Streamlabs vs OBS: Which One Should You Use in 2025?
I've used both for years, and I'm here to give you the honest truth about which streaming software is actually better for your specific needs. No BS, just real experience.
The Real Story Behind This Comparison
I started with Streamlabs back in 2019 because, honestly, OBS looked intimidating as hell. All those settings and technical terms made my head spin. Streamlabs felt like the "easy button" for streaming, and for the first year, it was perfect.
But then I started getting serious about streaming. Frame drops during important moments, CPU usage that made my computer sound like a jet engine, and weird bugs that would randomly end my streams. That's when I reluctantly switched to OBS Studio.
Now, after using both extensively, I can tell you exactly when you should use each one. And spoiler alert: the "best" choice depends entirely on where you are in your streaming journey.
🎯 What You'll Learn
- • Which software is actually easier to use (hint: it's not what you think)
- • Performance differences that matter for your stream quality
- • When to stick with Streamlabs vs when to make the switch
- • Hidden costs and features most people don't know about
- • My honest recommendation based on your streaming goals
The Quick Answer (If You're in a Hurry)
Choose Streamlabs If:
- • You're brand new to streaming
- • You want to go live in under 10 minutes
- • You don't mind occasional performance hiccups
- • You love built-in overlays and themes
- • You're streaming 2-3 times per week casually
Choose OBS If:
- • You stream regularly (4+ times per week)
- • Performance and reliability are crucial
- • You want maximum customization control
- • You don't mind a learning curve
- • You're serious about streaming long-term
My Personal Take: Start with Streamlabs, switch to OBS when you outgrow it. Most people know when it's time to switch.
1Ease of Use: The Real Story
Everyone says Streamlabs is "easier," but after helping dozens of new streamers, I've learned it's more complicated than that. Yes, Streamlabs gets you streaming faster, but OBS might actually be easier to understand once you get past the initial setup.
🟢 Streamlabs: The Quick Start
What's Actually Easy:
- • Setup wizard walks you through everything
- • One-click overlays and themes
- • Built-in chat, donations, and alerts
- • Auto-optimization for your system
What's Actually Hard:
- • Too many features can be overwhelming
- • Finding specific settings buried in menus
- • Troubleshooting when things go wrong
- • Understanding why performance issues happen
🔵 OBS: The Honest Learning Curve
What's Actually Hard:
- • Initial setup requires some research
- • No hand-holding or setup wizard
- • Need to find/install overlays separately
- • More technical terminology
What's Actually Easy:
- • Simpler interface once you learn it
- • Settings are exactly where you'd expect
- • Troubleshooting is more straightforward
- • Massive community support and tutorials
💡 My Honest Take on "Easy"
Streamlabs feels easier for your first stream. OBS feels easier for your 100th stream.
If you want to stream once and never touch settings again, go Streamlabs. If you want to actually understand what you're doing and have control over your setup, the OBS learning curve is worth it.
2Performance: Where It Really Matters
This is where the rubber meets the road. I've run the same setup on both programs, and the differences are real. If you're streaming anything competitive or time-sensitive, this section might make your decision for you.
⚡ Performance Reality Check
Here's what I discovered after 6 months of side-by-side testing on the same gaming PC:
Streamlabs Performance:
- • 15-25% higher CPU usage
- • Occasional frame drops during intensive games
- • Memory usage increases over long streams
- • Random crashes about once per month
OBS Performance:
- • Consistently lower resource usage
- • Rock-solid stability even during 6+ hour streams
- • Better encoder options for quality
- • Haven't had a crash in over a year
🎮 Gaming Performance Impact
If you're streaming games, especially competitive ones, here's what you need to know:
With Streamlabs:
I lost about 10-15 FPS in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077. Occasional stutters during action-heavy scenes. Still playable, but noticeable.
With OBS:
Maybe 5-8 FPS loss in the same games. Smoother overall experience. I actually forget I'm streaming sometimes.
🔧 Why the Performance Difference?
Streamlabs is essentially OBS with a bunch of extra features built on top. Think of it like the difference between a sports car and an SUV with the same engine.
- • Streamlabs runs extra processes for overlays, chat, donations, etc.
- • OBS focuses purely on streaming and encoding
- • Streamlabs uses more RAM for its built-in browser sources
- • OBS gives you more control over encoding settings
3Features & Customization: What You Actually Get
This is where things get interesting. Both programs can do essentially the same things, but they approach it completely differently. It's like comparing a Swiss Army knife to a professional toolbox.
🎨 Streamlabs: All-in-One Package
What's Included:
- • Hundreds of pre-made overlays
- • Built-in donation/tip system
- • Chat management tools
- • Automatic highlight detection
- • Social media integration
- • Mobile app for remote control
Premium Features ($12/month):
- • Custom overlays and widgets
- • Advanced chatbot
- • Multistream to multiple platforms
- • Priority customer support
🔧 OBS: Pure Customization Power
What's Included:
- • Unlimited scene complexity
- • Advanced audio mixing
- • Custom shader support
- • Flexible source management
- • Professional recording options
- • Completely free forever
Plugin Ecosystem:
- • StreamFX for advanced effects
- • Move Transition for smooth scene changes
- • Advanced Scene Switcher automation
- • Hundreds of community plugins
💰 The Hidden Cost Reality
Here's what most people don't realize about the "free" vs "premium" situation:
Streamlabs Total Cost:
- • Free version: Limited overlays, ads in software
- • Premium: $12/month ($144/year)
- • Custom overlays: $5-50 each from designers
- • Annual cost: $150-300+
OBS Total Cost:
- • Software: Free forever
- • Overlays: Free community ones available
- • Custom overlays: Same $5-50 from designers
- • Annual cost: $0-100
4When to Switch: The Signs You've Outgrown Your Current Setup
Most streamers ask me "Should I switch?" but that's the wrong question. The right question is "Am I hitting limitations that are affecting my stream quality or my sanity?" Here are the clear signs it's time to make a change.
🚨 Signs You Should Switch FROM Streamlabs TO OBS
Performance Issues:
- • Regular frame drops during streams
- • Computer becomes unusably slow while streaming
- • Stream crashes more than once a month
- • Can't maintain consistent quality in demanding games
Feature Limitations:
- • Need more advanced scene management
- • Want better audio control and mixing
- • Frustrated by overlay/widget limitations
- • Need professional recording features
The Breaking Point: When you spend more time fighting your streaming software than creating content, it's time to switch.
🔄 Signs You Should Switch FROM OBS TO Streamlabs
Complexity Overwhelm:
- • Spend hours setting up basic overlays
- • Constantly troubleshooting technical issues
- • Miss built-in features like donation alerts
- • Want simpler social media integration
Time Constraints:
- • Don't have time to learn advanced features
- • Stream casually and want minimal setup
- • Prefer convenience over customization
- • Don't need professional-level control
The Honesty Check: If you're not using OBS's advanced features and just want to stream, Streamlabs might actually be better for you.
5My Personal Recommendation: The Path I'd Take Today
If I were starting over knowing what I know now, here's exactly what I'd do. This isn't about what's "better" – it's about what makes the most sense for different types of streamers.
🎯 The Smart Progression Path
Months 1-3: Start with Streamlabs
Get comfortable with streaming basics. Learn how scenes work, understand encoding, build confidence on camera. Don't worry about perfect quality yet.
Goal: Stream consistently and build the habit.
Months 4-6: Evaluate Your Needs
Are you hitting Streamlabs limitations? Do you want more control? Are performance issues affecting your content? If yes to any, start learning OBS.
Goal: Decide if you need to upgrade your tools.
Month 6+: Switch to OBS (If Needed)
Make the switch when you have time to learn properly. Your streaming experience will help you understand OBS much faster than if you started with it.
Goal: Unlock professional-level streaming capabilities.
⚠️ The Exception Cases
Start with OBS if:
- • You're already tech-savvy (software developer, IT professional, etc.)
- • You have specific professional streaming requirements
- • You're doing educational content that needs precise control
- • You plan to stream more than 15 hours per week from day one
Stick with Streamlabs if:
- • You stream less than 5 hours per week
- • You're not experiencing any performance issues
- • You love the built-in overlays and don't need custom ones
- • You prefer paying for convenience over learning complex tools
The Bottom Line: Both Are Great, But Different
After years of using both, testing both, and helping hundreds of streamers choose between them, here's my honest conclusion: there's no universal "best" choice. There's only what's best for YOU right now.
🎯 My Final Recommendations
Choose Streamlabs if you want:
- • To start streaming THIS WEEK
- • Built-in everything without research
- • To pay for convenience
- • Casual streaming (1-10 hours/week)
Choose OBS if you want:
- • Maximum performance and reliability
- • Complete control over your setup
- • Free forever with no limitations
- • Professional streaming (10+ hours/week)
💭 The Most Important Thing
Don't get paralyzed by this choice. Both programs are capable of creating amazing streams. The difference between Streamlabs and OBS is way smaller than the difference between streaming and not streaming at all.
Pick one, start streaming, and switch later if you need to. Your first 100 streams will teach you more about what you need than any guide ever could.
Ready to start streaming? 🚀