Stream overlay: what it is and how to make one in OBS
Updated November 11, 2026 · 4 min read
An overlay is everything layered over your game or camera on stream: frames, name plates, alerts, chat, goals, captions. A good overlay makes your stream recognizable and shows viewers what's happening on the channel without covering the game.
Here's what an overlay is made of, how to build one in OBS and which elements help keep viewers watching.
Below: how to make an overlay yourself in OBS, step by step, with no designer and no paid templates.
What an overlay is made of
An overlay usually has several layers.
a webcam frame and a name plate or logo;
alerts for follows, subs, Bits and tips;
on-screen chat for viewers watching full screen;
goals: subs, followers, tips;
a chat TTS caption: whose message is playing and in which voice;
«starting soon», «be right back» and «stream ended» scenes.
What an overlay needs
Start with these five. The rest is decoration you can add later.
your name or channel logo;
a camera frame if you're on screen;
space for follow, sub and donation alerts;
a stream goal bar;
chat or chat TTS, so newcomers see the conversation.
How to build an overlay in OBS
An overlay is built from OBS sources. Static elements are PNG images with a transparent background. Live elements such as alerts, chat, goals and TTS are added as Browser sources using a link from the relevant service.
It's handy to put shared elements in their own scene and nest it in all other scenes as a «Scene» source. Then you change the overlay in one place.
How to make an overlay for free
A simple overlay can be made in any image editor: a camera frame, a name plate and room for goals. Save it as a PNG with a transparent background and add it to OBS as an Image source above the game. Add alerts, chat and TTS as browser sources.
If you'd rather not draw, use a free template but change the colors and font to match your channel, so it doesn't look like hundreds of others.
Don't cover the game
The main mistake is a cluttered screen. Keep elements at the edges, don't cover the game UI or minimap, and check how your stream looks on a phone, since many viewers watch there. Less is more.
Overlays for different scenes
Each scene needs its own overlay: what fits a break gets in the way in game.
game scene: minimal elements at the edges;
«Starting soon»: a timer, schedule and music;
«Be right back»: chat on screen so viewers keep talking;
talk scene: a large camera with chat and goals beside it;
«Ending»: thanks and the next stream time.
Chat TTS as part of the overlay
The Chat2Speech widget is an overlay element too: it shows a caption with the viewer's name and the voice that's playing, while the message plays in a character voice. You add it the same way as alerts, as one link in a Browser source. You can move and resize the caption so it stays out of the game's way.
Widget and caption volume are set in Chat2Speech, and audio can also be adjusted in the OBS mixer.
A consistent style
Pick two or three colors and one font and use them everywhere: overlay, panels, socials. It makes the channel memorable and the stream look cohesive even without expensive design.
Overlays on mobile
Many viewers watch on phones, where the screen is small. Large text, strong contrast and few tiny details keep an overlay readable everywhere. Open your stream on a phone and check that your name, goal and chat messages are legible.
An overlay doesn't replace interaction
A good-looking overlay grabs attention, but viewers stay for the interaction. Elements that let viewers take part, like chat TTS, goals and Channel Points rewards, work better than the prettiest frame. And viewers who love being heard can buy a Chat2Speech voice subscription, with half of every subscription going to you.
Questions
What is a stream overlay?
Graphics and widgets over your game or camera: frames, alerts, chat, goals, captions and break scenes.
How do I add widgets to my overlay?
Live elements like alerts, chat and TTS are added to OBS as Browser sources using a link from the service.
Do I need a paid overlay design?
No. A simple overlay in a consistent style with a few elements works as well as an expensive one.
Does a small channel need an overlay?
A simple one, yes: it makes the stream recognizable. A complex design can wait until you have viewers.
How do I add chat to my overlay?
Add a Browser source in OBS with your chat widget link. Chat2Speech TTS goes in the same way, with one link.