OBS Studio vs ShareX: which should you use on Windows?
Both are free and add no watermark, but they solve different problems. OBS Studio is built for recording and streaming, while ShareX is built for fast screenshots and short clips.
Short answer
For tutorials, lectures, gameplay and live streams, use OBS Studio. For screenshots, annotated images and quick screen clips, use ShareX. Many people keep both, because they don't overlap much.
Side by side
| OBS Studio | ShareX | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | OBS Project | ShareX Team |
| Licence | Free | Free |
| Latest version we list | 33.0.1 | 21.0.0 |
| Last updated | 30 Oct 2026 | 3 Jul 2026 |
| Download size | 130 MB | — |
| Windows versions | Windows 11, Windows 10 | Windows 11, Windows 10 |
| Recommended for | Video Creators & YouTubers, Teachers | Graphic Designers, Video Creators & YouTubers, Teachers |
| Install with winget | OBSProject.OBSStudio | ShareX.ShareX |
| Official site | obsproject.com | getsharex.com |
Choose OBS Studio if
- You record long videos with your webcam and microphone
- You stream live to YouTube or Twitch
- You want scenes that mix several sources
Choose ShareX if
- You take screenshots many times a day
- You want arrows, text and blur on your captures
- You record short clips or GIFs to share quickly
Strengths and weaknesses
OBS Studio
Pros
- Professional features
- Free and open-source
Cons
- Learning curve for beginners
ShareX
Pros
- Huge feature set for free
- Screen recording, GIF and OCR
- Custom capture workflows
Cons
- Busy interface with many settings