OBS versus FFmpeg: which costs less to run for a 24/7 YouTube stream? Neither is inherently cheaper. The answer depends on the work you ask it to do, the whole system’s measured power draw, and your electricity, hosting, and network costs. FFmpeg may use fewer resources for a simple compatible video loop when it can stream-copy; OBS may be the sensible lower-cost choice when you need its scenes, captures, and production controls on a computer you already own. There is no published controlled power test here that establishes a universal winner.
Why the software names do not determine the cost
OBS Studio and FFmpeg can both be used in a continuous YouTube workflow, but they are not equivalent workloads. OBS is a production application that can capture sources, composite scenes, render graphics, and encode the output. FFmpeg can send compatible encoded media without decoding and re-encoding it, or do substantially more work when it must decode, filter, and encode.
So, a basic FFmpeg loop using stream copy is not a fair cost comparison with an OBS production that renders animated overlays and multiple sources. Match the required output and production functions before comparing power. OBS says its CPU requirements vary with encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity; its scene rendering also uses GPU resources. FFmpeg’s computational load changes sharply between stream copy and transcoding. OBS system requirements; FFmpeg documentation; OBS encoding performance guidance.
How to estimate electricity for a 24/7 stream
Measure the average power of the complete streaming setup while it is doing representative work, then apply your electricity tariff. The Department of Energy’s educational material gives the calculation as kWh = kW × hours. For a watt reading, convert watts to kilowatts by dividing by 1,000:
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Average measured watts ÷ 1,000 × runtime hours = kWh
kWh × your electricity rate per kWh = electricity cost
For continuous operation, use the actual measurement interval and runtime. A short idle reading may not represent a stream that has been running steadily. A plug-in watt meter can measure the whole setup, but it does not isolate the portion used by OBS or FFmpeg. CPU utilization alone is not an electricity-cost measurement. U.S. Department of Energy: Estimating Appliance and Home Electronic Energy Use.
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Make the comparison fair
Use the same machine and source material, and hold output resolution, frame rate, codec, bitrate, audio, and comparable scene or filter functions constant. Measure each configuration over a representative interval and compare average whole-system watts. If one setup uses stream copy while the other re-encodes, note that difference: it is a workload comparison, not simply an OBS-versus-FFmpeg software test.
Match YouTube’s output requirements
To compare operating costs meaningfully, both workflows must produce an output YouTube accepts and that meets your quality needs. YouTube’s live encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS transport, H.264, H.265/HEVC, and AV1 video codecs, frame rates up to 60 fps, constant bitrate, and a recommended two-second keyframe frequency (no more than four seconds). The appropriate bitrate depends on resolution and frame rate; use YouTube’s current settings table rather than assuming one bitrate fits every stream. YouTube recommends RTMPS for encrypted transport and transcodes live streams into other formats for viewers. YouTube live encoder settings.
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When FFmpeg may cost less
FFmpeg may be the lower-power option for a simple loop of already encoded files when their formats are compatible with the target stream and stream copy meets the need. Stream copy avoids decoding and encoding, which can avoid substantial processing. This is a reason to test that configuration, not proof that FFmpeg always draws less power.
Stream copy cannot perform work that requires decoded frames, such as filtering. If you need to change video or audio characteristics, add filters, or otherwise produce a different encoded output, FFmpeg may need to decode and re-encode. FFmpeg describes transcoding as computationally expensive and recommends stream copy when it satisfies the task. FFmpeg documentation.
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When OBS may cost less overall
OBS can be the lower-cost practical choice when you need its scene composition, captured sources, or production controls and already have a suitable computer. Replacing those functions with scripts or a paid hosted production service may add labor or service charges. Whether that trade-off saves money depends on your setup; there is no established general OBS-versus-FFmpeg price comparison.
OBS supports hardware encoding, which shifts encoding work from the CPU to a specialized component of a supported GPU. OBS generally recommends hardware encoding for performance, but encoder generation can affect quality at the same bitrate, and GPU resources may also be needed for scene rendering. Confirm which encoder your system actually uses, test the settings and output quality, and measure total system draw. OBS encoder settings; OBS encoding performance guidance.
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Include costs beyond electricity
A low-power process does not necessarily mean a low-cost 24/7 service. Add only costs that are incremental to your situation:
- Equipment: include a computer or GPU bought specifically for streaming, rather than treating existing hardware as free if you are deciding whether to purchase it.
- Cloud hosting: check the current regional compute, GPU, network, and storage charges for the actual provider and configuration. Cloud hosting is a separate deployment choice, not an inherent feature of OBS or FFmpeg. YouTube lists cloud-based live processing among encoder options, but that does not establish that any generic VPS is suitable or cheaper. YouTube live encoder options.
- Network: account for metered upload data or other charges that apply under your ISP or hosting plan. There is no universal ISP fee.
- Reliability and labor: consider how restarts are handled and the operator time needed to monitor and maintain the stream. These vary by setup and have no universal price.
Do not assume a VPS costs less than leaving a PC on. Compare current charges for a suitable hosted configuration—including any required GPU, bandwidth, and storage—with measured home-system electricity and any equipment or network costs that apply to you.
A practical decision process
- Define the job. Decide whether you need a simple video loop or scene composition, captures, filters, and other production functions.
- Choose comparable output settings. Set the same target resolution, frame rate, codec, bitrate, and audio for each option, within YouTube’s current encoder guidance.
- Check whether FFmpeg can stream-copy. If the media and target are compatible and no decoding-dependent work is needed, test stream copy. Otherwise include the encoding and filtering workload in the comparison.
- Test available encoders. In OBS, verify whether encoding runs on the CPU or a supported hardware encoder. Check output quality at your target bitrate as well as performance.
- Measure representative system power. Use the same machine and a credible whole-system measurement under sustained streaming conditions. Compare average watts, not just a momentary reading or CPU percentage.
- Calculate your local costs. Apply your own electricity rate to the measured kWh, then add applicable incremental equipment, hosting, storage, network, reliability, and maintenance costs.
- Compare uptime needs. Factor in how each setup recovers from a dropped stream or machine failure and how much attention it requires. A cheaper electricity result alone does not establish the cheaper complete workflow.
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