The Streamlabs App Store is a library of third-party tools that you can browse and use inside Streamlabs Desktop. It is separate from Streamlabs’ own widgets, and its apps are currently Desktop-only, so check device support, YouTube event compatibility and access requirements before building your stream around one.
For a YouTube creator, the useful question is not simply whether an app is listed. It is whether it runs in your chosen workflow, handles the event you care about, and is available on the terms you are willing to use. Streamlabs says some apps are free and most require Ultra; those details can change, so confirm the current listing and plan information before committing.
What the Streamlabs App Store is
Streamlabs describes the App Store as a library of dozens of vetted apps made by third-party developers. The purpose is to add functions that may not be part of a basic streaming setup, including audience interaction, automation, analytics, stream design and production tools. Categories listed by Streamlabs include chat interaction and games, stream-safe music, timers, sponsorships, game statistics and sound alerts.
Those categories describe the range of tools, not a guarantee that every app works with every streaming platform, event type or Streamlabs workflow. An app may have a narrow role, such as adding a particular visual or timer, rather than acting as a general-purpose upgrade to your channel. Read the app’s own description and requirements before installing it.
Streamlabs says its team reviews apps for functionality and safety before making them available. That is useful context when choosing a tool, but it does not remove the need to check what permissions an app requests, what data it uses, and whether its features fit your channel. A review is not a promise that an app will suit every creator’s use case.
The library is part of Streamlabs Desktop. You browse and manage apps there, then add an app source to a scene where applicable. Streamlabs says cloud storage can carry apps over when you stream on a new PC, but that does not make the apps available in other Streamlabs products. Check the Streamlabs App Store for the current library and its descriptions.
For example, a devotional channel might consider an app for a timer or visual element, while a local news loop might have no need for chat games at all. A lofi station may care more about music and presentation than event pop-ups. Start with the job you need done, rather than installing tools because they appear in a catalogue.
Apps and built-in widgets do different jobs
The simplest distinction is who makes the feature and where it is available. Streamlabs calls App Store entries third-party Apps. Widgets are features designed by Streamlabs itself, including Alert Box, Chat Box, Game Pulse, Polls and Chat Highlight. The names can sound similar because both kinds of feature can contribute something to a scene, but they are not the same catalogue or support model.
A widget is generally a familiar, Streamlabs-provided building block for showing or collecting information in a stream. An App Store app can extend the setup with a function supplied by another developer. Some apps add interaction or production controls; others serve narrower purposes. Their capabilities and platform support are app-specific, so do not infer that an app supports a particular YouTube event just because a related widget does.
Streamlabs says most of its widgets can be used in Streamlabs Desktop and its OBS Plugin. Apps, by contrast, are currently exclusive to Streamlabs Desktop. That matters if you have already built scenes in OBS Studio, use the Streamlabs Plugin for OBS, or rely on Streamlabs Mobile. A widget appearing in a plugin does not mean third-party App Store apps will appear there too.
If your priority is keeping a long-running prerecorded channel simple, a third-party app may not solve the core job of keeping a video broadcast live. Compare the production workflow itself with guidance on OBS plugins for automated YouTube streaming, and separate that from optional scene features. For a Hindi music loop, the Streamlabs Desktop playlist setup is a more directly relevant starting point than assuming an App Store app will manage playback.
The distinction also helps with troubleshooting. If an alert or interaction feature is a Streamlabs widget, look at the widget’s configuration and supported platforms. If it is an App Store app, check the individual app’s listing and access terms, and make sure you are testing it in Streamlabs Desktop. Treating both as interchangeable can waste time when moving a scene between products.
Which devices support the App Store
Streamlabs lists several ways to stream to YouTube, including Desktop, Plugin for OBS, Mobile, Console and Talk Studio. Those are streaming workflows, not a statement that the App Store is available in each one. The important limitation for this subject is that App Store apps currently run in Streamlabs Desktop.
| Workflow | YouTube streaming listed by Streamlabs | App Store apps available there |
|---|---|---|
| Streamlabs Desktop | Yes | Yes, this is where apps run |
| Streamlabs Plugin for OBS | Yes | No; most Streamlabs widgets have broader support, but Apps are Desktop-only |
| Streamlabs Mobile | Yes | No App Store app support stated |
| Streamlabs Console | Yes, with YouTube added as a second multistream destination | No App Store app support stated |
| Talk Studio | Yes | No App Store app support stated |
The table is about the App Store limitation, not a ranking of products. If you already use another workflow and only need a Streamlabs-built widget, check that widget’s compatibility. If you need a third-party app, plan to use Streamlabs Desktop rather than expecting the app to travel to a phone, browser studio or OBS plugin.
This can affect a 24/7 channel more than a short event. If a computer running Desktop is part of your production arrangement, consider what happens when it restarts, loses power or needs attention. A feature that only exists in Desktop may be unsuitable if your channel depends on an unattended workflow elsewhere. For broader channel-planning considerations, see how a channel can run two prerecorded live streams at once.
Do not buy or install a tool based only on a product-family name. Confirm that the specific app appears in the Desktop App Store and that its listing describes the function and platform behaviour you need. Streamlabs’ YouTube workflow page is the appropriate place to check its current YouTube workflow and widget information.
Authorise a YouTube account
For supported Streamlabs workflows, account connection is done by signing in to YouTube and authorising Streamlabs, rather than entering a stream key. Streamlabs says this path applies to Desktop, its Plugin for OBS, Mobile and Talk Studio. The precise interface can change, so follow the current prompts in the product you are using.
In Desktop, open Platform Settings, choose YouTube, and connect the account you intend to broadcast from. Review the Google account and channel shown in the authorisation flow before granting access. If you manage more than one channel or brand account, take care to select the correct identity; a successful connection to the wrong channel can lead to a confusing test or an unintended broadcast destination.
Authorisation and live-stream eligibility are separate checks. Streamlabs cannot remove YouTube’s account requirements. YouTube access may depend on account status and verification, so check the current official YouTube Help guidance if live streaming is not enabled or the channel has recently changed. Do not assume that connecting Streamlabs has enabled broadcasting by itself.
After connecting, make a private or otherwise appropriate test where possible, and verify the destination, scene, audio and event behaviour before relying on the setup. For an RTMPS-based workflow outside the direct account connection, the YouTube RTMPS URL guide explains a different part of the setup; it should not be confused with the App Store’s availability or account authorization.
Streamlabs’ YouTube page says a stream key is not needed for the listed direct authorization workflows. That is specific to those workflows, not a blanket statement about every streaming tool or custom encoder. Follow the connection method presented by the product you selected, and avoid sharing a stream key or granting account access to an app unless you understand why it needs it.
Evaluate event-related widgets for YouTube
Streamlabs lists YouTube event support for a number of its widgets, including Alert Box, Event List, The Jar, End Credits, Chat Highlight, Poll Widget, Follower Goal, Sub Goal, Super Chat Goal, Viewer Count and Chat Box badges. These are widget names, not a promise that every widget displays every event. Streamlabs’ YouTube page is the place to confirm the current support matrix before configuring a scene.
The event types named by Streamlabs include subscriptions, memberships, gifted memberships, Super Chats, Super Stickers, resubs and Jewel Gifts. Availability differs by widget. A goal widget, for example, is meant to present progress towards a goal; an event list has a different role. Check both the type of event and the widget that is meant to show it rather than inferring support from a general label such as “alerts”.
A practical evaluation starts with the channel’s actual use. A live music channel may want to acknowledge Super Chats without placing large graphics over a continuous visual. A local news channel may prefer a restrained treatment of memberships or a poll, while a devotional stream may choose to keep the screen uncluttered. The same feature can be technically supported and still be wrong for a particular programme.
Before going live, use a test or preview route to inspect the full sequence: what triggers the event, what appears on screen, how long it remains, and whether it covers subtitles, lyrics, a Bible verse slide or other important information. If the event depends on an audience action, consider how the scene behaves when no one interacts. An always-on stream should remain understandable even when its interactive layer is quiet.
Keep the distinction between widgets and apps in view here. Streamlabs’ listed event support describes widgets; it does not establish that every third-party App Store app reads the same YouTube event data. If an app claims to handle memberships, gifts or paid messages, confirm that exact capability in the app’s own listing and documentation. Do not base an event workflow on a category name alone.
Check app access and Ultra requirements
Streamlabs says some apps are free, including examples such as Sponsorships and Sidekick, while most App Store apps require Ultra. Its current Ultra feature page describes full Desktop App Store access with Ultra and Ultra Plus; the comparison also indicates limited free apps on the Free tier. This is tiered access, not a rule that every app is included with every plan.
The app listing is the most useful starting point for a specific tool. Check whether the app itself is free, whether it requires a subscription, and whether the feature you need is available at the relevant tier. A free installation does not necessarily mean every function inside the app is available without a paid plan. Likewise, a plan that provides broader access does not mean every app has identical features or permissions.
Streamlabs Support names Streamlabs Music and an on-screen stream timer as examples of App Store apps associated with Ultra. Those examples show that the library is not limited to audience alerts: it may include presentation and production aids as well. Individual apps still have their own feature set, and the support guide does not establish that any one example is necessary for a YouTube channel.
Because plans and packaging change, compare the current Streamlabs Ultra feature page with the app listing before you pay or reorganise a channel around a feature. Do not rely on an old tutorial, a screenshot, or a statement that “most apps” require Ultra to decide the cost of one particular app. Check the current terms at the time you are evaluating it.
For a small channel, compare recurring access against the value of the specific function. If an app saves a manual task you perform on every stream, that may matter; if the stream runs unattended and the feature is rarely seen, a simpler widget or no add-on may be more appropriate. No access tier can compensate for a mismatch between the app’s function and your production needs.
Review app and plan details before you commit
Use a short pre-install checklist so that a promising listing does not become an overnight surprise:
- Confirm the app is available in Streamlabs Desktop and note any stated operating or account requirements.
- Identify the precise task it handles, such as a timer, music playback, alert, game statistic or audience interaction.
- Check whether it supports the YouTube event or data source you actually intend to use.
- Read the access and payment terms for that app, then compare them with the current plan page.
- Test it in a scene that resembles your live layout, including the quiet periods and failure cases.
This is especially important when moving from a one-off stream to an always-on channel. A game-stat app may be useful during gameplay but irrelevant to a prerecorded ambience stream. A chat game may create activity during a staffed broadcast, but it cannot be assumed to serve the same purpose when nobody is monitoring chat. Treat categories as a way to discover possibilities, then judge the app against the channel’s operating pattern.
Think about the cost of changing course, too. If the app is central to a scene, document how it is configured and what the stream looks like without it. If your Desktop setup changes computers, verify that the app and its settings are present after the move rather than assuming cloud storage preserves every preference. Streamlabs mentions cloud storage for carrying apps between PCs, but you should still test the actual scene before a scheduled broadcast.
If you decide that an app is not suitable, a Streamlabs-built widget may cover a simpler version of the need, or another streaming workflow may be a better fit. For a prerecorded channel, compare the broader approach in running a 24/7 stream from a prerecorded video in StreamYard with the Desktop-specific requirements discussed here. Each workflow has different trade-offs; the App Store is not a substitute for selecting the right way to keep the broadcast running.
Streamlabs also has a developer route for people who want to submit an app. Its App Store page directs developers to create an app through its platform, log in with Twitch, submit an application and complete the requested form, then wait for next steps. That is an application process subject to review, not a guarantee that an app will be listed or receive access. For channel operators, the practical point is that the library may evolve, so verify availability rather than treating a past listing as permanent.
Before committing, compare the operating options on the pricing page. When the file and channel are ready, start free — 24-hour trial, no card.
FAQ
What is the Streamlabs App Store?
It is a library inside Streamlabs Desktop for apps made by third-party developers. Streamlabs says its team reviews apps before listing them, and the library includes tools for functions such as interaction, design, music and timers.
What is the difference between apps and widgets?
Apps are third-party tools in the App Store, while widgets are features designed by Streamlabs, such as Alert Box or Chat Box. Most widgets have broader availability, including the Streamlabs OBS Plugin, but App Store apps are currently Desktop-only.
Can I use App Store apps with YouTube events?
The YouTube event support listed by Streamlabs applies to specific widgets, and the supported events differ by widget. For a third-party app, check its own listing for the exact YouTube integration and event support rather than assuming it matches a widget.
Are App Store apps free?
Some are free, but Streamlabs says most require Ultra, and its current plan information distinguishes full access from limited free apps. Check the individual app listing and current plan terms before relying on a feature or paying for access.