XSplit Broadcaster review

XSplit Broadcaster is a Windows desktop studio that competes with OBS on polish rather than price. The free tier is usable: it streams at up to 720p without a watermark, includes chroma key, scene transitions, plugins, AI voice clarity and AI live captions, but caps you at 4 scenes and personal use, and adds a watermark above 720p or 30 fps. Premium removes those limits and adds simultaneous broadcasting to multiple services, source transitions, a projector, a preview editor, an audio mix preview and commercial use. The pricing is the attraction: $14.99 per month, $59.99 per year, which XSplit shows as $5 per month, or $199.99 once for a lifetime license. Multi Output Mode lets you send horizontal and vertical layouts at the same time and supports Twitch Dual Format Streaming. The catch is platform support, since XSplit requires Windows 10 or 11, and the free tier's watermark rules push most serious streamers to pay.

Who it is for

Windows streamers who want a polished desktop app at a low yearly or one-time price.

Price

Free plan; Premium $5 per month billed as $59.99 per year, $14.99 monthly or $199.99 lifetime.

Yearly $59.99/year $5/month
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 6, 2026.

Key features

• AI voice clarity and AI live captions on the free plan
• Chroma key, scene transitions and source and extension plugins
• Simultaneous broadcasting to multiple stream services on Premium
• Multi Output Mode for horizontal and vertical layouts, including Twitch Dual Format Streaming
• Projector, preview editor and audio mix preview on Premium

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Cheapest paid plan in this list at $5 per month on the yearly bill
• Strength: Lifetime license for $199.99 with no recurring subscription
• Strength: Free plan streams at up to 720p without a watermark
• Weakness: Windows 10 or 11 only
• Weakness: Free plan is limited to 4 scenes and personal use
• Weakness: Output above 720p or 30 fps adds a watermark on the free plan

Key facts

• Premium: $14.99 per month, $59.99 per year or $199.99 lifetime
• Operating system: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit)
• Maximum frame rate: 240 fps
• Commercial use: Premium only

Where it ranks

XSplit Broadcaster is No. 5 in our Best Streaming Software verdict.