Best Stream Deck for OBS on Mac (2026): Hardware vs Software

A $149 Elgato is not the automatic pick for OBS on Mac in 2026. The right deck depends on how you stream. Here are eight real options for Mac streamers, ranked by who they actually fit.

Quick disclosure: we make DeckPilot, the #1 pick on this list. We still recommend Elgato hardware and Bitfocus Companion in the cases where they make more sense. The point of this guide is to help you pick the right tool, not to oversell ours.

Quick comparison

1. DeckPilot

Type: Software, Mac + iPhone / iPad Price: Free, optional Pro at $7.99/mo, $39/yr, or $79 lifetime OBS support: OBS template pack with keyboard shortcuts, hotkey routing, app-aware switching (Pro)

DeckPilot turns your iPhone or iPad into a Stream Deck for your Mac. For OBS, it ships with a template pack that triggers OBS scene changes, mute toggles, and stream start/stop via OBS's built-in hotkeys. Pair your device over Wi-Fi, install the OBS Studio template pack, and you have a working OBS deck in about 5 minutes.

The pitch in one sentence: it's the closest thing to a free Stream Deck for OBS streamers on Mac, with zero hardware to buy and unlimited buttons on Pro.

Strengths:

• Free tier gives you an 8-button deck; Pro unlocks unlimited buttons and pages
• App-Aware decks auto-switch to your OBS deck when OBS is the active app (Pro)
• Wireless over Wi-Fi or wired over USB
• Built natively for Apple Silicon, polished modern UI
• Virtual Touch Bar with volume and brightness controls

Weaknesses:

• Uses OBS's keyboard shortcut layer, not the deeper Stream Deck plugin API
• iOS clients only (no Android)
• No physical button feedback

Verdict: If you already own an iPhone or iPad and you want to start streaming today, this is the right starting point. You can always add Elgato hardware later if you decide you need it. For the full iPhone setup walkthrough, see how to turn your iPhone into a stream deck.

Download DeckPilot for Mac →

2. Elgato Stream Deck

Type: Hardware Price: ~$99 (Neo), ~$149 (MK.2), ~$200 (+), ~$250 (XL) OBS support: Native OBS plugin with deep scene, source, and audio control

If OBS plugin depth is what you care about most, Elgato is still the gold standard. The official OBS plugin gives you control beyond hotkeys: per-source visibility toggles, audio mixer levels per channel, scene previews on the keys, and stream metrics on the deck.

Strengths:

• Best OBS integration, hands down
• Tactile physical buttons
• Massive plugin ecosystem (Twitch, Spotify, Discord, etc.)
• Industry standard for streaming

Weaknesses:

• $149 to $200 price tag
• Tethered to USB
• Capped at 6, 15, or 32 keys depending on model
• Manual profile switching unless you wire up plugin logic

Verdict: Buy a Stream Deck if you stream professionally and you specifically want the official OBS plugin. For everyone else, software solutions get you 90% of the way for free. See the DeckPilot vs Stream Deck comparison for the full breakdown.

3. Bitfocus Companion

Type: Open-source software, runs on a Mac, drives Stream Deck hardware or a browser Price: Free OBS support: Deep TCP / UDP control via the obs-websocket plugin

Companion is the control plane serious broadcast operators run on the computer and point at a control surface: Elgato Stream Deck hardware, an Xkeys panel, or a browser button page. For OBS, it talks directly to obs-websocket, so every OBS action is exposed, hotkeys and the rest of the websocket API.

Strengths:

• Free and open source
• Deepest OBS control of any tool on this list
• Drives multiple control surfaces simultaneously
• Works for AV gear too (vMix, ATEM, lighting, PTZ cameras)

Weaknesses:

• Steep learning curve, JSON-style config in places
• Setup is a project, not a 5 minute thing
• Still needs hardware or a browser tab to display the buttons

Verdict: If you're running a multi-camera broadcast or a serious livestream, Companion is genuinely incredible. For a solo streamer with one webcam and three OBS scenes, it's massive overkill.

4. Touch Portal

Type: Software, Windows + Mac, with phone / tablet client Price: Free, $14 one-time Pro upgrade OBS support: Official OBS plugin with scene, source, and audio control

Touch Portal is the closest direct software competitor to DeckPilot. It runs on Windows and Mac, has iOS and Android clients, and has a strong OBS plugin that goes well beyond hotkeys. The plugin lets you toggle source visibility, switch scenes, and control audio levels.

Strengths:

• Free, with a cheap one-time Pro upgrade
• Works on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android
• Strong OBS plugin

Weaknesses:

• Built for Windows first, Mac client feels like a port
• Dated UI compared to modern Mac apps
• No native virtual Touch Bar style sliders
• Manual profile switching unless you wire it up

Verdict: If you stream on both a Windows PC and a Mac, Touch Portal is a solid pick. If you're Mac only, DeckPilot is the cleaner fit. See the DeckPilot vs Touch Portal comparison.

5. Stream Deck Mobile

Type: Software, iOS + Android (made by Elgato) Price: ~$2.99/mo subscription OBS support: Native OBS plugin (same as desktop Stream Deck app)

Elgato's official mobile app turns your phone into a Stream Deck. It uses the same OBS plugin as the hardware version, so the OBS integration is as good as it gets on a phone. The catch is the subscription pricing.

Strengths:

• Same OBS plugin as Elgato hardware
• Cross-platform iOS and Android
• Made by Elgato, so the integration is solid

Weaknesses:

• Subscription pricing for what's basically a software toggle
• Phone interface stretched on iPad
• Manual profile switching

Verdict: Worth it only if you're already in the Elgato ecosystem and you want a phone companion to your hardware. For Mac streamers without existing Elgato gear, DeckPilot is free (8-button deck on free, unlimited on Pro). See the Stream Deck Mobile comparison.

6. Loupedeck Live

Type: Hardware with dials Price: $179 OBS support: OBS profile in Loupedeck software

Loupedeck Live is more of a creator console than a streaming deck. It has 8 LCD buttons, 6 physical dials, and a touchscreen. The OBS profile is decent for scene switching and audio control, but it isn't as deep as the Elgato OBS plugin.

Strengths:

• Premium build quality
• Physical dials are great for audio mixing
• Useful if you also do design or photo work

Weaknesses:

• $179 price
• USB tethered
• OBS support is basic compared to Elgato
• Software updates feel slower than competitors

Verdict: Get a Loupedeck if your streaming overlaps with design and photo editing and you want one device for everything. If video editing is also in the mix, our Final Cut Pro controller guide covers that overlap. Pure streamers should grab a Stream Deck or DeckPilot instead.

7. Mountain DisplayPad

Type: Hardware Price: $169 OBS support: Keyboard shortcuts only (no native plugin)

The Mountain DisplayPad is a 12-key LCD button pad. It looks nicer than the cheap Mirabox clones and the build quality is genuinely premium, but the OBS support is shallow. You're triggering OBS hotkeys, the same way DeckPilot does, except you paid $169 for it.

Strengths:

• Premium hardware feel
• Custom LCD icons on every key
• Cleaner industrial design than competitors

Weaknesses:

• Capped at 12 keys
• $169 for shortcut triggering only
• USB only
• No deep OBS plugin

Verdict: Skip this unless you specifically want a 12-key LCD pad and you don't need the depth of a real OBS plugin. DeckPilot does the same shortcut routing for free.

8. OBS hotkeys on your keyboard

Type: Built into OBS Price: $0 OBS support: Native (it's literally OBS)

The "do nothing" option. OBS has built-in hotkeys for every action. You can map scene switches, mic mute, stream toggles, and source visibility to any keyboard combo you want. If you only stream once a week and you only have 2 or 3 scenes, you don't actually need a Stream Deck at all.

Strengths:

• Free, already installed
• Zero setup beyond editing OBS settings

Weaknesses:

• Easy to forget which key does what
• No visual feedback
• Conflicts with other apps' shortcuts

Verdict: Fine for hobby streamers with a simple setup. The minute you have more than 5 OBS hotkeys, get a real deck.

How to pick

The fastest decision tree for OBS streamers on Mac:

• You own an iPhone or iPad and want it free: DeckPilot
• You stream professionally and want the official OBS plugin: Elgato Stream Deck
• You're running a multi-camera broadcast: Bitfocus Companion + Stream Deck hardware
• You stream on both Windows and Mac: Touch Portal
• You also do design work and want one console: Loupedeck Live
• You stream once a week with 3 scenes: just use OBS hotkeys

Not sure what a stream deck actually is? Our stream deck explainer covers the concept before you decide.

The bottom line

For most Mac streamers in 2026, DeckPilot is the right starting point because it costs nothing and uses an iPhone or iPad you already own. If you outgrow keyboard-shortcut OBS control and need scene previews on the keys or per-source visibility toggles, that's when you upgrade to an Elgato Stream Deck and the official OBS plugin. Companion is the answer for serious broadcast work.

If you're stuck between options, start free with DeckPilot, see if the iPhone-as-deck workflow clicks for you, and only spend money on hardware if you hit a real limitation. Podcasters streaming live shows have a similar shortcut set; see our podcasting deck guide for that angle. For the full landscape of Mac options, our stream deck alternatives guide goes deeper.

Frequently asked questions

Does DeckPilot have an OBS plugin? DeckPilot uses OBS's built-in hotkey system. You map OBS hotkeys (scene switching, mute, stream start / stop) and DeckPilot triggers those keys from your iPhone or iPad. The OBS template pack ships with the most common scene and audio controls preconfigured.

Can DeckPilot control multiple OBS scenes? Yes. You can map every OBS scene to a button. The OBS template pack covers up to 8 common scenes by default, and you can add as many more as you want.

Is the Elgato OBS plugin worth $149? Only if you specifically need scene previews on the keys, per-source visibility toggles, or audio mixer levels per channel. For scene switching, mic mute, and stream toggles, OBS hotkeys cover everything you need, which makes the free path with DeckPilot a fair fight.

Does Bitfocus Companion need a Stream Deck? Companion can run buttons in a browser tab too, so technically no. In practice, most Companion users pair it with Elgato Stream Deck hardware or an Xkeys panel for the tactile feedback.

What's the cheapest way to get a working OBS deck on Mac? Free. Install DeckPilot on your Mac, install the iPhone or iPad app, pair them, and load the OBS template pack. The whole setup takes about 5 minutes and costs nothing.

Does a stream deck for OBS work on Apple Silicon Macs? Yes. DeckPilot is built natively for Apple Silicon (M1 through M5) and runs on macOS 14 or later. Elgato Stream Deck hardware and software also support Apple Silicon Macs. OBS itself is native on Apple Silicon as of recent versions, so the hotkey layer DeckPilot uses works the same way.