The Best Live Streaming Platforms for Gamers in 2023

Are you a gaming creator looking to start your live-streaming career in 2023? With so many options available, it can be challenging to choose the best platform to showcase your skills.

There are staple choices like Twitch and YouTube, but if you’re willing to take a chance, new platforms like Kick.com, Facebook Gaming, or TikTok LIVE can offer great opportunities to grow your name as a gaming creator.

To help you gather some inspiration, we’ve put together a list of the best live-streaming platforms for gamers in 2023.

Check this out, so you can decide where you should start your live-streaming career!

How to Choose the Right Platform

When it comes to choosing the right live-streaming platform for gaming, there are a few factors to consider. Here are some key points to keep in mind:

  1. Audience: Consider the type of audience you want to reach. Different platforms attract different types of viewers, so it’s essential to choose a platform that aligns with your target audience.
  2. Monetization: Monetization options can vary from platform to platform. Consider the different ways you can earn money on each platform, such as through ads, sponsorships, donations, and merchandise sales.
  3. Feature: When thinking about feature consideration you might want to consider the discoverability feature of the platform. Other than that, add-ons like the ability to use extensions, 3rd-party app support, and advanced dashboard access, can be another consideration.

Considering these factors, you can choose a platform that aligns with your goals and helps you reach your target audience.

The Best Live Streaming Platforms for Gamers Compared

PlatformsDiscoverabilityCompetitionMonetization
Kick⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Twitch⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
YouTube⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Facebook Gaming⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TikTok LIVE⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Notes

  • Discoverability: More stars mean better
  • Competition: More stars mean harder
  • Monetization: More stars mean better

1. Kick.com

Pros

  • The platform is new, making it easier to be discovered and stand out.
  • Lucrative revenue sharing program with a 90/10 subscription revenue share and 100% donation revenue going to the creator.
  • The requirements to unlock monetization as an affiliate are relatively easy to meet (75 followers and 5 hours of total stream).
  • The user interface is highly similar to popular streaming platforms, making it easier to adapt.

Cons

  • It might be hard to get viewers since the platform is still new and hasn’t reached as many users as other platforms.
  • Promoting your channel outside the platform might be necessary to grow your audience.
  • The platform is still in beta, so there might be some bugs and glitches to deal with.
  • No extension support and minimal 3rd party app support (like chatbot, alert, and more)

Kick.com is a relatively new platform, but it has quickly gained popularity among live streamers and creators.

Backed by popular creator Trainwreck, Kick has been making some noise around the streaming community due to its offering of a substantial revenue share for subscriptions revenue (90% creator 10% Kick) and even giving streamers 100% of the donation revenue.

As the platform is still in beta, there aren’t many features to discuss yet. The Kick interface is highly similar to Twitch, which can make it easier for streamers to adapt if they are coming from that platform.

However, like Twitch, it can also be said that Kick has low discoverability, especially for new creators who are still trying to make a name for themselves in the community.

2. Twitch

twitch logo thumbnail

Pros

  • Staple place to stream gaming content.
  • Diverse monetization options through ad revenue, subscription, and Bits donation.
  • Robust customization through extension and many 3rd-party app support.
  • Custom emotes.
  • Tight-knit community.

Cons

  • Low discoverability; new live streamers need to promote their content outside the platform.
  • High competition due to around 8 million active streamers on the platform.

Twitch has been the go-to platform for gaming live streams for years and for a good reason. It has a massive community of gamers, making it easy to connect with others who share your interests.

Twitch also provides a revenue-sharing program that allows gaming creator to monetize their content and connect with their fans through the subscription system and donations via virtual currency named “Bits”.

In terms of features, Twitch is known for its robust customization that can help gaming streamers increase viewer engagement through “extensions” and support for many third-party apps.

Though with that being said, Twitch is also known for its poor discoverability feature, as the platform primarily focuses on pushing live-stream content to viewers.

Even with the “Clip” feature, Twitch tends to prioritize popular content, making it difficult for new streamers and gaming creators to establish their presence and build their audience.

3. YouTube Live

Pros

  • Strong discoverability aspect as long as you create various types of content like Shorts, long-form pre-recorded videos, or community posts.
  • Diverse content monetization options through ad revenue, membership, and donations via Super Chat, Super Thanks, and Super Stickers.
  • Custom emotes and benefits for membership.

Cons

  • A highly saturated platform, with live-streamers needing to compete with other forms of content.
  • Limited chatbot and extension options.
  • Monetization requirements need a dedicated effort of time and energy (1000 subscribers and 4000 total watch hours or 10M public Shorts views).

As the largest video-sharing platform in the world, YouTube Live is an excellent choice for gamers looking to reach a wide audience. YouTube Live has a built-in audience that you can tap into, making it easy to grow your channel.

It also provides a revenue-sharing program that allows you to monetize your content through ad revenue. Also, you can receive revenue and connect with your fan through “Membership”, and the donation system via a feature named “Super Chat”, and “Super Thanks”.

The best thing about YouTube is that it offers an all-in-one content ecosystem, including short-form vertical “Shorts” and long-form pre-recorded videos, that make it easier for creators to be discovered.

In fact, it is even possible to build a name in the community by only live streaming and creating content on YouTube, thanks to its wide range of content options that you can push on the platform.

Though with all the benefits in terms of content, extensions and third-party apps are not the strongest aspect of YouTube. While you can still have a chatbot and some extensions, the options are quite limited.

4. Facebook Gaming

Pros

  • Strong discoverability aspect through Reels (vertical short-form content), long-form pre-recorded videos, and social platforms like Facebook Groups and Facebook Communities.
  • “Level Up” program is relatively easy to achieve with the requirement of 100 page likes and 4 hours total stream duration on different days within 14 days.

Cons

  • Content monetization options are limited to ad revenue, subscription, and donation through “Stars”.
  • The platform may not be the most optimized for promoting live stream content since Facebook is primarily a social conversation platform.
  • Limited chatbot and extension options available.

Facebook Gaming is also can be considered as a “newer platform” among YouTube or Twitch. But, it has a built-in audience of Facebook social media itself that you can tap into, making it easy to grow your channel.

As for monetization, Facebook Gaming offers a “Level Up” program that allows gaming live streamers to earn money through ad revenue. Additionally, there is community engagement monetization through subscriptions and donations using “Stars” currency.

Growing your live-streaming career on Facebook Gaming is relatively easy since you have all the tools to promote your channel and content on Facebook. In addition to creating content like Reels or long-form pre-recorded videos, Facebook also has social platforms like Facebook Groups and Facebook Communities.

However, like other platforms, the choice of extensions and third-party apps on Facebook Gaming is limited.

5. TikTok LIVE

Pros

  • Strong discoverability aspect, especially with the “For You” Page algorithm that can lead to surprising success
  • Monetization options available through subscriptions and virtual currency donations

Cons

  • Limited chatbot and extension options
  • Requires 1000 followers to start live streaming on TikTok LIVE
  • Limited to vertical format content, which may require extra effort to adjust your layout.

TikTok is a short vertical format video platform that has become increasingly popular among Gen Z gamers. It has a built-in community of young and engaged users, making it easy to connect with others who share your interests.

With the rising demand for live streaming content, TikTok now also allows creators to live stream on its platform. TikTok LIVE allows monetization through the fan engagement system like donations using virtual currency (like Rose or Lion), and a subscription program that gives viewers extra perks.

In terms of discoverability, TikTok itself is known for the “overnight success” that can happen to you as long as you consistently create engaging content.

However, live streaming is not the primary objective of the platform. To begin your live stream journey on TikTok LIVE, you need to first become a TikTok creator with at least 1,000 followers.

Conclusion

In conclusion, when it comes to choosing the best live-streaming platform for gamers in 2023, there are many factors to consider. Each platform offers unique features, customization options, and monetization opportunities.

No matter which platform you choose, remember to engage with your viewers and create content that is unique and engaging. By doing so, you’ll be well on your way to building a loyal audience and growing your channel. Happy streaming!