# OBS Studio

Free, open-source recording and live-streaming software — the standard the paid screen recorders in this list get compared against.

- **Category:** [Utilities](https://notchlist.vercel.app/category/utilities/)
- **Price:** Free
- **Open source:** yes
- **Official site:** https://obsproject.com/
- **Available via:** Homebrew, Direct
- **Requirements:** macOS 12.0 or newer · Intel and Apple silicon builds
- **Maker:** OBS Project (open-source community project)

## Kitsmith's take

The steepest learning curve in this section by far — scenes, sources, and mixers instead of a one-click record button — but it’s free, open source, and does things CleanShot and Kap don’t attempt, like multi-source live streaming.

## Features

- **Scene and source mixing:** Combine windows, cameras, and audio sources into custom scenes.
- **Live streaming:** Stream directly to Twitch, YouTube, and other platforms, not just record to a file.
- **Recording:** Record locally in multiple formats, independent of or alongside streaming.

## FAQ

**Is OBS Studio free?**

Yes, free and open source, with no paid tier.

**Does OBS work on Apple silicon?**

Yes — the project ships native builds for both Intel and Apple silicon Macs.


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Hand-verified listing on Kitsmith: https://notchlist.vercel.app/apps/obs-studio/