Streamlabs

Streamlabs is an all-in-one toolkit for live streamers built around Streamlabs Desktop, a free broadcasting app based on OBS technology. Where plain OBS makes you assemble overlays, alerts, tipping and widgets from separate services, Streamlabs bundles them into one dashboard: pick a theme, switch on alerts, take tips, sell merch and go live.

The free tier is generous on purpose — free overlays and themes, streaming to two destinations, one remote guest, no-fee tipping pages, a basic chatbot, a merch store and a limited app library. The paid layer is Streamlabs Ultra at $27 a month or $189 a year, a single subscription that unlocks the premium versions of everything: the full theme library, multistreaming, more guests, the complete app library, and the pro versions of Streamlabs' companion products (Talk Studio, Cross Clip, Video Editor and Console) under one login.

Streamlabs doesn't take a cut of tips on either tier — the money goes through your own PayPal or Stripe, so standard payment-processor fees apply but there's no platform commission.

How Streamlabs works

A typical setup looks like this:

1. Install Streamlabs Desktop and log in — your scenes, themes and widgets are tied to your account rather than scattered across services.
2. Pick a free overlay theme (or any of 1,000+ on Ultra) so the look is sorted before you configure anything.
3. Turn on alerts and widgets — follows, subs, tips, goals and chat boxes drop in as built-in sources instead of browser-source URLs.
4. Set up your tip page (no platform cut) and optionally the merch store.
5. Stream to up to two platforms on the free tier, or more with Ultra's multistreaming.
6. Clip your VOD with Cross Clip, edit with Video Editor and bring guests in via Talk Studio — the pro versions of all three come with Ultra.

Key capabilities

Streamlabs Desktop — A free OBS-based broadcasting app with scenes, sources and integrated widgets.

Themes and overlays — Free selection on Starter; the full 1,000+ library including reactive overlays on Ultra.

Alerts and widgets — Follows, subs, tips, goals and chat built in — no browser-source plumbing required.

No-fee tipping — A customizable tip page with 0% Streamlabs commission (payment-processor fees still apply); Ultra adds a custom domain.

Multistreaming — Two destinations free; three or more plus full multistream on Ultra.

Guests — One guest on Starter; up to 11 guests or cameras on Ultra via Talk Studio.

Cloudbot — A chatbot with a custom name on Ultra.

Merch store — Design and sell branded merch on both tiers, with higher margins on Ultra.

Companion apps — Talk Studio (browser streaming), Cross Clip (VOD-to-Shorts), Video Editor and Console — pro versions included in Ultra.

Streamlabs plans explained

Prices are in US dollars per account, not per user.

Streamlabs Starter — free, always. Free overlays and themes, 2 stream destinations, 1 guest, limited free apps, no-fee tipping, 1GB storage, a basic Cloudbot, a merch store, 30-minute videos with 15GB storage, and watermarked custom videos.

Streamlabs Ultra — $27 a month or $189 a year (about $15.75 a month equivalent — $135 less than paying monthly). Everything in Starter plus the full 1,000+ overlay and theme library, 3+ destinations, up to 11 guests or cameras, the full 60+ app library, a custom tip page and domain, 10GB storage, a custom-named Cloudbot, the highest merch margins, and pro versions of the video tools: no watermark, 1080p/60fps, 40-hour uploads and multistream.

Ultra is also the umbrella subscription for Streamlabs' companion products — Talk Studio, Cross Clip, Video Editor and Streamlabs Console — under one login. When last checked independently, Talk Studio was also sold separately at $4 and $12 a month. Students with an .edu email get 50% off Ultra for two years.

Who Streamlabs is for

New streamers who want it simple — themes, alerts and tipping pre-integrated.

Twitch and YouTube streamers on a budget — the free tier genuinely covers a starter stream.

Multistreamers — Ultra's the bundled way to reach 3+ platforms.

Creators monetising early — tipping, merch and subs tools with no platform cut on tips.

Who should look elsewhere

If you want maximum control and zero cost, plain OBS plus free StreamElements overlays covers most of the free tier for nothing. If you only need overlays/alerts (not a new broadcasting app), StreamElements slots into the OBS you already have. And if Ultra's price stings, check which parts you'd actually use — clipping alone doesn't justify it.

Getting the most out of Streamlabs

Start free and stay free until something specific gates you — Ultra is a bundle, so price it against only the features you'll use.

Use the free tier's two destinations before paying for multistream — Twitch plus YouTube covers most starting strategies.

Your tips bypass Streamlabs fees but not processor fees — PayPal/Stripe take their standard cut.

Students: the .edu discount halves Ultra for two years — worth checking before paying full price.