Vertical streaming: OBS Studio vs. FabStream
Vertical live streams reach viewers on TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram, while Twitch, YouTube and Kick stay horizontal. Here is how OBS Studio and FabStream handle both formats at the same time.
OBS Studio: flexible, with plugins for the second format
OBS Studio is the free, open-source standard for streaming and very flexible. Out of the box it has one canvas: you stream either in 16:9 or – after changing the resolution to 1080×1920 – in 9:16. For both at once, streamers add a plugin that creates a second canvas with its own scenes, such as Aitum Vertical, and a multistream plugin to send each canvas to several platforms.
FabStream: both formats from the start
FabStream is built around 16:9 and 9:16 at the same time. Every scene has a horizontal and a vertical layout, the two previews sit side by side, and each format streams to its own platforms – from one PC, with one click on Go live. Alerts, chat, goals, the TikTok and Shorts safe zones, the replay buffer and the Auto-Cutter all work for both formats.
| Dual-format streaming | OBS Studio | FabStream |
|---|---|---|
| 16:9 and 9:16 live at the same time | With a plugin for a second canvas (e.g. Aitum Vertical) | ✓ Built in |
| Own layout per format from one scene | Separate scenes per canvas with the plugin | ✓ One scene, two layouts |
| Several platforms per format | With a multistream plugin | ✓ Built in – up to 8 per format |
| Alerts, chat and goal widgets | Through browser sources from external services | ✓ Built in, for both formats |
| TikTok and Shorts safe zones in the preview | Through overlay images | ✓ Built in |
| Highlights cut into 16:9 and 9:16 clips | In a separate video editor | ✓ Auto-Cutter built in |
| Price | Free, open source | ✓ Free plan; Premium, Ultra and Max for more |
OBS Studio features as of October 2026, based on the OBS Studio settings and the plugins named above.
Frequently asked questions
Can OBS Studio stream vertically?
Yes. Set the base and output resolution to 1080×1920 and OBS streams in 9:16 – but then only in 9:16. For 16:9 and 9:16 at the same time, OBS needs a second canvas from a plugin such as Aitum Vertical.
What about Twitch Dual Format?
Twitch is rolling out its own Dual Format (beta since 2026): one broadcast with a horizontal and a vertical version, for Twitch viewers. FabStream sends each format to any platform you choose – Twitch, YouTube, Kick, TikTok LIVE, YouTube Shorts, Instagram and custom RTMP.
Can I switch from OBS to FabStream easily?
Yes. FabStream uses the same building blocks – game, window and display capture, cameras, images, browser sources, filters and hardware encoders – so you can rebuild a scene in minutes. Both programs can stay installed side by side.
Try it on your next stream
Free for Windows 10/11 – no account, no watermark, no time limit.
Related: How to stream to TikTok and Twitch at the same time