Streamlabs Desktop, formerly called Streamlabs OBS, is an app built on the OBS engine. Its free Starter plan includes streaming, recording, alerts and Dual Output (one horizontal and one vertical destination), but multistreaming beyond that needs the paid Ultra plan. SplitCam sends your stream to 84+ platforms and any custom RTMP address, free of charge. By default the video goes straight from your computer to each platform.
Three things to know about the Streamlabs Desktop plans before you compare.
Streamlabs says free users can stream to one horizontal and one vertical destination with Dual Output. To stream to three or more platforms, or to several platforms of the same orientation, you need Streamlabs Ultra.
Streamlabs describes its paid multistreaming as sending one stream to its servers, which pass it on to each platform. The relay is part of the Ultra plan. With free Dual Output, Streamlabs says your computer processes both streams.
Streamlabs says Live Output Editing, which lets you add or remove destinations while you are live, is available on the Ultra plan only. On Windows, SplitCam cannot add a destination once the broadcast has started, so build the list before you go live.
SplitCam does the multistreaming job without a paid plan, and by default your own computer does the sending.
Add Twitch, YouTube, Kick, Facebook, TikTok or any of 84+ platforms, plus any custom RTMP address. Each destination has its own bitrate and resolution. By default the video goes from your computer to each platform, so your upload has to carry every destination at once.
Streamlabs says its widgets can be used in other software: you paste the widget URL as a browser source. In SplitCam that is a Web Browser source (Browser on a Mac), so your existing alerts keep working. The widgets still come from Streamlabs; SplitCam just shows them.
SplitCam has a virtual camera for Zoom, Teams, Meet, Discord and other apps (60+ in all), and your phone can work as a wireless camera: scan the QR code. Streamlabs Desktop has a virtual camera too, and its Collab Cam adds a guest or a second camera.
Streamlabs Desktop is the better fit in these four cases.
Stay with Streamlabs Desktop if its ecosystem is why you use it: Cloudbot for chat commands, the library of themes and overlays, the Streamlabs App Store, and Collab Cam for guests (free for 1 guest or camera, up to 11 guests or cameras on Ultra). SplitCam has no equivalent of the chat bot, the library or the store; for an extra camera it offers your phone.
Streamlabs ships them ready to use. SplitCam has no alerts of its own for Twitch or YouTube: you add a widget URL from a service such as Streamlabs or StreamElements as a Web Browser source (Browser on a Mac).
The Streamlabs Desktop code is public on GitHub under GPL-3.0. SplitCam's code is not public.
Streamlabs Ultra is built for sending one stream to a cloud relay that passes it on to every platform. SplitCam sends each stream from your computer by default, and its restream server is only an optional mode for slow internet, on Windows.
Streamlabs details are from streamlabs.com and the Streamlabs GitHub page, checked in October 2026. Plans and limits change, so confirm them on streamlabs.com before you decide.
| Feature | SplitCam | Streamlabs Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no paid plan | Free Starter plan; paid Ultra plan |
| Runs on | Windows 10 version 2004 or newer, Windows 11; macOS 13 or newer | Windows; macOS 12 or newer |
| Multistreaming | 84+ platforms plus custom RTMP, free | Free: one horizontal and one vertical destination (Dual Output); anything beyond that needs Ultra |
| How multistreaming is sent | From your computer to each platform by default; your upload carries every destination. Optional restream server for slow internet (Windows) | Free Dual Output: Streamlabs says your computer processes both streams. Ultra: one stream to Streamlabs servers, which forward it |
| Kick | Log in to Kick from the app | Native Kick integration since January 2025 |
| Virtual camera | Yes, for 60+ apps | Yes (Virtual Webcam) |
| Alerts and widgets | No alerts of its own for Twitch or YouTube; add a service's widget URL as a Web Browser source (Browser on a Mac) | Built in; the widgets are free to use |
| Chat bot (Cloudbot) | No | Yes |
| Theme library and Streamlabs App Store | No ready-made theme library or app store; you build overlays from layers (images, text, animations) | Limited on the free plan; the full library needs Ultra |
| Guests and extra cameras | Your phone as a wireless camera | Collab Cam: free for 1 guest or camera; up to 11 guests or cameras on Ultra |
| Open source | No (proprietary) | The Desktop app code is on GitHub (GPL-3.0) |
The best free Streamlabs alternative depends on what you need. SplitCam is a good pick if you want multistreaming to many platforms for free. OBS Studio is the free app that shares its engine with Streamlabs Desktop. Streamlabs Desktop itself is the better fit if you want alerts, a chat bot and themes in one app.
Neither is better for everyone. Streamlabs Desktop (formerly Streamlabs OBS) is built on the OBS engine and adds alerts, themes and the Streamlabs App Store, with the full theme library behind the paid Ultra plan. OBS Studio is free, and in it alerts and themes come from separate tools. SplitCam is a third option: scenes, multistreaming and a virtual camera in one free app, without Cloudbot, Streamlabs themes or the Streamlabs App Store.
Yes. SplitCam for Mac needs macOS 13 or newer. It has scenes, a virtual camera and multistreaming to 84+ platforms, free. Streamlabs Desktop also has a macOS version (macOS 12 or newer), so on a Mac the choice is about plans and features, not about whether the app exists.
Yes. Add your Streamlabs widget URL in SplitCam as a Web Browser source (called Browser on a Mac). The widgets still come from Streamlabs; SplitCam just shows them. SplitCam has no alerts of its own for Twitch or YouTube.
Yes, with limits. The free Starter plan covers streaming, recording, alerts and Dual Output. Multistreaming beyond that, and some themes and tools, need the paid Ultra plan.
Only up to a point. Free Dual Output streams to one horizontal and one vertical destination. Three or more platforms, or several in the same orientation, need Streamlabs Ultra, and Ultra multistreaming goes through Streamlabs servers. SplitCam multistreams to 84+ platforms for free.
No. SplitCam has no watermark, no time limit and no paid plan.
SplitCam is free on Windows and macOS. No credit card, no sign-up needed, no watermark.
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