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Free OBS Studio alternatives

Top Screen Recording like OBS Studio

The most popular alternative to OBS Studio is ShareX, which has a free version. Other great alternatives to OBS Studio are Bandicam, Loom, and Riverside.

Most alternatives to OBS Studio are in the Screen Recording category, compared here by price, platform and features.

OBS Studio alternatives
AllFreeOpen source
4 apps

All OBS Studio alternatives

  1. ShareX

    40Kstars

    ShareX is a free, open source utility for Windows that captures screenshots, scrolling pages and screen recordings, including GIFs. Captures can be annotated, run through OCR and automatically uploaded to dozens of supported destinations through customizable workflows. It is popular with power users for its depth of options and has no ads.

    7 ShareX alternatives

    Pros

    • Free, open source and ad-free
    • Custom workflows upload captures to dozens of destinations
    • Screenshots, scrolling captures, GIFs and OCR in one tool

    Cons

    • Available on Windows only, with no Mac or Linux version
    • Dense settings can overwhelm casual users
    Cost / License
    FreeOpen source
    Categories
    Screen Recording
    Platforms
    Windows
    Features
    IntegrationsOCRScreen annotationScreenshots
    Visit websiteMore about ShareX

  2. Bandicam

    Bandicam is a Windows screen recorder known for capturing gameplay and desktop activity with a small performance impact. It can record a region or the full screen, DirectX and OpenGL games, webcams and external devices, with real-time drawing and up to 4K output. The free version adds a watermark and limits recording length; a paid license removes both.

    6 Bandicam alternatives

    Pros

    • Low performance impact while recording games
    • Captures DirectX and OpenGL games, webcams and external devices
    • Real-time drawing on screen during recording

    Cons

    • Available on Windows only, with no Mac or Linux version
    • The free version adds a watermark and limits recording length
    • No built-in editor for trimming or effects
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Screen Recording
    Platforms
    Windows
    Features
    4K exportScreen annotationWebcam overlay
    Visit websiteMore about Bandicam

  3. Loom

    4.8(19.2K) · App Store

    Loom lets you record your screen, camera and voice and share the result instantly as a link, replacing meetings and long written explanations. Viewers can comment and react, and Loom AI generates titles, summaries and chapters. Part of Atlassian since 2023, it works through desktop and mobile apps, a Chrome extension and integrations with tools like Slack, Jira and Notion.

    12 Loom alternatives

    Pros

    • Record screen and camera and share instantly as a link
    • AI titles, summaries and chapters save editing time
    • Comments and reactions keep feedback next to the video

    Cons

    • The free plan limits video length and library size
    • Editing is basic compared with dedicated video tools
    • Per-seat pricing adds up for large teams
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Screen Recording
    Platforms
    WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroidBrowser extension
    Features
    AI assistantAnalyticsAuto captionsIntegrationsTeam collaborationWebcam overlay
    Visit websiteMore about Loom

  4. Riverside

    4.7(20.1K) · App Store

    Riverside is an online studio for recording podcasts, interviews and video shows with remote guests. Each participant is recorded locally in high quality, so unstable connections do not ruin the result, and files upload progressively. It adds transcription, a text-based editor, background noise removal, AI clips for social media and live streaming, on the web and mobile apps.

    7 Riverside alternatives

    Pros

    • Local recording keeps quality high even on shaky connections
    • Transcript-based editor and AI clips speed up publishing
    • Guests join from a browser link or the mobile app

    Cons

    • Advanced editing and AI features are reserved for paid plans
    • Guests must stay connected until their local recording finishes uploading
    Cost / License
    FreemiumProprietary
    Categories
    Audio Editing & Music ProductionVideo Editing
    Platforms
    WebiPhoneAndroid
    Features
    Live streamingLong video to shortsNoise cancellationRemote podcast recordingSpeech to textText-based editing
    Visit websiteMore about Riverside

OBS Studio vs its alternatives at a glance

Pricing, platforms and the key features of OBS Studio, compared with its most popular alternatives.

OBS Studio vs its alternatives at a glance
AppPricingPlatformsLive streamingNoise cancellationPlugins & extensionsWebcam overlay
OBS StudioFreeOpen sourceWindows, Mac, Linux
ShareXFreeOpen sourceWindows
BandicamFreemiumWindows
LoomFreemiumWeb, Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, Browser extension
RiversideFreemiumWeb, iPhone, Android

OBS Studio alternatives: frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to OBS Studio?

The most popular alternative to OBS Studio is ShareX: Free, open source screenshot and screen recording tool for Windows. Other great alternatives are Bandicam, Loom, and Riverside.

Is there a free alternative to OBS Studio?

Yes, 4 alternatives are free or have a free plan, including ShareX, Bandicam, Loom, and Riverside.

Is there an open source alternative to OBS Studio?

Yes, one open source alternative is listed: ShareX.

Is OBS Studio free?

Yes, OBS Studio is free to use.

Compare OBS Studio with its alternatives

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