OBSVTUBER
What is a VTuber and how to start for free with VRoid, VTube Studio and OBS
What a VTuber is and how to start without spending: a 3D model in VRoid Studio, VSeeFace or VTube Studio to move it, and OBS to show it. Your face rests.
Short answer
Before you start
- A Windows PC for the free 3D route (VSeeFace runs only on 64-bit Windows 8 or newer)
- A regular webcam. VTube Studio recommends 1280x720 or higher for good eye and blink tracking
- 8 GB of RAM and 10 GB of free space to run VRoid Studio on a computer
- OBS Studio, free for Windows, Mac and Linux
- Decent light on your face, because the avatar can only copy what the camera sees
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Step by step
- 01
Know what a VTuber actually is
VTube Studio official docs: Introduction and requirements ↗Want to stream but don't want your face on camera, or your webcam looks like it came off a 2005 Nokia? That's where VTubing comes in. An app watches your face through a webcam or phone and animates a character with those movements. You blink, it blinks. You talk, its mouth moves. The character can be 3D (a VRM file, like the ones VRoid Studio makes) or 2D, animated with Live2D. It's still you on stream, just wearing a different face.
What you should see: You know which kind of avatar to try first: 3D with VRoid, or 2D with Live2D.
- 02
Check whether a PNGtuber is enough
Nicole Rojas | YouTube | 11:22 ↗Before you get into face tracking, look at the simpler option. In my video on streaming without showing your face, I talk about the animated PNGtuber: a 2D avatar that reacts when you talk, get angry or laugh. It works from images and your mic, with no face tracking, and you build it in veadotube mini. A VTuber goes one step further and copies your expressions through the camera. If you want something quick and light, start with the PNGtuber guide. If you want the avatar to follow your face, keep reading. The video's in Spanish.
What you should see: You've picked between a PNGtuber (images that switch with your voice) and a VTuber (an avatar that tracks your face).
- 03
Choose a route: free 3D or 2D with Live2D
VTube Studio official docs: Models ↗There are two routes and their model formats don't mix. 3D: you build the model in VRoid Studio and drive it with VSeeFace. 2D: you use a Live2D model in VTube Studio. VTube Studio only supports Live2D. It won't load VRoid or VRM models, and it has no built-in model creator. Its own docs say Live2D models generally aren't free, since you commission an artist to draw one and a rigger to build it. To test without paying, you can try Live2D's official sample models. Bottom line: if you want your own character for free, go 3D.
What you should see: You know which apps to install: VRoid Studio plus VSeeFace, or VTube Studio.
- 04
Build a free 3D model in VRoid Studio
VRoid Studio | official site ↗VRoid Studio, made by pixiv, is free for anyone. Download it from vroid.com. There are versions for Windows 8.1, 10 and 11, macOS 11, and iPad on iPadOS 15 or later. On a computer, the site recommends getting it through Steam. It asks for 8 GB of RAM and 10 GB of free space. You start from ready-made parts and tweak them with sliders: face, hair, outfits, accessories. The models you make are yours, and you decide whether other people can use them.
What you should see: Your 3D character sits in the VRoid Studio window and every hair, outfit or face change updates live.
- 05
Export as VRM0 and open it in VSeeFace
VSeeFace | official site ↗Once your character's ready, export it as a VRM file. Watch this one: VSeeFace only supports the VRM0 standard, not VRM 1.0, so pick the VRM0 format when you export from VRoid Studio. Then download VSeeFace from vseeface.icu. It's free and runs on 64-bit Windows 8 or newer. Load your VRM file, pick your webcam and click Start. VSeeFace tracks your face, eyes, eyebrows and mouth through the webcam. The camera image never leaves your PC and never shows up in the app window.
What you should see: Your character appears in VSeeFace and blinks and moves its mouth when you do.
- 06
Or try VTube Studio for the 2D route
VTube Studio official docs: Introduction ↗If you went Live2D, you'll use VTube Studio. It's available on iPhone, iPad, Android, macOS and Windows, and on computers you get it from Steam. If you only use your webcam, you don't need the phone app. If you have a compatible iPhone or iPad, tracking is usually better. VTube Studio ranks quality as iOS first, webcam second and Android third.
What you should see: VTube Studio opens with your Live2D model on screen, following your face through the webcam or your phone.
- 07
Bring VSeeFace into OBS with no background
VSeeFace | official site ↗In OBS, add a Game Capture source, set it to Capture specific window and point it at VSeeFace. Tick Allow Transparency. Then click the tiny ※ button at the bottom right of VSeeFace. The interface hides and the background disappears in OBS. Skip the green screen, because VSeeFace doesn't support chroma keying. If the ※ bugs you, the space bar hides it.
What you should see: The OBS preview shows only your character over the game, with no background and no buttons.
- 08
Bring VTube Studio into OBS
VTube Studio official docs: OBS ↗On Windows, VTube Studio recommends Spout2. Install the Spout2 plugin for OBS (pick the build that matches your OBS version), turn on Spout2 in VTube Studio, and add a Spout2 source in OBS. It's fast, uses almost no CPU and doesn't capture the menus. The other Windows option: pick the Color Picker background in VTube Studio, turn on Transparent in capture, and grab it with Game Capture. Macs don't get that capture trick, so choose a background color, use Window Capture and add a Chroma Key filter. Never use that same color on your model, or parts of your character will vanish.
What you should see: Your Live2D model shows up in OBS without the VTube Studio background or menus on top.
- 09
Know what it costs if you go paid
VTube Studio official docs: FAQ ↗Here's what VTube Studio charges for. On Steam it's free with every feature, and in the free version a watermark shows while webcam tracking is on. The paid add-on is the Remove Watermark DLC, which takes it off. If you monetize (a monetized Twitch channel, YouTube Super Chats), VTube Studio requires you to buy at least one paid version because of Live2D licensing. The DLC prices, what a custom Live2D model costs and VSeeFace's commercial-use rule are in the FAQ below. And that's it. You've got a digital face and you know what's free and what isn't.
What you should see: You have a note of which parts of your setup are free and what you'd pay if you monetize or want the watermark gone.
If something does not work
- VSeeFace won't load the model you exported from VRoid Studio
- You most likely exported as VRM 1.0. VSeeFace only takes VRM0, so go back to VRoid Studio, export again with the VRM0 format selected, and load the new file.
- Your VRoid model won't load in VTube Studio
- VTube Studio only loads Live2D models. It doesn't support 3D or VRM files at all. Use VSeeFace for your VRoid model. Your model is fine. It's a formats thing: VTube Studio loads Live2D and VSeeFace loads VRM. VTube Studio can still send its tracking to VSeeFace, so they're not enemies.
- Your character has a black background in OBS, or the menus show
- For VSeeFace, open the Game Capture properties, tick Allow Transparency, then click the ※ in VSeeFace to hide the interface. For VTube Studio on Windows, switch to Spout2 or turn on Transparent in capture with the Color Picker background.
- The avatar freezes when the game starts
- VSeeFace says Windows often hands all the GPU or CPU to the game. Try Spout2 instead of Game Capture, and, if you're on VSeeFace 1.13.37c or newer, run VSeeFace and OBS as administrator, but only for software you trust and downloaded from the official page. Also make sure Windows Game Mode is off. If your monitor is your only light and the game is dark, the camera may lose your face. Turn on a lamp, your avatar doesn't come with night vision.
- A watermark appears in VTube Studio
- In the free Steam version, the watermark only shows while webcam tracking is active. The Remove Watermark DLC, a paid add-on, gets rid of it. With phone tracking, the Steam version shows no watermark, though the phone app has its own DLC to remove it there.
Test before you go live
- Your character follows your blinks and mouth for 5 straight minutes without stuttering.
- OBS shows only the avatar, with no background, no buttons and no real camera feed.
- You tested the avatar with your game open and it doesn't freeze.
- You know whether you'll monetize and, if you use VTube Studio, which version you need.
- You checked every scene to make sure your real camera isn't sneaking in.
- Your digital face is ready for its debut. The real one can stay in pajamas.
Cómo Streamear sin Mostrar tu Cara | Logo, Comandos y PNG Tuber GRATIS 2026
Related video from Nicole (in Spanish) ↗Common questions
What do you need to become a VTuber?
An avatar, an app that moves it with your face, and OBS to show it. The free set is VRoid Studio for a 3D model, VSeeFace to drive it with your webcam, and OBS Studio. A regular webcam is enough to start.
How is a VTuber different from a regular YouTuber or streamer?
The work is the same: making videos and going live. The difference is that a VTuber shows up as an animated character that copies their expressions instead of showing their face.
What app do VTubers use?
For 2D, the best known is VTube Studio, which runs Live2D models. For 3D, VSeeFace drives VRM models like the ones VRoid Studio makes. Both get pulled into OBS for the stream.
How do I connect my iPhone to VTube Studio?
Install VTube Studio on the iPhone and the Steam version on your computer, and the phone sends your face data over your local network. The phone app is free, but streaming to your PC for longer than five minutes needs the PRO version. Any iPhone or iPad with Face ID works, plus devices with an A12 chip or newer.
How much does a VTuber make?
There's no fixed number and no special rate for being a VTuber. The one licensing detail is that if you monetize while using VTube Studio, you have to buy at least one paid version. VRoid Studio, VSeeFace and OBS don't charge you for it.
Can I be a VTuber on a Mac?
Yes, with fewer free options and one caveat: VTube Studio lists macOS support as experimental, with limitations. VSeeFace is Windows only, so on a Mac the route is VTube Studio with a Live2D model, captured in OBS with Window Capture and a Chroma Key filter. VRoid Studio does run on macOS 11, but its 3D models won't load in VTube Studio.
How much does it cost to remove the VTube Studio watermark?
As of October 9, 2026, the Remove Watermark DLC costs $14.99 on the US Steam store and Mex$ 154.99 on the Mexican one. Prices vary by country. If you use phone tracking instead of the webcam, the store page says the DLC in the smartphone version is required instead.
How much does a Live2D model cost?
According to the VTube Studio docs, Live2D models generally aren't free. You commission an artist for the art and a rigger for the rigging, the process typically takes weeks to months, and a full model can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand US dollars.
Can I monetize while using VSeeFace?
Yes. VSeeFace's official site says you can use it to stream or do pretty much anything you like, including non-commercial and commercial uses.
What do I need to run OBS Studio?
OBS Studio is free and open source. Its official site says it supports Windows 10 and 11 and macOS 13.0 or newer.
