A donation ticker in OBS is an on-screen display supplied by a donation provider or supported fundraising service. To set one up, configure the ticker with that service, copy its widget URL, and add the URL to your OBS scene as a Browser source; OBS itself does not take payments.
The important distinction is that the provider handles the donation or fundraising flow, while OBS renders the overlay. The steps below use Streamlabs as a documented example, but the same general workflow applies to another provider when it supplies a ticker URL that can be displayed in a browser source.
Choose a provider that supports the display you need
Start by deciding what viewers should see. A donation ticker usually presents supporter activity on screen. A donation goal is different: it shows progress towards a campaign target. The two may appear near one another in a provider's dashboard, but one is not a substitute for the other. If you want a scrolling or recent-activity display, confirm that the service offers that specific ticker rather than following instructions for a goal widget.
OBS Studio is broadcast software, not a payment processor. The OBS Project explains that it does not directly provide facilities to receive donations; donation handling must come from a third-party provider or a supported platform fundraising option. Read the OBS donation guidance before treating an overlay as a way to collect funds. The overlay only displays information made available by the service connected to it.
When comparing providers, check practical fit rather than assuming every overlay service behaves the same way. Confirm that the current product supports the particular ticker or event display you want, works with OBS through a browser source, and accepts the account or platform setup you plan to use. Then review the provider's own current documentation for styling options and its payment or fundraising terms. Those terms can change, and they may depend on your location and account, so do not rely on an old tutorial for fees, payouts, or availability.
Streamlabs is a useful concrete example because its support documentation describes a Donation Ticker and explains how to locate its widget URL. The OBS Project also names Streamlabs and StreamElements among examples of overlay providers, but that does not establish that every provider has the exact same ticker feature. Treat an alternative as suitable only after checking its current official feature description. For an always-on channel, this is worth doing in a test scene first: a ticker that is appropriate for a short live programme may occupy too much space over a static bhajan, study, or ambience picture.
If you are still planning the broadcast itself, separate the overlay decision from the playback method. A ticker is a scene element, not a way to keep a video playlist running. For example, a self-managed setup has different operating demands from an uploaded-file workflow; this comparison of 24/7 streaming services and a VPS can help you assess that separate choice.
Configure the donation ticker in the provider dashboard
Sign in to the account that will receive or manage donations, then open the provider's widget or overlay area. Follow the provider's current instructions for selecting its ticker and setting the display details. This is where you decide what activity is shown and how the ticker should look. The exact controls vary, so avoid assuming a control from another service or an older screenshot will still be present.
For the Streamlabs example, its support guide places Donation Ticker under Streaming Essentials in the dashboard. Open that widget's settings and check the available options before copying anything. Streamlabs documents the Widget URL at the top of the settings page and a “Click to Copy Widget URL” control. See its widget URL instructions for the current route. Menu names can change, so use the provider's live guide if your dashboard differs.
Keep the ticker limited to information you actually want on the broadcast. Consider how names, messages, or other supporter details may appear to viewers, and check the provider's settings and policies rather than assuming the default is right for your channel. A devotional stream, for instance, may need a quieter presentation than a live fundraising event. The goal is a legible, unobtrusive display that does not cover lyrics, a speaker, a news caption, or the main subject of the picture.
Do not confuse configuration with payment setup. A styled widget does not by itself create a donation account or route a contribution. Complete any account and fundraising steps with the relevant provider, then confirm that the selected widget belongs to that same account. The source in OBS can only render the content behind the URL you give it; if the wrong account or widget is selected, changing the scene position will not correct that mismatch.
Copy and handle the widget URL carefully
Once the ticker is configured, use the provider's own copy control or documented method to copy its widget URL. It is an embedding link for the overlay, not ordinary text to show on screen. Paste it into a secure note temporarily if needed, and avoid putting it in a public description, chat message, or visible text source. The link may expose account-specific widget configuration, so handle it as private setup information.
If the provider offers more than one widget URL, check that you copied the ticker's URL rather than an alert box, goal, or general overlay. Labels matter: an alert may appear only when an event occurs, while a ticker can present ongoing activity. The OBS Browser source does not know which one you intended; it simply loads the web address supplied to it.
Before proceeding, check that the URL is complete and was copied from the correct dashboard account. If you later change the ticker in a provider dashboard, consult that provider's guidance on whether the existing URL reflects those changes or whether another step is required. Streamlabs says widget changes outside Streamlabs Desktop are made in its web dashboard. Avoid repeatedly replacing the URL as a first response to a visual issue: a correct URL can still look blank if the source is hidden, incorrectly sized, or not included in the scene currently on air.
Add the URL to OBS as a Browser source
Open OBS Studio and select the scene where the ticker should appear. In the Sources panel, choose the plus button, select Browser, and give the source a clear name, such as “Donation ticker”. A descriptive name makes it easier to find later if you have several scenes or overlays. Paste the provider's widget URL into the URL field, set an initial width and height, then save the source.
The OBS Project's Browser source guide describes the source type used to render a web page or overlay in a scene. Streamlabs' instructions use the same broad pattern: copy a widget URL, add a Browser source in OBS, paste the address, and set dimensions. If you use another broadcast application, its menu labels may differ; verify that it can render browser sources before relying on this method.
Keep the ticker as its own source rather than baking it into the video file. That lets you hide it, move it, or adjust its size without editing the underlying footage. It also makes diagnosis easier: if the background video is visible but the ticker is not, you can inspect the Browser source separately. For help with unrelated stream stability problems, use a focused guide such as troubleshooting a YouTube live stream that disconnects, rather than treating a missing overlay as a connection problem by default.
The source should be added to the scene that is actually used for the live output. If you have separate scenes for a starting screen, a main programme, and an ending screen, decide deliberately where donations should be shown. Adding it to one scene does not automatically place it in every other scene. You can duplicate or add the source as needed, while checking that the intended visibility and layout are consistent.
Set the source dimensions and position
A Browser source has a width and height, and its visible content is constrained by those dimensions. Start with dimensions that give the provider's widget room to render, then inspect it in the OBS canvas. If the ticker is clipped, too small, or has unexpected empty space, adjust the source dimensions and the source's size or position in the scene. The right values depend on your canvas and the widget's layout; there is no single reliable setting for every stream.
Use the preview to place the ticker where it does not obscure essential content. On a music or devotional channel, check that it does not cover lyrics, a deity image, or a live camera view. On a local news loop, keep it clear of captions and any information viewers need to read. A small business stream may need to protect product details and pricing. Look at the full composition, not just whether the ticker technically fits inside the frame.
If the text is hard to read, increasing the source dimensions alone may not solve it. The provider's widget styling may control text size, spacing, or background; inspect those settings as well. Conversely, changing the provider's appearance cannot fix an OBS source that is clipped by its bounds. Diagnose the two layers separately: first the widget's own design, then the Browser source's canvas placement and dimensions.
Think about the ticker's motion and persistence in the context of a 24/7 channel. A viewer who joins at any time should be able to understand what is being displayed, but a fast or prominent overlay can compete with content that is intended to be calm. If the ticker is not central to the programme, place it near an edge with clear margins. Review it against both bright and dark parts of the video, since a style that works on one frame may lose contrast on another.
Test the ticker and check visibility before going live
Inspect the scene preview after saving. Check that the Browser source is enabled and above any source that would cover it. If the source is blank, recheck that the URL belongs to the ticker, that it was pasted correctly, and that you added a Browser source rather than a text or image source. If it is visible but clipped or tiny, revisit width, height, and placement before changing provider settings.
Where the provider currently offers a preview or test function, use it to inspect the appearance. Do not assume that every ticker has a particular test button or that a test event will behave exactly like a real donation. Follow the provider's instructions and avoid making a real contribution merely to test the overlay unless you have deliberately chosen to do so and understand the consequences. If no suitable test is offered, rely on the dashboard preview if available and inspect the scene itself before broadcasting.
If donations are being handled but no activity appears, first check the relationship between the receiving account and the widget in the scene. Confirm that the provider receiving the events is the one whose ticker URL is loaded, and that the source is present and visible in the active scene. This is a practical diagnostic sequence, not a guarantee about how any specific provider processes events. Consult that provider's support documentation if the account and source appear correct.
Make a final check while watching the complete programme layout. A ticker can be correctly configured yet still be hidden under another source, off the canvas, or absent from a scene transition. If you produce several versions of your scene, verify each one independently. Once it is ready, monitor the broadcast as you normally would; an overlay setup does not guarantee that the provider, the connection, or the stream will always behave as expected.
For a 24/7 channel, there is also a practical question about who will notice and correct a fault overnight. OBS on a local computer needs that computer and its streaming setup to remain available. If keeping the computer running and checking for interruptions is the specific burden you are trying to remove, StreamNeo turns an uploaded video into a YouTube live stream that can continue with your own computer switched off; it does not take donations or replace the provider that handles them. Keep the ticker and payment responsibilities with the service you selected, and check that any broadcast workflow you choose supports the rest of your channel's needs.
Keep the ticker distinct from the rest of the stream setup
A donation display is only one layer of a broadcast. Your video source, audio, titles, captions, and any rotation of content are separate decisions. Keeping those parts separate helps you identify the cause when something changes: a silent music bed is not a widget issue, and a ticker covering a caption is a scene layout issue. For channels built around repeated videos, the guide to setting up a YouTube stream with videos in random order addresses playback rather than donation display.
Document the provider account, the scene that contains the ticker, and where the widget URL is managed without publishing the URL itself. If another person helps with the channel, that small handover prevents them from confusing an activity ticker with a campaign goal or replacing a working source with a different widget. Store account access and private links using the practices appropriate to your organisation.
If you change providers, remove or replace the old source deliberately. The old widget may remain visible in a scene even after you have changed payment arrangements, or it may continue to show an overlay that no longer corresponds to the account you intend. Update the provider configuration, copy the new widget URL, and test the scene again. This is also a sensible point to revisit the ticker's size and prominence rather than carrying forward a layout chosen for a different widget.
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FAQ
Does OBS accept donations?
No. OBS Studio displays sources in a broadcast scene; it does not itself provide the facilities to receive donations. A provider or supported platform fundraising flow handles that part, and its widget can be displayed in OBS when compatible.
Can I add a donation ticker without Streamlabs?
Yes, provided your chosen provider or fundraising service supplies a ticker or overlay that can be rendered as a browser source. Check its current documentation for the exact feature and compatibility; do not assume every provider offers the same ticker controls.
What should I do if the ticker is blank or cut off?
For a blank source, verify the widget URL, confirm it belongs to the correct widget and account, and check that the source is visible in the active scene. If it is cut off or tiny, adjust the Browser source dimensions and canvas placement, then inspect the provider's styling settings.
Is a donation ticker the same as a donation goal?
No. A ticker displays supporter activity, while a goal widget tracks progress towards a fundraising target. Choose the widget that matches what you want viewers to see, and follow the provider's instructions for that specific feature.