OBS Studio vs Streamlabs: Which Streaming Software Should You Use?

OBS Studio vs Streamlabs comes down to performance versus convenience. OBS Studio uses 20-30% less CPU, is completely free, and offers unlimited customization through plugins. Streamlabs bundles alerts, overlays, chatbot, and themes for easy setup but uses more system resources. If you game and stream on the same PC, OBS Studio’s lower CPU usage preserves more frames for your game. If you are new to streaming and want to go live in 10 minutes, Streamlabs gets you there faster.

Performance: OBS Wins Clearly

OBS Studio uses 20-30% less CPU than Streamlabs in identical streaming configurations. This difference exists because Streamlabs runs a Chromium-based web browser engine internally to render its widgets, alerts, and overlay elements. OBS uses native rendering that is significantly more efficient.

For gamers who stream from the same PC they game on (single PC streaming), every percent of CPU used by the streaming software directly reduces gaming performance. On a 6-core CPU like the Ryzen 5 7600:

• OBS Studio: Uses 10-14% CPU for a 1080p60 NVENC stream. Game gets 86-90% of CPU
• Streamlabs: Uses 15-22% CPU for the same stream. Game gets 78-85% of CPU

That 5-8% CPU difference translates to 10-20 FPS loss in CPU-bound games like Valorant and CS2. In GPU-bound games at 1440p, the difference is smaller but still measurable.

Features: Streamlabs Has More Built-In

Streamlabs bundles features that OBS requires separate tools or plugins for:

The convenience tradeoff: Streamlabs packages everything a new streamer needs into one app. OBS achieves the same functionality through separate tools (StreamElements for alerts, Nightbot for chat moderation, third-party overlay designers) that each need individual setup. OBS gives you more control but requires more effort to configure initially.

Ease of Use: Streamlabs for Beginners

Streamlabs has a guided setup wizard that auto-detects your hardware, recommends encoding settings, and connects to your Twitch/YouTube account in under 5 minutes. You can select a pre-made overlay theme and go live with professional-looking stream in 10 minutes.

OBS Studio requires manual configuration: you set up scenes, add sources, configure encoding settings, and design your layout from scratch. The first-time setup takes 30-60 minutes for a beginner. However, the knowledge you gain from manual setup gives you deeper understanding of your stream, making troubleshooting easier later.

Cost Comparison

Is Streamlabs Ultra worth the subscription cost? For most streamers, no. The free tiers of both OBS and Streamlabs cover everything you need to stream professionally. Ultra’s premium themes and multistreaming can be achieved for free with OBS plugins. Ultra is only worth it if you value the convenience of having everything in one app and the merch store integration generates revenue for you.

Encoding: NVENC vs x264 (Both Apps)

Both OBS and Streamlabs support the same encoding options. The encoder you choose matters more than which app you use:

• NVENC (NVIDIA GPU): Uses the GPU’s dedicated hardware encoder. Near-zero CPU impact. Quality matches x264 Medium on RTX 3000+ cards. Use this for single-PC streaming
• AMF (AMD GPU): AMD’s equivalent to NVENC. Good quality with minimal CPU impact. Slightly lower quality than NVENC on equivalent hardware
• x264 (CPU): Highest quality at Slow/Medium presets but uses 15-40% CPU. Only viable on 8+ core CPUs or dedicated streaming PCs. Most streamers in 2026 use NVENC instead

Since both apps use the same encoders, stream quality is identical between OBS and Streamlabs at the same settings. The difference is in CPU overhead from the app itself, not the encoding.

Recommended Settings for Both Apps

Plugin Ecosystem: OBS Wins

OBS Studio has over 100 community-developed plugins that extend its functionality far beyond what Streamlabs offers. Notable plugins include:

• StreamFX: Advanced video effects, 3D transforms, blur filters
• Advanced Scene Switcher: Automated scene changes based on conditions (game detection, audio levels)
• obs-websocket: Remote control from phone or Stream Deck
• Multiple RTMP Output: Free multistreaming to Twitch + YouTube + Kick simultaneously
• Source Record: Record individual sources separately from the stream
• Move Transition: Smooth animated transitions between scene elements

Streamlabs has fewer plugin options because it uses a modified version of OBS that is not fully compatible with standard OBS plugins. This limits advanced users who want specific functionality.

Decision Framework

• New streamer, want to go live fast: Start with Streamlabs. The guided setup gets you streaming in 10 minutes with professional-looking overlays
• Single-PC gamer-streamer (most common): OBS Studio. The 20-30% lower CPU usage directly translates to higher FPS in your games while streaming
• Dedicated streaming PC setup: Either works. The CPU advantage of OBS does not matter when the streaming PC is not gaming
• Want maximum control and customization: OBS Studio. The plugin ecosystem and open-source nature provide unlimited flexibility
• Stream to multiple platforms simultaneously: OBS Studio with the free Multiple RTMP Output plugin. Streamlabs requires Ultra subscription for multistreaming
• Already using Streamlabs and it works: No reason to switch unless CPU usage is causing problems. Both produce identical stream quality

2026 update: OBS Studio 31+ with NVIDIA AV1 encoding delivers broadcast-quality streams at lower bitrates than H.264.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OBS or Streamlabs better for streaming?

OBS is better for performance and customization. Streamlabs is better for beginners wanting quick setup. OBS uses 20-30% less CPU, which matters for single-PC streaming. Most serious streamers use OBS with StreamElements for alerts.

Does Streamlabs use more CPU than OBS?

Yes, 20-30% more due to its built-in web browser engine for widgets and alerts. On a Ryzen 5 7600, Streamlabs uses 15-20% CPU while OBS uses 10-14% for the same stream. This difference costs 10-20 FPS in CPU-bound games.

Is Streamlabs free to use?

The free tier includes basic streaming, alerts, and scenes. Ultra is a paid subscription tier that adds premium themes, multistreaming, merch, and custom tip pages. Most streamers can stream effectively on the free tier. OBS is completely free with no paid tiers.

Can I switch from Streamlabs to OBS?

Yes, but you will need to rebuild overlay layouts (1-2 hours). Stream key, encoding settings, and browser source widgets transfer easily. The switch is worth it if CPU usage is a problem.

Should I use NVENC or x264 encoding?

NVENC on NVIDIA GPUs (RTX 2000+). It offloads encoding to dedicated hardware with near-zero CPU impact. Quality matches x264 Medium on RTX 3000+ cards. Both OBS and Streamlabs support NVENC. AMD users should use AMF encoding.

Related Guides

• Budget Streaming Setup Guide – Get Started for Less
• NVIDIA ShadowPlay Recording Guide
• Best Capture Card for Streaming
• Best Microphone for Streaming

Written by

Tom Terhune

Gaming Hardware Editor

Tom plays CS2, Valorant, League, and plenty more - and has been way too deep into the gear rabbit hole for years. He is the type to swap mice three times in a week chasing the perfect aim feel. That obsession turned into GamerHardware, where he digs through specs, Reddit threads, and pro setups so you can skip the guesswork.