Twitch may be on top in live streaming, but Kick has been making waves since 2023. Now, the question is “What is Kick streaming? Is it better than Twitch?”
We’ll get to the bottom of it. In this article, we’ll share important information about this newcomer, including:
- Kick’s background
- Differences between Kick and Twitch
- What to stream on Kick
- How to stream on Kick
- Popular Twitch streamers who moved to Kick
- Kick’s payment and more
That being said, if you are weighing on Kick streaming platform, make sure that you read until the end.
What Is Kick Streaming?
Kick is a live streaming platform that lets you stream content in real time as a content creator. The platform also allows you to engage with your audience during that live sessions.
Yes, the service works much like Twitch and YouTube Live. Viewers can interact with you as the streamer through Kick’s chat feature and even send tips to show their support.
Kick streaming platform not only provides a place for live broadcasts, but also allows you to save live clips and upload them for on-demand viewing. If you are familiar with popular streaming websites, you will feel at home with Kick.
If you want to earn money from on-demand videos, you should consider checking out Kick. What sets it apart is the attractive 95% revenue share for subscriptions.
Not only that, Kick stands out from other platforms because of its relaxed content moderation policy. This could be one of the reasons why it has gained over 20 million users fast and continues to grow.
xQc joined Kick early. But, Pokimane stayed away because Kick is linked to a betting site that isn’t good for her audience.
Who Owns Kick Streaming?
Tyler Nikman, a streamer known as Trainwreckstv, is said to own the Kick streaming platform. But, he acts more as a non-owner advisor and a regular streamer.
Kick Streaming Pty Ltd runs Kick. And the platform is financially backed by Bijan Tehrani and Ed Craven, the co-founders of the popular betting website Stake.com.
This fact is not a surprise considering the answer to “what is Kick streaming’s stance about gambling?”
But does it mean that this streaming platform limited to just casino and gambling content? Or can you stream any type of content you want?
What to Stream on Kick Streaming Platform?
In May 2024, Kick reached its highest point with 3,868 live channels. This showcased a vibrant and diverse community, offering a variety of content categories for everyone to enjoy on the platform.
- Gaming — A rival to Twitch needs a section for gamers, right? Yes, many of Kick’s videos are about gaming, featuring famous games like Grand Theft Auto, Minecraft, and Fortnite. Top gamers like Ninja and xQc streamed these games and drew in thousands of viewers.
- IRL (In Real Life) — You can show your daily lives and connect with your audience through outdoor activities, travel vlogs, cooking demo, and fitness routines, and more. The most popular category in the IRL is Just Chatting
- Gambling — This category is quite controversial that makes some streamers think twice about going live on Kick streaming app. Unlike Twitch, Kick has a strong Slots & Casino section with up to 152.1 million hours watched in April 2024 alone.
- Music — Musicians, singers, and producers can live stream their performances in the Music category. This involves sharing creative processes and interacting with fans in real-time. Content can range from DJ sets to songwriting sessions and music production tutorials.
- Creative — Streamers can share talents like digital art, painting, crafting, or cooking in this category. For example, BobRossChannel streams painting sessions, and ChefMali provides live cooking tutorials.
- Alternative — The category for content that doesn’t fit regular categories, focusing on unique niches like Cyber Security or Crypto Trading. You can also stream ASMR content if you wish.
Kick vs Twitch: What Are The Differences?
Now that you know what is Kick streaming, let’s go deeper into its differences with Twitch:
Content Regulation
Those who spend a lot of time on Twitch will notice that Kick streaming service’s content categories are pretty much the same. They include gaming, lifestyle, and art among other genres.
However, Twitch has a strong regulation against content that are not work or family-friendly. Particularly, ones that involve nudity and gambling.
These adult matters are not necessarily bad depending on how one views them. Though, it must be noted that according to Statista, Twitch’s 2nd biggest user demography as of May 2022 are those between 16 and 24 years old.
Twitch itself has already prohibited streamers from broadcasting certain gambling activities since October 2022. The platform claims that it takes this action to protect its community from potential harm.
Twitch has also imposed a strict policy that prevents streamers from depicting partial or full nudity since 2020. While it was made for a positive cause, the policy has backfired several times as creators have been incorrectly flagged. These individuals have been either banned temporarily or permanently.
Now, what is Kick streaming’s stance on controversial matters that Twitch prohibits? In contrast to its competitor, Kick allows broadcasts of gambling. What’s more, you can find “slots & casino” on its stream category page.
Kick is also less forbidding when it comes to nudity. Its community guidelines rules out sexual-themed content, but live clips that show partial nudity like pool and hot tub parties are allowed.
Streamer Revenue
Both Twitch and Kick support monetization. One of the main methods on how to make money streaming on both platforms is through viewer subscription.
To start charging the audience with a subscription fee, you need to be an affiliate. So, what is Kick streaming and Twitch’s requirement to become an affiliate?
Twitch demands that you fulfill the following conditions:
- Have streamed for 8 hours
- Have streamed in seven different days
- Have an average of three viewers
- Gain 50 followers
Meanwhile, Kick’s affiliate status comes with the prerequisites below:
- Have streamed for five hours
- Gain 75 followers
With that in mind, you could say that becoming a Kick affiliate is a little easier. However, what really sets the two platforms apart is the revenue split.
Twitch takes 50% of streamers’ subscription revenue, while Kick only asks for 5%. So, if you ask, “what is Kick streaming’s biggest advantage over other platforms?”, the answer is the amount of income users can get from viewer subscription.
Support for Multistream
Another subject that makes Kick streaming service different from Twitch is users’ ability to stream on multiple platforms.
Twitch used to allow multistreaming. In June 2023, however, it stopped doing so. On top of that, the streaming service will take a termination fee of $25 for monetized users who wish to switch platforms.
What is Kick streaming’s policy on multistreaming? Fortunately, Kick does not restrict its creators to broadcast on other streaming services. In fact, it takes the opportunity to take disappointed Twitch streamers in by offering to cover the termination fee.
Who Streams on Kick?
Due to the benefits that Twitch does not offer, Kick has gained 12 million users until July 2023. Some of them are Twitch streamers who you may already know, including:
- Ninja
- xQc
- Amouranth
- GMHikaru
- Adin Ross
- CorinnaKopf
While other prominent content creators switched to Kick for their reasons, there is more to the story for xQc. The streamer, whose real name is Felix Lengyel, was offered $100 million to join the new broadcasting service.
How to Stream on Kick?
Now that you know “what is Kick streaming?”, you might be interested in doing live shows on the platform. Interestingly, broadcasting on Kick is similar to how to stream on Twitch. Here are the steps:
- Visit Kick.com and create an account by clicking on Sign In on the top-right corner.
- Once you are signed in, click your profile on the top-right corner and click Creator Dashboard.
- In the Creator Dashboard, click the Settings tab, look for Stream URL and Stream Key, and copy both.
- Open your live streaming encoder and enter the stream URL and key. To stream on Kick, you need an encoder that supports RTMP protocol, such as URay Coder and OBS Studio.
- Make sure that your output settings are up to your preferences. You may also refer to Kick’s settings for an optimized result.
- Go back to your Creator Dashboard and click Edit stream info. Set the broadcast title, category, and language. You can choose to restrict your live show for mature audiences too. If you are done, click Save.
- Hit the live button on your streaming encoder.
What Is Kick Streaming: Wrap Up
You have learned what is Kick.com in this article. Kick is a new streaming platform that is obviously marketed as an alternative to Twitch.
Even though it has garnered popularity in just six months, Kick is still under development. So, we cannot say whether it has a promising future just yet.
Nevertheless, Kick might be an option for you who:
- Want to be able to earn more from viewer subscriptions. Especially, if you disagree with Twitch’s 50% revenue split.
- Want to stream on more than one platform to reach more audiences.
- Want to be more free with what you wear in front of the camera.
Since the question “what is Kick streaming?” is answered, what do you think about this new platform? Are you interested in joining?
Stay tuned to our Blog for more news and insights about the world of streaming and content creation!
FAQ about Kick Streaming Platform
Is Kick better than Twitch?
Both platforms have pros and cons. Twitch boasts a massive viewership of 140 million monthly users, while Kick offers streamers a more generous revenue split of 95/5. Choose based on what matters most to you as a streamer or viewer.
How do you download the Kick streaming app?
Just like Twitch, Kick is a web-based first streaming platform. However, to get the Kick streaming app, you can download it based on your device’s platform: Android users can find it on the Play Store, iOS users on the Apple Store, and Windows users on the Microsoft Store.
How hard is it to stream on Kick?
Kick streaming platform is like other live streaming platforms. Your success depends on your clear goals as a streamer and a bit of technical skills.
The techincal aspects is relatively easy but the key is to create interesting content, connect with your viewers, and build a community. Since Kick is smaller than Twitch, there’s less competition but also a smaller audience. It’ll take time to grow your audience.
Read More: How to Become a Game Streamer
Is Kick Streaming Safe?
Kick is a safe platform with clear content guidelines. They don’t allow porn, violence, hate speech, fake news, doxxing, bots, scams, terrorism, or any other inappropriate content.
Every channel is properly tagged to make sure the right audience see it. Just keep in mind that some content on Kick is NSFW and gambling content.
How much does Kick pay streamers?
Kick gives streamers a 95/5 revenue split on subscriptions, but your actual earnings may vary. Subscribers, viewer donations, bits, sponsorships, and brand partnerships may affect your earnings.
For example, Trainwreckstv made $16,047.85 a month from 3,470 subscribers. That’s promising, but maybe not for new streamers on Kick.
Is Kick really paying $16 an hour?
There is no official confirmation from Kick as of May 2024. @RawMontanaKick posted a screenshot indicating that streamers might receive $16 per hour weekly in their new creator program. But, that was from 2023.
