Free to Use Overlays – Overview

RaceLab offers a large collection of overlays. Some require a subscription, but a big group of them are completely free to use. This page explains what “free” means in RaceLab, how to recognise free overlays in the app, and which types of overlays most drivers start with.

What “Free to Use” means here Free overlays are available to any RaceLab user without needing a paid subscription. You still need a RaceLab account and the RaceLab app running, but you do not have to pay to unlock these overlays.

1. How to recognise free vs Pro overlays

Inside the RaceLab app and on the RaceLab website, overlays are usually marked clearly:

Free overlays – no “Pro” or subscription icon next to the name. These should work for any logged-in user.
Subscription / Pro overlays – often have a small icon or label indicating that a subscription is required. If you try to use them without a subscription, they may be limited or locked.

If an overlay does not behave as expected, check in the RaceLab app whether it is marked as Pro or subscriber-only before treating it as a bug.

2. Core “free” overlays most drivers use

The exact list can change over time, but most drivers start with a small set of free overlays that cover the basics:

Race information & positioning

Relative – cars directly in front and behind you.
Standings – full session or race leaderboard.
Mini / Compact standings – smaller versions to save space.

Fuel, pit and strategy

Fuel overlays – fuel remaining, laps left, fuel to add.
Stint / run information (where available) – useful in longer races.

Awareness & track knowledge

Radar – cars around you, especially useful in close battles.
Track map or relative map – where each car is on the circuit.

These types of overlays are commonly available in the free part of RaceLab and form the core package for most new users.

3. Free streaming-related overlays

RaceLab also provides overlays aimed at streamers and content creators. Many of these have free versions that work without a subscription.

Examples of free streaming overlays

Chat Overlay – show Twitch chat on screen.
Chat Highlight Overlay – feature a single message.
Chat Race Game / Chat Race Standing overlays – simple chat interaction games.
Custom Text Overlay – for BRB, “stream starting soon” or other messages.
Custom URL Overlay – embed supported external widgets.
Garage Cover Overlay – hide in-game menus while streaming.
Mic Visualizer Overlay – bar or waveform that reacts to your microphone.
Promo Code Overlay – show creator or promo codes on stream.

All of these are explained in more detail on their own pages under “Streaming Overlays – Free to Use” and related sections of this site.

4. Where to find free overlays in the RaceLab app

Open the RaceLab App.
Go to the Layouts section.
Create a new layout or edit an existing one.
Click Add widget to open the overlay list.
Browse through the categories and look for overlays without a Pro or subscription icon.
Hover or click on each overlay to see a short description and decide whether it suits your driving or streaming style.

Tip – build a “Free Starter Layout” Create one layout that uses only free overlays. Once you are happy with it, you can duplicate that layout and later experiment with Pro overlays if you decide to subscribe.

5. Simple starter setup using only free overlays

Here is a common starter combination using only free overlays:

Driving screen:
- Relative overlay – side of screen.
- Standings or mini-standings – top or side.
- Fuel overlay – near your dash or wheel area.
- Radar – lower centre, just above the wheel.
Streaming add-ons (if you stream):
- Chat Overlay – right or left side near your webcam.
- Mic Visualizer Overlay – under your webcam.
- Promo Code Overlay – top or bottom edge as a small banner.

Tip – test one change at a time When you add or remove overlays, do it one at a time and drive a few laps. It is easier to notice whether each overlay is helping or distracting when you change them slowly.

6. Common questions about free overlays

Do I need a subscription to use free overlays?
No. Free overlays should work for any logged-in RaceLab user as long as your account is set up and the app is running correctly.
Can an overlay move from free to Pro later?
RaceLab may change which overlays are free or subscriber-only in future. Always check inside the app to see how overlays are currently marked.
Does using more free overlays reduce FPS?
Performance comes from how many overlays and layouts you run at once, not just whether they are free or Pro. If FPS drops, try reducing the number of active overlays and layouts.
Are free overlays limited compared to Pro ones?
Often the free overlays cover the most common use cases. Pro overlays may add extra features, data or styling options on top of the basics.

Reminder If a free overlay does not load or behaves strangely, first check:

That your sim is properly connected to RaceLab.
That you are using the correct layout URL in OBS or other software.
That the overlay is really marked as free and not Pro-only in the current RaceLab version.

This page was created by a RaceLab community member Scottozy, based on personal experience using RaceLab overlays together with publicly available documentation and community feedback. It is an unofficial help page and is not an official RaceLab publication.

Sources & references

RaceLab – overlay list and free vs subscription indicators in the app.
RaceLab community guidance on recommended free overlays for new users.
Practical testing with free RaceLab overlays in common sim racing setups.