If you want your content to go live on Twitch in high quality, then you definitely need streaming software. Most streaming platforms allow you to stream live videos, interact with live viewers, receive payments, and do a lot more. The thing is, all streaming software offers the same basic features. However, some providers have unique offerings that are exclusive to their platform and customers. More than that, every piece of software has pros and cons depending on the use case and problems you are trying to solve. Now, you might be wondering, “What software do I need to stream on Twitch?” We’ve got your back, don’t worry. For those who are lost on how to choose a streaming service for a Mac or Windows computer, this article will introduce six of the best software tools for streaming on Twitch.
What Is the Best Live Streaming Software for Twitch in 2021?
Twitch Studio
Twitch Studio is an easy-to-use streaming platform. It offers dozens of fully customizable templates, and you can choose any of them if you want to go live quickly. Twitch Studio’s guided setup will automatically detect your hardware, including your webcam and microphone, and even your streaming bitrate. So, if you are a first-time streamer, you don’t need to go through the stress of configuring everything yourself. You can set up alerts for subscribers and followers or create other custom Twitch alerts using the tool’s free and stylish built-in notification system. Streaming on Twitch Studio may not be as customizable as on other streaming platforms, but it's great for those who want to set up things and push content live as quickly as possible.
OBS Studio
OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) Studio is an open-source streaming platform that runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. It is one of the most popular streaming platforms because it not only lets you stream to Twitch but also allows you to broadcast to Facebook Live, YouTube, DailyMotion, and more. With OBS Studio’s Multiview feature, you can plan ahead and switch between scenes to prepare your stream for different segments. By using Studio mode, you are able to edit and preview scenes in real time. In addition, OBS Studio provides APIs that advanced users can use to incorporate customized features into their live streams. Although OBS Studio comes with a lot of configuration flexibility, the platform might seem complex to first-time streamers.
XSplit Broadcaster
People think of XSplit as a screen recorder, but it is so much more. XSplit Broadcaster is a fully functional production studio integrated into one live streaming platform that can be used by anyone. Many organizations, gamers, event organizers, and teams rely on XSplit to power their live streams because of the platform’s stellar track record and 24/7 customer support service. The platform has a dedicated support service that is only available in the premium version.
XSplit Broadcaster allows you to stream to Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook Live, and many other platforms. The interface is highly intuitive, allowing you to arrange multiple sources into your stream by dragging and dropping. Your setups can be saved as scenes, and you can switch between them within the same stream in real time. If you are a new streamer who only wants to stream one or two videos, you might be OK with the free version, which lets you use up to four scenes. However, power streamers who might want a lot of advanced customization will love the premium version.
Streamlabs
Streamlabs is straightforward streaming software that is easy to set up and manage. The platform works just like OBS Studio and XSplit broadcaster, allowing you to stream to Twitch, Facebook Live, and YouTube on the fly. The chat function and the event list are all integrated into one place, so you know exactly what is happening as you stream. More than that, it’s very easy to interact with your viewers on Streamlabs. You can share your goals with your audience, you can celebrate subscribers, and you can even receive donations. Aside from these features, Streamlabs provides hundreds of themes and overlays that give you more control and allow you to set up your streams as quickly as possible.
vMix
This service makes it easy for anyone to go live on Twitch and many other platforms. vMix is live streaming software that runs on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 and lets you publish live streams directly to the internet. It is an ideal solution for all use cases—whether you're streaming webcasts, producing live concerts, or broadcasting sporting events. vMix offers premier live video production software that allows switching, recording, live mixing, and live streaming of SD, full HD and 4K video sources, including cameras, videos, PPT, etc. You can choose from vMix’s 13 beautiful transition effects and a wide range of built-in templates and process inputs in multiple file formats. But with all this advanced functionality, vMix needs high-spec PCs to run smoothly.
Lightstream
Lightstream is a complete live streaming suite that you can use right in your browser—you don’t even have to download any piece of software. It is a powerful web-streaming solution that reduces the strain on your hardware by handling a large portion of your stream encoding in the cloud. Lightstream lets you go live within minutes and deliver professional live streams. The drag-and-drop editor allows you to customize your show, edit unlimited projects, and create multiple scenes.
Lightstream lets you create interactive alerts and widgets to engage with your live audience. You can also invite guests to join you for interviews, panels, podcasts, and more. With a single link in their browser, they can join you live, share their screen and use other cool features. It is a cloud-based tool, so you can access it from anywhere and have all your settings intact and accessible. You can control your stream completely from your mobile: you can alter scenes, start a stream, and stop it using Lightstream's remote control functionality. The premium version allows you to go live in headless mode without Lightstream running, but all your layers will be automatically added.
Conclusion
While it may seem difficult to select the right streaming software, as you have seen, there are plenty of options available that can meet your needs.
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Hopefully, we have been able to give you a good overview of some of the most popular streaming software products in 2021. If you have any further questions to ask or additional streaming software suggestions to offer, let us know. Simply use the comment box below.
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