Nowadays more and more people every day start streaming their favorite pastime hobbies live, such as gaming, producing music, or even something as simple as working out. Which raises the following question: which is the best Twitch streaming software? What are the ups and downs of all the major ones, and what should your choice be?

PRODUCT NAME

PRODUCT IMAGE

WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

GameShow

Game Show

OBS Studio

OBS

Streamlabs OBS

Streamlabs logo

XSplit GameCaster

Xsplit

VMIX

Vmix

NVIDIA Shadowplay

Nvidia

Wirecast

Wirecast

Bebo

Bebo

FFsplit

​FFSPLIT

Product FAQ

1. What Is Streaming Software?

2. What Does Streaming Software Do?

3. What Do They Offer?

4. How to Get Streaming Software

5. Do I Really Need One?

How We Reviewed

Video Datas


We took a look at nine popular platforms and compared them based on features, pros and cons, price, and what real users think about them.

What We Reviewed

  • GameShow
  • OBS Studio
  • Streamlabs OBS
  • Split GameCaster
  • Streamlabs OBS
  • Vmix
  • NVIDIA Shadowplay
  • Wirecast
  • Bebo
  • FFsplit


GameShow

Game Show

GameShow was the very first program we tested, and after a few minutes, we knew it'd be a part of our list. What does it offer? It provides you with a simple user interface which can be used by both beginner streamers as well as professionals. You can add, customize, and even import previous options you used in OBS Studio. You also have the ability to choose from a pre-existing template and believe us when we say that there is literally a ton of amazing ones.

With logos, donation pop-ups, custom ads, playlists, and anything else you can imagine, GameShow offers it all at the premium price of average price with one free year of updates. The free version comes with an unremovable watermark, so if you want to look professional, we recommend the paid version. It even has the smallest CPU usage out of all the other streaming software on the market. The Streamlabs widget is integrated, and you can record while streaming.

Pros

Cons

  • Pre-existing templates
  • Import options from OBS Studio
  • Easy for beginners
  • The free version comes with an unremovable watermark
  • Updates cost an additional average price per year after the first 12 months (not mandatory)
  • PRICE
  • WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

The paid version costs average price with a year of free updates included


OBS Studio

OBS

The go-to free option for the majority of newcomers and, according to many, the best Twitch streaming software available at the time. Without having to pay a single dime, the user gets access to a variety of options including an unlimited number of scenes and custom scene transitions. Just like most streaming software, OBS Studio has a built-in audio mixer as well as the option simply to record rather than just streaming.

What we found particularly useful was the Studio Mode, which allows you to display how your stream is going to look without having to go live. With the help of another mode called Multiview, you can seamlessly switch through scenes. You can create custom keyboard shortcuts, then streaming will become as easy as pie.

Pros

Cons

  • Completely free
  • Custom keyboard shortcuts
  • Studio Mode and Multiview support
  • The technical upload options might be a bit confusing for beginners
  • Has issues with 4K monitors
  • PRICE
  • WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

You can download it from the site.


Streamlabs OBS

Streamlabs logo

Most people aren't aware that many popular Twitch streamers use Streamlabs including Ninja, Lirik, NightBlue3, and various others. Even though the program is completely free, it is packed with useful and unique features. One of them is the option to combine Twitch chat and up to 3 other windows to the same scene, reducing the software's CPU usage in this way.

In addition, you can select from a vast array of more than 1,000 overlays and include integrated alerts to your stream eliminating any hassle. Last but not least, you get the option to let the audience apply face masks to your live camera feed whenever they donate, thus increasing the potential of people giving money for your stream.

Pros

Cons

  • Integrated alerts and Twitch chat
  • +1,000 overlays
  • Face masks feature
  • Only works on Windows OS
  • Virtual Webcam Output isn't available
  • PRICE
  • WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

You can download from the website.


XSplit GameCaster

Xsplit

As far as paid products go, XSplit Gamecaster is arguably the best Twitch streaming software available. Yes, sometimes quality comes with a price, but if you take into consideration what you get in return, then we think it's worth the money. GameCaster is designed to do everything on your behalf, and by this we mean that the user interface works in a full drag-and-drop fashion.

Apart from easily creating custom scenes and transitions, the bit rate, frame rate, and resolution you're streaming in will all be set automatically according to your PC's specs. XSplit supports all popular capture cards and webcams, which in addition to the in-game overlay, will let you customize anything without having to leave your game. 24/7 support, lifetime updates, and many live chat and stream widgets are all included.

Pros

Cons

  • Drag-and-drop user interface
  • Supports all popular capture cards and webcams
  • Streaming bit rate, frame rate, and resolution are set automatically
  • Not free
  • The number of attachments can take attention away from the actual stream
  • PRICE
  • WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

You can download in the website.


Vmix

vMix

Let's forget about gaming for a while and focus on other types of streams such as talk shows, podcasts, sports, and music production. If you have any of these in mind, then Vmix might be the best Twitch streaming software for you. Some of the best features include simultaneous streaming, recording, and output, virtual set creation with custom camera positioning presets, and real-time chroma key support as well as video delay (slow motion) and instant replays.

You can also have up to 8 remote guests appear in your stream's scene, not to mention that you can even select to input content straight from a web browser. Last but not least, you can take all of this away from your computer as the Vmix Web Controller is supported from touchscreens including the Surface, iPad/iPhone, and Android devices

Pros

Cons

  • Simultaneous streaming, recording, and output
  • Virtual set creation
  • Mobile device integration
  • Not free
  • Not good for gaming
  • PRICE
  • WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

You can download it from the website.


NVIDIA Shadowplay

Nvidia

The Shadowplay initiative was frowned upon when it was originally released, but as time went by, people realized it wasn't bad at all. In fact, it could be the best Twitch streaming software depending on which games you play as not all video game titles are supported by this program.

Taking away the fancy scene transitions and chat integration, Shadowplay packs some other unique features including the ability to save your best highlights or allowing you to record the last 30 seconds of your game play by simply pushing a button. You can even create GIFs to share with your audience on all major streaming platforms and take screenshots. Other than that, there isn't much you can do.

Pros

Cons

  • Great for capturing game highlights
  • GIF creation
  • Last 30 seconds single-button recording
  • Only supports specific games
  • Only works with Nvidia GPUs
  • Limited abilities
  • PRICE
  • WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

You can download it on the website.


Wirecast

Wirecast

Wirecast is very similar to Vmix as it is designed for streaming live events and conferences or talk shows rather than video games. What does this software offer though? Starting off, once again the user interface is very easy to operate as there are tons of pre-existing templates and title styles to choose from. Next up is the ability to record and stream simultaneously while also adjusting live feeds from multiple inputs, guest commenters' windows, and other scenes. A built-in audio mixer in combination with replays, clock timers, and scoreboards in order to produce and stream high-quality concerts, sports events, etc.

Pros

Cons

  • Simple user interface
  • Great for professionals
  • Built-in audio mixer
  • Expensive
  • Not good for streaming video games
  • PRICE
  • WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

This can be found in the website.


BEBO

Bebo

This is a different and unique type of streaming software specifically designed for the youngest ages. If you're under 17 years old and are going to high school or a college at a maximum, then and only then can you take part in the exclusive events of Bebo. This streaming software matches you with other players and streamers, giving you the ability to compete for money prizes and potentially make a name for yourself. It is a relatively new program, but we wanted to include it on our list as this could become the best Twitch streaming software to hit the marketplace. Best of all, it's free.

Pros

Cons

  • Unique idea
  • Designed for younger ages
  • Provides the opportunity to win cash prizes
  • New platform
  • Not allowed for all ages
  • PRICE
  • WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

This can be downloaded in the website.


FFsplit

​FFSPLIT

Another fairly new streaming software, FFsplit doesn't offer many features other than the basic multiple scene streaming. But here is where it excels. Apart from just streaming many scenes at the same time, you can import those scenes from different sources. Once again, the known features are limited, but the project is still in development and will probably become an open-source software in the future.

For now, though, it is a very basic streaming software designed specifically for people who want to stream using inputs from multiple sources. If you're this type of person, then this could become the best Twitch streaming software for you.

Pros

Cons

  • Supports multiple sources
  • Will probably become open-source
  • Free
  • Still in development
  • Limited features
  • PRICE
  • WHERE TO DOWNLOAD

This can be downloaded in the website.

The Verdict - Which Is the Best Twitch Streaming Software?

If we had to pick a single winner, we'd probably go with Streamlabs OBS, as it is based on the OBS Studio framework, fairly enhanced in the features it offers, and is completely free to download and use. But if you need something that can work on both Windows and Mac, then we think that the best Twitch streaming software for you would be the Xsplit Gamecaster, which is a great option for any OS.

It offers tons of features and setting up your stream is going to be easy as pie thanks to the automatic configuration of your stream's bit rate, frame rate, and resolution. If you are a newcomer and want to work with a software that has tons of online reviews and tutorials, then the OBS Studio would be a great and solid choice.