Kazam as a Linux alternative to OBS MultiPlatform
Updated
Our verdict
Kazam is not a good replacement for OBS MultiPlatform if you need live streaming, custom scenes, or advanced audio mixing. It works for basic screen and webcam recording with minimal setup, making it suitable for occasional users who only need simple captures. However, it lacks scene composition, hardware encoding, and streaming features essential to OBS users. Since Kazam is discontinued and has limited functionality, it's only viable for lightweight recording tasks on older or low-resource systems where simplicity matters more than capability.
- License
- GPL-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 1.5.7
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Both can record the screen with audio and microphone input
- Support timer countdown before starting a recording
- Capture full screen, window, or selected region
- Provide basic hotkey support for starting and stopping recordings
- Are free and open-source applications under GPL licenses
What is different
- Kazam does not support live streaming to platforms like YouTube or Twitch
- No custom scene or source composition (e.g., no layers, overlays, or multiple sources)
- Lacks hardware encoding and advanced performance tuning
- No audio mixing from multiple input sources
- Kazam is discontinued; OBS is actively maintained and updated
Opening your OBS MultiPlatform files
Kazam records in WebM or MP4 depending on the backend, which are common formats that can be opened by most video editors and players. OBS MultiPlatform also outputs in similar formats, so playback compatibility isn't an issue. However, project files from OBS (like .json scene configurations) cannot be imported into Kazam, as it has no concept of scenes or sources. Any complex setup must be recreated manually, if at all possible.
Switching from OBS MultiPlatform to Kazam, step by step
- Install Kazam from your distribution's repository using apt: sudo apt install kazam
- Launch Kazam and select whether to record full screen, a window, or a selected region
- Enable microphone and system audio recording in the audio settings before starting
- Set a timer if you need a delay before recording begins
- Start recording and use the system tray icon to stop when done
Key features of Kazam
- Screen recording with audio and microphone support
- Timer countdown before recording starts
- Screenshot capture for full screen, window, or selection
- Simple UI with minimal configuration needed
- Records in WebM or MP4 (depending on backend)
- Supports recording a selected region of the screen
- Basic system tray integration during recording
- Lightweight and easy to install on Debian-based systems
How to install Kazam on Linux
sudo apt install kazamsudo apt install kazamFrequently asked questions
Can Kazam stream live to YouTube or Twitch?
No, Kazam does not support live streaming. It is designed only for local screen recording.
Is Kazam still being developed?
No, Kazam is discontinued and no longer actively maintained. Critical bugs or compatibility issues may not be fixed.
Can I use Kazam to record my webcam and screen at the same time?
Yes, but only as a single combined stream with no option to reposition or resize the webcam overlay. Scene control is not available.
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