OBS noise filters
- Real-time
- Win · Mac · Linux
- Free tier
8.0DexScore
RNNoise is already in OBS. Two clicks, any source, $0.
✓ Verified
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux — built into OBS Studio |
|---|---|
| Price | Free — open source |
| Free tier | Everything; no accounts or watermarks |
| Direction | Real-time on any OBS source — streams and recordings |
| Mechanism | RNNoise (small ML model) or Speex (lighter DSP), your pick |
| Founded / status | 2012 (OBS Studio) · very active — 32.2.1 shipped Jul 24, 2026 |
| Data processing | Local — the filter runs inside OBS on your machine; open source and auditable |
| Best for | Streamers and screen-recorders who want a good-enough fix that's already installed |
Every figure above was checked against vendor pages — pricing, help center, release notes — on the printed date. Tables are re-verified quarterly; a tool that dies between passes is removed from the index, not annotated.
In one paragraph
OBS Studio has shipped a noise suppression filter for years; most streamers simply never right-click their mic source and find it. Two clicks add RNNoise — a compact ML model, free on any hardware — or Speex when CPU is tight. It applies to any source OBS touches, so streams and local recordings are covered. Live meeting apps are not, unless you route OBS output through a virtual cable. Start with RNNoise; drop to Speex only if your CPU complains. Best at: the good-enough fix streamers already have installed.
Strengths
- Already installed if you stream — zero new software
- RNNoise-grade ML filtering at exactly $0
- A Speex fallback keeps weak CPUs in the game
Limitations
- Only touches audio that passes through OBS
- Reaching Zoom or Meet requires virtual-cable routing
- Inbound cleanup isn't part of its worldview
Best alternative
Need suppression system-wide on Windows rather than only inside OBS? SteelSeries Sonar filters every app for free — no SteelSeries hardware required. SteelSeries Sonar — full profile →
Mini-FAQ
Is OBS noise filters free?
Completely — the suppression filter ships inside OBS Studio, which is free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux. There is no tier, meter or account anywhere in the project to upsell you. Verified Jul 29, 2026 against OBS 32.2.1.
Is OBS noise filters safe to use?
Entirely local: the filter runs inside OBS on your machine, and the code is open source and auditable by anyone. Nothing you say on stream or in a recording is uploaded anywhere to be cleaned.
8.0 of 10, inked hole by hole
- Win Windows: yes
- Mac macOS: yes
- Lnx Linux: yes
- Web Web: no
- iOS iOS: no
- Free Free tier: yes
- Live Real-time: yes
- Post Post-production: no