OBS Studio — Trust Report & Verified Download

Name: OBS Studio
Rating: 4.7 (1 reviews)

Trust Report

Independently checked by Altapp where possible; developer-reported data is labeled as such. Last full review: Jul 18, 2026.

Verified Source

Where the app comes from and how you get it.

Official builds come from obsproject.com/download and mirror the same releases published on GitHub (obsproject/obs-studio).
Windows and macOS installers are digitally code-signed by the OBS Project; only a small set of maintainers hold the signing key.
Source is fully public under GPL-2.0 with 70,000+ GitHub stars and continuous commit history dating to 2014 — anyone can audit the build.
Also distributed through Microsoft Store, Steam, and Flathub; fake OBS sites pushing infostealer malware via search ads have been reported, so verify the domain before downloading.

Data & Permissions

What the app can see and what leaves your device.

Recording and streaming write directly to your local disk or your chosen streaming service — no OBS-run server sits in the capture pipeline.
The app checks in with OBS servers only to look for updates (sends OS + current version) and, if you choose, to link a streaming account (e.g. Twitch OAuth).
No built-in analytics or telemetry beyond that update check; local logs (OS/CPU/RAM, your OBS settings) stay on-device unless you manually share one for support.
Older releases (up to 29.1.1) stored some streaming-service passwords in plaintext locally (CVE-2023-34585) — fixed in later versions, so keep OBS updated.

Known Risks

Model, audit status and vulnerabilities.

CVE-2023-34585 (plaintext password storage) and CVE-2023-36262 (local password disclosure) affected OBS Studio 29.1.x and were patched in subsequent releases.
CVE-2024-13524 (untrusted search path on Windows, ≤30.0.2) is tracked in NVD; the OBS team disputed its real-world severity but the report stands.
No independent third-party security audit report has been published; assurance instead comes from open-source review of the public GitHub repo and a documented SECURITY.md disclosure process.
Actively maintained with frequent releases (32.1.2 shipped Apr 2026); third-party plugins are not code-signed or vetted by the OBS Project, so only install plugins from sources you trust.

Verification reflects the version listed above. Practices may change between releases. How we verify ›

Our verdict: A genuinely open-source, code-signed recorder with a real CVE track record that gets patched — just make sure you download it from obsproject.com and not a lookalike.

OBS Studio is free, open-source software for screen recording and live streaming, built and maintained by the volunteer-run OBS Project (trademarks held by Wizards of OBS LLC) with funding from sponsors including YouTube, Twitch, NVIDIA, AMD, Logitech, Intel, Yamaha, and Steinberg. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, capturing your screen, windows, cameras, and audio directly to your disk or straight to a streaming service, with no OBS-operated server sitting in the capture path.

The project has built in the open on GitHub since 2014 under the GPL-2.0 license, with 70,000+ stars and a public SECURITY.md for vulnerability reports. Windows and macOS installers are digitally signed, and builds are also distributed through the Microsoft Store, Steam, and Flathub. A handful of CVEs have surfaced over the years, including plaintext password storage in older 29.1.x builds, and were fixed in later releases; fake OBS websites pushing malware have also been reported, so the official domain matters.

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Frequently asked questions

Is OBS Studio free?

Yes — the pricing listed at our last review is “Free”.

Is OBS Studio safe to use?

Altapp's independent Trust Report (last full review Jul 18, 2026) shows 7/9 checks passed, covering source verification, data & permissions, and known risks. Verification reflects the version listed on this page.

Which platforms does OBS Studio run on?

Windows 10/11 · macOS 12+ (Intel & Apple Silicon) · Linux (Ubuntu 24.04+, Flatpak).

What are the best OBS Studio alternatives?

Screen Studio, Camtasia, ScreenFlow — each with its own verified Trust Report on Altapp. See the full list ›

Information

Developer: OBS Project
Size: ~150 MB (Windows installer)
Category: Creative
Compatibility: Windows 10/11 · macOS 12+ (Intel & Apple Silicon) · Linux (Ubuntu 24.04+, Flatpak)
Languages: 59 languages (community-translated via Crowdin)
License: GPL-2.0
Country
Latest Version: 32.1.2 · Apr 2026

Official Website Privacy Policy Source Code

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