Streamlabs Desktop
Free live streaming app built on OBS, with alerts, overlays, chat tools and a paid Ultra plan for extras.
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About Streamlabs Desktop
Streamlabs Desktop is a broadcasting app for Windows and macOS that takes the OBS engine and wraps it in a setup aimed at gamers and creators who want to go live quickly. Instead of assembling plugins and browser sources by hand, you get stream alerts, a chat box, widgets, a chatbot called Cloudbot and a library of overlay themes inside the same window. It captures games, webcams, desktop and audio, records locally without watermarks, and can send a horizontal and a vertical layout at the same time for platforms like YouTube and TikTok. The app is open source and free to use; the Ultra subscription unlocks multistreaming to several destinations, the full theme library, more guest slots in Collab Cam and the wider Streamlabs suite (mobile, console streaming, clip and podcast editors). It is owned by Logitech. Compared with plain OBS it is easier to start with, but it is heavier on system resources and the interface regularly nudges you toward paid features.
Best for: New streamers who want alerts, overlays and chat tools working out of the box.
Pros and cons
What works
- 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
Why people leave
- 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
Top Streamlabs Desktop alternatives
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OBS Studio56.8The open-source engine Streamlabs is built on, lighter on resources and with no upsells, though alerts need extra setup.
Why people left Streamlabs Desktop
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Streamlabs Desktop: common questions
Is Streamlabs Desktop free?
Streamlabs Desktop has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Yes, app is free to download (checked on Streamlabs Desktop's own site).
Is Streamlabs Desktop open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at streamlabs/desktop.
What platforms does Streamlabs Desktop run on?
Streamlabs Desktop is available for Windows and macOS.
What are the best alternatives to Streamlabs Desktop?
The highest-ranked Streamlabs Desktop alternatives right now are OBS Studio. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.