The OBS plugins with the most downloads on the OBS Forums add jobs OBS Studio doesn't do on its own: sending video over a network, streaming to several places at once, removing your background, a separate vertical canvas and showing your key presses. Eleven follow in no particular order, with downloads, ratings and last update as of Oct 2026.
OBS Studio is open source software for recording and streaming on your computer, and plugins add the jobs it doesn't do out of the box. They're shared on the OBS Forums, the OBS project's own site, where each plugin gets a resources page with a download count, a rating and a last update date.
The eleven here have the most downloads there. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, each described from its own page. They're plugins for OBS Studio on the desktop only. If you're still choosing your main streaming app, start with my guide to live streaming software.
How these OBS plugins were picked
All the numbers come from the OBS Forums resources page of each plugin, as of Oct 2026: downloads, average rating, rating count, last update and author. The eleven are the plugins with the most downloads there. The free plan column says Not stated because no page names a plan, and that's all the column records.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Scene Switcher | Automation | Switching scenes and automating repeat tasks | Not stated |
| Aitum Vertical | Canvas for vertical video | Managing vertical content beside your usual canvas | Not stated |
| Audio Monitor | Audio filter and dock | Monitoring audio sources from a dock | Not stated |
| Background Removal | AI background removal | Removing your background without a green screen | Not stated |
| Bongobs Cat Plugin | Overlay | A bongo cat overlay on screen | Not stated |
| DistroAV | Network video (NDI) | Sending audio and video between machines | Not stated |
| Input Overlay | On-screen input display | Showing keyboard, mouse and gamepad inputs | Not stated |
| Move | Animation | Moving sources and changing setting values | Not stated |
| Multiple RTMP outputs plugin | Multi-streaming | Sending one stream to several RTMP servers | Not stated |
| Source Record | Recording filter | Recording a single source with a filter | Not stated |
| win-capture-audio | Per-app sound capture, Windows | Capturing audio from individual apps on Windows | Not stated |
Eleven OBS plugins with the most downloads
Advanced Scene Switcher
Best for: Streamers who want OBS Studio to handle repeat jobs like switching scenes, from a plugin built to automate various tasks (1,205,244 downloads as of Oct 2026).
Aitum Vertical
Best for: Creators making vertical clips alongside a normal widescreen stream, using a separate canvas just for vertical content (1,079,190 downloads as of Oct 2026).
Audio Monitor
Best for: Keeping an ear on individual audio sources, with a monitoring filter and a dock (903,362 downloads as of Oct 2026).
Background Removal
Best for: Webcam streamers with no green screen; its listing says it removes backgrounds and lifts low light using AI, with no GPU required (1,657,681 downloads as of Oct 2026).
Bongobs Cat Plugin
Best for: Streamers who want a bongo cat overlay on screen for a bit of fun (1,126,580 downloads as of Oct 2026).
DistroAV
Best for: Two-computer setups that pass audio and video over a network using NDI technology (3,994,042 downloads as of Oct 2026, the most here).
Input Overlay
Best for: Gaming and tutorial streams that show viewers your keyboard, mouse and gamepad inputs on screen (1,035,768 downloads as of Oct 2026).
Move
Best for: Animating sources between positions and changing setting values, for scene changes with motion rather than a hard cut (2,634,886 downloads as of Oct 2026).
Multiple RTMP outputs plugin
Best for: Going live on several platforms at the same time, sending to multiple RTMP servers with shared or standalone encoders (2,970,696 downloads as of Oct 2026).
Source Record
Best for: Recording one source on its own, such as just your camera, by adding a filter to it (910,539 downloads as of Oct 2026).
win-capture-audio
Best for: Windows users who want audio captured directly from one application at a time (1,047,252 downloads as of Oct 2026).
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Downloads, ratings and last updates don't line up
Multiple RTMP outputs plugin shows 2,970,696 downloads with a last update of May 17, 2020. Bongobs Cat Plugin shows 1,126,580 downloads on only 14 ratings, last updated June 10, 2020. Background Removal has the lowest average on this list, 3.49 from 43 ratings. All as of Oct 2026.
A download count adds up over the whole life of a plugin, so a plugin that hasn't changed in years can still sit near the top. Before you rely on any plugin for a live show, check that its page lists your version of OBS Studio and your operating system, and read the latest reviews rather than the oldest.
One developer, three of the eleven
Exeldro is behind three entries here: Move, Source Record and Audio Monitor. They cover very different jobs, from animating sources to recording one source on its own to keeping an ear on audio, so it's worth looking through a developer's other plugins once you've found one you like.
Which OBS plugin type for which streaming job
- You stream to more than one platform: pick a multi-stream output plugin.
- You use two computers, one for gaming and one for streaming: pick a network video plugin that uses NDI.
- You've no green screen: pick an AI background removal plugin, and test it in your own lighting before you go live.
- You post short vertical clips as well: pick a vertical canvas plugin rather than cropping later.
- You teach or play games on stream: pick an input overlay so viewers see your keys and buttons.
- You want fewer manual clicks: pick an automation plugin that switches scenes and handles repeat jobs.
Adding OBS plugins safely
- Download from the plugin's OBS Forums page or the developer page it links to, never from a random mirror.
- Check the page for your OBS Studio version and operating system before you install.
- Close OBS Studio, install the plugin, then reopen it.
- Add one plugin at a time and run a short test recording before you stream.
- Export your scene collection first, so you can roll back if anything goes wrong.
If you only need to capture your screen and never go live, my roundup of screen recording software may be all you need.
Do you make OBS plugins? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on OBS plugins
Add plugins for a job you've got today, not one you might have one day. Each one is another thing to check when OBS Studio updates, and a broken plugin mid-stream is the last thing you want. Start with the one that saves you the most clicks or fixes your biggest gap, then live with it for a week before adding the next.
Look past the download count, too. It's a lifetime total, so pair it with the last update date and the latest reviews on the plugin's page.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What are OBS plugins?
They're add-ons for OBS Studio that add features it doesn't have on its own, such as streaming to several platforms, removing a background or showing your inputs on screen.
Where do I get OBS plugins?
From the OBS Forums resources section, the OBS project's own site, or the developer page a plugin's forum listing links to.
Can OBS stream to several platforms at once?
Not on its own. A multi-stream output plugin adds that, using shared or separate encoders.
Do OBS plugins work on Mac and Windows?
It depends on the plugin. Some are for Windows only, so check the plugin's page for your operating system and OBS Studio version.
Why does an old OBS plugin have so many downloads?
Downloads add up over a plugin's whole life. Check the last update date and recent reviews as well.
