CompareOBS vs Bandicam
OBS vs Bandicam
Pick OBS Studio if you want free recording on Windows, Mac or Linux and don't mind the setup; pick Bandicam for a simpler Windows recorder with a game mode, once you pay to remove the 5-minute free limit.
| Criterion | Bandicam | OBS Studio |
|---|---|---|
| Scoreas a game recorder | 8.3 | 8.9 |
| Best for | Best for game recording on Windows | Best free recorder for full control |
| Works on | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Free recording | 5 min per video | Length not documented |
| Watermark when free | No | No |
| Price | From $33.26/yr | Free |
| Max resolution | 5K | n/a |
| Sharing | 6.0 | 2.0 |
| Recording features | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Editing | 7.0 | 0.0 |
| Free plan | 7.0 | 10.0 |
| Value for money | 9.0 | 10.0 |
| Ease of use | 9.5 | 8.0 |
| Platforms | 4.0 | 6.0 |
| Instant share link | No | No |
| Webcam overlay | Yes | Yes |
| Records computer audio | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in editor | Yes | No |
| 4K recording | No | No |
| Open source | No | Yes |
Highlighted cells are the better score. Scores are out of 10. How we score
OBS Studio is free and open source, with no paid plans and no watermark, on Windows, Mac and Linux. It’s built around scenes and sources, which makes it flexible but slower to set up. It has no editor.
Bandicam is a Windows and Mac recorder with a game recording mode for DirectX, OpenGL and Vulkan games, on-screen drawing and scheduled recordings. Its free version limits each recording to 5 minutes, and edited videos from the free version carry a watermark. Windows and Mac need separate licences.