OBS Studio 33.0.0 is a free, open source program for recording your screen and live streaming on Windows, released under the GPL-2.0 license. This version came out on October 23, 2026 and takes up 178 MB. It updates the browser source framework, reworks how plugins are loaded, and improves source snapping in the preview.
Who a GPL-2.0 recorder suits
OBS Studio is built for people who want to capture their screen or broadcast live without paying. It is free, and the GPL-2.0 license means the source code is open. The developer is OBS Project, and its site is obsproject.com.
Recording and streaming with browser sources and plugins
The app covers screen capture, video recording and live streaming. Version 33.0.0 also changes source snapping in the preview, so sources now snap along the whole axis and ignore hidden ones. Plugin loading has been reworked as well, with first-party plugins in a folder named core.
Alternatives listed for it include ShareX, ScreenToGif, Loom and Camtasia.
Limits: size and plugin migration
The installer is 178 MB, which is large next to small capture tools. Third-party plugins need to move to the new folder structure, though old locations keep loading until OBS Studio 34.0.
What's new in 33.0.0
Version 33.0.0 updates CEF from 127 to 150, the framework behind browser sources and docks, and overhauls plugin loading. It also improves preview snapping and number spinboxes, and enables NVENC on Arm64.
OBS Studio pros and cons
Pros
- Free to use
- Open source under GPL-2.0
- Handles both recording and live streaming
- Preview snapping now follows the whole axis and skips hidden sources
- Legacy plugin locations still load until OBS Studio 34.0
Cons
- The 178 MB download is sizable
- The CEF update may cause new problems with browser sources
- Third-party plugins need a new install location and folder structure
Is OBS Studio safe?
The file is downloaded from the official server at github.com, not from us. OBS Project is the publisher, and the software is under the GPL-2.0 license, so its code is open to inspection. No independent security review is available.
How to install OBS Studio
- Press the download button to get the official file.
- Run the installer you saved and confirm the Windows security prompt if the publisher matches.
- Follow the setup steps, then start OBS Studio from the Start menu.
