Best Streaming Software for Indian Streamers: OBS, Streamlabs & More (2026)

Why Your Streaming Software Matters

Your streaming software is the engine that captures your screen, encodes your video, and sends it to YouTube, Twitch, or whatever platform you stream on. Picking the wrong one can mean dropped frames, laggy gameplay, or even crashes mid-stream — which is the last thing you want when you're building an audience.

For Indian streamers specifically, there are a few unique considerations:

• Budget hardware: Many Indian streamers start with PCs that have 4–8GB RAM and integrated graphics. Your streaming software needs to be lightweight enough to handle this.
• Internet speeds: While broadband has improved, many areas still run on 20–50 Mbps connections. Software that lets you fine-tune bitrate settings is critical.
• UPI alert integration: You need a streaming tool that supports browser sources so you can display real-time UPI donation alerts from apps like Stream Alert.
• Regional language support: Some streamers need to display Hindi, Tamil, or other regional text in overlays.

Let's break down the top five options available to Indian creators in 2026.

1. OBS Studio (Recommended)

OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software) is the gold standard for live streaming. It's completely free, open-source, and used by millions of streamers worldwide — from beginners to professionals.

Why OBS Is Best for Indian Streamers

• 100% free, forever. No premium tier, no feature gates, no ads. Every feature is available to everyone.
• Lightweight. OBS runs well on budget hardware. If you have a dual-core CPU, 4GB RAM, and even integrated graphics, OBS can stream at 720p30.
• Browser source support. This is essential for UPI donation alerts. You add your Stream Alert URL as a browser source, and donations appear on screen in real time.
• Highly customizable. Scenes, sources, transitions, filters, audio mixing — you control everything.
• Massive community. Thousands of free plugins, overlays, and tutorials. If you get stuck, there's always a YouTube video or forum thread to help.
• Multi-platform streaming. With plugins like obs-multi-rtmp, you can stream to YouTube and Twitch simultaneously.
• Regular updates. OBS 30+ introduced AV1 encoding support, improved NVENC, and better performance on low-end hardware.

Minimum Hardware for OBS in India

OBS Pro Tips for Indian Streamers

1. Use hardware encoding (NVENC/AMF) if you have a dedicated GPU. This offloads encoding from your CPU, giving you smoother gameplay.
2. Set your bitrate to 2500–4000 kbps for YouTube Live. This works well with most Indian broadband connections.
3. Enable the "New Networking Code" in Advanced settings for more stable connections on inconsistent internet.
4. Use 720p if you're on a budget PC. Your viewers on mobile (which is most Indian viewers) won't notice the difference, and your stream will be lag-free.

2. Streamlabs Desktop

Streamlabs Desktop (formerly Streamlabs OBS or SLOBS) is built on top of OBS with a more user-friendly interface and built-in widgets. It's popular with newer streamers who want an all-in-one solution.

Pros

• Built-in widgets: Chat overlay, alert box, donation ticker, event list — all integrated without extra plugins.
• App store: Download free and premium overlays, widgets, and themes directly from the Streamlabs marketplace.
• Easy setup wizard: Streamlabs auto-detects your hardware and suggests optimal settings.
• Selective recording: Record your gameplay without overlays while streaming with them (useful for YouTube uploads).
• Multi-stream support (with Ultra subscription) — stream to YouTube and Twitch at once.

Cons for Indian Streamers

• Heavy on resources. Streamlabs uses significantly more RAM and CPU than plain OBS. If you have 4GB RAM, expect performance issues.
• Some features require Streamlabs Ultra ($19/month or ~₹1,580/month), which is expensive for Indian creators just starting out.
• Donation system uses Streamlabs' own payment processor, which doesn't support UPI. You'll still need Stream Alert for UPI donation alerts.
• Larger download size (~300MB vs OBS's ~100MB).

Minimum Hardware for Streamlabs Desktop

3. StreamElements OBS.Live

StreamElements OBS.Live is a plugin that sits on top of OBS Studio. Instead of being a separate application like Streamlabs, it adds StreamElements' features (overlays, chatbot, activity feed) directly inside OBS.

Pros

• Best of both worlds: You get OBS's lightweight performance with StreamElements' overlay and widget system.
• Completely free. All overlays, the chatbot, and activity feed are included at no cost.
• Cloud-based overlays: Design your overlays in StreamElements' web dashboard and they load automatically in OBS.
• Loyalty system & chatbot: Built-in loyalty points and chat commands without extra software.
• Low resource usage: Since it's just a plugin on OBS, it doesn't add much overhead.

Cons for Indian Streamers

• Requires StreamElements account for overlay management, which adds a dependency on their servers.
• Donation system doesn't support UPI. Like Streamlabs, their tipping system uses international payment processors only.
• Setup is slightly more complex than Streamlabs' one-click approach.
• Plugin updates sometimes lag behind OBS releases, causing temporary compatibility issues.

Hardware Requirements

Since OBS.Live is a plugin for OBS Studio, the hardware requirements are essentially the same as OBS Studio itself. If your PC runs OBS well, it will run OBS.Live well. The cloud-based overlays add minimal load because they're rendered as browser sources.

4. Prism Live Studio

Prism Live Studio is a free streaming app developed by Naver (the South Korean tech company). It's available on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android — making it one of the few options that works on mobile too.

Pros

• Mobile streaming support: Stream from your phone with overlays, alerts, and scene switching. Great for Indian streamers who don't have a PC yet.
• Very lightweight on desktop. Even lighter than OBS on some configurations.
• Built-in face effects & stickers: Fun additions for casual or IRL streams.
• Multi-platform streaming: Stream to YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms simultaneously for free.
• Clean, modern UI: Easier to learn than OBS for complete beginners.

Cons for Indian Streamers

• Fewer plugins and customization options compared to OBS.
• Smaller community: Harder to find tutorials and troubleshooting help.
• Browser source support is limited compared to OBS, though it does work for basic alert overlays.
• No native UPI support for donations — you'll still need Stream Alert.

Hardware Requirements

5. XSplit Broadcaster

XSplit Broadcaster is a premium streaming and recording application that's been around since 2012. It's known for its polished interface and professional features.

Pros

• Very polished UI: The most professional-looking interface of any streaming software.
• Built-in scene transitions: Smooth, customizable transitions that look great without extra plugins.
• Virtual camera & greenscreen: XSplit has some of the best built-in chroma key and virtual background tools.
• Projector mode: Great for dual-monitor setups common in gaming cafes.
• Browser source support: Works with Stream Alert's alert overlay.

Cons for Indian Streamers

• Paid software. The free version has a watermark and limited features. Premium costs ~$15/month (~₹1,250/month) — expensive for most Indian streamers.
• Heavier than OBS. Requires more system resources and a dedicated GPU for smooth performance.
• Smaller user base in India. Most Indian streaming tutorials focus on OBS or Streamlabs.
• Windows only. No Mac or Linux support.

Hardware Requirements

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Here's a quick-glance comparison of all five streaming software options:

Hardware Requirements for Indian PCs

Let's be real: not everyone in India is streaming from a high-end gaming rig. Many streamers are using laptops or desktops with specs that would be considered "entry level" in other markets. Here's what works at each budget level:

Budget Setup (Under ₹30,000 PC)

• Intel i3 10th gen or Ryzen 3 3200G
• 4–8GB RAM
• Integrated graphics
• Best software: OBS Studio or Prism Live
• Streaming quality: 720p 30fps using x264 ultrafast or hardware encoder

Mid-Range Setup (₹30,000–₹60,000 PC)

• Intel i5 12th gen or Ryzen 5 5600
• 8–16GB RAM
• GTX 1650 / RX 6500 XT
• Best software: OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, or StreamElements OBS.Live
• Streaming quality: 1080p 30fps or 720p 60fps with NVENC

High-End Setup (₹60,000+ PC)

• Intel i7/i9 or Ryzen 7/9
• 16–32GB RAM
• RTX 3060+ / RX 6700 XT+
• Best software: Any of the above — your hardware can handle anything
• Streaming quality: 1080p 60fps or even 1440p with NVENC/AV1

Which Works Best with Stream Alert UPI Alerts?

The good news is that all five streaming software options work with Stream Alert's UPI donation alert system. Here's how:

How Stream Alert Integration Works

1. Install Stream Alert on your Android phone from the Google Play Store.
2. Connect your UPI app (Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm) in Stream Alert settings.
3. Copy your unique alert URL from Stream Alert's dashboard.
4. Add a Browser Source in your streaming software and paste the URL.
5. When viewers send UPI payments, Stream Alert detects the notification and triggers an on-screen alert instantly.

Integration Quality by Software

Our Verdict: OBS Studio for Most Indian Streamers

After testing all five options across various hardware configurations common in India, our recommendation is clear:

Choose differently if:

• You're a complete beginner with a good PC (8GB+ RAM): Streamlabs Desktop's setup wizard makes the first-time experience smoother.
• You want cloud-based overlays with OBS: StreamElements OBS.Live adds nice widget management without leaving OBS.
• You stream from your phone: Prism Live is the only serious option for mobile streaming with overlay support.
• You run a professional streaming studio: XSplit's polished interface and projector mode are worth the premium.

No matter which software you choose, make sure to pair it with Stream Alert for UPI donation alerts. It's the only reliable way to show Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm donations on your live stream in real time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use OBS Studio on a 4GB RAM laptop?

Yes. OBS Studio runs on 4GB RAM laptops. You'll want to stream at 720p 30fps using the x264 ultrafast preset or hardware encoding if you have a dedicated GPU. Close all unnecessary applications before streaming to free up memory.

Is Streamlabs Desktop really free?

Streamlabs Desktop has a free tier with basic features. However, features like multi-streaming, custom tip pages, and premium themes require Streamlabs Ultra at ~₹1,580/month. For most Indian streamers, the free tier plus Stream Alert covers everything you need.

Which streaming software has the lowest latency for UPI alerts?

OBS Studio, Streamlabs Desktop, and XSplit all deliver Stream Alert's UPI alerts with ~1–3 second latency. Prism Live is slightly slower at ~2–5 seconds. The difference is due to how each software handles browser source rendering.

Can I stream to YouTube and Twitch at the same time?

Yes. In OBS Studio, install the free obs-multi-rtmp plugin. In Streamlabs, you need Ultra subscription. Prism Live supports it natively for free. Note that multi-streaming requires more upload bandwidth — at least 10 Mbps upload speed recommended.

Do any of these support Hindi text in overlays?

All five options support Unicode text, which includes Hindi (Devanagari), Tamil, Telugu, and other Indian scripts. The key is using a font that supports these characters. Google's Noto Sans Devanagari is a great free option. Stream Alert also fully supports Hindi donor names and messages in alerts.

What about streaming from a phone?

If you stream from your phone, Prism Live Studio is the best option. Stream Alert works on Android and can display alerts on mobile streams through Prism Live's browser source feature. However, for the best experience, we recommend a desktop or laptop with OBS Studio.