Short answer: yes, OBS Studio is safe for normal use if you download it from obsproject.com or a store listing that page links to. It is free, open-source software from the OBS Project with a code-signed Windows installer, and recordings stay on your disk. The documented risk is fake OBS download sites promoted through search ads.
"Safe" needs some unpacking here. OBS needs screen, camera and microphone access to do its job, it can load plugins written by anyone, and its security record is short but not empty. This guide covers downloads, data, CVEs, Streamlabs and plugins; the dated findings sit in our OBS Studio Trust Report, and our explainer on how open-source audits work covers why public code is a starting point.
Key takeaways
- Download from obsproject.com/download, the project's GitHub releases, or the Microsoft Store, Steam, Flathub and Ubuntu PPA listings the download page links to.
- Windows install files are signed by OBS Project, LLC, and every GitHub release lists a SHA-256 checksum for each file.
- OBS Studio works without an account. Its update check sends your OBS version, platform and a random install ID to obsproject.com, and crash-report uploads are opt-in.
- NVD lists one CVE that still stands for OBS Studio, a disputed Windows DLL-loading issue rated medium (4.5). Two 2023 CVEs that many pages still cite were rejected.
- Fake OBS sites are the documented threat. In January 2023, BleepingComputer reported a case where a user's accounts were hijacked after they ran a fake OBS installer found through a Google ad.
Where to download OBS Studio safely
The official page is obsproject.com/download. It offers Windows 10 and 11 installers, separate Apple Silicon and Intel disk images for macOS 13 and newer, and Flathub plus an official Ubuntu PPA for Linux. It also links the project's own Microsoft Store and Steam listings, and every build appears on GitHub.
Three checks take a few minutes:
- Check the signature (Windows). Right-click the installer, open Properties, then Digital Signatures. The signer should read OBS Project, LLC, matching the DigiCert-issued certificate in the project's public build files.
- Compare the checksum. Each GitHub release has a Checksums section with a SHA-256 hash per file, Mac disk images included. Run
certutil -hashfile <file> SHA256on Windows orshasum -a 256 <file>on a Mac and confirm the strings match. - Leave the updater on. According to the public source code, OBS checks update files from obsproject.com against a project public key before using them, so updating from inside the app keeps you away from download sites.
Impostor sites are where people get hurt. BleepingComputer reported in January 2023 that OBS was one of many popular apps impersonated in Google search ads, including a case where a fake OBS download led to stolen accounts. Type the address yourself instead of clicking a sponsored result, and remember the help portal's rule: OBS is free, so a site asking you to pay for it is a scam.
What OBS Studio does with your data
You can use OBS Studio without creating an account. Recordings are written to a folder on your computer, and the help portal says "There are no OBS servers" between you and the streaming service. Connecting a Twitch or YouTube account is optional, because the stream settings also accept a plain stream key.
What leaves your machine, per the app's public source code:
- Update and news checks. At startup, OBS fetches update and "What's New" files from obsproject.com. The requests carry your OBS version, your platform and a random installation ID that a code comment says is used to count unique installs. Settings > General can turn the update check off.
- Crash reports. Since version 32.0 (September 2025), the Windows and Mac builds can upload your latest crash report automatically, but only if you opt in. You can also upload a log from the Help menu when asking for support.
The privacy policy (last updated August 6, 2025) covers the websites and app together. It mentions Google Analytics and crash and network data and says the company does not sell personal information, without separating what the desktop app sends.
Security track record
The public record is short. NVD lists one standing CVE for OBS Studio, CVE-2024-13524, an untrusted search path (DLL loading) issue in Windows versions up to 30.0.2. It needs local access and high attack complexity, scores 4.5 (medium) on CVSS 3.1, and the entry notes that the project disputes it was worth reporting.
That dispute follows the project's security policy, which treats DLL planting that depends on a victim installing non-standard software as out of scope. OBS 32.2.0 (July 21, 2026) still shipped Windows changes that prefer system DLLs and enable safe DLL search mode, framed in the pull request as best-practice hardening.
Two older entries need a correction. CVE-2023-34585 and CVE-2023-36262 still appear on many safety pages, but NVD lists both as rejected because further investigation found no security issue.
- Disclosure. The GitHub security policy promises a first response within 72 hours, asks researchers to wait 120 days before going public, and offers no bug bounty.
- Release pace. The project shipped 12 stable releases between 32.0.0 (September 22, 2025) and 33.0.0 (October 23, 2026).
- Audit status. We found no published independent security audit of OBS Studio. Our Trust Report methodology records that as a dated finding rather than a pass or fail.
For an app with deep system access and over a decade of releases, we consider that a quiet record. The documented harm to real users came from fake installers.
OBS Studio, Streamlabs and plugins: who answers for what
Other apps are built on OBS's open-source code, and a verdict on OBS Studio doesn't transfer to them. Streamlabs Desktop is one, and its own README describes it as built on Electron and OBS. It was called Streamlabs OBS until November 2021, when the company said it would drop "OBS" from the name after the OBS Project objected, as The Register reported.
Streamlabs Desktop comes from a different company with its own installer and privacy policy, so judge it on its own record, even if an older guide still calls it Streamlabs OBS.
Plugins are the bigger gray zone. A plugin is code that OBS loads into itself, so it can reach whatever OBS can reach, including your screen, camera, microphone and files. The forum policy requires plugin authors to make clear their work is not part of OBS or developed by the OBS Project.
Plugins listed in the official forum's resources section pass a moderator review and must publish GPL source code, but the published policy describes checks for release readiness and licensing and mentions no security testing. Plugins shared on Discord or random sites aren't reviewed by the project.
A few habits keep plugins manageable:
- Install from the forum's resource pages or the author's public repository.
- Use the plugin manager, added in OBS 32.0, to see what's installed and switch off what you don't use.
- If OBS misbehaves after a plugin install, pick Restart in Safe Mode from the Help menu. It starts OBS without third-party plugins, scripts or WebSockets.
OBS Studio vs. Cap and Screen Studio: the trust picture
| App | License | Where your data goes | Download verification | Notable caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Open source (GPL-2.0), free | Your disk or your chosen streaming service; update checks to obsproject.com | Windows build signed by OBS Project, LLC; SHA-256 per file on GitHub | Third-party plugins and lookalike sites |
| Cap | Open source (mostly AGPL-3.0), freemium | Studio Mode records locally; Instant Mode uploads to Cap's cloud, your own S3 bucket or a self-hosted server | Release notes say in-app updates are signed and verified before install | Privacy policy (April 2024) doesn't cover the desktop app specifically |
| Screen Studio | Proprietary, subscription | Local unless you create a share link; PostHog and Plausible analytics, Sentry crash reports | Direct download, not the Mac App Store; our Trust Report found no published checksum | macOS only, closed source, no independent audit found |
OBS is the only one of the three with no paid tier and no cloud service of its own. Cap suits people who want open source plus share links, and Screen Studio trades source access for automatic polish. For features, see our Screen Studio vs OBS Studio comparison and the best Mac screen recorders.
When to pick something else
- You want a link the moment you stop recording. Cap's Instant Mode uploads during recording; OBS saves a file and leaves sharing to you.
- You record Mac product demos and want automatic zooms. Screen Studio is built for that; our Screen Studio vs OBS Studio breakdown covers the trade-off.
- Scenes and sources are more setup than you need. Browse our OBS Studio alternatives for simpler recorders.
The bottom line
In our view, OBS Studio is safe for normal use if you download it from obsproject.com or a listing that page links to, leave the updater on, and vet each plugin as its own download. Its public record holds one disputed, medium-rated CVE and a documented history of impostor sites, and those sites deserve most of your caution. Features and pricing change, so always check the official site before deciding.
FAQ
Is OBS Studio safe to download?
Yes, from official sources: obsproject.com/download, the project's GitHub releases, or the Microsoft Store, Steam and Flathub listings that page links to. Windows install files are signed by OBS Project, LLC, and each GitHub release lists SHA-256 checksums. Skip sponsored search results, since fake OBS sites have been reported spreading malware.
Is OBS Studio safe and free?
Yes, OBS Studio is open-source software under the GPL-2.0 license, and the project's help portal says it has no ads, bundled software or watermarks. The project is funded through Open Collective, Patreon and corporate sponsors. If a website asks you to pay for OBS, the project calls that a scam.
Is OBS Studio safe on Microsoft Store?
Yes, if you install the free listing published by OBS Project, which runs on Windows 10 and 11. The official download page at obsproject.com links straight to that listing, the easiest way to land on the right one. Before installing, confirm the publisher reads OBS Project.
Is OBS Studio safe for Mac?
Yes, the project offers separate Apple Silicon and Intel downloads for macOS 13 and newer, and its public build scripts include Apple code signing and notarization. OBS asks for Screen Recording, Camera and Microphone access, plus Accessibility so hotkeys work while another app is in front. Macs on macOS 12 are limited to version 32.1.2.
Is OBS Studio safe, according to Reddit?
Threads on the r/obs subreddit generally say OBS is safe when downloaded from official channels. Recurring warnings concern impersonator websites, including a thread asking which of two OBS domains is real, and antivirus false alarms. The project's help portal confirms security software can falsely flag OBS and suggests whitelisting its folder.