A Meld Studio alternative that keeps your OBS setup
Meld Studio is a free streaming app for Windows and Mac. Layrs is a free overlay editor you paste into OBS, or into Meld, with no Pro tier. Here’s which job each one does.
Updated
Layrs and Meld Studio side by side
Meld’s column is from Meld Studio’s own pages, checked on 3 November 2026: the FAQ, pricing, the docs, layers, widgets, Spark and Screen Draw. Something out of date? Email support@layrs.tv.
| Feature | Layrs | Meld Studio |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Browser overlay editor. One link in OBS | Free desktop streaming app for Windows and macOS. No Linux app |
| Goes live and records | No. OBS or another app sends the stream | Yes, including multistream and 4K recording, on the free app |
| Overlays | Built-in widgets, all free. No Pro tier | Built-in widgets and a free gallery. Spark builds overlays from a description, with a free tier and paid plans |
| In OBS | Yes, a Browser source | A Spark element can be pasted in as a Browser source. Live follows, subs and chat in OBS need Spark Plug, which is Windows only |
| Alerts | Follows, subs, gifts, bits, tips, raids and channel points, with a sound for each | Widgets for Twitch, YouTube, Kick and TikTok. Events vary by platform. The docs list follows, subs, raids, bits and Super Chats |
| Chat on stream | 7TV, BTTV and FFZ emotes, with 7TV name paints on Twitch | Built-in Chat widget, with platform badges and icons. 7TV is not mentioned in those docs |
| Subathon timer | Built in, on Twitch and Kick, with time per tier | Built-in Subathon Timer. The docs say it adds or removes time based on subscriber and donation goals |
| Edit with your mods | Live cursors, roles and a history of every change. A panic button hides the overlay in OBS | Live co-editing by mods is not in the pages cited here. Screen Draw, on Pro and Max, lets people draw on the canvas |
| Platforms | Twitch and Kick | Goes live to Twitch, YouTube, Kick, TikTok, Facebook and custom RTMP. The pricing page also lists X |
| Price | Free for everyone. No Pro tier. 3% on Stripe tips, no Layrs fee on PayPal tips | The app is free. Meld Pro is $17 a month and Max $50 a month, billed yearly ($200 and $600). Prices vary by region, and checkout shows the amount |
Who should pick which
Pick Meld Studio when you want the broadcasting app: capture, effects, scenes, multistream and recording, on Windows or Mac, plus overlays, including ones Spark builds from a sentence.
Pick Layrs when you want to keep OBS, including on Linux, and a free overlay your mods edit with you, for Twitch and Kick, with no Pro tier. You still need OBS, Meld or another app to go live.
They do different jobs, and they work in the same scene. Layrs and Streamlabs. Layrs and StreamElements.
Use Layrs and Meld Studio together
Copy the Layrs link
In Layrs, build the overlay, click Add to OBS and copy the link.
Paste it into Meld
Add a Browser layer and put the link in the URL field, or paste the link onto the canvas. Meld’s layers docs say a Browser layer takes an overlay or alert URL.
Or stay in OBS
Add the Layrs link as a Browser source. A Spark element can sit beside it the same way. Spark’s docs say you can paste an element URL into OBS without the plugin, but live follows, subs and chat in OBS need Spark Plug, which is Windows only.
If you move the overlay to Layrs
There is no importer from Meld. Keep Meld’s widgets, or rebuild chat, alerts, goals and the subathon timer in Layrs. If Meld stays the app that goes live, the Layrs link stays a Browser layer in that scene.
Meld’s built-in widgets follow the platforms you connect there, including YouTube and TikTok. Layrs’ overlay follows Twitch and Kick. Use the one that matches the events you want on screen, or use both links.
FAQ
Is Meld Studio free?
The app is. Meld’s FAQ says it is free on Windows and macOS, with no Linux version, and that Spark is optional, with a free tier and paid plans. The pricing page lists Meld Pro at $17 a month and Meld Max at $50 a month, billed yearly ($200 and $600 a year). Prices vary by region, and checkout confirms the amount.
Is Layrs free?
Yes. There is no Pro tier. The one fee is 3% on tips paid through Stripe. PayPal tips have no Layrs fee.
Can I use Layrs with Meld Studio?
Yes. Paste the Layrs link as a Browser layer in Meld, or as a Browser source in OBS next to a Spark element. Meld, or OBS, stays the app that goes live.
Does Layrs stream or record?
No. It makes the overlay. OBS or Meld Studio sends the stream and records it.
Can my mods edit the overlay?
In Layrs, yes. They sign in with their own Twitch or Kick account, and you pick what each one can do, including a panic button that hides the overlay in OBS. Meld’s cited pages don’t describe mods editing the overlay together. Screen Draw, on Pro and Max, lets people draw on the canvas.
Does it work on Linux?
Layrs runs in the browser, so you can build the overlay on Linux and show it in OBS there. Meld’s FAQ says there is no Linux version of Meld Studio.
Does Layrs work with Kick?
Yes. Kick follows, subs, gifted subs and KICKs drive alerts, goals and the subathon timer, and Kick chat shows in the overlay with 7TV emotes. 7TV name paints and hype trains are Twitch only. Meld’s widget docs also list Kick, along with Twitch, YouTube and TikTok.