Last updated: 2026-01-20

For most people in the U.S. who want cross‑platform video recording with strong quality, easy guest workflows, and branding, starting in a browser studio like StreamYard is the most practical path. If you need deep encoder control on a single machine, a desktop tool like OBS can be a useful alternative.

Summary

• StreamYard runs in modern desktop browsers and captures both device‑local and cloud recordings, giving you flexibility across systems and locations. (StreamYard devices)
• On paid plans, StreamYard offers unlimited local recording hours with per‑participant tracks and up to 4K local video, ideal for podcasts, interviews, and webinars. (Local Recording)
• OBS is a free, open‑source desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux, focused on scenes, sources, and encoder control. (OBS overview)
• Your choice comes down to workflow: remote guests, ease of use, and branding often favor StreamYard; single‑machine capture and manual tuning can favor OBS or other desktop tools.

What does “cross‑platform video recording software” really mean today?

When people search for cross‑platform recording, they usually want two things:

1. Freedom to record from different devices and operating systems. Maybe you’re on Windows at work and macOS at home, or bringing in guests on whatever laptop they already own.
2. Consistent, high‑quality outputs, regardless of where everyone is. No one wants a great host feed and three unusable guest feeds.

There are two main ways tools deliver this:

• Browser‑based studios (like StreamYard) that run on modern desktop browsers and record both to the cloud and locally on each participant’s device. (Local Recording)
• Desktop applications (like OBS) that you install on each operating system you use. (OBS overview)

If your work involves remote guests, recurring shows, or branded webinars, browser‑based recording usually removes more friction. If you’re capturing a single gaming PC or doing advanced scene choreography, a desktop app can be helpful.

Should I use a browser‑based recorder or a desktop app like OBS?

Here’s the short version:

• Browser‑based (StreamYard)

  • Runs in major desktop browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Opera. (StreamYard devices)
  • Guests join from a link—no installs, minimal tech support.
  • Records both device‑local tracks per participant and cloud backups, so you have options if someone’s internet dips. (Local Recording)
  • Built‑in branding tools, color presets, and grading controls help you stay on brand without extra software.

• Desktop apps (OBS)

  • Installed on Windows, macOS, or Linux, and used on that specific machine. (OBS platform support)
  • Great for mixing many sources on one computer: gameplay, multiple monitors, capture cards, overlays.
  • You manage recording destinations, storage, backup, and any remote contributors yourself.

For most creators recording interviews, podcasts, and webinars, the “send a link, hit record, get separate tracks” flow in StreamYard is both faster and more reliable than coordinating everyone’s desktop setup.

How does StreamYard handle quality across platforms?

When you record in our studio, you’re really getting two layers of protection and quality:

1. Cloud recording for the full session. On paid plans, streams are recorded in HD for up to 10 hours per session, which covers long webinars and live recordings. (Paid plan features)
2. Local recordings from each device. Each participant records directly on their own device, producing separate audio and video tracks that are uploaded after the call. (Local Recording)

Combined with:

• Up to 4K (2160p) local video on higher tiers, so you can cut sharp masters later. (Pricing page)
• Uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio per participant, which plays nicely with pro editing tools.
• Color presets and grading controls in the studio, so you can quickly tune your look to your lights and your brand.

You end up with files that are flexible enough for serious post‑production, without forcing every guest to become a mini‑engineer.

How do StreamYard and OBS differ for multi‑guest recordings?

Imagine a 5‑person roundtable: you as host, three remote guests, and a producer.

• In StreamYard, you:

  • Send each guest a link.
  • Everyone joins in a browser that supports our tech. (StreamYard devices)
  • Hit record. We capture the mixed cloud recording plus local tracks for each participant on paid plans. (Local Recording)
  • Download separate files per person for editing, or publish the mixed recording directly.

• In OBS, you typically:

  • Run OBS on your own machine (Windows, macOS, or Linux). (OBS overview)
  • Bring in remote guests via additional tools (video call apps, NDI, virtual cables) and route them as separate sources.
  • Configure scenes, audio buses, and recording tracks manually.

Both paths can work well. The key difference is where the complexity lives:

• StreamYard moves complexity into the studio UI, so non‑technical hosts can still get multi‑track results.
• OBS puts complexity on your machine and your configuration, which can be powerful but demands time and comfort with AV signal flow.

How to capture separate audio/video tracks from remote participants

If you care about post‑production—podcasts, YouTube shows, course content—separate tracks are non‑negotiable.

In StreamYard, that workflow looks like this:

1. Create a recording session (you don’t have to go live).
2. Invite guests with your link.
3. Start recording; each participant’s device records their own feed.
4. After you stop, you download individual audio and video files per participant for editing. (Local Recording)
5. On higher tiers, you can also pull individual audio tracks from cloud recordings, which is helpful if a local upload fails. (Cloud individual tracks)

OBS can also record multiple tracks, but you’re usually splitting sources on one machine rather than capturing each remote guest from their own device.

This is why many teams pair StreamYard recording with a dedicated editor or NLE. You get well‑structured, per‑guest media out of the box, then do your heavy lifting in your editing tool of choice.

What about limits, pricing, and budget‑friendly options?

For recording‑heavy workflows, two questions matter: “How long can I record?” and “What does it cost to hit that limit?”

• StreamYard

  • On the free plan, local recording is limited to 2 hours per month and available only in recording‑only sessions. (Local Recording)
  • On paid plans, local recording hours are unlimited, and long‑form sessions can be recorded in HD for up to 10 hours per stream. (Paid plan features)
  • There’s a free plan, a 7‑day free trial on paid tiers, and first‑year discounts for new users, which keeps the bar to entry low for most creators.

• OBS

  • The software is free on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with no paid feature tiers. (OBS download)
  • Recording length is mainly constrained by your hardware and disk space; you handle backup and redundancy yourself.

If your top priority is “never pay a subscription,” OBS is attractive. But once you factor in guest coordination, file management, and the value of cloud and local safety nets, many teams decide that the time saved with StreamYard more than covers subscription costs.

How does StreamYard support modern editing and repurposing?

Our approach is to focus on capture quality and leverage, not to replace full editing suites.

• AI Clips helps you quickly surface and generate highlight moments from your recordings using prompts, so you can spin up shorts, reels, and teasers without scrubbing through hours of footage.
• For heavy editorial work—multi‑track mastering, structural changes, frame‑level edits—we encourage you to use your preferred NLE. StreamYard’s role is to give you clean, well‑organized source files (4K local video, uncompressed 48kHz WAV audio, separate tracks) that drop neatly into those tools.

That balance keeps your recording environment simple while still giving editors what they need to go deep.

Cross‑platform alternatives to OBS and when to consider them

If you’re specifically comparing “cross‑platform screen recorders,” OBS is often the default desktop choice, with strong support for scenes, sources, and hardware encoders. (OBS overview)

However, in many modern workflows, the real “platform” isn’t the OS; it’s the browser.

StreamYard runs in major desktop browsers across operating systems, so your MacBook‑using co‑host and Windows‑based marketer can join the same studio with the same controls. (StreamYard devices)

Use this simple rule of thumb:

• Choose StreamYard when you:

  • Record with remote guests.
  • Care about custom branding, overlays, and color presets without extra software.
  • Want per‑participant local tracks plus cloud backups.

• Choose OBS or another desktop recorder when you:

  • Capture from one primary machine (e.g., gaming PC, production workstation).
  • Need fine‑grained control over encoders, bitrates, and complex scene routing.

Both approaches can coexist. Many teams record shows in StreamYard and keep a desktop recorder on hand for special one‑machine captures.

What we recommend

• Start with a browser‑based studio like StreamYard for cross‑platform recording, especially if you work with remote guests or teams.
• Use per‑participant local recording plus cloud backups to protect against bad connections and give editors maximum flexibility.
• Add OBS or another desktop app only when you have a clear, single‑machine use case that needs advanced scene or encoder control.
• Keep your stack lean: let StreamYard handle capture, quality, and basic clipping, and rely on dedicated editing tools for deep post‑production when needed.