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Cap vs OBS Studio

Open-source screen recorder aimed at quick recordings, lacks live-streaming features.
CapOpen-source screen recorder and Loom alternativeOBS StudioFree open-source screen recording and live streaming

Which to pick

Pick Cap if you want…

  • Open-source Loom alternative
  • Simple screen capture
  • Integrations with Google Drive, Chrome extension or CLI (on Cap's list, not OBS Studio's)

Pick OBS Studio if you want…

  • Live streaming and screen recording
  • A free, open-source tool
  • Integrations with Linux (on OBS Studio's list, not Cap's)

Side by side

What it is
Cap:Cap is an open-source screen recorder for macOS, Windows and Linux that lets you capture, edit and instantly share videos or screenshots via a link.
OBS Studio:OBS Studio is free open-source software for high-quality video recording and live streaming.
Best for
Cap:Open-source Loom alternative
OBS Studio:Live streaming and screen recording
Who it’s for
Cap:Developers, teams and creators needing fast screen capture, editing and shareable links.
OBS Studio:Content creators, streamers, and developers needing video capture and broadcast.
Pricing
Cap:Freemium
OBS Studio:Free
Plans
Cap:Free $0 · Desktop License $29 per license, per year per year
OBS Studio:—
Open source
Cap:Yes, 23,115 GitHub stars
OBS Studio:Yes, 77,098 GitHub stars
Works with
Cap:Google Drive, Chrome extension, CLI
OBS Studio:Linux

Cap features

  • Instant Mode. Record and upload in real time; a share link is copied to the clipboard as soon as you stop.
  • Studio Mode. Local 4K/60fps recording with separate tracks and a built-in editor for backgrounds, zoom, captions and more.
  • Screenshot Mode. Hotkey capture of windows or areas, then beautify with padding, shadows and copy to clipboard.
  • Cap AI. Auto-generated titles, summaries, chapters and searchable transcripts for every recording.
  • Custom Storage. Connect to your own Google Drive, S3 bucket or self-host the platform for full data ownership.
  • Team Workspaces. Organize recordings, manage permissions, add comments and reactions with timestamp links.

OBS Studio features

  • Real-time capture & mixing. Capture video/audio from multiple sources and mix them live with high-performance H264/AAC encoding.
  • Unlimited scenes & transitions. Create and switch between unlimited scenes with custom transitions and stinger videos.
  • Audio mixer with filters. Per-source audio controls, noise gate/suppression, gain, and VST plugin support.
  • Studio Mode & Multiview. Preview scenes before going live and monitor up to 8 scenes simultaneously.
  • Modular dock UI. Rearrange, pop out, and customize the interface layout to fit your workflow.
  • Extensible API & scripting. Add plugins or Lua/Python scripts for custom functionality via a powerful API.

Cap vs OBS Studio FAQ

Is Cap or OBS Studio free?+

Cap has a free plan and paid plans. OBS Studio is free.

Is Cap or OBS Studio open source?+

Yes, both are open source: Cap (CapSoftware/Cap on GitHub) and OBS Studio (obsproject/obs-studio on GitHub, GPL-2.0 license).

Do Cap and OBS Studio integrate with the same tools?+

Their integration lists don't overlap: Cap lists Google Drive, Chrome extension and CLI; OBS Studio lists Linux.

On DevHunt

Cap

Listed by DevHunt

Cap on DevHunt →Cap alternatives

OBS Studio

Listed by DevHunt

OBS Studio on DevHunt →OBS Studio alternatives

Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.