Brandwave

Descript vs OBS Studio:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, OBS Studio had more branded searches than Descript among screen recording software worldwide. OBS Studio had about 4.8 million branded searches, while Descript had 301,000. OBS Studio made up 70.7% of all screen recording software searches we track, and Descript accounted for 4.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about screen recording software, OBS Studio appeared in all five answers and Descript in two. OBS Studio was mentioned before Descript in four out of five answers.

Among screen recording software worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

OBS Studio, about 16 searches for every 1 for Descript

OBS Studio 4.8M searchesDescript 301K searches

Who does AI mention more?

OBS Studio, mentioned in every answer we collected

OBS Studio in 5 of 5Descript in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

OBS Studio, named ahead of Descript in 4 of 5 answers

OBS Studio first in 4Descript first in 1

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Top screen recording software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, OBS Studio appeared in all five answers. Descript was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. OBS Studio was listed before Descript in four out of five answers.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. OBS Studio1st
  2. Loom2nd
  3. ScreenRec3rd
  4. Camtasia4th
  5. Screen Studio5th
  6. ScreenPal6th
  7. Descript7th
  8. Tella8th
  9. Clipchamp9th
  10. Snagit10th
  11. +2 more

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • OBS Studio5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Loom5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Screen Studio4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • ScreenPal3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Clipchamp2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Descript2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Camtasia2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Snagit2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • ScreenRec2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Tella1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

+2 more

See every answer about screen recording software

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.

Is Descript or OBS Studio more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Descript and OBS Studio by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 12 screen recording software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Descript and OBS Studio among screen recording software worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for OBS Studio, Descript. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthOBS StudioClipchampDescriptZightLoomScreenPalScreencastifyCamtasiaSnagitScreen StudioScreenRecTella
Oct 202565.4%20.4%5%0.54%1.4%1.7%1.9%1.5%1.2%0.37%0.45%0.03%
Nov 202567.9%19.2%4.7%0.44%1.4%1.7%1.4%1.4%1.2%0.35%0.42%0.05%
Dec 202571.3%16.4%4%0.46%1.6%1.6%1.5%1.2%0.99%0.36%0.44%0.03%
Jan 202674.1%13.6%4.1%0.57%1.6%1.6%1.3%1.2%1%0.37%0.45%0.04%
Feb 202670.3%14.4%5.3%1.1%2%1.5%1.7%1.3%1.3%0.48%0.58%0.05%
Mar 202666.4%16.4%5%2.3%2.6%1.8%1.5%1.5%1.2%0.67%0.55%0.06%
Apr 202668.8%15.5%4.7%2.2%2.4%1.8%1.4%1.1%0.94%0.63%0.51%0.08%
May 202667.8%16.8%4.1%2.4%2.3%1.5%1.7%1.2%1%0.56%0.46%0.08%
Jun 202673%15%3.7%1.7%2%0.98%0.9%0.91%0.91%0.5%0.33%0.04%
Jul 202670.1%15.5%4.7%2.2%2.6%1.2%0.68%1.1%0.94%0.63%0.42%0.05%
Aug 202669.6%15.7%4.7%2.2%2.1%1.4%0.98%1.2%0.95%0.64%0.43%0.06%
Sep 202670.7%14.7%4.4%2%1.9%1.9%1.4%1.1%1.1%0.49%0.4%0.04%

How has the Descript and OBS Studio comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for screen recording software worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, OBS Studio gained share of searches among screen recording software worldwide, from 69.6% to 70.7%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Descript worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 368K to 301K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Descript’s and OBS Studio’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Descript

1 branded search term

  • descript

OBS Studio

4 branded search terms

  • obs
  • obs screen recording
  • obs studio
  • obsstudio

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among screen recording software

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