What is OBS, or Open Broadcaster software?

OBS Studio is a free and open-source software created for screen and video recording as well as live streaming. OBS is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers. Gamers are the largest and most prominent user group for OBS Studio.
However, it’s not the only option available. If you’re looking for video recording software alternatives to OBS, there are several other excellent choices on the market. These alternatives offer varying features, pricing, and ease of use, so it’s essential to consider your specific needs before making a decision. In the following sections, we’ll explore some of the top OBS alternatives and their key features.

1. OBS vs. Camtasia

Obviously, Camtasia ranks high on our list. Mainly because it is ideal for recording video tutorials and made for people who are looking to do more than just record their screen. Camtasia is designed to turn high-quality screen recordings into visually engaging videos. 

Key Features:

• Full video editing experience, rich with templates, music, backgrounds, and more with Camtasia Assets.
• High-quality video capture from your screen, webcam, and other sources.
• On-screen annotations include text callouts, arrows, shapes, and more.
• Background removal with automatic video layouts.

Pros:

• All-in-one screen recorder and video editor with endless recording tools.
• Enhanced mouse cursor effects and editing.
• Speech-to-text transcription for dynamic captions. 
• Access to templates, titles, motion backgrounds, and other video assets.

Cons:

• No streaming support.
• No Linux version is available.
• It requires a paid license for full functionality.
  

2. OBS vs. Bandicam

Like OBS, Bandicam is primarily aimed at being a good option for video game recording. 

Key features:

• High-quality recording in multiple formats.
• Game recording mode that is optimized for capturing gameplay.
• Device recording mode for capturing external devices like webcams.
• Screen recording mode for capturing desktop activity.

Pros:

• Capable of recording at high resolutions and frame rates.
• Simple and user-friendly interface.
• Efficient use of system resources.
• Supports a variety of file formats for recordings.

Cons:

• Primarily focused on recording rather than live streaming.
• The free version adds a watermark to recordings.
• It requires a paid license for full functionality.
• Only available for Windows.

3. OBS vs. Icecream Screen Recorder

Icecream Screen Recorder is a screen recording software that allows users to capture any area of their screen or record webcam video. While it offers some of what OBS does for recording, it may lack some advanced functionalities and customization options compared to Open Broadcaster Software.  

Key features:

• Screen and webcam recording.
• Video trimming.
• Onscreen video annotations and drawings. 
• Video hosting and sharing.

Pros:

• Easy to set up and get started. Icecream Screen Recorder can be set up quickly without any in-depth technical knowledge, unlike OBS, which requires advanced configuration.
• Able to schedule start and stop times for screen recording.
• Video annotation tools. Icecream Screen Recorder offers built-in annotation tools to add visual elements to the recorded videos.

Cons:

• Limited streaming options are available.
• Product limitations, like a watermark, in the free version.
• Fewer ways to customize. Icecream Screen Recorder has limited settings for video and audio configurations, whereas OBS provides extensive customization options.
• Unlike OBS, Icecream Screen Recorder does not have Linux support. 

4. OBS vs. ScreenPal

ScreenPal, also formerly known as Screencast-O-Matic, is another OBS alternative that covers some of the core needs for screen recording. ScreenPal is designed for both personal and professional use and includes both free and paid options.  

Key features:

• Screen and webcam recording. 
• Record audio voice narration. 
• Ability to trim and cut recordings.  
• Quick sharing with a link.

Pros:

• Video drawing tools are available while recording. 
• Green screen effects and virtual backgrounds for camera capture.
• Available for iOS, Android, and Chromebook. 

Cons:

• No streaming support.
• 15-minute limit on video capture. 
• Separate apps are required for video recording and editing.  
• Paid subscriptions are required for additional functionality.

5. OBS vs. Streamyard

StreamYard is a live streaming, real-time video, and recording studio in your browser. It offers easy sharing to multiple platforms simultaneously, such as Facebook, YouTube, and other video streaming platforms. Focused mainly on podcasts and other live-streaming-type content.  Streamyard is free to try.

Key Features

• Video recording and live streaming capabilities.
• Easily bring in guests to the live stream.
• Branding and custom lower thirds options.
• Interact with views and comments on screen.

Pros:

• Multistream to several live streaming platforms at once, all within the browser.
• StreamYard’s interface is far easier to use than OBS.
• Support for green screen and various template layouts.

Cons:

• Lacks analytics tools for live streams.

6. OBS vs. Lightstream Studio 

LightStream Studio is another cloud-native, browser-based live-streaming service that gives extra attention to live console game capture streaming. Live Streaming API extends value to developers wanting to incorporate live streaming into their solutions.

Key Features:

• Enables reusable stream setups for your live shows.
• 3rd-party integration for on-steam alerts and social media engagement.
• Mobile device control of your live streams—enabling remote streaming.

Pros:

• Browser-based streaming composition reduces performance impact on local hardware.
• No download or setup, easy to configure and use immediately.
• Console game live streaming integrations.

Cons:

• Not as robust of a feature set or as customizable as OBS.
• Lightstream Studio comes with a monthly subscription.

7. OBS vs. ScreenFlow

ScreenFlow, produced by Telestream, is a Mac-only video recording alternative to OBS.  ScreenFlow is primarily for Mac-based content creators in education, gaming, and training. It offers both a free trial and paid versions, including higher paid tiers that include their stock media library content.

Key features:

• Screen recording and editing features.
• Closed caption support.
• Exports in multiple video file types.

Pros:

• Designed exclusively for Mac technology.
• Offers iOS recording for app demos.
• Sharing options to Wistia, YouTube, and Vimeo.

Cons:

• No streaming support.
• No support for Microsoft Windows.
• Limited audio editing.

8. OBS vs. Filmora

Filmora, made by Wondershare, is less of a streaming alternative to OBS and more of a stand-alone content creation product where the content can later be uploaded to social media platforms. Targeted at both beginners and more experienced video creators, Filmora offers both free and paid options.

Key features:

• AI-driven capabilities for text editing, thumbnail creation, and music generation.
• Large selection of templates to create custom-looking video productions.
• Create or capture content on desktop, tablet, or mobile devices.

Pros:

• Filmora has a much more user-friendly interface than OBS, but is not centered around live-streaming.
• Offers a wide variety of designs and effects through its content library.  
• Broad video editing and customization options while remaining easy to use.

Cons:

• No streaming support.
• Restricted editing options, if looking for professional-grade video editing.
• Paid model to continuous access software compared to OBS, which is free.

9. OBS vs. Riverside.fm

Riverside.fm is browser-based video recording and live-streaming software, with live streaming of up to 10 participants. Users can leverage Riverside on either desktop or mobile devices.  Riverside.fm has both free and paid plans available.

Key features:

• 4K streaming resolution
• Can multi-stream to different streaming platforms.
• Easily capture a tab, window, or the entire screen.

Pros:

• Mobile app for recording on the go.
• Up to 10 participants for each stream, including the host.
• Custom branding for promotion/awareness.

Cons:

• Reliability and stability issues have been common.
• You can only edit the videos on the desktop version.
• Lacks user engagement and measurement analytics.

10. OBS vs. Snagit

Snagit is an amazing lightweight screen recorder tool. It’s great for anyone who is looking for screen recording plus screen capture with editing capabilities. Snagit provides flexibility on the recording side and offers some nice ways to add visual touches. See more about recording videos with Snagit.   

Key features

• Screen and webcam recording.
• Real-time drawing and video annotation options
• Create videos from a series of images.
• Custom webcam shapes and effects.
• Simple video and image sharing.

Pros:

• Able to combine multiple images and videos into a single video.
• Screen drawing available during recording. 
• Flexible video and image capture options. 
• Customizable sharing options for various platforms and services.

Cons:

• No streaming support. 
• No Linux support.
• Limited video editing options.

Conclusion and takeaways

As you can see, there are several alternatives for OBS. Many offer a range of features catering to different needs, from professional video creation to dedicated video streaming to simple game recording. 

Some key factors to keep in mind when looking for an alternative to OBS.  

• Ease of Use — OBS can be extremely complex to use with a steep learning curve, even for the savvy video aficionado. Keeping simplicity at the forefront of your criteria will increase your chance of success.
• Purpose — Not all video creation tools are built the same. Each of them can vary by the type of content you are trying to create. It is important to match the right product with your desired outcome.
• Support and Community — Inevitably, at some point, you are going to need assistance.  Ensuring the company behind the product and the community of users who are loyal to that product are engaged, supportive, and knowledgeable will be invaluable.
• Features — With the pace of innovation, especially with the onset of AI, it’s critically important in the content arena that your capabilities for design, customization, and new ways to engage audiences remain fresh.

Hopefully, this information makes it easier to find the right screen recording video solution for your specific requirements. All of these options provide free trials or usage, so if you’re ever in doubt, try it out!