Streaming reshapes TV viewership—by May 2025, it reached 44.8%, surpassing broadcast and cable (Nielsen). OBS Studio leads as a top streaming tool with powerful RTMP support and flexible encoders. To unlock its full potential, OBS plugins are key. This guide covers 10 best OBS plugins that enhance your workflow, improve your stream’s look, and expand OBS capabilities:
- Multiple RTMP Streaming Destinations
- Advanced Scene Switcher
- Source Record
- Audio Monitor
- Move Transition
- Background Removal
- Stroke Glow Shadow
- Aitum Multistreaming Plugin
- 3D Effect
- Aitum Vertical Plugin
Why Use OBS Plugins in 2025?
OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) is awesome right out of the box, but it’s not one-size-fits-all. Plugins for OBS unlock advanced tools that:
- Add animations and effects
- Automate your workflow
- Enable multistreaming
- Improve your vertical content strategy
Whether you're streaming on Twitch, uploading shorts to YouTube, or teaching online, plugins help you create sharper, smarter content.
Best OBS Plugins You Should Be Using
1. Multiple RTMP Streaming Destinations
Want to stream to YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch at once? The Multiple RTMP Streaming Destinations plugin lets you multistream directly from OBS—no third-party tools needed. It’s easy to set up on Mac and Windows, with a dockable panel to add stream URLs and keys. Share OBS settings to save CPU, or customize per stream if your system can handle it. Just watch your bandwidth!
✅ Pros
- Free and easy to set up with installation wizards.
- Eliminates need for paid third-party restream services.
- Efficient CPU usage when streams share OBS output settings.
❌ Cons
- Can consume significant upload bandwidth as streams multiply.
- Using separate encoders per stream increases CPU demand substantially.
📥 Download it here: OBS Forum – Multiple RTMP Outputs Plugin
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Lets you multistream natively from OBS to unlimited platforms based on your hardware and internet.
- Saves CPU by sharing main OBS output, but multiple encoders increase demand.
- A free, direct alternative to third-party restream services like Restream.io.
2. Advanced Scene Switcher
Want to automate your OBS workflow like a pro? The Advanced Scene Switcher plugin adds powerful automation tools that trigger scene changes based on audio levels, media playback, time, mouse activity, and more. It’s perfect for solo streamers running podcasts, gameplay, or live events who want smooth, hands-free production. The setup might seem complex at first, but most users only need a few settings to get started and save time during their streams.
✅ Pros
- Free and powerful scene-switching automation.
- Ideal for solo streamers juggling multiple tasks.
- Saves time and minimizes manual errors during live shows.
❌ Cons
- Interface can feel overwhelming for beginners.
- Some triggers require trial and error to fine-tune.
📥 Download it here: OBS Forum – Advanced Scene Switcher Plugin
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Adds smart automation to OBS based on triggers like audio, video, time, and cursor position.
- Great for streamers, churches, podcasters, and sports broadcasts running without a full crew.
- You don’t need every feature—start small, then expand as your stream evolves.
3. Background Removal
Want to remove your background without a green screen? 🖼️ The free Background Removal plugin for OBS works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Just add it as a filter to any video source and adjust settings like Threshold to get a clean cutout. Good lighting and distance help, and you can replace the background with color or make it transparent with chroma key.
🌟 Pro tip: To get the best experience with background removal or chroma keying, we recommend using a quality green screen setup like the NearStream Green Screen Kit. It makes your setup easier and results more professional.
✅ Pros
- Free and no green screen needed
- Works on all major desktop platforms
- Customizable with adjustable filter settings
❌ Cons
- Quality depends heavily on lighting and background conditions
- Manual install process might be tricky for beginners
📥 Download it here: OBS Forum – Background Removal Plugin
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Takes experimentation to match green screen quality
- Powerful tool to remove backgrounds directly inside OBS
- Combining it with a NearStream Green Screen Kit offers the best results
4. Source Record Plugin
🎬 Need a clean copy of your gameplay or camera feed—without overlays or alerts? The Source Record plugin lets you record any OBS source separately while streaming your main output. This ISO-style recording is perfect for post-editing or YouTube uploads. Just add it as a filter, and you can save up to 3 clean sources at once—great for creators who want flexibility.
✅ Pros
- Adds professional ISO recording capabilities to OBS
- Easy to set up and use with simple filter interface
- Great for post-production workflows and backups
❌ Cons
- Occasional glitches depending on system/config
- Limited to three separate recordings per session
📥 Download it here: OBS Forum – Source Record Plugin
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Record any individual source while streaming or recording your main scene
- ISO recording is ideal for post-editing and social repurposing
- The only OBS plugin offering this feature—essential for multi-cam and solo creators
5. Audio Monitor Plugin
🎧 Want more control over what you (or your guests) hear during a stream? The Audio Monitor plugin lets you send audio from any OBS source to any output device—like headphones, interfaces, or virtual cables. You can create custom mixes without using external tools like VoiceMeeter. Just add it as a filter, pick your device, and adjust levels. There’s even a dockable mixer panel for real-time control.
✅ Pros
- Free, flexible, and integrates smoothly into OBS.
- Great for virtual audio routing with Zoom, Skype, and more.
- Dockable panel offers quick, visual mix control.
❌ Cons
- Interface can be confusing at first.
- Some bugs still exist due to plugin’s newer development stage.
📥 Download it here: OBS Forum – Audio Monitor Plugin
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Lets you send any OBS source to any audio device for flexible monitoring.
- Supports multiple custom mixes—ideal for guests, hosts, or musicians.
- Easier to use than third-party tools like VoiceMeeter.
6. Move Transition
Want smooth, animated transitions between scenes or sources in OBS? ✨ The Move Transition plugin brings life to your switches—letting you animate the position, size, and opacity of sources as they change. Whether it’s a camera sliding in or text fading out, this plugin makes it look polished and professional, all without needing video editing software.
✅ Pros
- Adds professional motion to scene/source transitions
- Highly customizable (position, size, opacity, etc.)
- Works with both scenes and individual source changes
❌ Cons
- Requires setup time per source
- Not ideal for users who want fast, one-click transitions
📥 Download it here: OBS Forum – Move Transition Plugin
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Adds motion and animation to scene and source switches
- Smooths out transitions for a more polished, professional stream
- Ideal for streamers who want dynamic, engaging visuals
7. Stroke Glow Shadow
Want to make your camera or overlays pop with that pro-looking glow? ✨ The Stroke Glow Shadow plugin lets you add outlines, shadows, and glow effects to any visual source in OBS—perfect for VTubers, reaction cams, or stylish overlays. Whether you’re highlighting a webcam feed or creating stylized text, this plugin gives you full control over edge thickness, color, blur, and glow intensity—all right inside OBS.
✅ Pros
- Adds professional-looking stroke, shadow, and glow effects
- Highly customizable for clean or dramatic looks
- Great for webcam borders, text, and animated scenes
❌ Cons
- No support for audio-reactive effects
- Some settings may take tweaking to look just right
📥 Download it here: OBS Forum – Stream Effects Plugin (includes Stroke/Glow/Shadow)
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Add glow, shadows, and outlines to any OBS source for a polished visual edge
- Perfect for creators looking to boost webcam, overlay, or scene design
- Included in the powerful StreamFX plugin bundle—make sure to install the full package
8. Aitum Multistreaming Plugin
Want to stream to TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch—all at the same time—with zero extra tools? 🔁 The Aitum Multistreaming Plugin brings native multistreaming to OBS in the cleanest way possible. You can manage multiple stream keys, destinations, and layouts right inside OBS—no need for Restream or custom RTMP setups. It even works beautifully alongside OBS Vertical Plugin, so you can stream horizontal and vertical versions simultaneously with synced overlays and camera feeds.
✅ Pros
- Built-in multistreaming inside OBS—no external tools required
- Supports platform-specific layout customization
- Seamless integration with other Aitum plugins (like Vertical)
❌ Cons
- Windows only (currently no Mac or Linux support)
- Requires a free Aitum account for activation
📥 Download it here: Aitum – OBS Multistreaming Plugin
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Enables multiple filtered versions of the same source in different scenes.
- Ideal for creators needing unique looks for cameras or sources across scenes.
- A simple but powerful plugin that enhances OBS flexibility dramatically.
9. 3D Effect
Want to tilt and move your camera or sources in 3D space? The 3D Effect plugin gives you pan, tilt, zoom, roll, pitch, and yaw controls to create dynamic, stylish scenes. It’s perfect for adding that clean, modern look to your just chatting or intermission scenes. For example, you can make a smaller gameplay window with rounded corners and a 3D tilt, then add shadows with other plugins for a sleek, professional vibe.
✅ Pros
- Adds true 3D transformations to OBS sources.
- Great for creative scene design and transitions.
- Lightweight and easy to use.
❌ Cons
- May require some experimentation to get smooth effects.
- Limited to visual transformations, no audio or other controls.
📥 Download it here: OBS Forum – 3D Effect Plugin
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Allows 3D pan, tilt, zoom, roll, pitch, and yaw adjustments inside OBS.
- Helps create modern, eye-catching layouts for streams.
- A simple but powerful tool for scene creativity.
10. Aitum Vertical Plugin (Best OBS Vertical Plugin)
Struggling to stream vertical video without ugly black bars or cropping? 📱 The Aitum Vertical plugin for OBS makes vertical streaming a breeze by automatically formatting your video for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts. It helps you convert and stream vertical content without complicated setups or manual editing.
✅ Pros
- Simplifies vertical video streaming and recording
- Automatically handles cropping and formatting
- Great for multistreamers targeting mobile platforms
❌ Cons
- Limited to vertical formatting
- May require tweaking for non-standard resolutions
📥 Download it here: OBS Forum – Aitum Vertical Plugin
🔑 Key Takeaways
- Essential for vertical video creators streaming to TikTok, Instagram, and more
- Saves time by automating vertical formatting
- Works well alongside multistreaming setups for mixed aspect ratios
How to Install OBS Plugins (Step-by-Step)
Installing OBS studio plugins used to be tricky. Not anymore.
Option A: Manual Installation
- Download plugin (from GitHub or obsproject.com)
- Unzip the folder
- Place it in the
\obs-studio\pluginsdirectory on your computer - Restart OBS Studio
Option B: OBS Plugin Manager (Easiest Way)
- Go to Tools > OBS Plugin Manager in OBS
- Search and install with one click
- Restart OBS if prompted
Note: Make sure your OBS version is up to date to avoid compatibility issues.
Common Problems When Using OBS Studio Plugins
Even the best plugins for OBS can cause issues if not set up right. Here are a few common ones I’ve run into:
- Plugin Doesn’t Show Up?
- Check if it supports your OBS version
- Make sure you installed both 32-bit or 64-bit correctly
- OBS Crashes After Install?
- Remove the plugin folder and restart OBS
- Reinstall with a fresh copy
- Vertical Video Not Recording Properly?
- Double-check vertical canvas setup in Aitum plugin
- Audio Delay or Sync Issues?
- Use the Audio Monitor plugin to fine-tune timing
FAQs
Q1: Are OBS plugins free? Yes. Most are open-source or free to use. Some have paid pro versions.
Q2: Do I need to code to install plugins? No. Most just require unzipping a folder or using the plugin manager.
Q3: What if a plugin breaks my OBS? Delete the plugin folder and restart OBS. It won’t affect your scenes.
Q4: What’s the best OBS plugin for vertical video? Aitum OBS Vertical Plugin, hands down.
Q5: Can I use plugins on OBS Mac or Linux? Some are Windows-only, but many work cross-platform. Always check the docs.
