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Bitfocus Companion vs Stream Deck: catalog facts
Bitfocus Companion	Stream Deck
Best for: Live production, streaming and AV crews controlling equipment from button panels	Best for: Streamers and creators who want physical shortcut keys
Free Free and open source, supported by sponsorship.	Free The desktop software is a free download; Stream Deck hardware is sold separately.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS
Controls a wide range of broadcast and presentation equipment Works without hardware through an emulator and web buttons All 4 strengths for Bitfocus Companion Controls a wide range of broadcast and presentation equipment Works without hardware through an emulator and web buttons Device feedback shows state on the buttons Remote triggers over OSC, HTTP, WebSocket and more	Configurable keys, dials and multi-step workflows Integrates with other Elgato apps All 4 strengths for Stream Deck Configurable keys, dials and multi-step workflows Integrates with other Elgato apps Plugin SDK for extending actions Mobile app can stand in for hardware
Setup takes time for large shows with many devices Aimed at live production rather than everyday desktop shortcuts	Mainly useful with Elgato Stream Deck hardware Closed source
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Not open source
License not stated	License: Freeware
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Offline features available	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Bitfocus Companion bitfocus.io/companion Catalog checked October 1, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Stream Deck elgato.com/us/en/s/downloads Catalog checked October 2, 2026

“Not stated” means we have not confirmed it. Features can vary by device and plan.