The Best Social Media Live Streaming Platforms
Video live streaming platforms these days can be categorized into basically two categories. You’ve got on-demand streaming services, which are pre-recorded video content like the shows and movies you watch on sites like Netflix or Hulu. And live streaming (real-time broadcasting) platforms, which are used for broadcasting live videos of gaming, live music, live video chatting, talk shows/podcasts, and other interactive sessions.
Broadcasting live video content via live streaming platforms has literally transformed the way content creators and businesses connect with their audiences! Unlike just video hosting, live streamed video offers the unique advantage of real-time interaction during live videos, so streamers can engage with their audience of viewers through chatting, comments, and visual reactions on platforms like Twitch, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and more.
The global average for online video consumption is 17 hours per viewer, per week (via SocialShepherd), with Millennials watching as much as 21 hours per week (via Statista), including live streaming. And online videos/live streaming in general are reported to have an audience reach of over 92% among internet users worldwide. That’s a very large audience for you and your content to tap into - and you can also monetize that reach by connecting your live streaming platform of choice to a richly-featured ecommerce site like Fourthwall.
Offering features like live chat, donation and tipping tools alongside live video, live streaming has become an essential part of many digital marketing strategies, as well as the main focus of broadcast production for content creators. Many social media platforms have fully embraced live streaming, offering their viewers the chance to broadcast live video in real-time to their followers, fostering immediate engagement.
But with so many live streaming platforms to choose from, picking the one that suits you and your audience best can be challenging, as you sort through each live streaming platform’s ease of use, reach, broadcasting features, monetization opportunities and more. Let’s check out some of the top players on the live streaming scene, so you can find the ones that are the perfect fit for you, your live videos, and your viewers.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Live Streaming Platform
- Audience Reach: Some live streaming platforms cater to more specific viewer demographics than others. For example, Twitch is ideal for gamers of all ages, music fans, and artists/crafters; Instagram Live works well for influencers, Millennials, and shoppers, especially in the 18-44 age range; YouTube has a wide demographic reach, from Boomers up to Millennials and Gen Z; and TikTok is great for both Millennials and Gen Z viewers who enjoy memes and short-form video content.
- Features: Make a shortlist of which live streaming features are important to you, then do some research into which features each live streaming platform offers. Key features you might consider include ease of live video broadcast; interactive elements for your viewers like polls, emotes/emoji, and stickers; high live video resolution; how well the live chat works; and the ability to save streams for later viewing as VODs (video on demand.)
- Monetization Options: If you're looking to make money via your live streaming broadcasts, make sure to check for monetization opportunities like ad revenue, memberships, or donation tools. Platforms like YouTube Live and Facebook Live offer these monetizing options, and Twitch has all of those plus one step further with their own “virtual goods” - Bits, Cheering, and Power-Ups as forms of tipping that viewers can use - that translate into incoming revenue for streamers. Some live streaming platforms also integrate nicely with ecommerce sites like Fourthwall, so you can generate even more income, so double-check for those opportunities, too.
- Cost: Making money from live streaming is great - but not if you’re pouring it all back into your live streaming platform. The cost of live streaming services varies depending on which service you choose. Some live streaming platforms like YouTube Live and Facebook Live are free; some, like Twitch, let you stream for free but take a percentage of your earnings from higher-level features (like viewer subscriptions); while others like Vimeo and Dacast charge for advanced features and higher-quality live video streams.
- Ease of Use: Look for live streaming platforms with an intuitive, well designed interface and options for using on-board tools or external streaming software for your live videos. Whether you're just beginning your live streaming ventures or you’re already an experienced streamer ready to go live, an easy to navigate platform ensures you can focus on creating content and interacting with your audience instead of troubleshooting tech issues.
- Customization: Some live streaming platforms allow more customization than others, such as branded overlays and transitions on your live videos, and engagement tools for viewers in chat. Streamers who want a unique look to their video content should prioritize platforms offering these options, and should also decide if they want to create these components themselves, or look into commissioning a pro artist.
Live Streaming Platforms You Should Try!
There are a number of live streaming platforms on the market, and finding the perfect streaming service for you can be challenging - so we’ve selected some standouts based on features, audience engagement, viewer popularity, and ease of use.
Twitch
Twitch remains the go-to live streaming platform for gamers, musicians, DJs, content creators, artists, and IRL/travel streamers. It’s known for its distinctive chat structure during live video broadcasts, which has since been copied by a number of other live streaming platforms.
Twitch also offers interactive tools, subscriptions, video hosting (VODs), easy integration with streaming software like OBS, and “virtual goods” like Bits and Cheering, via which streamers can earn extra revenue and get the chance to turn their streaming into an actual career. One of Twitch’s most popular content categories is “Just Chatting,” which gives content creators a place to host talk shows, podcasts, or discussion streams for their viewers.
YouTube Live
YouTube Live's streaming service still has some discoverability components to work on (it can be tough finding live channels unless you specifically know a creator that’s going live at a certain time) - but you can broadcast everything from live events and gaming to Q&A sessions on YouTube Live. The platform’s concurrent existence with YouTube’s on-demand video content/video hosting allows streamers to repurpose their live streams, which can then gain them more viewers.
YouTube Live also offers monetization options, including ads, YouTube's own Super Chat and Super Stickers (messages that viewers can pin to the chat window for donations/tips) and YouTube channel memberships, making it suitable for creators looking to build a long-term audience.
Instagram Live
A popular live streaming platform choice for influencers, brands, and content creators, Instagram Live aims at a mobile-first audience, and tends to skew to the Millennial/Gen Z demographic of viewers.
Instagram Live’s key live streaming features include live chat, fun special effects like Superzoom and Boomerang, Co-Hosting with other creators, and the ability to keep your live video and share it on your profile as an Instagram Reel. Instagram Live also has decent discoverability, as Instagram Live streams are often promoted to followers via notifications, which can make it a good tool for your audience growth.
TikTok Live
TikTok offers video content creators an easy way to connect with their audience through TikTok Live, the live streaming component of one of the fastest-growing video content-based social platforms.
It’s also especially popular among Gen Z and millennials, making it ideal for creators, influencers, and businesses targeting younger demographics. TikTok Live supports monetization for streamers in their real-time chat through Live Gifts, and also offers broadcast features like filters and effects, dual cameras, moderation, and multi-guest hosting.
Facebook Live
While Facebook in general skews to a slightly older crowd (Gen X/early Millennials), its live streaming platform, Facebook Live, can still be very effective for broadcasting business-related, community, or casual event streams. You can live stream via the Facebook app on your mobile device, or you can use Facebook’s Live Producer if you prefer to stream using a webcam and streaming software.
Facebook Live’s features include live polls, video hosting, featured links, fan badges, video hosting, and Facebook's "Front Row" feature, where you can highlight your top viewers in a special section of your live broadcast.
Restream
Restream takes a bit of a different approach to live streaming, allowing streamers to broadcast across multiple live streaming platforms simultaneously. If you want to stream on Twitch, YouTube Live, and Facebook Live all at the same time, Restream might just be the platform for you.
It’s great for content creators, gamers, and businesses who want to reach a wider audience without having to worry about coordinating settings and connections for multiple platforms; Restream also offers customization features like overlays and captions.
Vimeo
Vimeo is a standalone pro-grade video hosting and live streaming platform, aimed at businesses and streamers who require high quality, HD broadcasting capabilities. Vimeo offers powerful privacy controls, customizable players, and advanced analytics, making it ideal for webinars, corporate events, and private live streams.
Vimeo helps your streaming ventures via its browser-based “Vimeo production studio” which includes tools for sound mixing, color correction, and more, plus engagement tools for chat and Vimeo's own AI script generator and teleprompter tools.
Dacast
Dacast is a live streaming platform also more geared toward businesses and professionals who need high quality streams. Dacast offers advanced features like secure video hosting; monetization through pay per view, subscription, and Dacast's group pricing options; and 24/7 customer support (for a fee.)
Dacast is ideal for webinars, virtual events, and corporate live streams, for instance letting a representative broadcast live video to the rest of their team. Dacast also offers privacy controls and VOD (video on demand) management, allowing businesses to create a tailored live streaming experience for their audience.
Three Great Live Streaming Integrations
Fourthwall
Fourthwall is an excellent asset to your live streams, allowing creators to monetize their content by selling merch directly to their audience. What sets Fourthwall apart is its seamless integration with live streaming - YouTube Live and YouTube Shopping, TikTok Shop, Twitch Gifting, and more - allowing creators to drop products during live broadcasts.
With fully branded storefronts, custom print on demand merchandise, real-time sales, video content embedding, and the ability to accept tips/donations from viewers via a wide range of payment methods, Fourthwall is perfect for creators, streamers, and influencers, and can really help boost engagement while generating revenue at the same time.
Streamlabs
Streamlabs is a popular platform for streamers that offers a host of tools for hyping up engagement on your live streams. Streamlabs’ features include the Streamlabs Chatbot with custom chat commands, plus alerts and alert themes to recognize tips/subscriptions.
Streamlabs also has a large selection of customizable overlays; and multistreaming broadcast capabilities on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Live. Streamlabs offers its own merch store and donation tools, so streamers can earn even more revenue from their viewers.
StreamElements
StreamElements has similar features to Streamlabs, as a cloud-based live streaming set of tools that integrates with Twitch, YouTube Live, Twitter (X), and Facebook Live.
You can choose from hundreds of on screen overlays and alerts for free - including StreamElements own “Super Themes” - or create your own with StreamElements’ visual editor. Engagement tools and a separate section for brand sponsorships (mostly for smaller streamers) also help boost viewer engagement and revenue.
Ready to Go Live? Get Started with Fourthwall!
Let’s get back to Fourthwall - the perfect tool for monetizing your live streams! Fourthwall lets you create your own ecommerce storefront to monetize your content and sell customized print-on-demand merch, digital files, and so much more.
Fourthwall’s seamless integrations with live streaming platforms and social media - including Twitch, TikTok Shop, YouTube Shopping, and Instagram Shopping - mean that you can sell your merch directly to your audience during broadcasts, so your viewers and fans can engage with your brand and snag some cool stuff while they’re watching your live streams or checking out your video content. Whether you’re an influencer, gamer, musician, artist, or business owner, sign up with Fourthwall, and turn your live streaming into a profitable venture!