OBS

Recommended

Free, open-source streaming and recording. The industry standard for live content.

456 reviews

Free tierHas API

In a nutshell

OBS is a marvel of open-source software. Professional-grade broadcasting and recording, completely free, with an ecosystem of plugins that extends it infinitely. The learning curve is the only barrier. For anyone streaming or recording content seriously, OBS is non-negotiable infrastructure.

What's great

Completely free with professional-grade capabilities
Open source with massive plugin ecosystem
Industry standard used by most streamers and broadcasters

Watch out for

Significant learning curve for beginners
No cloud recording or sharing — local only
Configuration can be complex for optimal quality

Best for

Streamers, educators, and content creators who need professional broadcasting for free.

Not ideal for

People who want simple, cloud-based recording without technical setup — use Loom instead.

Pricing

Free

Fully free and open source

View official pricing →

How it compares

Loom

4.5

Record your screen + camera, share a link. Async video that replaces meetings.

Descript

4.4

Edit video by editing text. The most innovative video/audio editor available.

Zoom

4.4

The video call standard. Reliable, feature-rich, and everyone already has it.

See full comparison →

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