Games Done Quick’s 2026 events raised more than $62 million for charity, which is the kind of number you hit when the stream is engineered from the start to accept donations, show goals, and mirror to multiple platforms without dropping frames. Getting there means picking the right desktop tools for the two things that matter: a stable production stack and a donation platform that speaks to it.
We tested seven picks that we’d trust on a real charity marathon. Two are the anchor of most Games Done Quick-style setups. Two are donation and fundraising platforms. Three are broadcast-side tools that fill specific gaps like multi-platform restreaming, browser-based studio work, or professional-grade production.
What to look for in a charity streaming app
The tools split into two categories, and a good charity stream uses both:
- Broadcast software captures your video, audio, and overlays and pushes them to Twitch, YouTube, Kick, or Facebook.
- Fundraising platform collects donations, tracks totals in real time, and pushes an incentive or milestone widget back into your broadcast.
What matters for either:
- Real donation alerts (name, amount, message) as overlays.
- Live goal, thermometer, or milestone widgets your audience can see.
- Multi-platform simulcast if you want to hit Twitch, YouTube, and Kick at once.
- Team fundraising, so an event with multiple streamers rolls up to one shared total.
- Low CPU overhead so the game or webcam doesn’t stutter mid-donation.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OBS Studio | Free open-source broadcast core | Windows, macOS, Linux | Yes | Free | 4.8 |
| Streamlabs Desktop | OBS with donation tools built in | Windows, macOS | Yes | $19/month Prime | 4.4 |
| Tiltify | Charity fundraising platform | Web + widgets | Yes | Free (fee-based) | 4.6 |
| Streamlabs Charity | 100% pass-through donations | Web + widgets | Yes | Free | 4.5 |
| Restream | Simulcast to many platforms | Web + desktop | Yes | $19/month | 4.4 |
| StreamYard | Browser-based multi-guest studio | Browser | Yes | $25/month | 4.6 |
| vMix | Professional-grade production | Windows | Trial | $60/year+ | 4.7 |
1. OBS Studio – Best free open-source broadcast core
OBS Studio is the free, open-source broadcast tool that Games Done Quick, most large charity events, and most independent streamers use as their production core. Scene switching, source layering, browser sources (for donation widgets), and simulcasting via the multi-track output are all included at no cost.
Where it falls short: OBS does not directly provide facilities to receive donations, so you pair it with a fundraising platform for both donations and on-screen alerts. Scene design is entirely your responsibility.
Pricing:
- Free: Everything, on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Download: obsproject.com
Bottom line: The default anchor for any charity stream that plans to grow beyond a single session.
2. Streamlabs Desktop – Best OBS with donation tools built in
Streamlabs Desktop takes the OBS engine and wraps it in a friendlier interface with built-in donation alerts, tip-widget presets, and a theme store. That saves you the “connect five browser sources to five widgets” setup step OBS Studio requires.
Where it falls short: Occasionally heavier on CPU than plain OBS. Some features (multistream, cloud backup, HD recording) live behind the Prime subscription.
Pricing:
- Free: Full desktop app, single-platform streaming, basic widgets.
- Paid: Streamlabs Prime at $19 monthly for multi-platform, cloud backup, and premium themes.
Platforms: Windows, macOS.
Download: streamlabs.com
Bottom line: Best pick if you want donation alerts and stream widgets working the day you install it.
3. Tiltify – Best charity fundraising platform
Tiltify is the fundraising platform behind the largest charity streams, including Extra Life and many Games Done Quick teams. Milestones, incentives, rewards, polls, and team fundraising all connect to OBS via browser-source overlays, and the tax paperwork with the charity is handled centrally.
Where it falls short: New event approval takes a day or two, so plan ahead of a marathon date.
Pricing:
- Free: Standard donation processing with platform and payment fees.
- Paid: No subscription; fee-based revenue model.
Platforms: Web (all desktops). Overlays consumed by OBS/Streamlabs.
Download: tiltify.com
Bottom line: Get this if the charity you’re supporting is already onboarded, or if you plan to run more than one event.
4. Streamlabs Charity – Best for 100% pass-through donations
Streamlabs Charity was built to take zero platform fees, so 100% of the donation minus payment processor cost goes to the beneficiary. It integrates natively with Streamlabs Desktop for alerts and thermometer overlays, and works with OBS Studio via browser sources.
Where it falls short: Smaller catalog of pre-registered charities than Tiltify. Team fundraising is newer and less battle-tested.
Pricing:
- Free: Yes. Only payment-processor fees are taken.
- Paid: None.
Platforms: Web. Overlays consumed by OBS/Streamlabs.
Download: streamlabscharity.com
Bottom line: Pick this if maximizing the pass-through percentage to the charity is your top requirement.
5. Restream – Best for simulcast to many platforms
Restream takes a single upstream from OBS or Streamlabs and rebroadcasts it to Twitch, YouTube, Kick, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and more at once. That matters for charity streams because it multiplies the audience you can reach without doubling your production complexity.
Where it falls short: Free tier limits to two destinations. Chat aggregation across platforms works, but each site’s moderation rules still apply per-channel.
Pricing:
- Free: Up to two destinations.
- Paid: $19 monthly for the Standard plan with more destinations and no watermark.
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS desktop clients.
Download: restream.io
Bottom line: Best pick when you want a charity stream to hit Twitch and YouTube simultaneously without running two OBS instances.
6. StreamYard – Best for browser-based multi-guest studio
StreamYard is a browser-based streaming studio built for interview-style shows, so it’s a natural pick when a charity stream has multiple hosts, remote guests, or a rotation of speakers. Add a guest by sending them a link, no downloads on their side.
Where it falls short: Runs in a browser, so complex game overlays are still better handled in OBS. Free tier watermarks the output.
Pricing:
- Free: Watermarked, one destination.
- Paid: $25 monthly Basic plan removes the watermark and unlocks multiple destinations.
Platforms: Browser (any desktop).
Download: streamyard.com
Bottom line: Best pick for a charity stream that’s more talk-show than gameplay.
7. vMix – Best professional-grade production
vMix is the Windows-only production suite that Games Done Quick and other large events use for anything above OBS’s ceiling: hardware capture, low-latency IP camera input, instant replay, and native NDI. It is what a proper charity marathon’s control room runs.
Where it falls short: Windows only. Steeper learning curve. Higher hardware requirements. Costs money.
Pricing:
- Free: 60-day trial.
- Paid: vMix Basic HD at $60/year, Pro from $350 one-time.
Platforms: Windows only.
Download: vmix.com
Bottom line: Pick this only if you’re running an event with multiple physical cameras, remote hosts, and a producer at the desk.
How to pick the right one
- Just started, running solo or with one friend: OBS Studio for broadcast, Streamlabs Charity for donations.
- Want the fewest setup steps: Streamlabs Desktop plus Streamlabs Charity, all in one product line.
- Registered charity you want to raise for and it’s on Tiltify: OBS Studio plus Tiltify.
- Multiple people hosting from home offices: StreamYard for the video, Tiltify or Streamlabs Charity for the donations.
- Simulcasting to Twitch, YouTube, and Kick: Restream on top of OBS Studio.
- Full production suite with hardware cameras: vMix on Windows.
- If the goal is “raise the most” full stop: OBS Studio plus Tiltify plus Restream is the setup most large events use, minus the fundraising-platform swap.
FAQ
What software does Games Done Quick use?
The production side runs on OBS Studio and vMix depending on the event size. Fundraising is handled through Games Done Quick’s partner platforms, historically Tiltify.
Is OBS Studio free for commercial use?
Yes. OBS Studio is released under the GPL v2 and is free for any use, including commercial or charity fundraising.
Which platform sends 100% of donations to charity?
Streamlabs Charity takes 0% platform fee. Payment processors still take their standard fee (2.2% to 2.9% plus a per-transaction amount).
Can I stream to Twitch and YouTube at the same time?
Yes, via Restream or via OBS Studio 30+’s multi-track output. Twitch’s terms of service permit simulcasting to non-Twitch platforms as of 2024, provided each broadcast is treated equivalently.
Do I need vMix for a charity stream?
No. OBS Studio covers what 90% of charity streams need. vMix is worth it only when you’re running multi-camera live production.
