Compared with OBS Studio
An OBS alternative for Mac, for recordings rather than streams
OBS Studio is free, open source and built for live streaming and complex scenes. If you just want a polished recording, you may not need a studio.
In short
OBS Studio is free, open-source software for recording and live streaming on Windows, Mac and Linux, with scenes, sources, an audio mixer and plugins. It records system audio on macOS 13 or later, but has no editor after recording. ScreenRecordii is a Mac recorder with no scenes to build: pick what to record, and zooms, a smooth cursor, framing and captions are applied as you go, with a timeline to finish the edit. Pick OBS for streaming and multi-source productions; pick ScreenRecordii for polished recordings.
- ScreenRecordii
- Mac app · records and edits locally · MP4, GIF, guides
- OBS Studio
- Free, open-source recording and live streaming with scenes, all platforms
- Pick ScreenRecordii for
- Polished recordings with no scene setup and a built-in editor
- Pick OBS Studio for
- Live streaming, multi-source scenes, plugins, free and open source
What OBS Studio is
OBS Studio is “free and open source software for video recording and live streaming,” under the GPL v2 or later. Its macOS release supports macOS 13 and newer, with screen capture of displays, windows or apps through ScreenCaptureKit, and desktop audio capture without extra drivers on macOS 13+. It offers unlimited scenes and sources, audio filters and plugins. It doesn’t include a post-recording editor.
From obsproject.com, download, macOS audio capture, GitHub, read 2026-11-07.
Side by side
| ScreenRecordii | OBS Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Early access is free | Free and open source |
| Live streaming | No | Yes |
| Scenes and sources | No setup needed | Unlimited scenes, plugins |
| System audio on Mac | Yes | Yes, macOS 13+ |
| Editing after recording | Zooms, cuts, captions, masks, callouts | Not stated |
| Automatic zooms, cursor smoothing | Yes | Not stated |
| Platforms | Mac | Windows, Mac, Linux |
“Not stated” means we couldn’t find it on their site, not that it’s missing. Tell us if something has changed.
Where ScreenRecordii is different
No studio to build
Choose a display, window or area and record.
The edit is mostly done
Zooms, cursor and framing applied as you record.
A timeline to finish
Cuts, captions, masks, callouts and exports for each channel.
Crash-safe takes
Saved every two seconds.
When OBS Studio is the better pick
- You stream live.
- You compose complex scenes from many sources.
- You want free, open-source software.
- You record on Windows or Linux.
Questions
Can OBS record the Mac’s own audio?
OBS says its macOS audio capture records desktop audio without extra drivers on macOS 13 and newer.
Keep reading
- Mac screen recorderRecord a display, window or area with camera and sound, already zoomed, smoothed and framed.
- Screen record on Mac with audioRecord your voice and the Mac’s own sound with your screen.
- Best screen recorder for MacThe main Mac screen recorders in 2026, what each is best at, and how to choose.
- No watermarkNothing stamped on your video. The only logo is one you add.
- Loom alternativeFor polished videos you keep as files, rather than instant links.
Hit record.
ScreenRecordii is in early access for macOS 14 and later.