Tool profile
vMix: cost, fit and limits
vMix is live video production software made by StudioCoast Pty Ltd for Windows PCs that mixes cameras, files, graphics and remote guests and streams or records the result, sold as lifetime licenses or a monthly subscription.
What to know first
vMix sells five editions: Basic HD at $60, HD at $350, 4K at $700 and Pro at $1,200 as lifetime licenses, plus MAX at $50 a month. Lifetime licenses include free updates for 12 months, and MAX updates are free while subscribed. Input counts jump from 4 on Basic HD to 1000 on higher tiers. We found no AI feature named by the vendor.
vMix at a glance
| Maker | StudioCoast Pty Ltd, Australia |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Free trial only |
| Entry price | $60 one-time (Basic HD), or $50 per month (MAX) |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Live Streaming Software in 2026, rank 7 of 13 |
| Website | vmix.com |
Who vMix is best for
Live event and sports crews
Replay for up to 8 cameras, a title designer and up to 1000 inputs on higher editions suit multi-camera productions.
Houses of worship and schools with a spare PC
A one-time license from $60 avoids subscriptions, and Basic HD handles 4 inputs at 1080p, enough for a modest single-camera service or lesson.
Producers who add remote interviews
vMix Call supports live interviews with up to 8 guests, so remote contributors join the production without separate conferencing software in the chain.
vMix plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Basic HD | $60 USD, lifetime license | 4 total inputs including 3 camera or NDI inputs, up to 1920 x 1080, 1 overlay channel and free updates for the first 12 months. |
| HD | $350 USD, lifetime license | 1000 total inputs, up to 1920 x 1080, 8 overlay channels and free updates for the first 12 months. |
| 4K | $700 USD, lifetime license | 1000 total inputs, up to 4096 x 2160, 8 overlay channels and free updates for the first 12 months. |
| Pro | $1,200 USD, lifetime license | 1000 total inputs, up to 4096 x 2160 and 8 overlay channels, with ISO recording and free updates for the first 12 months. |
| MAX | $50 USD per month, subscription | Subscription license with free updates while subscribed, 1000 total inputs, up to 4096 x 2160 and 8 overlay channels. |
Checked November 2026.
What vMix does
- Multi-destination streaming
- One output can go to several platforms at once, including Facebook, YouTube, Twitch and Vimeo, which removes the need for a separate restreaming service on a good connection.
- Wide input support
- Cameras, IP cameras, NDI, SRT, video files, images, virtual sets, titles and audio can all be mixed as inputs, so a single machine can combine many kinds of sources.
- ISO recording
- Camera sources can be recorded separately in the 4K and Pro editions, which gives editors clean files per camera for post-production after a live event.
- vMix Replay
- Slow-motion instant replay works with up to 8 cameras, which is a core need for sports and live events where a play must be shown again within seconds.
- GT Title Designer
- The built-in designer creates lower thirds and animated graphic templates that sit on the overlay channels, so titles need no separate graphics program. Graphics stay inside the same project file.
How vMix handles your data
vMix's privacy policy says information that is no longer needed is generally removed after about three months and that backups are replaced on a similar cycle. Financial records are kept for seven years, and vMix Call connection data may be stored temporarily on Google Cloud for up to 72 hours. The policy names Australia plus various locations on secure cloud platforms as storage. It does not state whether customer content trains AI models or list certifications. Nothing on the vendor's pages we opened describes an AI feature.
Where vMix falls short in practice
- Windows PC software. The homepage describes vMix as software for Windows PCs and laptops, so Mac users need a separate Windows machine or setup to run it at all.
- Update window on lifetime tiers. Free updates run only for the first 12 months on lifetime licenses, and MAX users lose free updates when the subscription ends, so long-term cost is not zero.
- Basic HD is capped. The entry edition has only 4 total inputs, 3 of them camera or NDI, and 1 overlay channel, which rules out multi-camera shows on Basic HD.
Works with
Alternatives to vMix
vMix: common questions
How much does vMix cost?
vMix sells lifetime licenses at $60 for Basic HD, $350 for HD, $700 for 4K and $1,200 for Pro. MAX is a subscription at $50 a month. Lifetime licenses include free updates for the first 12 months, and the prices come from the vMix purchase comparison table.
Does vMix run on Mac?
The homepage describes vMix as software for Windows PCs and laptops. No Mac version appears on the pages we read. Mac users who want a similar tool should look at Wirecast, which lists both Mac and Windows, or Ecamm Live, which is Mac only.
What is vMix Call?
vMix Call is the remote guest feature, supporting live interviews with up to 8 guests. The privacy policy notes that vMix Call connection data may be stored temporarily on Google Cloud for up to 72 hours. It is included in the software rather than priced separately on the pages we read.
How many cameras can vMix handle?
Basic HD has 4 total inputs with 3 camera or NDI inputs. HD, 4K, Pro and MAX list 1000 total inputs. The real limit depends on your computer, since vMix processes every source locally, so test your intended setup before buying a high edition.
Does vMix have AI features?
No AI capability is named on the opened vendor pages. vMix competes on production depth: replay, ISO recording, a title designer and wide input support. Buyers who want AI captions, backgrounds or generated overlays should look at XSplit Broadcaster, StreamYard or Meld Studio.