COMPARISON · UPDATED 2026-08-08
A free browser-based alternative for streamers who do not need full VJ-rig features.
Resolume Arena is the gold-standard VJ tool for live venues. Vortexia is a free, browser-based audio-reactive engine built for streamers and DJs. Compare features, pricing, and OBS integration.
Resolume Arena is professional VJ software for live venues with deep clip-mixing, MIDI, and multi-screen mapping. Vortexia is a free, browser-based audio-reactive visual engine designed for streamers and DJs — it adds to OBS as a single browser source, has no install, and starts free. If your goal is great-looking live visuals on Twitch, Kick, YouTube Live, or TikTok Live, Vortexia covers 90% of what most streamers actually use Resolume for, at $0. If you need MIDI-mapped clip triggers across multiple projectors at a club, Resolume is still the right tool.
| Feature | Vortexia | Resolume Arena |
|---|---|---|
| Price to start | Free ($0) | Paid license |
| Install | None — runs in any browser | Windows / macOS download |
| Built for | A solo DJ or streamer who is also playing — nobody is driving the visuals | A dedicated VJ operator at a venue |
| Real cost | Free, or $4.99/month | €799 per machine, perpetual licence |
| Learning curve | Pick a preset, paste URL | Steep — clip mixer, MIDI, mapping |
| Custom shaders | No — eight built-in engines, including two 3D | Yes |
| MIDI clip control | No | Yes — full MIDI rig |
| Per-band reactivity (bass/mid/treble) | Built in — kick, bassline and hats drive separate motion | Yes — via audio-analysis patching |
| Reacts to stream events (subs, bits, raids, hype trains) | Yes — each event drives its own distinct treatment | No — it has no connection to your Twitch or YouTube channel |
| OBS browser source | Native URL — paste & go | Screen capture or workaround |
| Audio reactivity | Real-time FFT (bass/mid/treble) | Yes |
| Sources it costs your scene | One — background and event reactions in a single browser source | A capture source, plus separate alert and overlay layers |
| Vertical / dual-format | Any aspect — set the source to 1080×1920 for a true vertical render | Built for 16:9; vertical needs a separate composition |
| Beat & tempo detection | Onset detection with a live BPM readout, free on every tier | Varies |
| Lifetime option | $149 one-time | Subscription only |
You are a professional VJ playing club shows, you mix custom clips live, you map multiple projectors, or you need MIDI-mapped scene control across hardware.
You are a streamer or DJ who wants stunning audio-reactive visuals in OBS without a download, a license fee, or a learning curve.