Live streaming has become an essential medium for content creators looking to connect with their audience in real-time. Whether you're a gamer, musician, vlogger, etc., having the right software can take your live broadcasts to the next level—especially if you're streaming from a Mac.
One of the biggest advantages of live streaming is its accessibility. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can go live from virtually anywhere—whether you're at home, in a studio, or on the go. But to make the most of your streams, you'll need software optimized for macOS.
In this article, we'll explore the best live streaming software for Mac, helping you find the right tool to bring your live stream content to life.
Jump Ahead:
How to Select a Live Streaming Software for Mac
When it comes to selecting a live streaming application for your Mac computer, you should be aware of a couple of different factors.
Supported platforms: An excellent live streaming application should be compatible with at least Mac and Windows. And ideally, it should allow you to stream to Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Twitch, and other similar sites natively.
Multistreaming: To maximize the reach of your live stream, you'll want to have multistream functionality available for your streaming application of choice.
Video and audio quality of the stream: You also want to look for live streaming software that provides high video and audio quality.
Recording: Recording your live stream will allow you to reuse the content for future videos. Your streaming software should have recording functionality and allow you to store video footage.
Top Live Streaming Applications for MacOS
Streamlabs Desktop
Streamlabs Desktop is an all-in-one live streaming and recording software designed to help creators produce high-quality content with ease. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced streamer, its intuitive interface and powerful features—like customizable overlays, multistreaming, and advanced widgets—make it simple to engage your audience and enhance your live broadcasts. Below are some of the best features that make Streamlabs Desktop a top contender for Mac live streaming software.
Engaging Widgets: Over a dozen engaging widgets designed to increase viewer participation and improve monetization.
Custom Tipping Alerts: Tailor-make the look of on-screen alerts and encourage donations by customizing the layout, animation, message, text, image, and more.
Selective Recording: Pick and choose the sources that appear in a recorded version of your live broadcast so you can repurpose on other platforms such as YouTube or TikTok.
Premium Overlay Themes: Access thousands of overlay themes (both free and premium) made by the best designers in the business.
Integrated Chat: An integrated chat window within the software to help streamers keep up with the conversation and interact with viewers in real-time.
Talk Studio
Want to stream directly from your computer but don't want to deal with downloading streaming software? With Talk Studio, you can stream to Kick, YouTube, Twitch, and other platforms directly from your web browser with just a few clicks!
Talk Studio is free to use, but you can upgrade to the Pro plan for access to premium features like watermark-free streaming, branding tools, and more.
For even more, try Streamlabs Ultra, which unlocks premium features across the entire Streamlabs ecosystem—including Streamlabs Desktop, Talk Studio, and more—giving you everything you need to create professional-quality live stream, from premium overlays to multistreaming capabilities.
Learn more about everything you get with Streamlabs Ultra in this blog.
OBS Studio
OBS Studio is one of the most popular tools to use to go live. It’s free and open-source and while it isn’t as user-friendly as tools like Streamlabs Desktop out of the box, there are numerous plugins available to help you set up your stream just the way you want. One such plugin the the Streamlabs Plugin for OBS.
With the Streamlabs Plugin for OBS, you can seamlessly integrate Streamlabs’ powerful tools—such as overlays, alerts, and widgets—directly into OBS Studio, enhancing your stream without the need for additional software.
Whether you're looking to customize your alerts, add interactive widgets, or streamline your setup, the plugin makes it easier than ever. Check out our guide to learn more about how to get started with the Streamlabs Plugin for OBS!
Choosing the right streaming software for your needs as a live streamer can make all the difference in your journey. Which one of the live streaming software for MacOS sounds like a match for you?