Free and open-source control software for live production. Companion turns an Elgato Stream Deck or a similar button panel into a control surface for switchers, presentation software, cameras, playback and other equipment, and also works through a built-in emulator, a touchscreen web page or network triggers. It is developed by Bitfocus AS in Oslo, Norway, with its user community.
What it is for
Giving an event AV or streaming operator one set of buttons that controls several products, for example changing a camera shot, advancing slides and starting a timer from the same press, whatever brand each device is.
Documented capabilities
- Buttons with stacked and individually delayed actions, separate actions on press and release, and latching or toggle behaviour.
- Feedback from devices, so a button can show the state of what it controls.
- Several Stream Decks connected at once, configuration from any browser on the network, and virtual web buttons for phones and tablets.
- Button triggers over OSC, TCP, UDP, HTTP, WebSocket and Art-Net, so other systems can press buttons without hardware.
- A plugin for using Companion buttons inside the native Stream Deck application.
Integrations and API
Devices and applications are controlled through connections, most of them written by the community. Bitfocus listed 857 connections when checked, including vMix, Blackmagic Design ATEM switchers, a PowerPoint remote, Zoom Rooms and the Stagetimer countdown timer.
Pricing model and availability
Companion is free and MIT-licensed, with downloads for Windows, macOS and Linux; the latest release when checked was version 5.1.1 (21 October 2026). Bitfocus says Companion will always stay free, open source and community driven. It also sells a separate commercial control platform, Bitfocus Buttons, with commercial support and a free tier for small setups.
What to check before buying
Check that a connection exists for each device you need to control and how recently it was updated, because most are community-written and Bitfocus supplies its open-source projects as-is, without warranty or support. Build and rehearse the button pages on the network you will use at the event.
Bitfocus Companion pricing
What Bitfocus Companion publishes about its pricing, checked on its own pricing page. Prices change, so confirm the current terms with Bitfocus Companion before you buy.
| Pricing model | Free and open source |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
Companion is free and open source, with optional sponsorship of the project via Open Collective.
Source: bitfocus.io, checked 24 October 2026.
Coverage on Event Tech News
Alternatives to Bitfocus Companion
Other directory profiles that do the same job as Bitfocus Companion.
Compare every listed option in live streaming software for events.
Related records
- vMix, Blackmagic Design and OBS Studio in the AV and streaming directory
Sources: Bitfocus Companion, Bitfocus connections list, About Bitfocus, Bitfocus legal, Companion releases on GitHub