Choosing a chapter marker tool
OBS built-in vs StreamUp vs AnyMarker
Three ways to get chapter markers out of an OBS recording — a native hotkey, a free plugin, or a standalone app. Here's an honest look at where each one is actually the better pick.
Feature by feature
What each option actually gives you
| Feature | OBS built-in | StreamUp Chapter Marker Manager | AnyMarker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free | $14.99 one-time (7-day free trial) |
| Setup | None — built into OBS | Install a plugin build, keep its dock open | Standalone app, no OBS plugin |
| Marker types | One generic marker | Custom markers, no presets | Custom markers with switchable presets |
| Chapters in your video | Written into the recording directly | Exports FCPXML / Premiere XML / EDL for an editor | Auto-embedded into MP4/MOV/MKV, or manual |
| Works without OBS open | N/A — it is OBS | No — needs the OBS dock open | Yes — a small companion window |
| Platforms | Wherever OBS runs | macOS, Windows, Linux | macOS, Windows |
| Best for | A quick one-off marker, zero setup | Linux streamers, or no objection to a plugin dock | Organized, named markers with minimal setup |
Weighing AnyMarker against just the free plugin? See the full StreamUp Chapter Marker Manager comparison.
Questions
FAQ
For a single quick marker, sure. But OBS only gives you one generic marker type — no naming, no categories. If you want to tell a boss fight from a death, or a sponsor read from a Q&A, apart later, you need something with custom, named markers.
Free still means installing an OBS plugin build, keeping a dock open, and digging through plugin settings to change a marker. AnyMarker is $14.99 once, after a 7-day free trial, connects over OBS's own WebSocket server with no plugin to install, and switches marker presets instantly.
You don't need to run more than one — they all write chapter information around the same recording. AnyMarker is the option built specifically for named, reusable marker sets rather than a single generic marker or a plugin dock.
OBS's built-in marker and StreamUp Chapter Marker Manager both run wherever OBS does, including Linux. AnyMarker is macOS and Windows only today.
Try it
See it in your own recordings
7 days free, full app, no credit card required.
Try AnyMarker free