OBS Studio vs Zoom Webinars: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for OBS Studio and Zoom Webinars side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, OBS Studio leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
OBS Studio
Record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source software
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Zoom Webinars requires payment)
Zoom Webinars
Scale video events to thousands with built-in engagement and integrations
Best for you if:
- • You want good webinar platform
| At a Glance | OBS Studio | Zoom Webinars |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | From $79/host/mo, billed monthly 500 Attendees plan |
Category | Video & Media Screen Recording | Webinar Marketing Automation |
Rating | 4.7/5 Capterra 4.7 · G2 4.6 1,212 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 412 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose OBS Studio or Zoom Webinars?
Choose OBS Studio if
- You want a fully free tool (Zoom Webinars requires payment)
- You want completely free
- You want powerful features
- You work in video & media, not webinar
Choose Zoom Webinars if
- You want good webinar platform
- You want zoom integration
- You work in webinar, not video & media
In-Depth Analysis
OBS Studio
Record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source software
OBS Studio offers an incredibly generous pricing model as it is 100% free and open-source.
Strengths
- Pro: Completely free
- Pro: Powerful features
- Pro: Huge community
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Can be resource heavy
Key features
Zoom Webinars
Scale video events to thousands with built-in engagement and integrations
Zoom Webinars pricing is expensive, especially for larger attendee counts.
Strengths
- Pro: Good webinar platform
- Pro: Zoom integration
- Pro: Good features
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Enterprise ready
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive
- Con: Per-attendee pricing
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Better alternatives exist
- Con: Feature limitations
Key features
Plans and prices: OBS Studio vs Zoom Webinars
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio |
| obsproject.com read Oct 31, 2026 |
| Zoom Webinars |
| zoom.us/webinar/pricing read Sep 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on OBS Studio pricing and Zoom Webinars pricing.
Key Takeaways
OBS Studio
- Higher user rating: 4.7/5 vs 4.5/5
- Has a free plan
Zoom Webinars
- Choose if you want scale video events to thousands with built-in engagement and integrations
What the data shows
On the data below, OBS Studio leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- OBS Studio has the higher user rating (4.7/5 from 1,212 reviews for OBS Studio, 4.5/5 from 412 reviews for Zoom Webinars).
- Zoom Webinars starts at $79/host/mo, billed monthly; OBS Studio has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only OBS Studio has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do OBS Studio and Zoom Webinars compare in 2026?
On the data below, OBS Studio leads on higher user rating and a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. OBS Studio has the higher user rating (4.7/5 from 1,212 reviews for OBS Studio, 4.5/5 from 412 reviews for Zoom Webinars). Zoom Webinars starts at $79/host/mo, billed monthly; OBS Studio has no public paid plan price on file. Only OBS Studio has a free plan.
What are OBS Studio and Zoom Webinars used for?
OBS Studio: Record and stream video with powerful, free, open-source software. Zoom Webinars: Scale video events to thousands with built-in engagement and integrations.
What does OBS Studio cost vs Zoom Webinars?
OBS Studio is free. Zoom Webinars's cheapest paid plan is 500 Attendees at $79/host/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between OBS Studio and Zoom Webinars?
OBS Studio's main strength: completely free. Zoom Webinars's main strength: good webinar platform.