Quick verdict
If you record lessons, tutorials or gameplay with a camera, several sources and good audio, or want to stream live, choose OBS Studio. If you mostly take quick screenshots, annotate them, or record a short video or GIF and share it in seconds on Windows, ShareX is hard to beat. As both are free, plenty of people use both.
Pick OBS Studio if…
- You record long videos: lessons, tutorials or gameplay.
- You want to combine screen, camera, microphone and images in scenes.
- You stream live on YouTube, Twitch or other platforms.
- You use macOS or Linux as well as Windows.
Pick ShareX if…
- You take lots of screenshots and want to annotate them on the spot.
- You need to record a short video or GIF in seconds.
- You want to upload and share captures automatically with a link.
- You like extras such as capturing long pages or reading text from an image (OCR).
OBS Studio vs ShareX: point by point
| Feature | OBS Studio | ShareX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Open Source | Open Source |
| Platforms | WindowsmacOSLinux | Windows |
| Use | Offline | Offline |
| What it is best at | Recording and streaming video with scenes | Screenshots, short videos and GIFs |
| Live streaming | Yes, to YouTube, Twitch and many more | No |
| Scenes and sources | Screen, camera, windows, images and text combined | A region, a window or the whole screen |
| Image captures | Basic | Its strong point: region, window, scrolling capture and an annotation editor |
| Animated GIFs | Not directly | Yes, in a couple of clicks |
| Audio | Mixer with filters (noise suppression, gate, compressor) | Microphone and system sound, no mixer |
| Sharing | Saves the file on your computer | Uploads captures to dozens of services and copies the link |
| Video editor | Not included | Not included |
Key differences
Video studio or capture tool
OBS Studio works like a production desk: you set up scenes with your screen, camera, a logo or some text and switch between them while recording or streaming. ShareX is built for everyday use: press a shortcut, pick an area and you have your image, video or GIF.
Systems
OBS Studio runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. ShareX is Windows only.
Screenshots and annotations
ShareX captures a region, a window or a whole scrolling page, and opens an editor to add arrows, text, highlights or blur sensitive details. OBS Studio can save a screenshot, but that is not what it is for.
Audio and live streams
OBS Studio has an audio mixer with filters such as noise suppression and a compressor, and streams live to the main platforms. ShareX records the microphone and system sound but doesn’t stream or mix.
What they have in common
- Both are free and open source, with no watermarks or time limits.
- Both record the screen to MP4 and other formats.
- Both are driven by customisable keyboard shortcuts.
- Neither includes a video editor: to edit your recording, pair them with Shotcut, Kdenlive or Clipchamp.
Try them for free
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Frequently asked questions
Which one is better for recording lessons or tutorials?
OBS Studio, because it combines screen, camera and microphone with good audio control and handles long recordings. ShareX is better for short videos and screenshots.
Do they add a watermark or a time limit?
No. Both are free and open source, with no watermarks or duration limits.
Does ShareX work on Mac?
No, ShareX is Windows only. On macOS and Linux, OBS Studio is the most complete free option for recording your screen.
Can I edit the video afterwards?
Neither includes an editor. Record with OBS Studio or ShareX and edit the result in Shotcut, Kdenlive or Clipchamp.
Independent: we have no commercial relationship, sponsorship or affiliation with Camtasia or with these alternatives, and nobody pays us to recommend them. Links go to their official websites and are not affiliate links; the site is funded only by Google AdSense ads, which don't influence the selection. Learn more.
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