Last updated: 2026-01-10

Kai Cenat is widely reported to use OBS Studio and OBS‑based production layers for his biggest streams, while most everyday creators will get better results, faster, by starting with a browser‑based studio like StreamYard. If you need a highly customized, hardware‑heavy setup for arena‑style events, OBS and similar desktop tools can make sense.

Summary

• Public coverage shows Kai Cenat using OBS Studio and OBS‑based production for major streams and events. (StreamYard Blog)
• His viral moments include on‑stream references to OBS as the software where “everything is running.” (Sportskeeda)
• Large productions like Streamer University layered OBS into a cloud workflow with mobile ingest and centralized routing. (PR Newswire)
• For most US creators who want easy setup, reliable guests, and strong branding, a browser studio like StreamYard is typically faster and more practical than copying Kai’s OBS stack. (StreamYard Blog)

What streaming software does Kai Cenat actually use?

When people ask this, they are really asking, “What does a top‑tier streamer trust for big, live moments?”

Public coverage of Kai’s streams shows him using OBS Studio as the core of his setup, often with additional OBS‑based production layers in the background. (StreamYard Blog)

In one widely shared moment during his Twitch stream with Kevin Hart, Kai points to his screen and says, “Okay look, this is OBS, this is where everything is running, okay?” — a direct on‑air confirmation of the tool at the heart of his production. (Sportskeeda)

There is no authoritative public list of every single tool Kai and his team use behind the scenes, and there is no confirmed evidence that he uses StreamYard, Restream, or Streamlabs for specific shows. (StreamYard Blog)

So if you are looking for a name: Kai uses OBS Studio. The real question is whether you need OBS to hit your own goals.

Does Kai Cenat use OBS or Streamlabs?

A common follow‑up is whether Kai is on OBS, Streamlabs, or some mix of both.

Media coverage and on‑air moments point clearly to OBS Studio for his main streaming layer, rather than Streamlabs Desktop. (StreamYard Blog)

Right now, there is no strong, public evidence that Streamlabs is part of Kai’s primary setup, while multiple sources mention OBS directly in the context of his biggest streams. (StreamYard Blog)

For you, this means:

• If you want to tinker with deep scene control, plugins, and encoder settings, OBS is the closer match to what Kai is using.
• If your priority is simply going live consistently, bringing on guests, and keeping the tech out of your way, desktop encoder complexity is often overkill.

Many creators start by chasing the “pro” tool their favorite streamer uses, then quietly switch to a simpler studio when they realize they care more about results than raw control.

What production tools powered Streamer University?

Streamer University, Kai’s large‑scale event with 120 creators, is a useful case study in how far these productions can go.

Coverage of the event explains that the workflow used mobile ingest and cloud routing, with participants each given a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, T‑Mobile 5G, and the TVU Anywhere live streaming app to send their feeds into the cloud. (PR Newswire)

Those inputs were then combined with “OBS‑based production layers,” giving the team flexible layouts, monitoring, and control at scale. (PR Newswire)

That stack makes sense when you are:

• Coordinating dozens of simultaneous feeds.
• Working with broadcast partners.
• Building custom multi‑viewer layouts.

Most Twitch or YouTube creators in the US are not running 120‑camera shows. They want solid quality, flexible layouts, easy guest links, and confidence that the stream will not fall apart if a guest is not tech‑savvy.

That is the space where a browser‑based studio such as StreamYard is usually a better fit than replicating a multi‑vendor, OBS‑driven cloud workflow.

How to set up OBS for multi‑camera or large streams

If you are determined to move toward a Kai‑style OBS setup, here is a high‑level way to think about it.

1. Plan your scenes, not just your cameras
   Decide on your main layouts: solo host, host + guest, full panel, gameplay + cam, etc. In OBS, each layout becomes a scene.

2. Map sources to scenes
   Add your camera(s), screen capture, media, and overlays as sources. Tools like OBS support many sources and “unlimited” scenes, constrained mainly by your hardware. (OBS Features)

3. Test your hardware headroom
   OBS and similar desktop tools rely heavily on your CPU/GPU. Lag or dropped frames usually mean you are pushing your machine too hard. (OBS on Steam)

4. Add routing if you grow
   Once you add more cameras, remote guests, or locations, you may need extra tools for routing and ingest — the kind of complexity you see in events like Streamer University.

For some creators, this level of control is exactly what they want. For many others, it becomes an ongoing tech project that gets in the way of just going live.

Using StreamYard for guest‑friendly livestreams

Most viewers do not care which encoder you use. They care that your stream looks clean, does not drop, and that your guests are comfortable.

That is where StreamYard fits the way most US creators actually work.

• Runs in the browser – No local encoder or app install. Guests join from a simple link, and users consistently tell us non‑technical guests “can join easily and reliably without tech problems.”
• Guest‑first workflow – Up to 10 people in the studio with an additional 15 backstage participants lets you manage panels, producers, and call‑ins without juggling multiple apps.
• High‑quality recording – Studio‑quality multi‑track local recording in 4K UHD plus 48 kHz audio means you can treat your live show like a recording session and repurpose it later.
• Branding and layouts without a PhD – Overlays, scene changes, and flexible layouts are available from a simple interface, so you get a polished look without hand‑building scenes.
• Repurposing built in – AI Clips can scan your recordings and auto‑generate captioned shorts and reels, and you can even regenerate clips with a prompt to focus on specific themes.
• Modern formats by default – Multi‑Aspect Ratio Streaming (MARS) lets you go live in landscape and portrait at the same time from one studio, so YouTube or Twitch viewers get a widescreen show while TikTok‑style platforms see a vertical‑optimized feed.

User feedback we hear again and again is that StreamYard “passes the grandparent test” — you could walk someone through it over the phone, and they would still get on air.

How does StreamYard compare to OBS, Streamlabs, and Restream?

You can absolutely combine tools, but it helps to understand what each one is doing for you.

• OBS and Streamlabs Desktop are local encoder apps. They are free or freemium, offer powerful scene customization, and expect you to manage hardware, driver issues, and encoding settings yourself. (OBS on Steam)
• Restream is a cloud routing service and browser studio that focuses on multistreaming; its free plan allows two simultaneous destinations with caps on guests and uploads. (Restream Support)
• StreamYard is a browser‑based studio purpose‑built for shows with guests, overlays, and multistreaming, with free and paid plans depending on how far you want to go. (StreamYard Support)

For most creators who searched “what streaming software does Kai Cenat use,” the practical trade‑offs look like this:

• If you love tinkering, want very fine‑grained control, and are ready to manage a more complex stack, OBS‑style tools are a strong fit.
• If you care more about time‑to‑live, reliable guests, and consistent branding, StreamYard usually delivers the outcome you want with less setup and less to maintain.

Many users who tried OBS or Streamlabs first end up running OBS only for niche use cases and defaulting to StreamYard whenever they need multi‑streaming or remote guests.

Mobile ingest and cloud routing used at Streamer University

One last detail from Streamer University helps put this into perspective.

Every participant at the event used the TVU Anywhere mobile app on a Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra over T‑Mobile 5G to send their feed into the cloud, where a centralized control room combined those feeds using OBS‑based layers and multi‑viewers. (PR Newswire)

This is the kind of pipeline broadcasters build when they have a full production team and a complex multi‑camera brief.

If you are a solo creator or small team, you can still take inspiration from Kai’s energy and storytelling without copying the entire technical architecture. A browser‑first studio with strong guest tools, reliable recordings, and easy layouts gets you most of the way to a professional feel.

What we recommend

• Use OBS if you specifically need deep scene customization and you are comfortable investing time in configuration and hardware.
• Use StreamYard as your main studio if you value ease of use, reliable guests, and fast setup for talk shows, podcasts, webinars, and community streams.
• Layer in other tools only when you clearly outgrow what a browser‑based studio can do for you.
• Focus on content, consistency, and audience connection first; the right tool is the one that makes it easiest for you to go live and stay live.