How to Display Chat in OBS While You Stream

The fastest way to show chat on stream

OBS does not have a built-in chat window, but you can display chat from Twitch, YouTube, or other platforms by adding a browser source that points to a chat overlay tool. The simplest route is to use a free service like Streamlabs (which integrates directly with OBS), Chatterino, or a browser-based chat viewer, then embed it as a source in your scene. This takes about five minutes to set up and requires only your streaming account login.

The method you choose depends on where you stream. Twitch streamers have the most options because Twitch's chat API is widely supported. YouTube streamers can use YouTube's official chat embed or third-party tools. The core process is the same: you create or configure a chat display outside OBS, then tell OBS to show it as a window or browser source in your scene.

Key Takeaways

OBS shows chat through a browser source that pulls from an external chat tool — it does not read chat directly from your streaming platform.
Streamlabs is the fastest option for Twitch because it installs as an OBS plugin and requires only your Twitch login to work.
Chatterino and similar standalone chat clients work with Twitch and can be added to OBS as a window capture or browser source.
YouTube streamers can embed YouTube's official chat or use third-party overlays, but the setup is slightly different than Twitch.
Chat overlays consume CPU and internet bandwidth, so test your stream bitrate and frame rate after adding one to make sure your broadcast stays stable.

Adding chat with Streamlabs (Twitch)

Streamlabs is the easiest path if you stream to Twitch. It is a plugin that installs directly into OBS and handles chat, alerts, and overlays in one place. Download Streamlabs from streamlabs.com, install it, and log in with your Twitch account. The plugin will ask for permission to read your chat — grant it.

Once installed, open OBS and go to Tools > Streamlabs (or look for a Streamlabs menu at the top). Click on Chat and select the chat widget you want. Streamlabs will show you a preview of how it looks. Drag the preview window to position it where you want it in your scene, resize it, and adjust colors or fonts if you want. When you start streaming, the chat will appear live in that spot. The whole process takes three to five minutes the first time.

If Streamlabs chat does not appear, check that you are logged into Streamlabs inside OBS (not just on the website) and that your Twitch account has permission to read chat. Restart OBS if the plugin does not load.

Using Chatterino as a browser source

Chatterino is a standalone chat client that works with Twitch and gives you more control over how chat looks. Download it from chatterino.com, install it, and log in with your Twitch account. Open Chatterino and navigate to your channel's chat. You now have a separate window showing live chat.

To add this to OBS, you have two options. The first is to use Window Capture: in OBS, add a new source, select Window Capture, and choose the Chatterino window from the dropdown. OBS will record that window as part of your stream. The second option is to use a browser source instead, which is cleaner because it does not capture the window frame. Right-click in your OBS scene, select Add Source > Browser, and paste this URL: http://localhost:8080 (if Chatterino is running locally). Set the width and height to match your scene, and the chat will appear as a browser overlay.

Window Capture is simpler but uses more CPU. Browser source is lighter on your system but requires Chatterino to be running in the background on your computer.

Adding chat for YouTube streamers

YouTube does not have a single standard chat overlay like Twitch does, but you have two main options. The first is to use YouTube's official live chat embed. Go to youtube.com, start a live stream, and look for the chat panel on the right side. You can pop out the chat into its own window (click the pop-out arrow), then use OBS Window Capture to add it to your scene the same way you would with Chatterino.

The second option is to use a third-party chat overlay tool that supports YouTube, such as Noxcrew Chat or Owncast. These tools create a browser-based chat window that you add to OBS as a browser source. The setup is similar to Chatterino: you log in with your YouTube account, get a URL or embed code, and paste it into OBS as a browser source.

YouTube's native chat embed is the most reliable because it comes directly from YouTube, but it can be slower to update than third-party tools. Test whichever method you choose before going live to make sure messages appear in real time.

Positioning and styling your chat overlay

Once your chat source is in OBS, you can move it, resize it, and adjust its appearance. Right-click the chat source in your Sources panel and select Transform > Edit Transform to set exact pixel positions and dimensions. This is useful if you want chat to fit in a specific corner or match your overlay design.

Most chat tools let you customize colors, font size, and transparency directly in their settings. In Streamlabs, click the chat widget settings icon. In Chatterino, go to Settings > Appearance. In YouTube's chat embed, you have fewer styling options, but you can adjust the browser source's opacity in OBS (right-click the source, select Filters, and add a Color Correction filter). A semi-transparent chat overlay (70 to 80 percent opacity) usually looks better on stream than fully opaque chat, because it does not block your game or content.

Test your chat position by starting a test stream or asking a friend to send messages while you preview the scene. Chat that is too large or positioned over important content will distract viewers.

Troubleshooting chat that does not appear

If your chat overlay is not showing messages, the most common cause is that the chat tool is not logged in or does not have permission to read your channel. Log out and back in to the chat tool (Streamlabs, Chatterino, or YouTube) and confirm that you granted chat-reading permissions when you first connected.

The second most common issue is that the browser source URL is wrong or the local service is not running. If you are using Chatterino with a browser source, make sure Chatterino is actually open and running on your computer — if you close it, the browser source will show a blank page. If you are using a third-party overlay tool, double-check that the URL in your browser source is correct and that the tool is still running.

Chat overlays also consume bandwidth and CPU. If your stream is dropping frames or your internet is struggling, disable the chat overlay temporarily to see if that fixes it. You can also reduce the chat window size or lower the font size to reduce the load. If you are streaming at 1080p 60fps, a chat overlay should not cause problems on a modern computer, but older machines or slower internet connections may need adjustments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I show chat from multiple platforms at once?

Yes, but it requires multiple chat sources. Add one browser source for Twitch chat and another for YouTube chat, position them side by side, and both will update live. This is useful if you are streaming to both platforms simultaneously, though it takes up more screen space and uses more CPU.

Will showing chat slow down my stream?

A chat overlay uses some CPU and internet bandwidth, but not much on a modern computer. If you are streaming at 720p or 1080p on a machine made in the last five years, you should not notice a difference. If your stream is already dropping frames, disable the chat overlay to test whether it is the cause.

What if I want to hide chat during certain scenes?

In OBS, you can set sources to appear only on specific scenes. Right-click the chat source, go to Source Properties, and uncheck the scenes where you do not want it to show. Alternatively, you can create a separate scene for gameplay (with chat) and another for talking to camera (without chat), then switch between them during your stream.

Can I use OBS chat on a Mac or Linux?

Yes. Streamlabs, Chatterino, and browser-based chat tools all work on Mac and Linux. The steps are the same — download the tool for your operating system, log in, and add it to OBS as a browser source or window capture.

Do I need to pay for a chat overlay?

No. Streamlabs, Chatterino, and most third-party chat tools are free. Some offer paid upgrades for extra features like custom animations or alerts, but basic chat display costs nothing.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.