OBS Studio vs. Streamlabs OBS – why do I even care?
Well, before you start streaming and recording your videos, it’s important to choose the right software. Today, we are going to talk about two of the most popular apps available to live streamers: OBS Studio and Streamlabs OBS, and let’s see which one is best suited for your needs!
They are both open-source, meaning you can start recording and streaming your videos completely free. However, this fact doesn’t affect their quality, so they can be used by professionals as well as beginners.
Both have their pros and cons, which depend on the things you want to accomplish. Let’s do a deep dive and see which one (OBS Studio vs. Streamlabs OBS)will better suit your needs.
Note: if you are new to OBS Studio, please check out our tutorial on installing OBS Studio, screen recording using OBS Studio, and live streaming to Zoom using OBS Studio.
Interface
OBS Studio might not have the best looking menu, but it is fairly intuitive. Every window can be rearranged in a few seconds, letting you create your own unique workflow.
In comparison, Streamlabs has a sharper interface that is just as easy to use.
There’s also an editor that lets you rearrange all of the elements with a drag-and-drop function. Although they are very similar, Streamlabs OBS gives a premium feel which gives it a slight advantage in this department.
Resources
Sure, Streamlabs OBS is visually more attractive, but this also requires more resources. Since OBS Studio uses less CPU and RAM, it minimizes the chance of freezing and glitching if you are using a slower PC. Furthermore, you have an opportunity to spend more resources on the game itself. This can give you better graphics and framerate, which will provide your fans with a better experience.
In short, if you don’t have a powerful machine or PC dedicated for just streaming, OBS Studio seems like a better choice.
Support for Windows, macOS, Linux: Streamlabs vs OBS
OBS Studio is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Streamlabs OBS is currently in beta for Mac, but it’s not really that stable. However, Streamlabs can be conveniently installed on mobile devices, but you will need to purchase Streamlabs Prime to eliminate the watermark.
Another aspect is the updates. Since Streamlabs OBS uses a modified code from OBS Studio, users have to wait longer for new encoder and driver updates. Overall, this gives a Studio version a slight edge in this department.
Flexibility
Now, this is an aspect where OBS Studio really shines. By providing you with only the necessary ingredients, you get the freedom to “design” it to fit your purpose best. Do you want to use it for podcasting? Sure, it can do that. How about vlogging? It can do that too. In a sense, it’s like building a custom-designed Lego set. If you take your time to learn the ropes, you can create a much more unique experience.
Streamlabs OBS is geared exclusively towards gamers. As such, it has a lot of useful perks, but if you are a podcaster or a vlogger, it’s just not ideal. Lastly, some of the things are available only after subscribing, and most of these things are available for free in OBS Studio.
Ease of Use
First, it’s important to say that both programs can deliver similar results. However, if you want to do things quickly and conveniently, Streamlabs will deliver a better result. From the get-go, you will get everything you need for streaming.
Also, Streamlabs OBS is integrated with platforms like Twitch and YouTube, with donations, chatbot, and other elements, which you have to download separately in OBS Studio.
Although it’s pretty straightforward, there are also plenty of tutorials to guide you, set in a logical order.
OBS Studio requires that you install a bunch of 3rd party plugins and configure them, which will take a while. Although you will learn a lot, this may be tiresome for some. Also, since some of the features are not integrated, you can expect to switch between various windows in real-time.
The Studio version is more community-based, and although there are a lot of guides, they are not as professionally structured.
Overlays
Creative themes and overlays are a surefire way to make people pay attention to your streams. Streamlabs OBS comes with a set of free static and animated layouts that you can set up in a matter of seconds. The studio version is not as convenient, and you will have to download or create your own.
Streamlabs Prime
Unfortunately, Streamlabs OBS requires a subscription to unlock all of its capabilities. With Steamlabs Prime, you will get access to premium animated overlays, 40+ additional apps, and advanced merch store, paid sponsorship, and multistream. With it, you can simultaneously stream to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch to quickly grow your audience. Multistream is available in OBS Studio for free, but it’s a bit convoluted.
Verdict – OBS Studio vs. Streamlabs OBS?
To sum it all up, if you are a beginner with a solid gaming PC and care a lot about convenience, Streamlabs is the way to go. It’s quick to set up, looks better visually, and comes with many perks for gamers.
Check out our Top 12 Tips to Improving the Quality of your Live Video Streaming now and beat your competition!
However, if you love constantly learning new things and have a lot of patience, OBS Studio will reward you for it. Once you figure it out, it’s far more customizable and can be used for a wide variety of purposes. In the end, it all depends on how much time you are willing to invest.