Streamlabs Ultra vs Prime: Main Differences

Streamlabs Ultra and Prime are both paid tiers of the Streamlabs streaming suite, but they differ mainly in price, included features, and which platform they are tied to. Ultra is a standalone subscription that unlocks premium tools for any streamer, while Prime is a bundle that includes Ultra plus a year of Streamlabs’ cloud-based services and a custom alert store credit. This article breaks down exactly what each plan includes, how they compare, and which one fits your streaming setup.

Background: Why There Are Two Paid Plans

Streamlabs started as a donation and alert service for Twitch streamers, then grew into a full streaming toolkit with its own broadcasting software, overlays, chatbots, and analytics. As the company expanded, it introduced two separate paid tiers to serve different needs. The first, Streamlabs Prime, launched as an all-in-one subscription that bundled the premium version of Streamlabs OBS (now called Streamlabs Desktop) with cloud backups, custom alert store credit, and a few other perks. The second, Streamlabs Ultra, is a newer, more flexible subscription that focuses on the software features themselves, without the cloud storage and store credit that Prime includes.

Many streamers confuse the two because they share the same parent product and some overlapping features. The key distinction is that Prime is a bundle of services, while Ultra is a pure feature unlock for the Streamlabs software. If you already pay for Ultra, you might still see Prime advertised as an upgrade because it adds the cloud and store benefits on top of what Ultra gives you.

What Streamlabs Ultra Includes

Ultra is the simpler of the two plans. It is a monthly or yearly subscription that unlocks the premium features inside Streamlabs Desktop and the Streamlabs mobile app. These features are designed to make your stream look and run better without requiring you to buy separate tools.

• Streamlabs Desktop Pro: Removes the watermark from your local recordings and gives you access to advanced scene transitions, custom filters, and multi-output streaming to several platforms at once.
• Overlay themes: The full library of premium overlay packs, widget themes, and alert designs that are normally sold individually in the Streamlabs store.
• Merch and tip pages: Customizable storefront pages for merchandise and donation buttons with lower processing fees than the free tier.
• Cloudbot features: The premium version of the chatbot, including spam protection, advanced moderation, and loyalty points for your viewers.
• Mobile streaming: Unlocks the ability to stream from your phone with the Streamlabs mobile app, including custom overlays and alerts.

Ultra does not include cloud storage for your scenes and overlays, nor does it give you store credit to buy individual items. It is purely a software subscription.

What Streamlabs Prime Includes

Prime is the older, more comprehensive plan. It includes everything in Ultra, plus a few extras that are tied to your Streamlabs account rather than just the software. The most significant additions are:

• Cloud backups: Your entire Streamlabs Desktop setup—scenes, sources, overlays, and settings—is backed up to the cloud. If you switch computers or need to reinstall, you can restore everything with one click.
• Alert store credit: A yearly credit (typically around $50) that you can spend on premium overlays, alerts, and widgets in the Streamlabs store. This is separate from the themes included in Ultra.
• Priority support: Faster response times from the Streamlabs support team for technical issues.
• Exclusive discounts: Reduced prices on additional store items and partner services.

Prime is essentially Ultra plus the cloud and store benefits. If you already have Ultra, you can upgrade to Prime by paying the difference, and you keep all your Ultra features.

Price and Billing Differences

The most obvious difference is the price. Ultra is cheaper than Prime on both monthly and yearly billing cycles. As of the current pricing, Ultra costs about $19 per month or $149 per year, while Prime costs about $39 per month or $199 per year. The yearly Prime plan effectively gives you the store credit, which can offset the cost if you regularly buy overlays or alerts.

Both plans auto-renew by default, and you can cancel anytime from your Streamlabs account settings. If you cancel, you lose access to the premium features at the end of the billing period, but you keep any store items you purchased with your credit. There is no free trial for either plan, but Streamlabs occasionally runs promotions that give a few weeks of Ultra for free to new users.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice depends on what you need from your streaming setup. Here is a simple breakdown to help you decide:

• Choose Ultra if: You want the core premium features—multi-streaming, advanced overlays, and the full chatbot—and you do not care about cloud backups or store credit. This is the best value for streamers who already have their own backup system and rarely buy individual store items.
• Choose Prime if: You want the cloud backup for peace of mind, you regularly buy overlays or alerts, or you want priority support. Prime makes sense for streamers who want a single subscription that covers both software and account services.
• If you are on a budget: Start with Ultra. You can always upgrade to Prime later if you find you need the cloud backups or store credit.

One common misconception is that Prime is required to use Streamlabs Desktop. That is not true. The free version of Streamlabs Desktop is fully functional for basic streaming; the paid plans only unlock the advanced features listed above.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Streamers often run into a few issues when deciding between these plans. The most frequent is double-paying: if you buy Ultra and then later buy Prime, you are charged for both unless you cancel Ultra first. Streamlabs does not automatically merge the two subscriptions. Always cancel your existing plan before upgrading to the other.

Another issue is confusion about what is included. Some streamers assume Prime includes all themes and overlays for free, but it only includes the ones in the Ultra library plus the store credit. Premium items that cost more than your credit still require an additional payment. Check the price of an item before you assume it is covered.

Finally, cloud backups in Prime are not automatic. You have to manually trigger a backup from the Streamlabs Desktop settings or the dashboard. If you forget, you will not have a recent restore point. Set a reminder to back up after major changes to your scenes.

How the Plans Compare to Alternatives

Streamlabs Ultra and Prime are not the only paid streaming tools. OBS Studio is completely free and open-source, but it lacks the integrated alerts, chat, and store that Streamlabs provides. Many streamers use OBS Studio with free third-party plugins to replicate some of Streamlabs’ features, but it requires more technical setup.

Other paid options include Twitch’s own subscription tools and third-party services like StreamElements, which offers a free tier with many of the same overlay and chatbot features. StreamElements does not have a desktop app, so you would still need OBS or Streamlabs Desktop to broadcast. For streamers who want a single, integrated solution, Streamlabs Ultra or Prime is often the most convenient, but you should compare the features against your specific needs before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Streamlabs Ultra on multiple computers?

Yes, your Ultra subscription is tied to your Streamlabs account, not a specific computer. You can log in on any machine and use the premium features, but you will need to set up your scenes and overlays on each one unless you have Prime’s cloud backup.

Does Prime include the same features as Ultra?

Yes, Prime includes every feature that Ultra has. The difference is that Prime adds cloud backups, store credit, and priority support on top of those features. If you have Prime, you do not need a separate Ultra subscription.

Can I upgrade from Ultra to Prime without losing my settings?

Yes, upgrading from Ultra to Prime keeps all your scenes, overlays, and settings. You will be charged the difference in price for the remaining time on your Ultra subscription, and you immediately gain access to the Prime-exclusive features.

Is there a free trial for either plan?

Streamlabs does not offer a standard free trial for Ultra or Prime, but they occasionally run promotions that give new users a few weeks of Ultra for free. You can check the Streamlabs website for current offers, or you can try the free version of Streamlabs Desktop to see if the premium features are worth the cost.

What happens to my store credit if I cancel Prime?

Any store credit you have already received is yours to keep, even if you cancel Prime. However, you will not receive any future yearly credit, and you will lose access to the cloud backups and priority support at the end of your billing period.

Can I pay for Prime monthly instead of yearly?

Yes, Prime is available on a monthly plan, but the yearly plan gives you a discount and the store credit is only issued once per year. The monthly plan does not include the store credit, so if you want the credit, you need to choose the yearly option.

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