Were you aware that over 1099 billion Twitch Streams had been viewed by people in 2020? That is great news for anyone that wants to be a streamer because the demand is there. All that’s left for you to do to get started is decide on the type of streaming software you want to use.
There are two main options: OBS vs XSplit, Open Broadcaster Software, or OBS and XSplit Broadcaster or XSplit. Both offer streamers a lot of customization and functionality, but they both have so much to suggest that it can be tough to determine which one is the best fit for you. In this article OBS vs XSplit, we will try to determine the better Streaming App based on a host of selection criteria.
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Performance
Streaming software should demand minimal resources from the machine running it. A computer’s resources should be dedicated to the game, not the streaming.
On an idle screen, OBS used 0.1% of CPU resources. Once we began streaming, the demand jumped to 1.3% as the program launched, but quickly settled at 0.7% and remained there throughout the stream. We tested OBS using MTG: Arena, a non-demanding game.
On the other hand, Xsplit used 2% of CPU resources while idling. When streaming, XSplit leapt to 12% during the stream’s launch and settled back between 3% and 4%. We tested XSplit using the same game as OBS.
One thing to note is that XSplit performed poorly during setup and navigation. Creating new scenes took far too long and required several force quit when XSplit became unresponsive. OBS did not have this problem.
Interface and Setup
When you set up OBS, it automatically optimizes performance based on how you plan to use it. It presents you with several options: optimize for streaming, optimize for recording, or optimize for use with just the virtual camera. You can now change these settings at any time from within the options menu to help you better tweak performance.
Once set up, OBS has a rather complicated interface. There are multiple menu options like Scene, Sources, Scene Transitions, Audio Mixer, and Controls. These give you direct access to your most-used commands and are aimed at severe streamers that want to fine-tune control of their streams on the fly.
XSplit has a more simplified interface. It displays the current scene and gives you the ability to swap between different settings with just a few clicks. Like the Audio Mixer and others, the more advanced controls are accessible through the Extensions and Tools menus.
When you first install XSplit, it asks you to log in. You can create a dedicated XSplit account, or you can log in through Twitch, Facebook, or YouTube. When you log in through any source besides XSplit, it automatically imports some of your account information and makes it easier to set up a stream output to one of these platforms.
OBS allows you to import filters to use over your stream, swap between your broadcast source, and even change up scene transitions with just a few clicks. You can also enable Studio Mode, a feature that allows you to preview how the stream will look before implementing it.
XSplit allows you to change scene transitions on the fly, but it requires several more clicks to access the same functions that OBS has right on the dashboard.
Pricing
If you’re a budding streamer, then chances are you don’t want to sink a lot of money into this endeavour until you see some return on your time. From that standpoint, OBS is the better option. OBS is a free and open-source program that’s fully-featured right out of the gate.
On the other hand, XSplit is powerful, but much of its functionality is locked behind the program’s premium version that starts at $6.24 per month. It isn’t shy about this fact, either: As soon as you install XSplit, it prompts you to upgrade. XSplit also places a watermark on your streams unless you pay.
There are multiple pricing options: a 3-month license for $18, a 12-month permit for $44.96, a 36-month license for $112.46, and a lifetime license for $149.25. The best value is the lifetime license, despite its higher price. It’s a one-time fee.
If you’re on the fence, try both programs using the free version. If you want to try out XSplit and all of its features, opt for the 3-month version until you’re sure you want to dedicate to OBS or XSplit.
Plug-Ins
Both in OBS vs XSplit can expand their functionality through first- and third-party plugins. These plugins do everything from integrating other services to making it easier to interact with fans.
OBS plugins can be found at the OBS Project website, where there are hundreds of different plugins to browse. Categories include Themes, Tools, Scripts, Guides, and more. OBS has far more plugins available than XSplit does due to its nature as an open-source program.
XSplit plugins are accessed through the XSplit software itself. Go to Tools > Plugin Store to open the window where you can search through the various options. While it doesn’t have quite as many plugins as OBS, there are still dozens, if not a hundred or more plugins available.
These are divided into three main categories: Sources, Extensions, and Outputs. Sources give access to things like live chat viewers, while Extensions includes integrations for third-party resources like Elgato. The output provides plugins for easily broadcasting to YouTube Live and other platforms.
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OBS vs XSplit: Which is The Best Streaming App?
Both programs are useful, but in the end, OBS is the better option overall. While it’s more complicated, its open-source nature means the potential for expansion is limited only by the community’s willingness. Since it’s one of the most famous streaming services on the planet, there is no lack of readiness.
XSplit isn’t a bad option, but if you have to pick one or the other, OBS is free, places less stress on your system, and has a huge community to help troubleshoot problems that arise. Give it a shot and start your journey towards becoming the next streaming Ninja. Now which one is Better for Streaming in OBS vs XSplit? Just Let Us Know Below.
