Streamlabs Desktop is the OBS engine with the creator layer OBS leaves out: alerts, overlays, tipping, chat widgets and a themes library, all in one app. Streamlabs says it licenses the OBS engine under GPLv2 and that Streamlabs Desktop is itself open source. It's free to stream with, and the paid Ultra plan is where multistreaming and the full theme library live.
What it does well
The free version is generous where streamers feel it. Streamlabs says it adds no watermarks and no time limits to local recordings, so your files stay yours. Dual Output, free on every account, sends one horizontal and one vertical stream at the same time, which covers the common Twitch-plus-TikTok or YouTube-plus-Shorts setup. Streamlabs also says you can stream games to TikTok without a stream key.
Monetization and engagement are built in. The free Starter plan includes a no-fee basic tip page, limited themes and overlays, a basic chatbot (Cloudbot) and up to 5 stream automations. You don't need to find and configure browser-source widgets the way you would in plain OBS.
Collab Cam lets a guest, or your own phone as a second camera, join from a link. It's free for one guest or camera, and Ultra raises that to 11. Streamlabs lists native support for Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Kick, Patreon, Instagram, X and custom RTMP destinations.
Ultra also covers more than the desktop app. Streamlabs says it includes premium features across Streamlabs Mobile (iOS and Android), Streamlabs Console for Xbox, Talk Studio, Podcast Editor, Cross Clip and its video editor, so one subscription may replace several tools if you use the suite.
Where it falls short
There's no Linux version. The desktop app runs on Windows 10 or newer and macOS 12 or newer.
Multistreaming beyond the free horizontal-plus-vertical pair needs Ultra, and Streamlabs describes the Ultra limit only as "3+ destinations." We couldn't find an official hard cap.
Pricing clarity slips. Streamlabs' FAQ lists Ultra at $27 a month or $189 a year, and its Ultra page says "starting at $15.75/mo," which matches $189. Its desktop app page shows $179 a year. Confirm at checkout. Ultra+ has no public price.
The app is also a storefront: themes, an app store with 60+ add-ons, merch and AI features (Sidekick, Producer Automations) are all pitched in the interface. If you want a lean encoder, plain OBS is quieter.
Pricing in practice
Prices are in USD, checked October 10, 2026. Starter is free. Ultra is $27 a month billed monthly, or $189 a year billed annually per the FAQ. Ultra adds 10 GB of cloud storage (1 GB on Free) and Collab Cam for up to 11 guests or cameras.
Example: a streamer going live to Twitch, YouTube and TikTok, list prices on October 10, 2026, annual billing. Streamlabs Ultra costs $189 a year. Free Dual Output alone covers one horizontal and one vertical destination, so a two-platform setup like Twitch plus TikTok costs $0. OBS plus Restream Standard, the alternative for three platforms, costs $190 a year.
Who should pick it (and who shouldn't)
Pick Streamlabs if you stream games or IRL content on Twitch, YouTube or Kick, want alerts and tipping without plugin work, and like having vertical output for TikTok free.
Skip it if you run Linux, want a minimal encoder, or record podcasts and interviews where per-guest recording matters more than widgets. What would change our view: one consistent Ultra price and a published destination limit.
Alternatives worth comparing
- OBS Studio: the free engine underneath, with no upsells and Linux support.
- Restream (visit RestreamAFFILIATE, affiliate): a relay for multistreaming from any encoder. See StreamYard vs Restream.
- Ecamm Live: a Mac studio app with ten destinations on its Standard plan.
- See all of them in our guide to the best livestreaming software for creators.
SOURCES (CHECKED OCT 10, 2026)
| Claim | Source URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra $27/mo or $189/yr; built on OBS engine under GPLv2; Streamlabs open source; supported platforms (Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Kick, Patreon, Instagram, X, custom RTMP) | https://streamlabs.com/faq | 2026-10-10 |
| No watermark or time limits on local recordings; Dual Output free; Ultra 3+ destinations; Annual $179/yr toggle; Windows/Mac; TikTok without stream key; plan comparison | https://streamlabs.com/desktop-app | 2026-10-10 |
| Starter and Ultra/Ultra+ features, storage 1/10/30 GB, Collab Cam 1 vs 11, starting at $15.75/mo, macOS 12+, Windows 10+, suite products, mobile and Console | https://streamlabs.com/ultra | 2026-10-10 |
| Collab Cam: 1 guest free, up to 11 with Ultra; phone as second camera | https://streamlabs.com/collab-cam | 2026-10-10 |
| Restream Standard $190/yr | https://restream.io/pricing | 2026-10-10 |
| PLAN | PRICE | WHAT YOU GET |
|---|---|---|
| Starter (Free) | $0 | Dual Output (one horizontal plus one vertical stream), 1 Collab Cam guest or camera, limited themes and overlays, no-fee basic tip page, 1 GB cloud storage, no watermark on local recordings. |
| Ultra | $27 /mo | Billed monthly. Multistream to 3+ destinations, 1,000+ themes and overlays, 60+ apps, up to 11 Collab Cam guests or cameras, 10 GB storage, Pro tier across Streamlabs' other creator tools. |
| Ultra (annual) | $189 /yr | Billed annually ("starting at $15.75/mo"), per Streamlabs' FAQ and Ultra page. Its desktop app page shows $179/yr; confirm at checkout. |
| Ultra+ | Not published | Adds dedicated support, a success call, 30 GB storage and 5,000 Sidekick interactions a month. No price found on the public pages. |
Twitch, YouTube and Kick streamers who want alerts, overlays, tipping and a horizontal-plus-vertical stream in one free app. — and anyone who wants Streamlabs to do the heavy lifting in this category.
Skip it if you use Linux, want a lean encoder without upsells, or need to multistream to more than one horizontal and one vertical destination for free. — if that's a dealbreaker, see every video tool we've reviewed.
- Is Streamlabs free?
Yes. Streamlabs Desktop is free, with Dual Output (one horizontal and one vertical stream), one Collab Cam guest, limited themes and a basic tip page. Streamlabs says it adds no watermarks or time limits to local recordings.
- How much is Streamlabs Ultra?
$27 a month billed monthly, or $189 a year billed annually according to Streamlabs' FAQ. One Streamlabs page shows $179 a year, so check the price at checkout.
- Can Streamlabs multistream for free?
Partly. The free Dual Output feature streams one horizontal and one vertical feed at the same time. Streaming to more destinations requires Ultra, which Streamlabs lists as 3+ destinations.
- Does Streamlabs work on Mac or Linux?
It works on macOS 12 or newer and Windows 10 or newer. There is no Linux version; Linux users should use OBS Studio.
- Is Streamlabs the same as OBS?
It is built on the OBS engine, licensed under GPLv2, but adds alerts, themes, tipping, widgets and Collab Cam. OBS Studio itself is leaner and fully free.
OBS with the creator layer already installed: alerts, themes, tipping and dual output for free, with real multistreaming behind the Ultra paywall.
Editorially reviewed. An editorial evaluation of verified product information, official documentation, pricing and features, informed by Carlos Gil's professional experience. Available demos and screenshots may inform the review; documented product use is required for a hands-on label. Read our review standards.
Editorially reviewed by Carlos Gil. Based on Streamlabs' official FAQ, Ultra and desktop app pages, checked October 10, 2026. Streamlabs pays us nothing and the link to it is a plain link. How we review.
BestCreates is written and edited by Carlos Gil. Every tool is assessed against the same documented framework — the jobs creators hire it for, ease of use, pricing accuracy, support and integrations — and each review states in the open how it was assessed.
LAST UPDATED OCT 10, 2026
SIGNED BY CARLOS GIL · FOUNDER & EDITOR, THE BEST NETWORK · OUR DISCLOSURE POLICY