While YouTube is a go-to destination for streaming videos, they lack one thing. Live gaming feeds. This is where Twitch comes into play as they have found the gap in the market that millions were craving for. Today, we’re outlining the best Twitch Streaming Software.
With 140 million active streams and 2.2 million broadcasters, Twitch is one of the best platforms to share your livestream, whether that be Counter Strike to Fortnite.
To get started, you will first want to invest in a streaming software that will make your videos look professional and clean. Luckily for you, I have researched and reviewed some of the best twitch streaming software options available so you can start your channel in no time! Let’s get stuck in!
Top 10 Best Twitch Streaming Software Options
1. Streamlabs OBS
OBS Studio has a cult following and is revered among the online community. Since the release of Streamlabs OBS this has changed. The streaming option is swiftly taking away portions of the OBS Studio’s userbase. With this software, you can think of OBS Studio but with a simpler interface.
- Free or Prime
- Maintains integrated features found in OBS Studio
- Allows connection with Streamlabs account
- Simpler interface, especially for novice users
The user interface is the biggest change you’ll notice when you use Streamlabs OBS. The software is extremely easy to understand. The company claims that the software provides improve performance over its counterpart. The variety of customizable features and overall ease of use make it a fantastic Twitch streaming software option.
The software requires a lot of CPU Usage which occasionally makes the software buggy. There is a also little bit of a learning curve if you’re switching over from OBS.
2. OBS Studio
Dubbed as the most powerful free screen recorder, the software tops our list of best twitch streaming software options. OBS Studio gives you the possibility of recording videos directly from the webcam and mic. At the same time, you can add clips from games within a portion of the screen. The major features include:
- Open source and free
- Split window functionality for accommodating multiple media sources
- Supports Twitch, YouTube, Livecoding.tv, and other big names
- Classic interface that gets fluid with usage
- Tabs separate each major functionality, e.g. audio, video, screen recording.
OBS Studio can bring you closer to your dreams of becoming a proper broadcaster in the online community. You can record and/or live stream footage from your screen, feed from your webcam/mic and mix it. The software is free and gets regular updates from the open source community. If required, you can even direct your stream to multiple sharing platforms at the same time.
For new entrants into the streaming market, the interface may be a bit too old and classic. However, there’s good logic behind this. Everything is laid out clearly and upon repeated usage, you can easily get the hang of it.
3. NVIDIA Shadowplay
Shadowplay is an easy way to record and share your gameplays with the online community. For gamers who have a GeForce Graphics Card, the software comes bundled along with the drivers. The software has been built primarily for recording videos rather than streaming it, however, it does support the latter. The major features are:
- Free
- Encodes in the GPU rather than the CPU (Kepler’s H.264 video encoder)
- No overlays
- Hotkeys to save exciting moments within gameplay
- Supports Facebook Live, Twitch and YouTube Live
NVIDIA Shadowplay is hardware accelerated, meaning it makes use of the GPU rather than the CPU. This results in lesser performance overhead. The software’s DVR-style replay mode automatically records any amazing stunt. The recording can be saved to your hard drive or shared to Twitch. You can capture GIFs and 4K Screenshots from your video stream, add text to it and upload it. Do all this, without leaving the game.
The software’s true strength lies within recording videos rather than streaming gameplay. Since the software uses GPU, you may be forced to lower your game performance settings. Also note that notebook GPUs are not supported at the moment.
4. Bebo
Third on our list of best twitch streaming software options, Bebo is the new kid on the block. The software is still under development and the features are far from OBS Studio. If you want to pair some good music for your stream, you should check out my post on the best YouTube to MP3 converters!
- Free
- Clean and understandable novice user interface
- Contains streaming, chat, donations, etc. all in one place
- Offers 24/7 Developer support
- Supports Twitch, Facebook and YouTube
Bebo simplifies the complexities of OBS Studio and presents them in a neat user interface. All the features are integrated with one-another, and if required live chat is available 24/7. This makes it a good choice for novice users.
There have been complaints of high CPU usage since the product is still in Alpha testing stage. Furthermore, the catalog for supported titles is limited. In retrospect, OBS Studio supports streaming any full-screen game you want.
Bebo is both easy to set up and use, which is why it didn’t take long for it to become one of the top streaming softwares. It also allows you to Desktop Capture, Game Capture, use your Webcam, and speak into your Microphone.
A special feature of Bebo is its built-in alert system, which can be utilized for all different purposes. Bebo also lets you conveniently make payments through Paypal.
5. Xsplit Gamecaster
Xsplit Gamecaster is a Twitch streaming option, that does sport excellent features but at a price. The initial version of the software is free, however, for users seeking more advanced features, a price tag is applied. The Gamecaster is a gaming version of the parent Xsplit Broadcaster. With every passing week, developers have added new features to the software, bringing it at par with its competitors.
The features are abundant for a beginner to get started.
- Free version available
- Streamlined interface with straightforward learning curve
- Gets started with the push of a button
- Supports Twitch, Facebook Live and YouTube Live
- Streams above 720px carry Xsplit watermark, requiring payment for removal
The interface is the most highlighted feature of the software. Neat and uncomplicated, you can easily set up the software or high-quality gameplays. The software can be fired up with a combination of keys. In-game features include overlays, streamlined encoding and social network sharing. For instance, during gameplay you can use the pen tool to highlight certain parts of the screen.
For those who are unaware of advanced broadcast practices, Gamecaster is a good place to begin.
The resolution ranges from 240p to 1080p full HD. However, the bad news is you go as high as 720p, that too with a watermark. Above that you’ll need to pay a fee, starting from US$4.17/month. There have also been reports that the Gamecaster doesn’t support some older games.
6. Wirecast
With Wirecast, you can turn your laptop or computer into a TV studio, churning out live streams, webinars, training videos and much more. You can basically do anything that a news network can. From multiple talking heads to mixing together live feeds along with multiple scenes. There have been instances where people have carried out interviews through Wirecast.
Let’s take a look at the features first:
- Initial tutorials go get you up and running
- Uses “Templates” to initiate streaming
- Allows sharing webcame + desktop at the same time
- Tight integration with social media
- $449 price tag
Before you get obsessed with the $449 price tag, you must be aware that the software is extremely powerful. You get a video production tool through which you can mix multiple inputs, add transitions, titles and other effects. This can then be broadcasted to live streaming services such as Twitch. In addition, Wirecast can serve multiprotocol streams as well to iPhone, Flash and IPTV set-top boxes.
You’ll need to put in a couple of hours to get the basic idea of the interface. At times you may need extra effort, which would be useless if your sole purpose is streaming your gameplay. The software is ill-suited for novice users, especially if they’re looking for something that’s free.
Wirecast supports multiple cameras at once, offers excellent screen transitions, and amazing 3D graphics! This is undoubtedly one of the best softwares out there. Wirecast also supports Chroma Key, otherwise known as ‘green screen,’ which is great if you want some privacy!
7. Gameshow
Its often said: don’t stream from a Mac unless you’re using Gameshow. The software follows the paid subscription models and offers a slightly toned down, yet easy to understand version of OBS. Reviews from users have put it in positive light.
- Free version available
- Contains inbuilt templates and widgets
- Allows customization
- Records in HD
- Supports YouTube, Hitbox and Twitch
Gameshow has shown a lot of potential but is often sidelined due to the accompanying price tag. Gameshow is a much cheaper alternative to the Xsplit Broadcaster. The software has built-in noise reduction that cancels out background noise as you play. It may take a bit of trial and error; however, you can fine-tune the experience to suit your needs.
You may import scenes from OBS with a few clicks. Lastly, Gameshow has a couple of useful tools such as Twitter feed and Streamlabs alerts. You can also easily add logo and other overlays to the stream to make the stream more customized.
With the free version you can record and stream videos up to 720p/30fps for 30 seconds. After this the company’s logo takes over the screen, growing from the bottom corner.
Regarding the price, Gameshow is definitely a cheaper option than many other streaming softwares. But, as mentioned earlier, there is a good, free version available unless you are a professional who needs a specific kind of layout.
The only issue with the free version is the aforementioned watermark that appears on your screen every once in a while. The mark can get quite annoying, but, if you can get past that, the software is pretty solid.
The professional version is around $60 per year, which shouldn’t hurt your pocket too much, especially given the host of minor inconveniences you’ll be avoiding. Either way, it is completely up to you when it comes to which version you want to use.
8. LightStream
With LightStream, you get a powerful and intuitive streaming solution within your browser. The product is free and is backed by an extremely dedicated team that wants to revolutionize web streaming. Major features that are offered are:
- Absolutely free
- Supports Google Chrome only
- Allows addition of guests to the stream with a single click
- Has a desktop client for addition of layers from PC
- Supports 720p recording at 30/60fps
First and foremost, LightStream requires no downloads. By simply visiting your browser’s app store, you can get the extension and go live in under 60 seconds. If you want, you can engage in the technicalities, but it is not necessary. It has been claimed by the company that they deliver better performance at 720p resolution compared to their counterparts. These include OBS, Xsplit and Gameshow!
For adding layers from the PC, you can install the desktop client as well.
If you want to add other people to your feed, simple send them a link and they’ll be in it! Finally, the support aspect has been very carefully catered for. A chat support team is always available if you run into any glitches.
You would have to switch over to Google Chrome if you use some other web browser. The software also requires a stable internet connection with at least 750 kb/sec upload speed.
9. vMix
vMix is built along the same lines as Wirecast, i.e. to turn your computer into a broadcasting station. In a nutshell, this is an efficient production tool that allows streaming SD, HD and 4K content.
Key features are as follows:
- Free and paid version available
- Has the capability to process multiple inputs with various file formats simultaneously
- Offers 13 transition effects
- Contains a 3D acceleration package
- Offers multi-view capabilities with live video effects
With the software, you can take your streaming game to a whole new level. If you’re someone who wishes to broadcast entire gaming tournaments, then vMix can be a suitable choice. There’s a free 60-day trial available after which you’ll have to pay to use the product.
During these 60 days you can experiment with features such as 4K inputs/outputs, lower 3rds, VLC streaming, instant replays, desktop capture, etc.
The product is being constantly updated by its team, and new features are added every time a version is released.
Updates are completely free for an entire year. Once that luxury is no longer available, you can upgrade to a better version by paying the difference between your current version and the one that you want to upgrade to.
This software is only available for Windows. However, if you are an iOS user, you can run it through Boot Camp. Boot Camp is an option provided by Apple, Inc., so that their users can access Windows-only programs seamlessly. The software is well-developed, so you can take complete advantage of it without worrying about damage to your hard drive.
Moreover, it offers amazing 24×7 customer support. To back this up, a lot of user reviews state that the platform is reliable and makes good on its promises. Also, you do not need to enter your credit card information to purchase it because there are alternative payment methods available (for example, Paypal).
vMix was one of the first softwares to bring video conferencing to the table. Using the vMix Call option, anyone can join the stream by simply using their mobile phone. The call is then incorporated in live production since everything that takes place on the streaming platform is live.
Not only do you have the option to tune in from your phone, but you can also access an option called vMix Social. In a time when our lives are being consumed by social media, Twitch streamers use other platforms to communicate as well. Now you can connect your personal social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, to the streaming platform and show content and comments with ease!
For new users, the interface would come across as extremely daunting. Therefore, you should stay away from it unless you’re a professional and are willing to pay for it.
10. FFsplit
Our list of best twitch streaming options is rejuvenated by FFsplit, a free software that brings decent features to the table for enthusiasts. FFsplit is seen as a free alternative to Xsplit, and while it still lacks the features-set, it is bound to catch up.
Main features are as follows:
- Free
- Allows simultaneous broadcasting to multiple services at a time
- Leaves a light resource footprint
- Clean interface for novice users
- Windows only
You’ll never have to pay to use the software. The statement is becoming increasingly rare as more software switch to subscription models. There is also a possibility of the software going open-source thus, bringing in greater support from the community. The interface has been liked by the gamer community and suitable for beginners.
The software is still in early stage of development. FFsplit lacks features such as rotate, pan, crop and zoom. In addition, there’s also no color, gamma adjustment and de-interlacing, something that is taken for granted within tools such as OBS Studio.
Furthermore, you can only run the software on Windows. There’s no support even for Linux.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully my guide on the best twitch streaming software options has been helpful! If I have missed any good alternatives, please let me know as I plan on updating this article in the future.
When it comes down to it, any of these providers will be a good option for gamers start their new channel. You can also see my post on what gear Disrespect uses. Thanks for reading!
Steven Jones says
Wow this list is amazing! Before, I am only using a screen recorder to do this task. With Acethinker Free Screen Recorder Online, I can record my gameplay with ease. But thanks to your recommendations, I think some of them are good so I will definitely try them!
Ashley Jones says
Thank you So much I was so frustrated i could’nt find on how to use my web cam saw your video on youtube and it helped . thank you again. I have an asus computer as well and it is not a easy computer to navigate through.
Ashley Jones says
Thank you! I needed to send pictures for medical purposes, and your advice was much appreciated. I cannot believe they haven’t come further in 2014, technologically, speaking user-friendliness. Can here mention that Logitech web-cam has the same software problems as in .