Twitch Studio vs OBS Studio: A Comprehensive Guide

Twitch Studio vs OBS Studio: A Comprehensive Guide

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Broadcasting video content in real time is a great way to interact with your viewers directly. One important factor affecting your overall streaming experience is your choice of streaming app.

After Twitch Studio’s discontinuation in May 2024, streamers have started to look for alternatives, and OBS Studio is one of the streaming apps that stand out the most. In this blog post, we will focus on OBS Studio as an alternative to Twitch Studio. So here is what you need to know about Twitch Studio and OBS Studio.

Table of Comparison: Twitch Studio vs OBS

Feature Twitch Studio OBS Studio
Supported Platforms Twitch-only Multiple platforms
Ease of Use Beginner-friendly with guided setup Moderate learning curve but provides guides
Customization Limited overlays and themes Fully customizable with unlimited scenes and plugins
Audio Controls Basic audio mixing Advanced audio filtering
Performance Optimized for low-end PCs Scalable for various hardware setups
Updates and Support Discontinued, no longer supported Actively maintained with regular updates
Cost Free Free and open-source
Community Support Smaller, Twitch-focused community Large, global community with extensive resources
Advanced Features No advanced features Studio Mode, virtual camera, multi-source input, and more
A table comparing Twitch Studio and OBS.

What is Twitch Studio?

Twitch’s own streaming app was called Twitch Studio. It enabled you to stream on Twitch directly and was free to use.

What It Offered

Twitch Studio provided a live chat window so that you could interact with your audience while increasing audience engagement.

Twitch's logo on dark backgorund.

It not only allowed you to stream audio and video in real time but also offered monetization options:

  • Your viewers could support you with a virtual currency called bits. 
  • You could offer exclusive content for subscribers.
  • You could generate revenue by displaying ads during your streams.
  • It enabled you to categorize your content with tags to increase discoverability and save your stream for later viewing.

    The word Twitch on black background.

    You could also add interactive features with extensions. For example, your audience could play mini-games on your stream.

    Alternatives to Twitch Studio: OBS Studio (most popular with advanced features and Maestra AI integration), Streamlabs Desktop ( a fork of OBS), NVIDIA ShadowPlay (a built-in streaming tool that comes with NVIDIA GPUs), Restream Studio (browser-based), Lightstream (cloud-based), and vMix (an advanced tool that integrates with Maestra AI).

    What is OBS Studio?

    OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software Studio) is free and open-source software that enables you to stream across multiple platforms.

    Twitch Studio vs OBS.

    While some streamers might be sad to lose Twitch Studio because it met different needs of streamers, we can say that OBS Studio is another great app that offers professional-grade tools.

    Key Features

    OBS Studio is versatile.

    • It is available on Windows, MacOS, and Linux, and being able to stream to multiple platforms is one of the key differences between Twitch Studio and OBS Studio. It not only enables you to stream on Twitch but also YouTube, Facebook Live, and X.
    • A woman wearing headphones and speaking to a microphone.

      It offers professional-grade features.

      • Advanced control over audio is one of the key features of OBS Studio. You can manage audio from various sources, adjust their levels, and add filters.
      • There is also a studio mode where you can preview changes before you apply them to your live stream.
      • You can track your computer’s CPU usage along with other stats to have control over your stream and take action as necessary.
      • OBS Studio enables you to repurpose content with its local recording feature.
      • You can assign shortcuts to perform tasks on OBS Studio and save time.
      • It is highly customizable.

        • You can create streams tailored to your brand with overlays and animations.
        • There are third-party plugins enabling you to add advanced features.
        • If you are a developer, you can have fun and build additional tools for OBS Studio since it is an open-source app.
        • A gamer live streaming while playing an FPS game.

          It is beginner-friendly. Another difference between Twitch Studio and OBS Studio is that Twitch Studio was more intended for beginners while OBS Studio has a learning curve due to its advanced features. But:

          • OBS Studio offers step-by-step tutorials.
          • It offers community support to troubleshoot and provide tips to users.
          • There are pre-configured settings to make the setup process effortless for beginners.
          • It integrates with Maestra AI to increase accessibility and content quality. Maestra's web captioner improves your and your audience's experience by providing real-time transcriptions for your live streams. It supports multiple languages, so anyone can benefit from Maestra while streaming with OBS Studio.

            Maestra captures spoken words in real time while you are broadcasting and turns them into captions that can be displayed on your streams./im

            Maestra's web captioner tool integrates with OBS Studio.

            You can add captions to your OBS stream effortlessly as a text source and OBS Studio allows you to style and overlay captions without any issues with the visual layout of your streams.

            Adding captions is great for making your streams accessible to your hard-of-hearing viewers. Moreover, if your viewers are in a noisy environment or your language isn't their first language, captions enable them to easily follow along with your streams.

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            The Importance of Choosing the Right Software

            Your choice of streaming app can directly affect your success as a streamer. Consider how easy it is to use and your technical capabilities to avoid frustration in the future.

            The software you use should help you maximize audience engagement and offer monetization options.

            The streaming platforms it supports are really important factors because those platforms are where your target audience will be.

            Customization options are another important point because they enable you to create a professional brand image and stand out.

            To sum up, choosing a streaming app can be the make-or-break moment for your streaming career because it affects your ability to reach your target audience and keep them engaged, the quality of your streams, and your streaming experience

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            Frequently Asked Questions

            What's better than Twitch Studio?

            Choosing the best software for streaming depends on your specific needs just as with every other tool you use. A versatile tool can benefit everyone, but advanced customization options might be unnecessary for hobbyists. So you should consider your needs and weigh the pros and cons of your options to find the best tool for you.

            Why did Twitch Studio shut down?

            Twitch has made an explanation stating that Twitch Studio wasn’t being used by streamers as much as they had hoped. They said that most streamers switch to apps like OBS because of their advanced features. That’s why they preferred to redirect their resources into areas that can better serve their community.

            Is OBS Studio safe?

            Yes, it is if you use OBS Studio’s official website to download it. You can decide whether you want to use it or not. Since it is an open-source platform, anyone can see how it works. Moreover, code changes are reviewed by OBS to ensure safet

            Gizem Doğan

            About Gizem Doğan

            Gizem Doğan is an experienced content writer with a background in publishing and start-ups. She has been combining her editorial expertise with SEO strategies to create engaging content. Now, she writes about AI tools, transcription, and translation services to help readers navigate the evolving tech landscape.