# 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 VD Void D Freelance ArtistGraphic Design, Self-employedUsed the software for: More than 2 years. “OBS is a great free, open source software that allows recording and streaming of video, as well as many community-made plugins to help improve experience and provide additional features“ July 13, 2025 JN Joshua N Application SpecialistRetail, 51 - 200 employeesUsed the software for: 6-12 months. “It can be at some times a little tedious to use for particular users but nothing that can't be resolved over a quick 15-30min crash course on the proper usage of it.“ June 24, 2024 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 ## 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 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 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 Delivery Driver Transportation/Trucking/Railroad Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Best Streaming & Recording software that's FREE!!" August 8, 2022 5.0 My overall experience was great using OBS Studio. I highly recommend it for anyone that needs to stream or record content. Even if its a business that needs a simple solution. Pros The thing that i like the most about OBS is that its free and does an outstanding job at allowing user to stream and record audiovisual content. I was amazed at what OBS was capable of when i first started using the software for streaming my videogames to YouTube. Its also super easy to setup and use compared to its competitors which charge monthly for the same service. Cons The thing that i least like about OBS is the user interface and lack of video editing features. Although it wasn't meant to edit videos, it would be great if it had that features. Switched from [XSplit Broadcaster](https://www.capterra.com/p/164141/XSplit-Broadcaster/) OBS gives me that ability to upload content without any subscription fees. Review Source JG Jeremy G. Video Editor Computer Software Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Free and Extensible!" December 9, 2024 5.0 I mostly use OBS Studio for video recording in my daily video editing workflow. Pros Simple to use and free to download. It works for both streaming and video recording. Cons The interface could be more clear and user friendly. Review Source JA Julian A. IT Technician Education Management Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "OBS Review" April 23, 2025 4.0 Pros What I liked most about OBS was that I was able to use the program to livestream events here and keep control of all of my cameras and microphones easily. Cons 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. Review Source CM Christhian M. Data Scientist Financial Services Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Review of OBS" October 21, 2024 5.0 Pros For screen recording with handson input and output, OBS is the solution to use. Cons OBS can take a lot of RAM and CPU to run and it can lead sometimes to frozen PC Review Source GM Gina M. Owner Health, Wellness and Fitness Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Over great experience " September 1, 2024 5.0 Pros The ease of the use of program and production one Cons The timing to learn the program but placed great in time frame Review Source SW Steven W. Laboratory Scientist Medical Devices Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "The Essential Day to Day uses for OBS Studio" September 12, 2023 5.0 OBS allows easily collaboration between employees new and old with varying degrees of knowledge about the project being performed. This program has allowed time to be freed up for other tasks, that would have been spent dealing with the mundanities of video editing. Pros The ease of use and access is among the most attractive features. New employees are easily acquainted to the system, even those with quite minor experience in video editing, as the system is very straightforward. Though it is straightforward, there is a large amount of depth for those familiar with more complex video editing software, making OBS Studio a great video editing software to have in the office; it works well with newer, inexperienced employees as well as with older veterans of the industry. Cons OBS's lack of variety of plugins is rather disappointing, yet also not extremely needed. 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. Thankfully, in these situations, OBS has a lovely customer service team that can be reached out to with recommendations for future features, as the team is always improving the software. Review Source JB Jeremy B. Writer Writing and Editing Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "Despite Being One Vowel off from a Digestive Disorder, This Program Won’t Leave You Irritable" July 23, 2021 4.0 You might be a streamer. You might be a YouTube star. Or you might just be a person who wants to watch Blu-rays on a computer that only supports DVDs. Whatever your position, if recording video of any kind is on your agenda, then OBS should be the platform that delivers the results. With just one quick \*free\* download and install, you can integrate all of your audiovisual media into a single place, ready for capture, and ready for share. All you gotta do is test your webcam, microphone, screen capture, capture card, or whatever you need to ensure you’ll get the recording you want. Once you confirm that OBS is receiving the feed (I usually do a test recording and play it before starting the real recording), then you’re on your way to victory. Just don’t screw up your lines, or you’ll have to start over. Pros Having the ability to connect all forms of audio and visual media to a central recording platform (including that old VHS player you forgot you had, provided you can connect it through an HDMI adapter and capture card) makes OBS a fierce competitor in the recording and streaming markets. But that it’s free is what makes it a no-brainer to get. Seriously, if you make or record videos, why don’t you already have it? Cons Because it’s both free and highly versatile, the cons are arbitrary, but they nevertheless exist. Perhaps the biggest con is with user-interface. OBS doesn’t always remember my configuration, and I can’t always remember what I have to do to get my equipment working or my visuals viewable again. Switching from webcam to screen capture to whatever else can also be a pain if you forget which device is connected to which stream. For a free item, I’ll deal with it, but if this were a purchased item, I’d want it simpler. Review Source Frank . P. M. Business Cunsultant Accounting Used the software for: 6-12 months ### "OBS "Cost Free" Stream & Recording King!" November 24, 2021 5.0 Since OBS is free I have zero budget on streaming software, i previously had a custom made software which gave us a lot of challenges, I'm saving money and all my presentations and meetings are running smooth without any interruptions. Pros OBS is an absolutely free software. OBS Studio is the best screen recording software i have used to capture moments, stream presentations. Its features like sound capture, video capture, it uses different sound sources, color grading and color correction. When it comes to livestreaming can i use any social media platform of my choice, this is found in OBS studio. In other words, OBS Studio is an all in one software, no other software that can do it better. "After all is said and done, OBS is absolutely free! Cons Sometimes Audio mixer panel disappear, So i restart the software and the panel restores. I have no other issues with the software. Review Source Josue R. Video editing Internet Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "OBS Studio review for new users" August 5, 2022 5.0 It's a very good experience, i understood pretty easily and fast how to use this software, i like it so much and it's very useful and helpful for my purposses. Pros What I liked the most about this software is that is very easy to use and understand, it's very user friendly. It has so many settings and options for the different purposses for each content creator such as a video gaming user or a educational user, a teacher for example. Cons I like everything about this software, in my experience, there is nothing bad about it. Reason for choosing OBS Studio Because it's for free and it's a very popular product and it can run perfectly on my computer. Review Source Israel P. Educator Education Management Used the software for: 2+ years ### "OBS Studio improves your streaming experience" October 31, 2022 4.0 Excellent. Pros It is easy to use and very practical for streaming on digital platforms. Cons I don't like the fact of the FPS rate bits because some good devices do not support the software and the transmition gets slow. Review Source CO Chidi O. Audio/Visual Lead Religious Institutions Used the software for: 2+ years ### "OBS is great for beginners and advanced streamers alike" April 3, 2023 5.0 Pros This is a free tool with a lot of capabilities from streaming to windows Cons Had a little bit of an issue when copying and pasting a scene with multiple elements. For instance, a lower third group that has text, a background picture or color, logos, etc: When I try to re-use the format, and alter some of the text both the original and new group get modified. I havent found a way to navigate that. Reason for choosing OBS Studio It was free, widely used and there were available tutorials to help with using it Review Source Oladotun F. CEO Media Production Used the software for: 2+ years ### "OBS beyond a freeware " June 1, 2023 5.0 My overall experience with obs has been really good it bailed us out all the time during covid Pros Obs will do about 98% of what any paid livestreaming software will do . I see no reason to use any other software Cons It has no cons except i think they should be charging something for it . Reason for choosing OBS Studio Efficient , budget friendly Review Source RH Rajnish H. Management Intern Civil Engineering Used the software for: 1-2 years ### "Best screen recording and streaming software for professionals" September 7, 2022 5.0 My overall experience with OBS Studio is above average. Pros The best thing about OBS Studio is that it offers a lot of features due to which it is commonly used by professionals. Another good thing is that the screen recording and audio recording quality is excellent and the recorded video can be saved and shared easily through social media apps. Also, the app can be optimized according to the user. Video settings such as video resolution, FPS can be adjusted. Similarly, audio settings can also be adjusted. Another good feature is that it records multiple screens at ease. Whereas, for streaming, OBS studio offers many features. One good feature is that we can select multiple sources of video to be streamed. Cons The thing I liked least about OBS software is that it is not user friendly and it is a bit tough to use for amateurs. Review Source SR Shari R. CEO, Marketing and PR Executive Marketing and Advertising Used the software for: Less than 6 months ### "Perfect Software for Multi-Screen Recording and Audio Capture!" July 2, 2021 5.0 My overall experience with OBS Studio is more than highly satisfied! It can do everything that I needed it for. Will not be switching to anything else! Pros What I like most about OBS Studio is its ability to capture multiple screens into one main screen! You can hide screens/videos as well—which is useful if you want to have multiple screens/videos in the same spot of the screen. You can stack them on top of each other, hide all of the screens/videos and play each screen/video one by one. Hopefully that wasn’t confusing to read and understand \*laughs\* but it is a genius software for all of your screen capturing/recording needs! I personally use this for Twitch and would have my Xbox screen, Safari screens and a Google Chrome screen all showing on my main screen in my own way! I would have my Xbox screen and Safari screen on top of each other, and whenever I wanted to display the Xbox screen I would hide the Safari screen and vice versa. Cons It did take a little bit of YouTube video watching and Googling to adjust certain settings with my MacBook, as its easier to use with a Windows computer. For instance, to audio capture into OBS Studio with my MacBook, I needed to install an audio capturing software called SWB Audio Capture and select the multi-output option in my Mac’s audio settings—selecting my microphone and SWB only and deselecting the MacBook audio. Then going into OBS Studio’s audio settings and selecting SWB Audio Capture as the Output. So it does take special adjusting to work with a MacBook, but it is very possible. Review Source LC Luke C. PM Banking Used the software for: 2+ years ### "Powerful video capture and streaming abilities" September 13, 2022 5.0 Once I figured out most of the settings, it was incredibly powerful. I was able to plug my game console into a video capture card, my camera into my PC, and stream both the screen of the game console and myself to a streaming service while also capturing the video to my harddrive. Pros An incredibly powerful free application that lets you capture or stream content. It supports multiple screens, has built in functionality with the most popular apps (ie: twitch), and is the software of choice for most professional streamers. It's covered under GPL and is free to use Cons There's a large learning curve. It's not software that you can just install and use immediately. You'll need to watch a few tutorial videos or do some searching to figure out how to add resources to stream/capture. Other software provides less functionality, but more of an 'instant use' scenario. Review Source Similar Products Featured