Want to be a famous streamer? Twitch is the top choice, but now Kick is rising fast, too. Even big names like xQc made the move last year. So, which one should you choose for your first stream? It’s all about Kick vs. Twitch these days.
“But wait, what makes Kick different from Twitch? And why switch when Twitch is already awesome?”
That’s what we’re going to figure out here. We’ll break down all the differences between Kick and Twitch, so you can decide which one’s right for you as a streamer. Let’s get started!
What is Twitch?
Twitch is a live streaming platform, just like YouTube Live, Facebook Gaming, and DLive. While it’s all about video games, you’ll also find music, creative arts, and real-life streams.
It all started in 2007 as Justin.tv, a platform for different types of content. But, in 2011, it rebranded to Twitch.tv and focused on gaming. That’s why it’s the top place for gamers and esports fans now.
Then, in 2014, Amazon bought Twitch for $970 million This investment helped Twitch expand in online entertainment, quickly becoming a favorite among gaming streamers and content creators.
Well, back then, no one had heard of Ninja or Shroud yet. The big names on Twitch were Imaqtpie, known for his chill humor playing League of Legends, and Bacon_Donut, who was all about those modded Minecraft streams.
Read: Facebook Live Stream
Now, What is Kick?
Kick is a new live streaming platform that aims to be more creator-friendly than Twitch. Its subscription earnings split is one of the reasons streamers are drawn to it.
Kick launched in 2022 and grew fast. And by August 2024, it had around 100.5 million monthly monthly visitors. Similar to Twitch, Kick focuses on gaming, but it also offers music, IRL, sports, creative content, and gambling streams.
Some streamers, like Pokimane, steer clear of it. It might be due to some adult content or gambling categories.
But then you have Amouranth, who is also a top Twitch streamer, diving right in and totally crushing it as the most-watched streamer with 422 hours of streaming.
What is the top content on Kick? StreamCharts shows that Just Chatting is still the biggest draw on Kick, followed by Grand Theft Auto V and Casino Slot.
Kick vs. Twitch: Brand Image
We start the Kick vs Twitch difference with the topic of brand image. When Twitch rebranded from Justin.tv, it wanted to be the go-to platform for gaming. But, it later expanded to include music, DJ, ASMR, and real-life streams, making it a platform for all kinds of content once again.
But Twitch is always about community. In their official post, they said: “We were born to take on the entertainment industry in all its forms… Creators are at the center of everything that makes Twitch.”
So yes, everyone’s invited to be the next big thing on Twitch, even new streamers with great content in their own niche.
Kick is a lot like Twitch, but it has its own twist. While it’s all about gaming, you’ll also see that slots and casino games are quite popular there.
Kick is more open to adult content but not nudity, giving creators the freedom to be creative. And it has a green logo with a “Beta” tag, meaning it’s still developing and open to new features based on user feedback.
- Winner: Twitch
Kick vs. Twitch: Audience
A popular platform tends to attract more users, and Twitch is a great example of that. With over 140 million users each month and around 35 million visiting daily. That’s huge!
And dont forget that most Twitch users are young. Over 70% are between 16 and 34, and around 65% are men.
Meanwhile, Kick is still in its early days, so it doesn’t have the same audience as Twitch yet. Each month, it brings in between 1 million and 5 million live users.
And data from SimilarWeb shows that the gender and age distributions for Kick and Twitch are nearly the same.
- Winner: Twitch
Kick vs. Twitch: Content Diversity
Content diversity depends on how a platform handles moderation, right? That’s where Kick and Twitch differ, and you can easily see the difference.
Twitch wants to be inclusive and safe for all users. You can find streams on a wide range of topics, from gaming to music and art. But, streams featuring prohibited games like Sakura Dungeon or nudity are not allowed.
If you want to live stream art like body painting, be sure to label your content correctly and follow Twitch’s Community Guidelines. Otherwise, it could be flagged for review or result in a temporary suspension.
What about Kick? It offers more flexibility for content not allowed on Twitch. But does that mean you can live stream nudity or explicit content on Kick? No.
Their community guidelines say, “Nudity is strictly prohibited in live streams to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all viewers. However, suggestive content that remains within the boundaries of tastefulness and respect is permitted.”
But, surely it has less strict content guidelines, which has helped Kick attract more viewers and channels.
- Winner: Kick
Kick vs. Twitch: Monetization Features
Twitch is a fantastic streaming platform with built-in monetization features. You can earn money on Twitch through its Affiliate and Partner programs via subscriptions, Bits, and ads.
With subscriptions, you can offer special content and perks, like emotes and no ads. You can also make money when followers use Bits, and you can show ads before and during your streams.
On top of these options, you can check out third-party platforms for donations and earn commissions through affiliate marketing. It’s a great way to diversify your income.
Kick offers monetization features like Twitch, the platform is ad-free. This means viewers can enjoy the content without commercials getting in the way, and content creators cannot make money from running ads.
Yes, the approach is that Kick helps creators earn money directly through subscriptions, donations, and memberships. This is great for both new and experienced creators, especially those who have trouble getting noticed on big platforms.
- Winner: Twitch
Kick vs. Twitch: Revenue Split
You can earn money on Twitch through built-in features like subscriptions, Twitch Bits, and ads, or from external sources like affiliate programs. Both ways are promising.
However, the standard revenue split for built-in features is 50-50. So yes, Twitch retains about 50% of subscription revenue. And if you become a top streamer, you might qualify for a 70-30 split.
If that doesn’t quite fit what you’re looking for, you should check out Kick. They give you a nice 95-5 revenue share on subscriptions and donations. This is great for creators who want to earn more.
With Kick, you keep more of your money, which is great, especially if you don’t have a lot of followers.
- Winner: Kick
Kick vs. Twitch: Affiliate and Partner
Kick and Twitch have Affiliate and Partner programs, but their requirements and revenue splits differ.
To become a Twitch Affiliate, you need 50 followers, stream 8 hours on 7 different days, and have an average of 3 viewers in the last 30 days. For the Partner program, you must stream 25 hours on 12 different days and have an average of 75 viewers.
Once eligible and invited, you can earn from subscriptions and Bits. Affiliates get 50% of subscription money, while Partners get 70% and have access to more ad types, earning more from ads.
For newcomers, reaching these targets can be tough. Consistency and quality content are key for growing your followers. Sadly, the 50-50 revenue split may not meet your expectations.
On the other hand, Kick’s Affiliate program is more beginner-friendly. Yes, you need more followers to qualify (75 people). But only 5 hours of streaming are required, with no specific viewer count needed for each session.
And not to mention that Kick offers a better deal, allowing you to keep up to 95% of your earnings.
- Winner: Kick
Kick vs. Twitch: User Interface
The first thing you notice on a streaming platform is its user interface, right? This is true for both Kick and Twitch. They look alike at first, but each offers unique features for users.
Twitch has a light theme as the default. When you access it, you’ll see a mix of live channels picked by Twitch and suggestions based on what you’ve watched.
The left sidebar shows channels you like and follow. At the top, a carousel displays recommended live streams. In the top right corner, Twitch offers options for ad-free viewing, buying Bits, sending messages, and managing notifications.
Kick has a cleaner look with a dark mode and fewer options in the top right. It focuses on category selection at the top, making it easy for users to find their favorite content.
While Twitch boasts a more comprehensive feature set, Kick’s streamlined interface prioritizes a distraction-free viewing experience.
- Winner: Tie
Kick vs. Twitch: Streaming
You know how to stream on Twitch, right? First, choose your streaming software, get your main stream key, and link it to your Twitch account. Then, set up your video and audio sources and output settings.
The same goes for streaming on Kick. You can also use tools like OBS or Streamlabs and find the streaming menu on the Creator Dashboard.
So, what’s different? One of them is the streaming tools. On Kick, you can just find the stream key in the settings, then get the URL and key, or connect with Restream. That’s it.
Twitch, on the other hand, has more third-party options, such as Crowd Control and StreamElements. Additionally, it offers better mobile broadcasting options, including Omlet Arcade and Muxy. You can access all of these from the Streaming Tools menu.
- Winner: Twitch
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Kick vs. Twitch: Engagement Features
Kick and Twitch have great features for viewers to interact. They offer chat for real-time talk, emotes to show feelings, and subscriptions to support creators.
Both platforms let viewers back their favorite content. Twitch has a feature called Bits. Viewers buy Bits to cheer for streamers. Kick uses a third-party service for donations, giving viewers another way to show support.
Twitch has a menu for streaming together. Kick can do this too, but it needs a few extra steps. Twitch also has better polls than Kick, a tool for getting viewer opinions and creating engagement.
They also feature raids, which let streamers direct their audience to another channel. This builds a friendly community and makes streaming more enjoyable for all.
With Kick and Twitch, viewers can use emotes to show their feelings in chat. But, Twitch has better custom animations that Kick does not have.
- Winner: Twitch
Kick vs. Twitch: Simulcasting
Simulcasting is streaming your content on multiple platforms at once. This allows you to reach more viewers across different services.
For example, you can stream live on both Twitch and YouTube to let your fans pick their preferred platform while enjoying the same content.
Twitch has updated its policies to allow simulcasting. This is likely in response to complaints from popular streamers like Ninja. The platform wants to attract and retain more viewers, positioning itself as the top choice for live streaming.
However, there are restrictions: streamers can’t direct viewers to other platforms during their streams, Twitch must provide equal or better streaming quality than competitors, and chats from different platforms can’t be mixed.
As for Kick, there are no specific guidelines against simulcasting, so you can use streaming software like Restream to set it up.
- Winner: Tie
Kick or Twitch? Which Streaming Platform is Your Choice?
Kick and Twitch are both great streaming platforms. But, the best choice for you really depends on your needs and preferences.
We’ve highlighted the differences to help you decide on your first streams. Remember, Twitch has been around since 2007, while Kick just started in 2022.
This will surely impact your audience, competition, platform stability, and brand image. If you want an easier start with a 95-5 revenue split, Kick is a good choice. But if you care more about streaming features, brand recognition, and accessibility, then Twitch is the best option.
And don’t forget that if you’re looking to earn money through a third-party platform, consider Gank. You can sign up for free and access benefits like membership tools, donation options, and commissions for special fan requests. Want to try it?
