RustCam
Free demo
Web guide

From your browser to OBS.

RustCam runs in Chrome, Edge or Safari with no install. On the web you pay from your wallet, in your local currency, only for the seconds you're live. Follow these steps to go live with your AI look, then bring it into OBS and use it as a camera in Zoom, Meet, TikTok LIVE Studio and more. Using the desktop app instead? Open the desktop guide: it works with credits and an API key.

Start the stepsWatch the walkthroughOpen the studio
Browser
Chrome, Edge or Safari
Account
Free to create
Pay
Wallet credit, per second live
Install
Nothing
Video walkthrough

Watch the RustCam walkthrough

Step by step

From sign-in to live.

  1. 01

    Open RustCam

    Open RustCam in your browser. Press Free demo to try it without an account (one short demo a day), or Create account / Log in to keep going. Your account works on any computer: sign in and your wallet and settings are there.

  2. 02

    Add funds to your wallet

    In the studio, the Access panel shows your wallet balance in your local currency. Press Add funds and pay by card or crypto; the money appears in your wallet as soon as the payment confirms, and you get a receipt by email. You pay per second, only while you're live: when you press Start, the time your wallet can pay for (up to an hour) is set aside, and what you don't use goes straight back when you press Stop. The panel shows the rate per second and about how many minutes your balance lasts. Wallet money is for the web studio only; desktop credits are bought separately.

  3. 03

    Choose your camera

    Under Default camera, pick your webcam and press Check camera before starting to see it (free, no session). Allow camera access when the browser asks.

  4. 04

    Choose your look

    Pick a mode (Live Character suits most people), add a clear, well-lit reference photo and write a short prompt for the style. Balanced performance is the best start.

  5. 05

    Press Start

    Press Start and watch the activity log under your video. First a quick network check (“good” is fine; “weak” means it may lag). Then it connects, usually in 10–20 seconds; “Still connecting…” is normal, and if the service is busy you'll see your place in the queue. “Connected ✓” and “Output stream live ✓” mean you're live. See “Messages while you connect” below for what each message means.

  6. 06

    Copy your OBS link

    Every RustCam account has a personal OBS link. Copy it with Copy OBS link (next to Pop out for OBS, above your video) or from Settings → Account → Your OBS link. You only need to add it to OBS once: it shows your AI video every time you go live. Keep it private; if it leaks, reset it in Settings.

  7. 07

    In OBS, add a Browser source

    Open OBS Studio. Under Sources, click + and choose Browser. Name it “RustCam” and press OK.

  8. 08

    Paste the link

    In the URL box, paste your OBS link. Set Width to 1280 and Height to 720 (for portrait video use 720 and 1280). Press OK. Until you go live it shows “Waiting for RustCam to go live”.

  9. 09

    Go live and fit it

    Press Start in RustCam: after a few seconds your AI video appears in OBS by itself. Right-click the RustCam source → Transform → Fit to screen (Ctrl+F). Next time you go live, it reconnects on its own. If the Browser source stays black in an older OBS, use Pop out for OBS instead and add it as a Window Capture.

  10. 10

    Start the virtual camera

    Press Start Virtual Camera (bottom right). Then, in Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, Discord or TikTok LIVE Studio, choose “OBS Virtual Camera” as your camera and keep your normal microphone. Streaming straight from OBS instead? Press Start Streaming. When you finish, press Stop in RustCam.

Paying for live time

Your wallet pays for live time.

What you pay with
Your RustCam wallet, in your local currency. Add funds from the studio's Access panel (Add funds) by card or crypto.
When you're charged
Only while you're live, per second. Charging starts when the video is live and stops the moment you press Stop.
How long it lasts
The Access panel shows the rate per second and about how many minutes your balance lasts. When it runs out, the session stops and you can add funds and start again.
Receipts
Every payment sends a receipt to your email, and Payments in your account lists them all.
Desktop app
The wallet is only for the web studio. The desktop app uses credits instead, bought in Settings → API keys.
Web or desktop?

What's different.

WebDesktop
Where it runsIn your browser (Chrome, Edge or Safari). Nothing to install.The RustCam Desktop app for Windows 10/11 or Mac.
What you needA free RustCam account.A RustCam account, a desktop licence (one per computer) and an API key.
How you payYour web wallet, in your local currency. Top it up with Add funds.Credits. Buy them in Settings → Billing (or turn on auto top-up), e.g. $10 for a set number of credits. Any service fee is shown before you pay. Credits also pay for RustStudio and RustVoice online.
How time is chargedPer second while you're live, from your wallet.Per second while you're live, from your credits. Credit for a session is set aside when you press Start; what you don't use comes back when you stop.
Your walletUsed for every live second.Not used. It shows as Unlimited in the desktop app.
What you paste inNothing.Your API key (it starts with rck_live_). Create it in Settings → API keys.
Wallet and creditsWallet money can't be turned into credits.Credits can't be moved to the wallet. They're separate.
Try it firstFree demo, no account needed.Try the web demo first.
Best forTrying RustCam, occasional use, any computer.Regular streaming on your own computer, with OBS.
Activity log

Messages while you connect.

After you press Start, the activity log under your video says what's happening. Here's what each message means and what to do.

You seeIt meansWhat to do
Before connectingNetwork check: good (…ms) / fairYour connection is fine for live video.Nothing to do.
Before connectingNetwork check: weak connection (… ms delay)Your connection is slow or far away. It will still try.Pick Low latency mode, close big downloads or uploads, move closer to the Wi-Fi.
Before connectingNetwork check: your connection may block live videoA firewall, VPN or work/school network may stop the video.Turn off the VPN or switch network (mobile hotspot works well), then Start again.
ConnectingStill connecting… / Almost there…Normal. Starting a live session takes about 10–30 seconds.Wait. Don't press Start again.
ConnectingThe live service is busy: you're number N in the queue…Many people are live right now; you're in line.Wait. It connects automatically when it's your turn.
ConnectingThe live service is full; trying again in N s…No free slot this second; it retries by itself.Wait, or try again in a few minutes.
LiveConnected ✓ … Output stream live ✓You're live. Your transformed video shows on the right.Change the prompt or photo any time; no need to reconnect.
LiveYour upload speed is too low for smooth video…Your upload can't keep up with the camera.Close other uploads, move closer to the Wi-Fi, or pick Low latency.
LiveYour connection has high delay… / is dropping data…The video may lag or freeze for a moment.A cable or a closer router helps; try another network if it keeps happening.
LiveYour computer is struggling…Your computer can't send video fast enough.Close other apps and pick Low latency mode.
EndedThe live session was ended because the content broke the usage rules.The image or prompt wasn't allowed.Use a different reference photo or prompt.
EndedYou've used your 1 free demo for today.The free demo is once a day.Create an account and top up your wallet to keep going.
EndedInsufficient wallet balance / Disconnected due to insufficient balanceYour RustCam wallet ran out.Top up in the Access section, then Start again.
Common problems

Quick fixes.

My camera doesn't show

Click the camera icon in the address bar and allow the camera, then reload. Close other apps using the camera (Zoom, Teams, OBS). Setup & help can test your camera.

It says “Insufficient wallet balance”

Your wallet is empty. Press Add funds in the studio's Access panel, pay by card or crypto, and press Start again. You're only charged while live, per second, and charging stops when you press Stop.

My payment went through but the wallet didn't change

Card payments usually show within a minute; crypto waits for the network to confirm. Keep the page open or refresh. If it still hasn't arrived after an hour, contact support with the reference on your receipt.

It's stuck on “connecting”

Starting a live session takes 10–30 seconds; the activity log shows each step, including your place in the queue if the service is busy. If the network check said your connection may block live video, turn off any VPN or switch network. Setup & help can test your connection.

The video looks choppy

Close other video calls and big downloads. A steady upload connection matters most, because your camera is streamed while live.

How do I pay for live time?

In the browser, live time comes from your RustCam wallet, in your local currency, per second while you're live. The desktop app works differently: it uses credits and an API key (see the desktop guide).

Can I use my wallet in the desktop app?

No. The wallet is for the web studio. The desktop app uses credits, bought in Settings → API keys. Wallet money and credits can't be moved between each other.

Still stuck? Setup & help checks your camera and connection and lets you send us a report.

Prefer an app?

RustCam Desktop runs on Windows and Mac with credits and an API key.

Desktop guideCreate account