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Head-to-head · Game Recording Software

OBS Studio vs Medal

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score OBS Studio #1 in Game Recording Software 9.3/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit OBS Studio
Medal #6 in Game Recording Software 8.7/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Medal

OBS Studio leads on 0 checks, Medal on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreOBS Studio · 9.3/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresMedal · 4 of 4

OBS Studio scores higher on our rubric for game recording software: 9.3 against 8.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.

OBS Studio is the better fit for free, flexible recording and streaming setups. Medal is the better fit for creators wanting a broad recording suite.

  • OBS Studio fits best

    Free, flexible recording and streaming setups

  • Medal fits best

    Creators wanting a broad recording suite

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Side by side

Feature OBS Studio 9.3/10 Visit ↗ Medal 8.7/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.3 8.7
Ranking #1 in Game Recording Software #6 in Game Recording Software
Best for Free, flexible recording and streaming setups Creators wanting a broad recording suite
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan $7.99/user/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Cloud, Desktop, Mobile
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, iOS, Android
Support Community, Docs Tickets, Docs, Community
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business
Features OBS Studio 0/4 · Medal 4/4
Instant replay Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Watermark-free video Not checked yet ✓ (best)
GPU encoding Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Webcam overlay Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Capture resolution Not checked yet 4k
Recording modes Not checked yet Multi-mode
Supported platforms Not checked yet Windows 10/11 desktop; iOS and Android mobile
Our review
Pros
  • Free and open source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
  • Scenes combine webcams, displays, browser sources, images, and capture cards
  • Replay Buffer, multiview, audio filters, plugins, scripts, and API support
  • Captures instant replays, full sessions, desktops, and screens
  • Supports up to 4K resolution and 144 FPS recording
  • Combines editing, automatic clipping, cloud sharing, and mobile apps
Cons
  • Desktop software rather than a hosted browser studio
  • Native multistreaming is not included as a documented built-in feature
  • No AI features for assisted production or editing
  • Official support excludes macOS and Linux
  • Premium is required for unlimited cloud storage and full-quality uploads
  • Discord is the listed integration
Our verdict

OBS Studio is free, open-source desktop software for recording video and producing live streams. It fits gamers, individual creators, educators, event producers, and organizations that want to combine multiple visual and audio sources in a…

Read the review →

Medal is game recording and clip-sharing software for gamers and creators who want to capture, edit, upload, and share gameplay. Its Windows app supports instant replay clips, full-session recording, screenshots, desktop capture,…

Read the review →
  1. OBS StudioGame Recording Software 9.3Free plan
  2. MedalGame Recording Software 8.7Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • OBS Studio — where it wins

    • Free and open source across Windows, macOS, and Linux
    • Scenes combine webcams, displays, browser sources, images, and capture cards
    • Replay Buffer, multiview, audio filters, plugins, scripts, and API support

    Where it doesn't

    • Desktop software rather than a hosted browser studio
    • Native multistreaming is not included as a documented built-in feature
    • No AI features for assisted production or editing
  • Medal — where it wins

    • Captures instant replays, full sessions, desktops, and screens
    • Supports up to 4K resolution and 144 FPS recording
    • Combines editing, automatic clipping, cloud sharing, and mobile apps

    Where it doesn't

    • Official support excludes macOS and Linux
    • Premium is required for unlimited cloud storage and full-quality uploads
    • Discord is the listed integration

More comparisons

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update