YouTube Live Stats is an open-source Lua script for OBS Studio that displays real-time YouTube stream statistics such as Likes, Views, and current Viewers directly in your scene through text sources. It is designed for reliability, cross-pl
YouTube Live Stats (Lua Script)
I created YouTube Live Stats as a lightweight, open-source Lua script for OBS Studio that allows me to display real-time YouTube live stream statistics directly inside my scenes. Instead of relying on external dashboards, browser overlays, or third-party services, I can show Likes, total Views, and current Viewers using standard OBS text sources. Everything runs natively inside OBS, which keeps my setup clean, efficient, and stable.
The script is designed to be simple to configure, reliable during long broadcasts, and fully cross-platform. Whether I am streaming on Windows, macOS, or Linux, I can integrate live YouTube metrics into my layout without installing plugins or external applications.
What the Script Does
At its core, the script connects to the YouTube Data API and periodically fetches live statistics for my active stream. These metrics are then written directly into individual OBS text sources. Because each stat is separated into its own source, I have full control over positioning, styling, scaling, and animation.
The key advantage for me is flexibility. Each metric behaves like a normal OBS text element, which means I can design my overlay exactly the way I want.
If a required text source does not already exist in the active scene, the script can automatically generate it. That saves time during setup and ensures everything works correctly from the start.
Main Features
Live YouTube Metrics: Displays real-time Likes, total Views, and concurrent Viewers.
Native OBS Integration: Outputs directly into OBS text sources without browser overlays.
Automatic Source Creation: Missing text sources can be created automatically.
Text Engine Compatibility: Works with both Text (GDI+) and Text (FreeType 2).
Formatting Synchronization: Optionally apply unified font and color settings across all metrics.
Cross-Platform Support: Compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux versions of OBS Studio.
Script-Only Solution: No plugins, no executables, and no external websites required.
Because it is script-based, I can easily maintain or customize it. There are no complicated dependencies, and updates are straightforward.
Requirements
To use the script effectively, I only need a few essential components:
OBS Studio installed on my system, a valid YouTube Video ID for the live broadcast, and a YouTube Data API key. For most personal streams, the free API quota provided by Google is more than sufficient.
The API key allows the script to securely request statistics from YouTube. Once configured, the data updates automatically at the defined interval.
Installation Process
I recommend keeping OBS scripts inside the dedicated scripts directory for better organization. Typical paths include:
Windows: %AppData%\obs-studio\obs-scripts\
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/obs-studio/obs-scripts/
Linux: ~/.config/obs-studio/obs-scripts/
After placing the Lua file in the correct folder, I open OBS Studio, navigate to Tools → Scripts, and add the script using the plus button. From there, I enter my YouTube Video ID and API key, assign or create the three text sources, and confirm the configuration.
With a single refresh action, the script links everything together and begins pulling live data.
Formatting and Styling Options
Because each statistic is mapped to an individual text source, I can fully customize the layout. I can position Likes near my webcam frame, place Viewer count in the corner, or highlight Views in a central overlay element.
If I prefer visual consistency, I can enable formatting synchronization. This ensures font type, size, and color are applied uniformly across all stat sources. It simplifies visual branding and keeps my stream layout cohesive.
For clean overlays, I typically use subtle fonts and balanced spacing so the numbers enhance the stream instead of distracting from it.
Best Use Cases
I find this script especially useful for engagement-focused streams. Showing real-time Likes and Viewer counts helps create transparency and builds community interaction. During events or milestone broadcasts, it allows me to highlight growth in a visible and motivating way.
It is also ideal for minimal dashboard-style overlays where I want accurate live YouTube statistics without browser sources consuming extra system resources.
Overall, YouTube Live Stats provides a streamlined, efficient solution for displaying live YouTube analytics directly inside OBS Studio. By keeping everything native to OBS and eliminating unnecessary external tools, I maintain better performance, improved reliability, and full creative control over how my live metrics appear on screen.
Open this resource when building your scene
Use this item when it matches a real need in your production process. The best results come from adapting the asset to your scenes, checking readability, and making sure it supports the viewer experience.
For this specific resource, the key value is: YouTube Live Stats is an open-source Lua script for OBS Studio that displays real-time YouTube stream statistics such as Likes. Use the link below only after reading the details above so visitors understand what they are opening and why it belongs in their streaming workflow.
([redirect_url])[Open Youtube Livestream Live Counter]