XSplit vs. OBS: Which streaming software is better?

High-quality, professional broadcasts make your live content stand out in today’s popular streaming landscape. That’s why the software you use is crucial to your stream, both in terms of performance and ease of use. 

When it comes to going live, OBS Studio and XSplit are two popular choices for encoding software. Both have advantages and downsides, and one might be better suited to your streaming style than another. Let’s compare both encoders so you can decide which one is best for you.

What is OBS?

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) is a free, open-source recording software for live streaming. When people talk about OBS, they’re either referring to OBS Studio, which is the original streaming software, or Streamlabs, which is an offshoot of OBS Studio. We’re only going to cover OBS Studio for the sake of simplicity. For a comparison between OBS Studio and Streamlabs, check out this article. 

OBS Studio allows you to capture video and stream it live on platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and Facebook. You can also use OBS for recording videos. The software is free to download and is compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. With OBS Studio’s built-in features, you can fully customize your stream and use its plug-ins for more functionality. 

Key Features of OBS

• Screen capture: Easily broadcast your screen in HD with OBS.
• Video broadcasting: Stream live videos to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and many other platforms.
• Video recording: Capture unlimited hours of video and audio to edit later on.
• Audio mixing: OBS has multi-channel, multi-language, single-channel, and surround sound audio options.
• Create unlimited scenes: Create as many visual templates as you need and add transitions between them.
• Many plug-ins available: OBS is open-source, so there are always new plug-ins that add encoder features and functionalities.
• Source and input management: For video and audio, OBS lets you add, duplicate, and toggle between many input sources seamlessly. 

Pros of OBS

• Free
• Open-source and backed by community support
• Multiple options for input sources
• Several resolution settings available
• Easy platform integration
• Stream and record simultaneously
• Fully customizable with plug-ins 

Cons of OBS

• High learning curve for beginning streamers
• Frequent updates
• Tedious user interface 

What is XSplit?

XSplit Broadcaster is a live streaming and video-mixing app capable of  capturing gameplay, streaming presentations, and hosting live events. XSplit’s features appeal to creators of all kinds, especially business and professional streamers. XSplit is not free or open-source, but its intuitive UX and many features are worth the price for many streamers.

Key Features of XSplit

• Projector mode: XSplit lets you cast to multiple displays at once if they’re all connected to the streaming PC.
• Mixing from multiple audio devices: Mix audio from multiple devices with XSplit and preview it before publishing.
• Integration with Skype Video Calls: You can stream to Skype with XSplit.
• Scene preview editor: Arrange your scenes and preview them, just like in OBS.
• Background effects: XSplit lets you blur, remove, or replace the background of your stream so you don’t need to use a green screen.
• Local network streaming: Stream to your local network instead of a public platform for secure internal viewing. 

Pros of XSplit

• Many stream-enhancing features
• User-friendly editing tools
• Integrated green screen
• Stream delay to go live at a later time
• Keyframe transitions 

Cons of XSplit

• Best features aren’t free
• Heavy CPU usage
• Plug-ins cost extra 

Using Restream with XSplit and OBS

Restream is the go-to live streaming solution for broadcasting your professional streams on multiple platforms simultaneously. Use Restream with encoding software like XSplit and OBS to simulcast to all your favorite live platforms. Just  connect channels like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch to your Restream account. Then, you can paste your Restream stream key into your OBS or XSplit software and start simulcasting!

OBS vs. XSplit

Now that we’ve gone over the features of OBS and XSplit, we’ll compare the two directly, focusing on interface, performance, and other factors. Let’s see how these two live streaming software options stack up against each other in the following categories:

• Features
• Interface
• Performance
• Live streaming
• Video recording
• Platforms
• Plug-ins
• Ease of use
• Price 

1. Features

XSplit takes the lead for the variety of premium features it offers. When you consider the integration options with popular video calling apps, XSplit comes out on top.

Although both platforms have great editing features, XSplit’s are more user-friendly than OBS. The main advantage of OBS here is that all of its features are free, while XSplit paywalls its most useful features. 

2. Interface

XSplit has a sleeker interface than OBS. Easily access all of XSplit’s essential features from a single dashboard on one screen. With OBS, more than one monitor is recommended to keep track of everything that’s going on with your stream.

The OBS interface can also overwhelm novice streamers with numerous options on its cluttered menu. While XSplit’s interface is simpler, changing scene transitions is faster in OBS. You also need a dedicated account — or a Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook account —  to use XSpilt. 

3. Performance

You want streaming software to use as few PC resources as possible, especially if you’re broadcasting and gaming on the same machine. When tested, OBS tends to use one to two percent less CPU resources than XSplit.

Tech writer Patrick Hearn of Online Tech Tips tested both OBS and XSplit while idling and streaming. OBS used 0.1 percent of CPU resources while idle, whereas XSplit used two percent. When streaming, OBS took up 1.3 percent at launch but then settled at 0.7 percent. XSplit, on the other hand, used 12 percent of resources when the stream launched, then settled between three and four percent afterward. OBS is your best bet if CPU usage matters to you.

4. UHD live streaming

You can capture videos in 4k with XSplit’s video recording feature, but you can only stream up to 1080p resolution at 60fps. Luckily, OBS lets you capture and stream video in 4k. To achieve the results you want, though, the rest of your setup must be  suited for 4k streaming. 

YouTube is currently the only major live streaming platform that supports 4k resolution. Plus, your camera, bandwidth, monitor, and PC hardware resources all need to support 4k for you to stream at that resolution. Both OBS and XSplit have options to stream in 60fps as well. 

5. Video recording

Both OBS and XSplit can record video and live stream effectively. For local recording, XSplit has x264 and x265 video codecs, so it’s better for YouTube uploads than OBS. XSplit also has more optimization for audio and video. But OBS has more file format options available, including VLC. 

6. Platforms

Both XSplit and OBS stream to all major streaming platforms, but connecting those channels is easier with XSplit. With OBS, you have to get the stream key from the platform you want to stream to, unless it’s YouTube or Twitch. For sites like Facebook, you need to paste the stream key into OBS to connect your channel.

With XSplit, simply connect your accounts by entering your login credentials and giving XSplit access. For $15, you can also stream to multiple channels simultaneously using XSplit. OBS has multistreaming plugins, but they use a lot of PC resources while you’re live. Using a third-party tool like Restream is the best option if you want to multistream using OBS. 

Restream lets you connect to your favorite streaming platforms, including Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and more than thirty others. Add your favorite channels and stream on all of them simultaneously in under two minutes.

7. Plug-ins

OBS and XSplit both support plug-in customization. Plug-ins expand the capabilities of the software, providing you with more editing tools, and options. Since OBS is open-source, anyone can create a plug-in, so there are many more OBS plug-ins available compared to XSplit. They’re also free, so adding plug-ins to OBS is much simpler and cheaper than XSplit. However, the few plug-ins XSplit offers are high-quality and will enhance your streaming experience.

8. Ease of use

Most users, especially novice streamers, find OBS much harder to use than XSplit. OBS relies on users to customize their experience by adding plug-ins and adjusting settings, which creates a steep learning curve for new streamers. On the other hand, XSplit has a straightforward interface and making adjustments is easy. 

9. Price

There’s a clear winner when it comes to price: OBS is free and XSplit is not (mostly). You can get limited access to XSplit Broadcaster for free but videos using XSplit’s VCam and Presenter will be watermarked.

XSplit states that their free plan functions more as a “try before you buy” than a full-on product. If you want to use XSplit for  professional streaming or for your own brand, you’ll have to purchase a plan. A Premium XSplit license for Broadcaster costs $5.00 per month if you pay annually. Premium access to VCam and Presenter with XSplit will cost additional money too.

Stream from your browser with Restream Studio

Want to go live directly from your browser without any downloads?  Restream Studio is the premier in-browser streaming solution for all your live content needs. Go live on multiple platforms simultaneously with professional-grade streams in less than two clicks. Restream Studio is packed with features that make your live stream truly stand out:

• Split-screen streaming
• Screen share
• Playing local video files
• Custom logos and background graphics
• Copyright-free background music
• Inviting guests to the stream

And so much more. Read our full guide to Restream Studio to get started.

XSplit vs. OBS: Who’s the winner?

In a comparison between XSplit and OBS, there isn’t really a “winner.” Each software is suited to different types of streamers. The best choice mainly depends on your needs and expertise as a streamer. If you have a large streaming budget and value user-friendliness, then XSplit is a good choice. If you have some streaming experience or don’t mind tinkering with your software and settings, then OBS is the perfect free streaming solution. When it comes to these two programs, the choice is yours!