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    Overview
    ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price

    OBS Studio

    Score9.2 out of 10
    N/AOBS Studio is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, featuring real time video/audio capturing and mixing. Users can create scenes made up of multiple sources including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture cards.

    $0

    Skype (discontinued)

    Score7.1 out of 10
    N/ASkype (the personal edition or Skype free) was a web meeting, video conferencing, and VoIP software, now superseded by Microsoft Teams' free edition and unsupported from May 2025.

    $2.99

    per month

    Pricing
    OBS StudioSkype (discontinued)
    Editions & Modules
    No answers on this topic
    United States Subscription
    $2.99
    per month
    North America Subscription
    $6.99
    per month
    India Subscription
    $7.99
    per month
    Offerings
    Pricing Offerings
    OBS StudioSkype (discontinued)
    Free Trial
    NoNo
    Free/Freemium Version
    YesNo
    Premium Consulting/Integration Services
    NoNo
    Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
    Additional Details——
    More Pricing Information
    Community Pulse
    OBS StudioSkype (discontinued)
    Considered Both Products
    Open Source
    Chose OBS Studio
    I have never use anything like OBS Studio. This is very easy to use. I just saw some reviews online and downloaded OBS Studio. This is free for download, easy to run, no virus and no watermark.OBS Studio is a great programme for advanced users and there are no time limits.
    Incentivized
    Chose OBS Studio
    We checked out a lot of alternatives, which were simply too expensive for us when we are just in the startup stage of livestreaming.
    Incentivized
    Discontinued Products
    No answer on this topic
    Key User Insights
    Would buy again
    100%
    Would buy again
    11 Answers
    86%
    Would buy again
    85 Answers
    Delivers good value for the price
    100%
    Delivers good value for the price
    10 Answers
    93%
    Delivers good value for the price
    80 Answers
    Happy with the feature set
    100%
    Happy with the feature set
    11 Answers
    85%
    Happy with the feature set
    84 Answers
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    100%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    9 Answers
    84%
    Lived up to sales and marketing promises
    53 Answers
    Implementation went as expected
    100%
    Implementation went as expected
    10 Answers
    96%
    Implementation went as expected
    70 Answers
    Features
    OBS StudioSkype (discontinued)
    Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software
    Comparison of Performance & Compatibility of Online Events Software features of OBS Studio and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    OBS Studio
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.2
    138 Ratings
    24% below category average
    High quality audio00 Ratings6.5135 Ratings
    High quality video00 Ratings7.2133 Ratings
    Low bandwidth requirements00 Ratings5.5130 Ratings
    Mobile support00 Ratings5.5118 Ratings
    Screen Sharing
    Comparison of Screen Sharing features of OBS Studio and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    OBS Studio
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.2
    119 Ratings
    25% below category average
    Desktop sharing00 Ratings5.5118 Ratings
    Whiteboards00 Ratings6.860 Ratings
    Online Meetings / Events
    Comparison of Online Meetings / Events features of OBS Studio and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    OBS Studio
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.0
    118 Ratings
    31% below category average
    Calendar integration00 Ratings6.185 Ratings
    Meeting initiation00 Ratings6.3106 Ratings
    Integrates with social media00 Ratings4.465 Ratings
    Record meetings / events00 Ratings7.077 Ratings
    Slideshows00 Ratings6.268 Ratings
    Online Events Collaboration
    Comparison of Online Events Collaboration features of OBS Studio and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    OBS Studio
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    5.3
    111 Ratings
    41% below category average
    Live chat00 Ratings5.5110 Ratings
    Audience polling00 Ratings5.364 Ratings
    Q&A00 Ratings5.362 Ratings
    Online Events Security
    Comparison of Online Events Security features of OBS Studio and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    OBS Studio
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    7.4
    101 Ratings
    9% below category average
    User authentication00 Ratings8.988 Ratings
    Participant roles & permissions00 Ratings7.183 Ratings
    Confidential attendee list00 Ratings6.260 Ratings
    VoIP system collaboration
    Comparison of VoIP system collaboration features of OBS Studio and Skype (discontinued)
    Feature
    OBS Studio
    -
    Ratings
    Skype (discontinued)
    6.5
    4 Ratings
    12% below category average
    Video conferencing00 Ratings5.74 Ratings
    Audio conferencing00 Ratings6.54 Ratings
    Video screen sharing00 Ratings6.14 Ratings
    Instant messaging00 Ratings7.94 Ratings
    Best Alternatives
    OBS StudioSkype (discontinued)
    Small Businesses
    No answers on this topic
    ClickMeeting
    Score9.5 out of 10
    Medium-sized Companies
    No answers on this topic
    JioMeet
    Score9.8 out of 10
    Enterprises
    No answers on this topic
    Webex Meetings
    Score8.7 out of 10
    All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
    User Ratings
    OBS StudioSkype (discontinued)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    9.0
    (13 ratings)
    9.3
    (140 ratings)
    Likelihood to Renew
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (5 ratings)
    Usability
    7.9
    (4 ratings)
    6.0
    (4 ratings)
    Availability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Performance
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Support Rating
    9.0
    (3 ratings)
    10.0
    (42 ratings)
    Implementation Rating
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (3 ratings)
    Configurability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Contract Terms and Pricing Model
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Ease of integration
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Product Scalability
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Professional Services
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor post-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    Vendor pre-sale
    -
    (0 ratings)
    10.0
    (1 ratings)
    User Testimonials
    OBS StudioSkype (discontinued)
    Likelihood to Recommend
    Open Source
    From simple streaming to bigger events, OBS has been able to handle all of it with full confidence from us. Have never questioned if it was going to be unreliable in a specific situation, even with minimal training. Software identified the external input source easily and had no issues setting that up (Blackmagic Mini Recorder), and great for pulling in separate audio from the computer input.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Having interacted with a new replacement tool, Microsoft Teams, it is challenging to recommend Skype, as it lacks some essential features, such as being less equipped with the latest updates, and it is not platform-independent, causing issues on PCs and phones, as well as during calls that might hinder work.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Pros
    Open Source
    • RTMP Streaming with customizable bitrate
    • Scene Composition and Switching + source control which allows for creators and our customers to move between different types of content they might have (different video feeds, slides etc)
    • Audio mixer and audio control - noise gating, a/v syncing, audio source control
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • The instant chat function is great. Very straightforward, easy to use, easy to learn, no technical issues.
    • Video calls are pretty easy also, user friendly and a mostly stable connection with no issues.
    • Voice calls are easy also, eliminates the need for an external landline or the need to use your cell phone. Clear connections, not really any dropped calls.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Cons
    Open Source
    • OBS can be a little clunky sometimes, the lots of features can be a bit overwhelming
    • I can multitask with it, but can't run heavy software like Premiere alongside it
    • No way to make adjustments to file after it's done, have to use After Effects or Premiere for that
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • Skype is a RESOURCE hog. People who have limited bandwidth will have poor call quality.
    • It is hard to figure out how to use emojis and upload images in the chat.
    • The background images do not fool anybody....it is clearly not your real background.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Likelihood to Renew
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    I have given this rating as this need to give more than that as it's very helpful for us and makes our work more efficient and fast.
    Read full review
    Usability
    Open Source
    Very usable because it is free and has had a lot of people helping to suggest improvements and sponsors have allowed the product to grow in sophistication and suitability across a variety of situations and use needs. It is very logical to use once you get started, although the dashboard can seem intimidating at first.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    Skype is not as good as Facetime in terms of ease to glance at it and figure out how it works. I think that's a result of Skype trying to be too many things at once. A lot of the menu and UI could be streamlined, and I would jettison some of the additional functions that have been tacked on over the years to simplify. That being said, while some options are slightly hard to find, they all work flawlessly once found.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Support Rating
    Open Source
    For a free product, a range of support is available. There are plenty of ways to find out answers to questions, because there are probably thousands of people using the product who are willing to share what they have learned. It usually works as designed, so needs for support are limited.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    I am not aware of the current support level for Skype for business, as I have never used even though I have the product. However, the support for Skype's personal paid users is not where it could be. Users who pay for Skype features do not have a clear path to reach out to support. So, rating 6, can be better as soon as I need to use Skype for business support and get a good experience. I will say that I will renew Skype for Business subscription, which is a significant inconsistency on my end. The explanation is that Skype for Business comes bundled with Office for Business, with no additional cost, so why not.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Implementation Rating
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    It can be used on the phone via mobile application as well as on the desktop by logging in to the website. Easily installed and ready to use.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Alternatives Considered
    Open Source
    I have also used TinyTake by Mango Apps and I prefer OBS studio because the video quality results are better and OBS allows you to record an unlimited length of the video. OBS also lets you record an entire screen instead of manually having to draw your parameters, which can create oddly sizes videos if you miss by a few pixels.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    We use Skype in combination with Grasshopper. While Grasshopper acts as a routing toll free number with extensions, if we are making calls directly, we do it through Skype. Skype's desktop and mobile apps are easier to use, and provide unlimited local calls at a flat, affordable rate. Allowing our team to use their existing mobile or desktop devices without additional hardware for business office phone calls is important, and Skype makes that possible
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Professional Services
    Open Source
    No answers on this topic
    Discontinued Products
    The service provided is up to date, as discussed before buying.
    Read full review
    Return on Investment
    Open Source
    • It was great to have a platform that is free that I can experiment with without having to use our business capital on.
    • It took time to learn, but it helped me understand a lot of things, so it was a great learning experience.
    • It was a great balance of cost and time with the high-quality product we got from it.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    Discontinued Products
    • Skype made keeping in touch with an advisor in Mexico very easy. The initiative there resulted in 5 new partnerships.
    • Skype has helped me with account management for at least 3 customers in LATAM--usually it's a fast way to answer a question about a support renewal.
    • For about 9 months Skype helped me stay in touch with a colleague in Prague. We would meet once a week to go over sales activities.
    Incentivized
    Read full review
    ScreenShots