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Stream Deck vs Bitfocus Companion: catalog facts
Stream Deck	Bitfocus Companion
Best for: Streamers and creators who want physical shortcut keys	Best for: Live production, streaming and AV crews controlling equipment from button panels
Free The desktop software is a free download; Stream Deck hardware is sold separately.	Free Free and open source, supported by sponsorship.
Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux
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	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
Mainly useful with Elgato Stream Deck hardware Closed source	Setup takes time for large shows with many devices Aimed at live production rather than everyday desktop shortcuts
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Not open source	Open source
License: Freeware	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Not stated if it works offline	Offline features available
Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Stream Deck elgato.com/us/en/s/downloads Catalog checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Sources for Bitfocus Companion bitfocus.io/companion Catalog checked October 1, 2026

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