Streaming to Twitch requires a few prerequisites, one of which is decent streaming software. When it comes to affordable Twitch streaming software that is really worth using, the options are few. The most famous of these are OBS, Streamlabs and XSplit
For those new to Twitch streaming, these names may seem foreign. Each of these names is recognizable in the Twitch community and will be your top pick when it comes to streaming on the platform.
Others are available, but these three are usually the most well-known options. This article will help you quickly get to grips with which options we think are the best Twitch streaming software for Windows and Mac.
Best Twitch Streaming Software for Windows and Mac
For the software to be considered the best for streaming Twitch, it needs to be easy to use, have all the essential features you need when streaming, and allow you to get the best quality from your streams. All programs listed in the first paragraph have each of these attributes.
But which one is the best for Windows? Which one for macOS? We’ll answer both of these questions in detail, provide an installation guide, and list the reasons why you should choose them above all others.
Best Twitch Streaming Software for Windows
When it comes to PC streaming to Twitch, there is no definite answer. Streamlabs, OBS, and Xsplit work pretty well on most platforms. In what way they differ, it is most logical why you chose one over the other.
Streamlabs was specifically designed for use with Twitch (although it can be used for most platforms) as it has many different ways to enable further interaction with your audience. Streamlabs was also developed by the same studio as OBS.
So, looking at this from a different perspective, your choice really comes down to the Twitch-adapted version of OBS versus Xsplit. When it comes to ease of use, Xsplit really takes the crown. However, in all other respects, we must give the victory to Streamlabs.
Features
Streamlabs comes with a range of features available to help create the perfect interactive streaming environment. You will receive integrated alerts along with built-in chat to enhance engagement with your audience. There is an automatic tweet feature that lets your followers know when you’re going to air, and unique threads to spice up your stream.
Streamlabs is free and open source software, which means that you and many other creators can create your own Streamlabs apps and modifications and submit them to the Streamlabs app store. Streamlabs is without a doubt the best option for streaming and interactivity for streaming.
How to install
To download and install Streamlabs OBS:
- Go to the official website and hit the big green download button on the home page.
- Once downloaded, run the Streamlabs installer and click “Yes” in the User Account Control window to get started.
- Follow the on-screen instructions of the installation wizard to complete the process.
Initial setup
- First, you will be prompted to sign in to your streaming account.
- You need to log into your Twitch account and allow Streamlabs to access your account.
- After logging in, if you’ve used OBS before, you will be prompted to import your profile. This is a great feature that allows you to import all scenes set up in OBS into Streamlabs exactly as they were.
- For those without a previous OBS profile, click the Start Over button.
- Then set up your microphone and webcam (if you have one).
- Add topic.
- Then Streamlabs will try to optimize your stream settings as best as possible.
- After optimization, you will be prompted to enable multithreading. This is only important if you plan to stream from multiple platforms. We’ll skip this for now.
- Finally, you will be presented with the Streamlabs OBS editor, which looks almost identical to the standard OBS editor.
- Add sources by clicking the + sign above the source list.
- The settings menu is relatively self-explanatory, so making any changes to the optimized settings provided by Streamlabs should be straightforward and not too problematic.
- Experiment with some features, such as the layout editor and toolbar, to make your stream stand out from others before clicking the “Go Live” button.
Best Twitch Streaming Software for MacOS
MacOS is like the red-haired stepson of the gaming world. He is often neglected, disliked and neglected. Even Linux has received more and more attention in gaming in recent years. It’s the same with Twitch streaming software. The choices are extremely limited, but luckily OBS still exists.
Previously, you had to install Bootstrap in order to use OBS on Mac. Not anymore. OBS now provides direct download and installation of an executable file for macOS users. Unfortunately, his version of Streamlabs is currently not available for macOS. Although it currently supports iOS, there is still hope for the future.
Features
All the same features as Streamlabs, except for interactive widgets, topics and chat. You will still have access to a high-performance real-time video / audio recording system, an intuitive audio mixer, and an easy-to-use layout.
How to install
- Go to the official website and click the macOS 10.12+ button (or whatever version is current).
- Similarly, once the .pkg file has been downloaded, start the OBS installation and walk through the on-screen installation wizard.
- You may need to enter your administrator password to complete the installation.
Initial Installation
- When you start the OBS Studio software for the first time, you are asked if you want to run the Automatic Configuration Wizard. This will try to optimize OBS for maximum performance. We suggest you choose “Yes”.
- You will then be asked if you want to optimize more for streaming or recording. Since this article is about streaming, we chose this option.
- Select the desired video settings in the next window.
- Then select the service from which you will stream. Some services may require a stream key, which you can obtain by selecting Get Stream Key.
- You will then be redirected to log into your account, which will take you to where the stream key is
- Copy the stream key and paste it into the area provided by OBS.
You will now be able to stream directly to Twitch every time you launch OBS.
- You can create scenes by clicking the + icon and selecting program windows.
- When you’re ready to stream, click the Start Streaming button.
You are now ready to stream to Twitch using the best software available. If you have any thoughts or questions regarding the article, feel free to leave comments below.
–