Record.
Stream.
OBS Studio is a powerful free screen recorder and live streaming software. Download the application, explore step-by-step setup guides, free tutorials, and solutions for common issues.
Explore OBS Studio Guides
Everything you need to know — from software installation to advanced video encoder settings.
What is OBS Studio?
OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is a free software and open-source screen recorder designed for video recording and live streaming. Available for Windows 10 and 11, macOS, and Linux, it is distributed under the GPLv2 license with no ads, watermarks, or artificial recording limits. The application allows you to capture and mix multiple sources — including desktop displays, game windows, webcams, microphones, system audio, images, and text overlays — into a single seamless video stream. You can record video files locally or broadcast live to platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Kick, or any custom RTMP server.
The latest version is 32.2.2. It features full hardware acceleration support for NVIDIA NVENC, Intel Quick Sync (QSV), and AMD AMF encoders, multi-track audio recording, MKV/MP4/MOV output formats, a virtual camera for Zoom and Discord, and extensive community plugin support. Below is an overview of why OBS Studio is the top free software choice for streamers, educators, and content creators worldwide.
Key Features and Use Cases
Educational Videos & Desktop Recording
Capture screen activity with cursor movement, separate audio tracks for microphone and desktop audio, and lossless video recording ready for editing. Learn more in our practical guides section.
Game Streaming & Live Broadcasting
High-performance game capture, custom overlays, alert widgets via browser source, hotkeys, and hardware encoder options that minimize FPS impact. Check out optimal bitrate settings in our live streaming guide.
Webinars & Virtual Camera Integration
Use the OBS Virtual Camera output to output custom scenes directly into Zoom, Google Meet, or Discord — display screen shares, webcam feeds, and presentation slides simultaneously.
Webcam Capture & Chroma Key Filtering
Apply built-in Chroma Key filters to easily remove green screen backgrounds, with full support for capture cards and USB webcams. Learn step-by-step setup in our Chroma Key tutorial.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OBS Studio completely free to download?
Yes. OBS Studio is 100% free software distributed under the GPLv2 license, with no hidden costs, subscriptions, or premium features. Any website asking for payment to download OBS Studio is unauthorized.
Why is there a black screen during screen recording?
This typically happens due to GPU power-saving conflicts on dual-GPU laptops. Ensure OBS is assigned to the same graphics card as your game or use "Game Capture" instead of "Display Capture". See our troubleshooting guide for details.
What are the best OBS settings for 1080p60 streaming?
We recommend a 6000 Kbps video bitrate, NVENC/AMF/QSV hardware encoder, keyframe interval of 2 seconds, and High profile. Check out our 1080p60 streaming guide for full configurations.
Where can I safely download OBS Studio?
Always download the software directly from obsproject.com, official GitHub releases, Flathub, or Steam. You can find verified direct links on our download page.