OBS | XSplit | Wirecast | vMix Software Compared (2018)

What streaming software do you prefer? Let us know in the comments...

I know this stream is ancient, but if you're curious as to why you'd want to use Pearl2 with Vmix, here's why. If my VMix computer fails, and I'm doing the encoding on it, stream over. I have to start a brand new one - a bad situation gets worse because it's a whole different stream with different comments and all.

If we load a layout in pearl to have music and a "be right back" message, and another layer carrying the SDI output from VMix, my computer can have a BSOD and the stream won't stop. It will jsut go black for a second before switching to the be right back layout. Then we can be back online in less than two minutes. That, combined with a backup stream on another network provides us with peace of mind. Plus, offloading the encoding to the Peal2 is a small, but nice reduction in GPU usage on the VMix machine. We also record on both the Pearl, VMix and an NDI recorder to be safe.

Basically, stream safety.

All softwares are the best but vMix is the beast!

hi, can u help me, the sort where you setup live for presentations and there is a live face. any suggestion??? and another one, to live can we to use a laptop or must need to use a desktop ?

i have been using vmix and loving it i have a video podcast i do every week everything just works and looks good doing it i also love the plugins also vmixcall is wonderful its worth the money.

great!. was looking exactly for this

2.5 years later. New video maybe?

lack of infographic elements

This is a very good green screen video. Do you have a video on that setup? I would love to see it.

WOW, this is an all in one broadcast info video

Hi guys, don't really know if you would read this comment, but I'm a baby trying to lear how to broadcast and this info is very useful to me. Thanks.

VMix warning--- After 60 day trial, You will be HOOKED and will not want ANYTHING ELSE!

Don't waste your time go straight to vMix down load the free 60 day free trial a big learning curve but very easy to use and worth the purchase later on. Windows only. No on going fees like some of the others.

I have been using OBS but am testing Livestream Studio this weekend. I like the ease of interfacing LS Studio and Vimeo

Vmix is best for Intstant Slow Motion Replay, and during replay it also recording the live feed as well and you can roll back the video in program window to the specific frame you want show to the audience. Such a great option no other broadcaster software offers. And its very lighter than OBS specially when live streaming in 1080p while recording OBS just shows a error at the bottom "CPU overloading try to lower the encoder settings" which sucks. But Vmix is way to go handle's very smoothly.And free for first 60 days registering with email id for one time per id.

I use Xsplit because it is simple to use. I bought the one time Premium License with lifetime license, So don't have to pay a monthly fee. The thing that I am waiting on Xsplit to do that OBS has is built in mixer for your audio setting.

Hey guys, this video was extremely helpful at getting an overview of feature sets and cost breakdowns. Thank you so much!


I wanted to check and see if you had any resources you could share regarding the entire streaming pipeline and process. I am a language teacher and looking to open live office hours for my students, however I am having some trouble planning my streaming ecosystem, as I am pretty unfamiliar with how it works.


Thank you again for the awesome content!

Which one offers the best quality?

$400 for a single capture device. Perhaps later.

Uh oh... here I am doing some research into what sort of equipment, software programs, etc that I am looking into to do live streaming... and/or just recording my show for uploading at a later date, when all of a sudden, you guy's mention Avio. What the heck is Avio? Is that a video capture device like what gamers who stream live use? Oh man, I am already confused! Is this going to get expensive? My budget's going to be maybe about $2,000.00. What can I get for that? I want to also use a DSLR live-stream compatible camera, because the HD webcam I'm using right now is Microsoft HD Lifecam that struggles to maintain focus, and to me anyway, really isn't that high resolution or high definition. But, I see that this video is close to an hour, so I'm just going to sit here and watch, make notes, and learn as much as I can. Thank you. Thumbs up from me as well, because ANY effort, ANY energy spent to help other people, other creatives, is a positive... not a negative.

A round 42 minutes into the video, you say that a "ultrabook" (I assume you mean laptop) i7 chip is not running at the same speed as an i7 desktop? Am I understanding you correctly?

Another alternative is FinncastStudio.

Best free software - OBS
Best pay software - vMIX
And there are others

Wirecast needs high spec computer. If u dont. It will freeze. But if u r talking of performance, wirecast is better than obs or vmix.

Vmix es el mejor.!

There's no other way to put it. Wirecast is an expensive, unstable expensive piece of bad software. Stay away from it. Get a pirated version if you really want to try it, but it really sucks with random crashes and freezes.

Do not buy wirecast! The problems with this software are endless!

i used OBS and changed to Wirecast. The 1000$ for Wirecast Pro was defintve the worst i ever spent money for. don't jump in this trap! my next step is vMix.

Thank you for the video with index.

OBS now supports NDI, has double screens for cue and output, import stingers and much more for free. I use both OBS and wirecast, but I have to tell you that OBS is becoming fastly the best software. Currently, there are few things wirecast can do which OBS doesn´t, but this can change from night to day...

Boys that was excellent. Thank you so much!

vMix has a 'basic' button that's changes the interface to a very simple beginners version.

Good comparison especially for newbies

I’ve had instability problems with Wirecast. Is that something you have seen as well. Which would you say is the most stable?

east or west vMix is the Best.

hi, i'm currently using xSplit for my Facebook Live, i'm thinking of switching to OBS for the Studio View. Can you recommend some settings i need to consider when using OBS for Facebook Live? Thank you :)

Audio-Delay in Pearl 2 is really great, but what about Audio-Delay in the Webcaster X2? Is there a chance to get this option for the X2, too?