Newbies aspiring to stream may wonder which of the three major platforms is best: Twitch, Kick, or YouTube.
Streaming online has been around as early as the 2000s, but it kicked off in popularity in the late 2010s. Streamer culture began to permeate modern life, from the antics of Kai Cenat to the unabashed squeaks of Ironmouse. These streamers showcased a new form of live entertainment that appealed to millions of people.
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Most streamers weren’t celebrities or even particularly popular figures before they began. Many of them simply decided to start broadcasting their shenanigans. That relatability meant a wave of newcomers to the scene, eager to share their streams with a wider audience. As far as where they’ll stream, there’s a plethora of options.
YouTube is the most popular streaming platform as of 2025.  Although platforms like Twitch and Kick are popular in their own right, YouTube remains the most popular streaming platform. According to StreamsCharts, YouTube boasts over seven million viewers daily across all of its channels. In comparison, Twitch averages two million viewers. From there, it’s a significant jump to Kick, which averages about 400,000 viewers.
The discrepancy can easily be explained by the difference in active users. YouTube is not only the oldest of the three platforms, it’s also the most massive. Global Media Insight claims over 122 million people watch YouTube daily. While not all of those are livestream viewers, the sheer quantity means it will still outclass other platforms in popularity.
That said, total viewership isn’t everything. Just because YouTube has the most viewers doesn’t necessarily make it the best for new streamers.
Twitch is generally considered the best platform for new streamers.  Veteran streamers such as Ludwig Ahgren claim Twitch is generally more friendly towards newer streamers than YouTube. While it’s true YouTube has more viewers, it’s also far more competitive at the bottom.
In addition to other streamers, YouTubers have to contend with everything else uploaded on the platform. Meanwhile, Twitch is more geared towards the streamer, and users report finding new creators is much easier than on YouTube. As for functionalities, most users find Twitch and Kick have the same core features. Ultimately, it boils down to what audience the streamer wants to cater to.
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While Twitch is more user-friendly, newbies shouldn’t feel locked in. It’s practical to have multiple channels for one’s content.
“It is worth multistreaming because you don’t know where you’re gonna succeed,” said Ludwig about multistreaming.
Félix “xQc” Lengyel notably streams on Twitch and Kick. He ranks among the most popular streamers and often collaborates with creators from different platforms. Alternatively, a YouTube channel is great for pre-recorded content and VODs. In this respect, many users agree that YouTube is far superior to other platforms.
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On that note, streamers should check what kind of content is popular on each platform. For example, vtubers tend to find more success on YouTube compared to Twitch. After all, this is where agencies like Hololive and Nijisanji thrive. That’s not to say Twitch is strictly bad for vtubers, but certain policies may make it harder to stream.
Kick offers the best pay relative to individual channel subscriptions, with a 95/5 split in favor of the streamer. That said, there are many factors to consider when understanding potential streaming revenue across multiple platforms.
You need viewers to find your channel to begin with, and YouTube has the most viewers by far. But YouTube also has the most content creators, so while fewer people are watching Kick, there’s also less competition.
It’s also important to remember that most streamers won’t make much money from streaming, if they make any at all. Becoming a financially success streamer can be a real grind, and even if you put in several hours of streaming every day over multiple years, there are no guarantees of success. That said, new streamers are breaking through every day, and it is possible to make money from streaming if you’re able to work your way into being one of those breakthrough content creators.
Ultimately, aspiring streamers have a lot of freedom in approaching their debut. Each platform supports its creators in different ways. While Twitch may be the most user-friendly, other platforms also have something to offer.
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