OBS Studio vs. Zoom Events & Webinars

Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
OBS Studio
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
OBS Studio is free and open source software for video recording and live streaming, featuring real time video/audio capturing and mixing. Users can create scenes made up of multiple sources including window captures, images, text, browser windows, webcams, and capture cards.N/A
Zoom Events & Webinars
Score 8.5 out of 10
N/A
Zoom Events and Webinars are part of Zoom’s event solutions that uses existing Zoom products to produce interactive and engaging virtual experiences. It combines Zoom Meetings, Chat, and Video Webinars in one solution that enables event organizers to produce ticketed, live events for internal or external audiences of any size.
$79
per month starting with 500 attendees
Pricing
OBS StudioZoom Events & Webinars
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
Zoom Webinars
starting at $79
per month starting with 500 attendees
Zoom Sessions
starting at $99
per month starting with 100 attendees
Zoom Events
starting at $149
per month starting with 100 attendees
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
OBS StudioZoom Events & Webinars
Free Trial
NoNo
Free/Freemium Version
YesNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
OBS StudioZoom Events & Webinars
Considered Both Products
OBS Studio
Chose OBS Studio
Only one reason which is that OBS studio is free and open source and we had team members capable of using it effectively. Other softwares have great prebuilt features which make it super easy to go live for small streams and individual streamers.
Chose OBS Studio
I've tried both Meld and Bandicam in the past. But OBS seems like the best to me. I've been using OBS for a few years now, it's nice that it's free :) not opposed to paying for good software, but OBS seems to be the best of the bunch and it's free, so I've stuck with it …
Chose OBS Studio
I've used Zoom to capture my screen on video. Although the tool is obviously not primarily built to fulfill that function. To capture basic tasks on video, zoom could do the trick but as soon as it gets a bit complex or lengthy, or you need to use multiple video inputs, I would …
Chose OBS Studio
OBS is far more customizable and user-friendly than any other broadcasting software I have found. It keeps things simple while allowing you to customize your layout exactly how you want it - there are more user-friendly options, but none with the customizability of OBS. I would …
Chose OBS Studio
I have also used TinyTake by Mango Apps and I prefer OBS studio because the video quality results are better and OBS allows you to record an unlimited length of the video. OBS also lets you record an entire screen instead of manually having to draw your parameters, which can …
Chose OBS Studio
I first was recommended beta version of mmhmm but it was not available for Windows OS. I tried it when it became available but it was too late for me to switch and I stayed with OBS. OBS did everything I needed and it is free
Chose OBS Studio
I have never use anything like OBS Studio. This is very easy to use. I just saw some reviews online and downloaded OBS Studio. This is free for download, easy to run, no virus and no watermark.OBS Studio is a great programme for advanced users and there are no time limits.
Chose OBS Studio
OBS is the only robust screen capture with a stable graphical user interface that works on Linux (that I could find). That's why I originally chose it. Since the program is cross-platform, I have been able to keep using it. I could switch back to Panopto, now that I am on …
Chose OBS Studio
We checked out a lot of alternatives, which were simply too expensive for us when we are just in the startup stage of livestreaming.
Chose OBS Studio
The fact that it's free is helpful and it is so unique with the level of technology it provides for such a low cost that it is worth trying. Now that we use it every day, why know that there is a paid professional version that offers even more features.

I didn't do a hard …
Chose OBS Studio
Webex has its uses, particularly when meeting viewers need to participate, but we always use OBS Studio when they don't need to interact (just view).
Chose OBS Studio
OBS takes a lot more work to get started with than Google Hangouts, but you get a much more high quality output from it. It even works better with YouTube than Hangout, which is odd since it is also owned by Google. You can not set a poser image on a YouTube live stream when …
Chose OBS Studio
Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder (obsolete, clunky and not always clear what's wrong when it was giving us issues)
Wirecast (too pricey for what we needed)
Zoom Events & Webinars
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
I prefer Zoom Workplace for the UI. Teams is buggy and there's a lot more lag moving around the platform and call options. It has a better messaging system for sure but calling aspect is less than desirable.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
Better analytics, better for large numbers of people and hosting events like webinars. The quality of the video, in my opinion, is better on platforms like Teams. Maybe this is because of the volume of people that are logged in at once.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
-Much better sound system and can drown out outside noises much better
-More user friendly and easier to understand
-Better picture options
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
Our IT department evaluates this.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
Best features are available for free of cost. it is well suited for our business and all, so we opt this as our primary source
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
No comparison. Hopin was very hard to use, did not offer much support, and cost 2 times the amount!
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
The combination of superior ease of use, relative affordability of a license, high participant volume, rich feature set, custom branding capabilities, excellent audio/video codecs, lean resource usage, and studio production features.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
We moved away from MS Teams due to several factors:
1)The ability to have a calendar reminder pop up for the upcoming webinar.
2)The ability to have Zoom automatically send a customized one hour reminder email to everyone who registered.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
Zoom Webinars provides a platform to address a larger audience with ease. It provides clear audio and video. Features are better for conferences and lectures when compared to Skype.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
I've had limited contact with Whova and Hopin, but I've got clients who have looked at them in detail for events. After hearing my guidance on proper licensing of Zoom Events and training on Zoom Events editing and configuration, they've all been very pleased with going the …
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
the ease of use of Zoom is better - everyone seems to be familiar with Zoom and not necessarily the other two.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
I started using Zoom after COVID-19 and was a great experience in comparison to Skype. It helps a user to easily add any prospect client or team member anywhere around the globe through a single link from browser without a chat invite
In comparison to Google meet you can record …
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
Zoom is much better than its peers. It has superior functionality, is much more intuitive to use on a daily basis, and is much more reliable than the previous products that we have used. Zoom has also been advocated for extensively by our students and faculty due to its …
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
Google Meet does not provide breakup rooms and does not have a user-friendly interface. Google Meet does not have the strict admin controls that Zoom Video Webinar provides. Zoom Video Webinar has been widely accepted and most of our clients use it. The price for the premium …
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
I have also used Video connect for doctors' appointments and although it has its pros as well, the Zoom seems much more user-friendly. I am not too familiar with whether or not the platform allows for as many users to all be part of the same conference or what kind of costs it …
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
[In my opinion,] Zoom [Events] is more stable, more flexible, and more friendly than these [other] products.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
Zoom Video Webinar is one of the simplest platforms for video conferencing. You do not require [an] account to join a meeting and you do not need to install the app as it can also be used on the web browser. The functions are clear and straightforward, one of the most …
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
Microsoft teams has some performance issues. It lags many times while working with it and also it doesn't have a optimized recording capabilities. But it performs well in collaboration with participants with feature like Quizzes, assignments, meeting notes etc. MS teams comes …
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
Zoom is more reliable than others tools we have used and has less issues for our customers.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
We find Zoom Video Webinar to be the most user-friendly platform, compared to the ones that we have tested for business use.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
We used Adobe Connect for about a year. The caliber of the recordings was lower than that of Zoom Video Webinar. Also, managing a space was more complicated than with Zoom. Granted, that was 6 years ago now that we stopped using it, but that was our experience at the time.
Chose Zoom Events & Webinars
I'm not familiar with any of Zoom's competitors, but this seems to be a popular program in the business world, and I haven't heard anyone have any serious problems with it. Overall, it's definitely helpful and worth the money.
Features
OBS StudioZoom Events & Webinars
Online Events Marketing
Comparison of Online Events Marketing features of Product A and Product B
OBS Studio
-
Ratings
Zoom Events & Webinars
9.3
Ratings
6% above category average
Branding options00 Ratings8.70 Ratings
Virtual Event
Comparison of Virtual Event features of Product A and Product B
OBS Studio
-
Ratings
Zoom Events & Webinars
8.5
Ratings
7% above category average
Registration, RSVP, and ticketing00 Ratings9.10 Ratings
Email marketing00 Ratings8.20 Ratings
Livestreaming00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
Audience engagement00 Ratings7.90 Ratings
Event recording00 Ratings8.90 Ratings
Virtual booths00 Ratings8.00 Ratings
Networking00 Ratings7.60 Ratings
Event analytics00 Ratings9.30 Ratings
Best Alternatives
OBS StudioZoom Events & Webinars
Small Businesses
Zoom Events & Webinars
Zoom Events & Webinars
Score 8.5 out of 10
Whova
Whova
Score 8.9 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Zoom Events & Webinars
Zoom Events & Webinars
Score 8.5 out of 10
Whova
Whova
Score 8.9 out of 10
Enterprises
Zoom Events & Webinars
Zoom Events & Webinars
Score 8.5 out of 10
Whova
Whova
Score 8.9 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
OBS StudioZoom Events & Webinars
Likelihood to Recommend
9.0
(0 ratings)
9.3
(0 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
-
(0 ratings)
2.0
(0 ratings)
Usability
8.0
(0 ratings)
7.7
(0 ratings)
Support Rating
9.0
(0 ratings)
7.2
(0 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(0 ratings)
User Testimonials
OBS StudioZoom Events & Webinars
Likelihood to Recommend
From simple streaming to bigger events, OBS has been able to handle all of it with full confidence from us. Have never questioned if it was going to be unreliable in a specific situation, even with minimal training. Software identified the external input source easily and had no issues setting that up (Blackmagic Mini Recorder), and great for pulling in separate audio from the computer input.
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I had an issue with my calendar syncing to Zoom Workplace for a while, that was annoying, but it resolved itself someway. Maybe an update. The invite feature is week when in a call, my team never receives them, I manually always have to send a link. I also do not get Zoom call notifications so I am late to meetings often. Too much work to manually find that feature, wish it was a default setting like Teams. I prefer Zoom Workplace because I think it works faster, is smoother, and I prefer the video settings UI over other platforms. Everyone else makes it too complicated to change backgrounds or blur as necessary. The adjustment for low light is also a huge win.
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Pros
  • Free software for live telecast
  • Open source project for video recording
  • Powerful video recording
  • Written in C and C++
  • Totally virus free and free download
  • Collaborates with Facebook live and YouTube live streaming.
  • Computer screen recording
  • A hub for collectting source and broadcast
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  • Easy data entry using imported CSV files
  • Full speaker and session images and text, with individual itineraries for attendees.
  • Duplicate the structure and format of an existing event for your next event, or create an event template to easily replicate future events
  • Automated language caption translation on-the-fly for a growing list of languages
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Cons
  • OBS can be a little clunky sometimes, the lots of features can be a bit overwhelming
  • I can multitask with it, but can't run heavy software like Premiere alongside it
  • No way to make adjustments to file after it's done, have to use After Effects or Premiere for that
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  • I will we could add registration disclaimer language to the Webinar templates.
  • Some of the customization and setup features are difficult to find.
  • I would like to add someone to help me run webinars without paying for them to have their own webinar platform. We should be able to buy one platform and both of us log into it and setup and run webinars from it.
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Likelihood to Renew
No answers on this topic
We will be renewing with Zoom as long as it continues to meet our needs for client and lead outreach needs in a robust manner. With little error and an easy to use interface, Zoom has met our needs and exceeded our expectations. The cost is right and with a short learning curve, Zoom has been an easy decision to make and maintain.
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Usability
Very usable because it is free and has had a lot of people helping to suggest improvements and sponsors have allowed the product to grow in sophistication and suitability across a variety of situations and use needs. It is very logical to use once you get started, although the dashboard can seem intimidating at first.
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Zoom [Video Webinar] is easy and secure to use. It has all those feature which can make a virtual meeting go smooth. Zoom [Video Webinar] provides one click join option and easy screen sharing. It also has strong tools to restrict meeting controls and is secure enough to let you start with it. Zoom [Video Webinar] in relation to other video webinar application is easy to use and lightweight, its mobile application is also easy to use.
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Support Rating
For a free product, a range of support is available. There are plenty of ways to find out answers to questions, because there are probably thousands of people using the product who are willing to share what they have learned. It usually works as designed, so needs for support are limited.
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Zoom Video Webinar provides users with updates on their newest functions as part of an email subscribed list. They provide you with up-to-date information on all their latest changes and functions for ease [in] transition. Zoom Video Webinar can be contacted easily for any questions or concerns you may have with the platform and the response is timely.
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Implementation Rating
No answers on this topic
Implementation was very feasible during our initial usage of the Zoom after COVID-19.
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Alternatives Considered
Only one reason which is that OBS studio is free and open source and we had team members capable of using it effectively. Other softwares have great prebuilt features which make it super easy to go live for small streams and individual streamers.
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Zoom is a good option compared to these other softwares as it is more universally accepted. The advantage of this is that most people use Zoom, making it easier to arrange a call with external stakeholders. Microsoft Teams is often very unreliable, and Zoom seems to work more consistently compared to the other options.
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Return on Investment
  • It was great to have a platform that is free that I can experiment with without having to use our business capital on.
  • It took time to learn, but it helped me understand a lot of things, so it was a great learning experience.
  • It was a great balance of cost and time with the high-quality product we got from it.
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  • Our main need that Zoom Webinar meets is the need to have frequent company video webinars, and it's a need that Zoom meets far better than any other tool available.
  • The branding features available allow us to keep branding for internal and external webinars strong, unlike other tools which have minimal branding capabilities for webinars.
  • Zoom's new Events offering makes it easy to set up engaging and interactive hubs for multi-day webinars.
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ScreenShots

Zoom Events & Webinars Screenshots

Screenshot of features available for Zoom Events & WebinarsScreenshot of features available for Zoom EventsScreenshot of new and enhanced features