XSplit Broadcaster review

XSplit Broadcaster is a mature Windows broadcaster with a free tier that is usable but clearly capped. XSplit says the free version streams at up to 720p without a watermark, while higher resolutions, more than 30 fps, background removal and the virtual camera add a watermark. Free users get 4 scenes, chroma key, scene transitions, plugins, AI voice clarity and AI live captions, and the free license covers personal use only. Premium removes those limits and adds unlimited scenes, simultaneous broadcasting to several services, a projector, preview editor and commercial use. It costs $14.99 per month, $59.99 per year or $199.99 once for a lifetime license, which is unusual in this category. Multi Output Mode, still in beta, sends horizontal and portrait layouts at once and supports Twitch Dual Format Streaming. For streamers who will never pay, the 720p cap and 4 scenes make OBS Studio or Meld Studio the stronger free choice.

Who it is for

Windows streamers happy with 720p and 4 scenes

Price

Free tier up to 720p; Premium $59.99 per year ($5 per month), $14.99 monthly or $199.99 lifetime.

Yearly $59.99/year $5/month
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Free tier streams up to 720p without a watermark
• 4 scenes on the free tier
• AI voice clarity and AI live captions on the free tier
• Chroma key, scene transitions and plugin support on the free tier
• Multi Output Mode (Beta) for horizontal and vertical streams at once

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Lifetime license option at $199.99 with no recurring subscription
• Strength: NVIDIA NVENC encoding, including AV1 on compatible GPUs
• Strength: Layout Wizard for camera, guest and presentation scenes
• Weakness: Free tier adds a watermark above 720p or above 30 fps
• Weakness: Free tier is for personal use only
• Weakness: Multistreaming needs a Premium license, and the app is Windows only

Key facts

• Free plan: Yes, 4 scenes, up to 720p
• Platforms: Windows
• Free use: Personal only
• Premium: $59.99 per year, $14.99 monthly or $199.99 lifetime

Where it ranks

XSplit Broadcaster is No. 8 in our Best Free Live Streaming Software verdict and No. 10 in Best OBS Alternatives.