratory ScientistMedical Devices, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “The system's nuts and bolts are so well built that it is rare for a member of our team to think of a plugin they would like to have, but it is frustrating to think of a service that would be desired, yet does not exist native to the program or as a plugin.“ September 12, 2023 ## Showing most helpful reviews Showing 1-25 of 1074 Reviews Sort by: Most Helpful Rating Company Size Reviewer's Role Length of Use Frequency of Use Jeremy H. Host and Owner Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "A great tool for the starter streamer" May 8, 2026 4.0 I can quickly and easily make changes to my set up to adapt with whatever I may be wanting to stream that day Pros The access to free tools that let anyone go live and stream to the biggest streaming platforms on the internet Cons The user interface feels like it can still be improved to make new users understand all the tools that are actually available Review Source SG Swagat G. Youtube Video Creator E-Learning Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Absolutely a WINNER Broadcast Software" April 22, 2026 5.0 Personally, I have used OBS Studio for at least 4 years during my video creation journey on Youtube. Pros What I absolutely love about OBS Studio is that it is a open-source software which is completely FREE to use. And, the features and services it offers, I bet it can beat any other premium paid softwares in the market. Cons There is literally nothing that i like least about OBS Studio. It is an amazing broadcasting software you could use for FREE. Switched from [Camtasia](https://www.capterra.com/p/203013/Camtasia/) I used to use Camtasia before switching to OBS Studio. Although Camtasia is a decent product, it lacks many features if compared to OBS Studio. Review Source FP Francesco P. CEO Arts and Crafts Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Yes is free, but your time is not. Keep in mind that while downloading it" June 2, 2026 3.0 A practical, easy to install solution with a lot of headache if you are not a nerd and want an easy plug and play solution to stream and record your videos. Pros OBS being free is the first choice if you need a solution for your streaming video and screen capture. Cons Still the interface is not as user friendly as you may wish. This alone may want to go to paid solution if you plan to work of videos and streaming on a daily basis. Alternatives considered [Streamyard](https://www.capterra.com/p/213044/StreamYard/) Reason for choosing OBS Studio Mainly because it's free but then I had to move to other solution to avoid the complexity Review Source KM Kyle M. Streamer Computer Games Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Amazing Product for Broadcast and Recording" June 4, 2025 4.0 Incredibly positive and would likely never actually switch unless they stopped being able to do anything Pros It's incredibly user friendly and customizable. If you can think of something to do, OBS can likely handle it Cons The updates don't always work or are compatible with the setup I have had, making me have to redor my entire layout Alternatives considered [Streamlabs Talk Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/231375/Melon/) Reason for choosing OBS Studio Again, much more customizable than anything else I found Switched from [Streamlabs](https://www.capterra.com/p/228751/Streamlabs/) Streamlabs was very limited in its capacity for customization Review Source BW Bailey W. Student Animation Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Excellent streaming/recording software!" July 23, 2025 5.0 Pros Free to use, with no additional costs for additional features. Usable for both streaming online and also recording videos offline. Being able to create separate scenes with their own sources is very handy, as sometimes I want to use OBS for streaming (which would have a different scene setup), and sometimes just screen recording. Cons Has a tough time handling inconsistent internet speeds, and can fail to recover a stream if the internet drops out for a second. Sometimes it streams at a higher bitrate than the settings specify. Switched from [Bandicam](https://www.capterra.com/p/188396/Bandicam-Screen-Recorder/) Bandicam's quite expensive for such a basic software, and OBS has more advanced features. Review Source MS Madi S. Twitch Streamer Entertainment Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great experience with OBS" April 8, 2025 5.0 I’m really happy that I started with OBS studio for my streaming journey! Pros The customization, easy to read layout and plugins. Cons Learning it can be hard at first. And there’s many things going on on the screen, but in the end it’s worth it. Switched from [Streamlabs](https://www.capterra.com/p/228751/Streamlabs/) I heard great things about OBS and that it was best in the long term. And nothing is hidden behind a paywall! Sounds like it’s what the pros use. Review Source TB Theresa B. Owner Printing Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "OBS is too cumbersome to love." March 25, 2025 1.0 Absolutely horrible. After weeks of trying to overcome setup issues and finding the right plugins, I uninsalled it. I tried another livestreaming tool and was able to setup and stream across 3 platforms in a couple of hours. Pros OBS is a powerfully unique tool that has the ability to support a livestreamer's unique vision. Cons As an I.T. professional, I was up for the OBS setup challenge. The experience was absolutely terrible... and wasted a LOT of my time. There's a gigantic learning curve. I couldn't ever stream to youtube without errors and never could fix the fb settings to have it work. I removed OBS from my 2 laptops. It's concerning it's open source as well as all the plugins, which could easily lead to viruses being placed on devices by hackers. Too many individual plugins are needed to get the most out of it. Alternatives considered [Streamyard](https://www.capterra.com/p/213044/StreamYard/) Reason for choosing OBS Studio Youtubers made it seem fantastic but the setup is a complete nightmare... and again... I'm an I.T. professional! Review Source Destiny C. Owner Broadcast Media Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "OBS is Studio Stream-sational" December 7, 2025 5.0 My overall opinion of OBS Studio is that it's honestly served me more useful & way better than any other streaming application or software that I've attempted to use this far. As a content creator & frequent love broadcasting cam model, if I had to suggest an app that anybody could use & never be left disappointed, then my choice would be OBS Studio by an longshot! Pros The OBS app is 1 of the best tools, by far, that I've been able to find that gives you probably the widest range of functions available on the market! With OBS you can sync your usual broadcasting fees to the software & give yourself the ability to then integrate so many different features that you almost couldn't find a way to use them all if you tried. From its overall performance and broadcasting quality & speed, to using a digitally implemented green screen & even quality adjustment options, you really CAN live broadcast to your fans with almost studio like quality! Cons The only suggestion that I would find to be useful to new OBS users, would be if there were a more comprehensive & expanded downloadable .pdf user and functions manual. Or even a more expanded "hints" segment when initially logging on so that it can teach you about all of the various uses & functions available to the user. Review Source Don M. Asst. Manager Telecommunications Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Powerful and Free Streaming Tool with Professional Capabilities" March 27, 2026 5.0 Overall, my experience with OBS Studio has been very positive. It is a powerful and reliable tool for both recording and live streaming, offering high-quality output and extensive customization options. While the initial setup can be a bit complex, once configured properly, it runs smoothly and provides professional-level results. It’s especially impressive considering that it is completely free and open-source. Pros What I like most about OBS Studio is its powerful, free, and highly customizable streaming and recording capabilities, which allow me to create professional-quality content without any cost. Cons What I like least about OBS Studio is its steep learning curve and complex setup, which can be challenging for beginners to configure properly. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Independant streamer Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best streaming software?! " November 28, 2025 5.0 I've been using this program for years now for streaming, recording clips and podcasting and I can't find anything better! Pros I love that it's easy to integrate the platforms I'm going to use to stream, it's easy to update stream information (stream information dock), it's really easy to record and use it as a studio software for podcasting, it seems pretty safe when it comes to security, it's pretty quick and reliable and allows me to add as many features to my scenes as I see fit. All of this for free! Cons Some of the features are pretty technical so some homework is needed to fully take advantage. It's not as intuitive and I don't remember it having like a tutorial run through of the program. Review Source RB Ryan B. Manager Construction Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best for videoing or livestreams" January 19, 2025 4.0 Pros I like the ability to control all facets of my broadcasts and livestreams. Cons It is a very complex system at first to understand what to control, for example bandwidth and frame rate or microphone settings. Switched from [Streamlabs](https://www.capterra.com/p/228751/Streamlabs/) Traditional OBS offers a reduced comparability for straightforward recording. Review Source RR Roya R. Creator, Top Head Administrator, Media Producer Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The Recorder and Broadcaster's Homeland: OBS Studio, the Free Resource" August 19, 2020 5.0 OBS Studio is the successor to the original Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) application, delivering a lot of serious Quality of Life benefits to the software and allowing for a more Professional Grade look while also not having nearly as many problems as the original OBS suffered from; while OBS Studio suffered in its earlier years because many of those who adopted to this from the original OBS were on noticeable lower end hardware (such as myself), the performance handicaps that it suffered from have only dissipated over time as computer hardware evolved and allowed for more accessibility; now plentiful games, applications, and videos that were attempted to be recorded and/or aired using the software five years ago are noticeably easier to run now and that is essential towards the future of its life going forward. In 2016, I personally used OBS Studio to get back into Live Broadcasting, with me even recording the first and only North American commentary of Star Cruiser (Sharp X68000) on the application in July of 2019, and with the improvements that have come as it evolved, I can easily recommend OBS Studio to anybody getting into any form of Yellow Collar work; it may require some messing around with the settings to optimize certain projects, but the end result will always pay off far better than anticipated, it's not often that one finds free resources such as this and OBS Studio will forever remain on your person if you need to record or go on the air without a hitch. Pros ~ Virtually Lossless recording quality when capturing footage locally in any available framerate and resolution provided by the software. ~ Plentiful visual effects and the ability to layer multiple images and clips allows for a Broadcast Quality and Professional Grade template and appeal for any project or Live airing. ~ Customization of User Interface themes allows for proper Eye Care when in Dark Mode. ~ Users of the software who are running an Intel CPU that has QuickSync will see a reduced load on their Graphics Card by about 05% to help improve performance and stability in GPU~intensive workloads. Cons ~ RAM consumption is high and not meant for modern systems with 016 GB or less without the proper CPU and Graphics Card combo. ~ Users who have a CPU and Graphics Card with a low core/thread/pipeline count, frequency, and VRAM can expect noticeable framerate dips and massive performance instabilities, especially when using hardware that is running on older architectures. ~ Footage may occasionally get inexplicably cropped Horizontally when imported into Vegas Pro and other video editing software for Post~Production. ~ Not fully compatible with all forms of Video Capture devices, Webcams, and Professional Grade Cameras (though there are workarounds for some forms of hardware). Switched from [OBS Studio](https://www.capterra.com/p/164144/OBS/) As stated, I upgraded to OBS Studio from the original OBS, the latter of which was optimized better for lower end CPU/GPU/RAM combos while Studio handled the more Heavy Duty workloads on HEDT (High End Desktop) systems; while there are some production elements that make OBS Studio feel a bit more limited than Classic OBS (certain features in Classic OBS were not carried over to Studio), the upgrade to Studio was ultimately a mandatory situation, as the original was getting discontinued at a certain point and many users had to force themselves to get used to the new platform in a similar fashion to how many websites may change their layout and API every year or few. Overall though, the transition from Classic OBS to OBS Studio was a smooth one, though I am still critical of the fact that Studio lacks certain features and display mechanics that were done better in the original; in the event that these are ever brought back, then I will happily change my mindset on Studio as it is at the time of typing, both incarnations of the software are good in their own right and a Hybrid of the two would be an ideal change for the software going forward. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Graphics designer Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "OBS Studio Review " February 14, 2023 5.0 As a Graphics designer I have to create some content for my business, and Obs studio helps by screen recording. Pros \- If you are looking for the best quality screen recorder software Obs studio is your answer.- High quality screen recording and it doesn't even crush your computer. Cons No complaints here, This software is the best and well designed/ made. Switched from [Bandicam](https://www.capterra.com/p/188396/Bandicam-Screen-Recorder/) Obs studio Is way more better than bandicoot in terms of performance and overall quality. Review Source JJ Jonathan J. Senior Pastor - Founder Religious Institutions Used the software for: 2+ years ### "OBS is A Church's Best Friend" March 4, 2025 5.0 We have had an amazing experience with OBS. Pros The ease in setting up our online streaming for our church Cons Some of the advanced settings are too advanced lol Review Source TC Tommaso C. Head of Brand and Innovation Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "The go to solutions to manage a streaming like a video studio" September 22, 2024 5.0 The go to solution for streamers and video amateurs who want to play live directing, regardless of your level of competence. Pros Powerfull, solid, video management solution easy to learn with a broad compatibility and clear operating logic Cons Some function could be easier and an internal virtual microphone could be an embedded solution (it's a common issue at firsts interactions) Review Source DL David L. CEO Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best live streaming software - for free" September 11, 2024 5.0 Pros Best and most easy to use software for live streaming. Many features, displayed in an orderly fashion. Cons Noting bad to say about OBS, especially considering that it’s free. Review Source Timothy N. Graphics Designer Graphic Design Used the software for: 2+ years ### "obs:a powerful screen capturing tool" September 9, 2023 5.0 Overally i can say OBS Studio is a great application especially for my live streaming purposes both on facebook and youtube Pros I like OBS Studio because its quit easy to use and we normally use it for our church live streamings and vedio recording. Cons Recently i have seen that the latest version of OBS Studio does not accept the NDI plugins. Reason for choosing OBS Studio i chose OBS because it quite easy to learn and use it than other products Review Source WB William B. Owner Information Technology and Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "The Go To Solution for Millions of Streamers and Content Creators Everywhere" November 17, 2021 5.0 I use the program often and am a huge fan. It's simple once you know what's going on. It makes video editing easy to a point as it is limited in some ways. As a screen recorder it is the perfect solution. As a streamer, it is the go to program that has incredible customisation options. I give this a overall 9. Pros I love that I can stream to Facebook, Youtube or Twitch at any given time. I love that I can add overlays to make my video capturing look more appealing to the eye. The quality of audio and video is superb and you get multiple choices at bitrates and presets for recording and streaming reasons. I love how simple it is to setup and customise the program. I love that I can monitor everything that I'm recording from one program. This includes sound, Frame loss, CPU usage to name a few. Cons Its not beginner friendly and I did need to watch a few youtube videos to figure out what's going on. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer Freelancer Computer Software Used the software for: 2+ years ### "OBS Studio is the best Free Computer Screen Recording Software" July 13, 2022 5.0 At first I could not understand the settings of OBS Studio, but after practicing it several times, doing live broadcasts, adding effects and adjusting settings each time, I was able to get an excellent experience from it, it is enough that it is free and offers very high quality sound and picture Pros Yes, there are many programs that offer screen recording, but the problem is that some of them are free and paid and the free programs do not contain enough features to inspire you to use them, so I will shorten the topic for you and tell you about the wonderful OBS Studio program that contains features that I love and use a lot on my device and all of this Open source and free An easy-to-use and flexible program that offers you high-quality audio and video, and does not take up much space on the device as it is very light and does not pose any weight on weak devices, and supports live broadcasting on more than 20 different platforms, before saving the broadcast, you can also use various video editing tools to edit it. One of the features that I liked and used a lot is the feature of adding audio filters directly during broadcasting without the need to use external programs, in addition to the presence of many filters for image improvement, color correction, and others. Cons Sometimes while doing a live stream with OBS Studio, the stream gets stuck from minute to minute, after which it goes back to working fine There is also difficulty in the beginning to adjust the settings, but after practice you will get used to it Review Source David M. Content creator Media Production Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Best streaming software" October 2, 2022 5.0 All in all OBS is an exceptional software, very stable and I would easily recommend it to other users. Pros OBS provides all the necessary tools for content creators such as being able to stream straight to the most common websites like Facebook and YouTube, it also provides editing tools so that even without third party softwares I can record and edit my video all inside OBS. Cons The only shortfall for me is that OBS can sometimes be CPU intensive and so I high earned laptop is recommend when using this software. Review Source JD João D. Streamer Entertainment Used the software for: 2+ years ### "OBS The Social Inclusion Tool" November 18, 2022 4.0 Overall OBS is an excellent software for both recording and live broadcasting, besides being free it offers the best features available on the market, it is worth mentioning that the negative points are related to the difficulty that the software presents for certain settings and for the user who is starting, as well as the lack of a profile setting that saves the scenes and styles so that the user doesn't bother changing computers. Pros Excellent quality recording with a quick response to capture, making the transition smooth and sharp.The input and output audio quality settings are impeccable, bringing a better experience to live broadcasts. Excellent response on connections to other servers for live broadcasts.Excellent compatibility with third-party tools that integrate many new features into both recording and broadcasting.Easy to manage the location of the recording files, as well as the formats. Cons Difficulty to make some integration settings.Difficulty applying the configuration saved in the software when reset.Lack of an option to save all the integrations and scenes configured in the profile, so that regardless of the computer the user uses, the user always keeps the configuration saved. Review Source VR Verified Reviewer IT Manager Transportation/Trucking/Railroad Used the software for: 2+ years ### "OBS is our go to tutorial maker" December 14, 2023 5.0 Overall, our experience of OBS has been fantastic, and I’d highly recommend this piece of software for any users that need something to make tutorials or just record what they are doing for future purposes Pros Oh so I was just a quickly screen record it allows you to highlight the cursor which lets us highlight why uses which part of the screen we are working on and we use it for all of our tutorial making now it is an excellent Cons It can be quite tricky to set up if you are a new user, but once you’ve set it up a few times you will quickly get the hang of it Review Source DJD David Jonathan D. CSR Telecommunications Used the software for: 2+ years ### "OBS Studio Review as a Streamer and daily user" January 13, 2024 5.0 It is good, OBS made me a lot of money from using this platform to stream at Twitch Pros I can use OBS Studio to record my content and stream my gaming Cons The latency or the lag of the server when it comes to streaming Review Source TM Tholang M. CEO Financial Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Why OBS Studio is the best" February 20, 2023 5.0 I have had the best experience ever. Im not planning to change to another software anytime soon. Pros Some OBS tools can be used offline and free without any costs. The quality of their captures are the best. It is an all in one video capturing and live streaming software. Cons I dont remember it having a free trial for the premium version. Review Source Aniss L. Freelancer Consumer Services Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Great streaming tool and simple interface" January 15, 2022 5.0 Overall OBS Studio is a simple, very complete solution for content creators, it works with other tools as well such as stream elements and different social media platforms for streaming (Twitch, Facebook, Youtube). Really recommend it, I tried Streamlabs Obs thinking it is simple but OBS is less heavy on the CPU and GPU so I definitely recommend it if you want a smooth experience. Pros Easy to use, straight to the point, very powerful yet so simple that you don't think it is as powerful but once used, you can see the results and you are very happy on what you can do with it. Cons I would say the settings sometimes are not really easy, I had to go to youtube multiple times to set it up also the frame drops despite having a good connexion in both download speed and upload speed. Still, very good tool for streaming and for content creating. Reason for choosing OBS Studio For how easy and less heavy it is on the computer performance Review Source Similar Products Featured