
1. Streamlabs DesktopTop pick
Best for: New streamers who want alerts, overlays and chat tools working out of the box
Free plan + paidOpen sourceWindows, macOS
64.8
score / 100
Why switch from XSplit Broadcaster
Free app with alerts, overlays and chat tools built in, and a Mac version.
Pros
- Alerts, widgets, chatbot and overlay themes built in
- Dual Output streams horizontal and vertical layouts free
- Local recordings have no watermark or time limit
- Open-source code based on the OBS engine
Cons
- Multistreaming to several platforms needs the Ultra subscription
- No Linux version
- Heavier on CPU and memory than plain OBS Studio
- Free tier limits themes, apps and guest slots
How this score is calculated
Editorial fit ×0.387
Reviews ×0.363
Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
Freshness ×0.15100
Votes ×0.150
0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula
Verified facts
7 of 7 verified- Student discount
- 50% off up to 2 years of Ultra (.edu email)
- Checked Nov 8, 2026streamlabs.com(opens source in a new tab)
