Yes—OBS Studio is free, including for commercial use. It has no required licence fee, watermark, or usage limit. But “free OBS” does not mean a 24/7 YouTube stream has no costs: your computer, electricity, internet connection, content rights, and any optional cloud service are separate.
What OBS is free—and what it is not
The OBS Project describes OBS Studio as open-source software under GPLv2 and says it is free to use for any purpose, with no watermark or usage limitations. Optional donations support the project; they are not a required licence payment. OBS also warns that requests to pay for the software are a scam. Read the OBS licensing information.
OBS is an encoder that runs on your system, not a cloud streaming host. In a YouTube setup, OBS sends the stream from your computer to YouTube using the service’s server URL and stream key; OBS says its own servers are not in that path. You therefore need a computer that can sustain the work, power, and a sufficiently reliable internet upload connection. YouTube’s encoder setup guide explains the connection.
What a 24/7 OBS stream costs in practice
There is no OBS software charge stated by its publisher. The total cost of running it continuously depends on your setup and location; the available official guidance does not establish a universal figure. Budget for the resources your particular stream requires:
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- Computer and components: the machine must handle the selected resolution, frame rate, encoder, and scene complexity continuously. Meeting minimum system requirements does not guarantee sufficient streaming capacity.
- Electricity and cooling: a computer left running around the clock consumes power and needs an operating environment suitable for sustained use. Actual use depends on its hardware and workload.
- Internet service: the connection must sustain the stream’s upload bitrate. Test the real connection and monitor stream health rather than assuming a plan’s headline speed guarantees stable upload.
- Backup and recovery: if the computer, network, or power fails, a local OBS stream can stop. A backup connection or machine may add cost, but no particular configuration guarantees uninterrupted service.
- Content rights: free encoding software does not grant permission to stream music, video, or other material. You remain responsible for having the rights needed for your content.
OBS’s system requirements page lists Windows 10/11, macOS 11 or later, and Linux/Unix among its platform references, but that page is dated August 25, 2021. Treat it as a dated compatibility reference, not a current purchasing guarantee; check the live requirements before choosing hardware. The OBS Project also notes that capacity varies with encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity. OBS system requirements.
Set up OBS for a YouTube live stream
For continuous streaming, plan to test the exact content and settings you intend to use. YouTube’s recommendations are encoder guidance, not a promise that your computer or internet connection can maintain a stream indefinitely.
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- Enable YouTube live streaming. Complete any required channel activation. YouTube says first-time activation can take up to 24 hours, so do not leave it until launch time.
- Create the stream in YouTube Studio. Choose the live-stream setup and obtain the YouTube server URL and stream key. Keep the key private: anyone with access to it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
- Enter the connection details in OBS. In OBS, open Settings > Stream, select YouTube as the service, and connect or enter the server URL and stream key as prompted. Use YouTube’s RTMPS option when available for encrypted delivery.
- Choose a quality your system and upload can sustain. YouTube recommends these H.264 video bitrates:
| Output | YouTube-recommended H.264 bitrate |
|---|---|
| 720p at 30 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 720p at 60 fps | 8 Mbps |
| 1080p at 30 fps | 14 Mbps |
| 1080p at 60 fps | 17 Mbps |
These are YouTube Help recommendations, not measurements of your connection or guaranteed minimums. YouTube also publishes different recommendations for AV1 and H.265/HEVC, so choose settings for the codec actually configured in your encoder. YouTube’s live encoder settings.
- Set the encoder’s rate control and keyframes. YouTube lists constant bitrate (CBR) encoding and a recommended keyframe interval of two seconds, not over four seconds. Use a supported video codec—H.264, H.265/HEVC, or AV1—and a frame rate up to 60 fps, according to YouTube’s guidance.
- Test before going live. Run a test with audio and motion comparable to the planned stream. Check OBS for encoding or rendering overload, and check YouTube’s stream health for upload or ingest problems. A static test image may not reveal issues that appear with real motion or audio.
- Start and monitor the broadcast. Confirm the preview and stream health in YouTube before relying on the broadcast. For a 24/7 goal, remember that a local stream depends on the computer and connection staying available.
YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived. That is not a promise that a longer stream will be archived, remain uninterrupted, or run indefinitely. YouTube may also make monetization available if you are in the YouTube Partner Program. YouTube’s live-streaming help.
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OBS, a cloud service, or dedicated hardware?
OBS is a sensible choice when you need a local encoder for live camera, gameplay, or a composed scene and can keep a suitable computer and connection running. For prerecorded-video loops, a cloud service may avoid leaving a home computer online. YouTube’s verified encoder directory lists cloud services Gyre for 24/7 prerecorded streams and Upstream for 24/7 live video streaming; the directory alone does not establish their current prices, terms, or uptime guarantees. YouTube’s verified encoder directory.
For a prerecorded YouTube loop, StreamNeo is the first cloud option to consider: it runs continuously from the cloud, plays uploaded video at its original quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and offers a free first day. StreamNeo is for YouTube and uploaded videos; it does not stream a live camera feed. Explore StreamNeo or compare the DIY and cloud costs with its cloud vs PC cost calculator.
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Or let it run in the cloud
For a prerecorded video or playlist that should keep a YouTube channel live, StreamNeo avoids keeping a home computer or connection on. Upload your recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live; StreamNeo loops the videos from the cloud. It supports any uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, and can recover automatically if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card required; it is $9.99 per month monthly. Start your free StreamNeo day.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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