OBS Studio: when to install it, and when not to
Recording the screen or streaming it, with scenes, sources, audio mixing and transitions in one free cross-platform application. It is the tool to install…
The short version
OBS Studio: The standard for screen recording and live streaming, used by everyone from Twitch streamers to university lecturers. Expect one evening of setup before it clicks.
| Licence / price | Free · Open source |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Category | Media, Recording & Capture — 10 programs |
| Official download | https://obsproject.com/download ↗ |
What it is for
Recording the screen or streaming it, with scenes, sources, audio mixing and transitions in one free cross-platform application. It is the tool to install when a screenshot tool is no longer enough.
When to pick something else
The number of options is the price. For a still screenshot with an arrow and some text, ShareX takes seconds where OBS takes a scene setup. Some systems need an extra audio routing step to capture desktop sound.
What independent reviewers found
We do not run lab tests or benchmarks. These summaries are written in our own words, with the publisher named and the original linked. Our citation policy explains what we will and will not reproduce.
TechRadar — 2025
What the source says. TechRadar picks OBS Studio as the best free screen recorder overall, while noting that the number of options can be overwhelming for a simple capture.
What we take from it. We install it for recording and streaming only. For a still screenshot with an arrow, ShareX is the shorter path and stays on this list for that reason.
Best free screen recorder of 2025 ↗ (TechRadar · 2025 · Comparative product roundup)
How it compares in Media, Recording & Capture
These are the alternatives we would consider for the same job. The notes are the same ones used on the main list, so there is no separate ranking hiding on this page.
| Program | Licence / price | Platforms | Why it is on the list |
|---|---|---|---|
| ShareX Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows | Screenshot, annotate, record the screen, then upload and copy a link in one keystroke, with workflows you can script. Far more powerful than Snipping Tool and correspondingly more overwhelming at first. |
| HandBrake Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | Shrinks video files to a fraction of their size with no visible quality loss, and converts almost anything to MP4. Use the presets until you have a reason not to. |
| Shotcut Publisher's site ↗ | Free · Open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | The gentler free editor: native format support, no importing step, and a flatter learning curve than Kdenlive. Pick it if you edit occasionally rather than daily. |
Practical notes
- Build one scene with a display capture and a microphone source, and record ten seconds before doing anything more complex.
- Check the output folder and the recording format before a long session.
- Use a separate audio source for the microphone so you can adjust its level without touching the desktop audio.
Questions people ask
Why is there no desktop audio in my recording?
On some systems desktop audio needs an explicit capture source or an audio routing step. Test with a ten-second clip before recording anything important.
Where it appears in our guides
See the full Media, Recording & Capture explainer for the other 9 programs in this category.
How to read this page. How to read this page. Platform, licence and publisher details come from our directory data. Where an independent review, audit or survey is mentioned, it is summarised in our own words with the source named and linked; our /sources page sets out that policy. The recommendation, the trade-offs and every 'skip it if' line are our editorial judgement. We do not run benchmarks, publish measured performance figures or host installers, and every download link goes to the publisher's own site. If a detail is out of date, our About page explains how to tell us.