Name: Streamlabs
Brand: Streamlabs

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The potential of online live streaming has been recognized over time, and live video content is no longer a new concept. The gaming industry has been linked to the popularity of live streaming in the entertainment industry, with a top platform like Twitch accumulating 5.65 billion hours of video content streamed in the second quarter of 2022.

Streamlabs was created for both professional and novice creators to go live and grow their audience. It was designed to help streamers interact with their audience in new ways, improve the aesthetic of live streaming, and also earn incentives.

This article reviews how streamlabs works, its top features, and how to get started.

What Is Streamlabs

Streamlabs is a cloud-based live streaming app created in 2014 to help users broadcast personalized content across multiple social media platforms in real-time. The cloud-based platform offers a dashboard that allows users to select themes or stream overlays from its built-in library.

Although Streamlab is built on the open broadcast software (OBS) engine, it offers a simplified version of the OBS design. This brilliant tool, designed with streamers in mind, offers various features that improve the visual appeal of people’s streams and boost viewer engagement.

Streamlabs OBS and other Streamlabs services are free to use on Windows and macOS. There are also mobile applications for iOS and Android, allowing creators to live stream and chat with participants remotely.

Streamlabs Prime, a premium upgrade, is full of extra features and tools that can enhance users’ stream channels. For a fee, users can multi-stream, access all of the apps in the Streamlabs app store, use hundreds of custom overlays, and receive other benefits.

Individuals can use the Alert Box widget to display pop-up alerts for new subscriptions, followers, participants, or donations during live streams. It also permits users to display the total number of viewers on each platform and add rolling credits at the end of live streams.

Streamlabs enables the addition of gaming tools to streams, enhances audience participation, and improves viewers’ overall experience. The software also helps content creators to apply the media sharing widget to enable song or video requests from viewers and play them amid the live stream.

Streamlabs is compatible with practically all widely used streaming services, including Twitch, Facebook Gaming, and YouTube.

The Streamlabs OBS checks all the appropriate boxes: it’s easy to use, free to download, and doesn’t require any technical knowledge. It is more user-friendly than the main OBS and just as versatile. The app is also user-friendly; users can quickly learn how to use Streamlabs.

Visit Streamlabs

How Does Streamlabs Work

Streamlabs is an open-source project powered by the OBS engine. Users will receive a highly reliable stream from this source; however, this broadcast requires a stable connection to use the necessary bandwidth.

Streamlabs Desktop offers a tool that automatically scans users’ internet speed and computer hardware to give the recommended settings for the specific setup, which is ideal for live streamers just starting in the field. It’s a great way to start without fussing about smaller aspects.

Streamers’ live broadcasts may run poorly if the settings are set too high for the hardware of their machine. Users who are more technically savvy can change these settings independently.

An important setting for users is the encoder. The encoder converts video files from one format to another. It takes the raw feed from a camera and converts it into viewable content on a user’s main live streaming station. There are two encoders: Software (x264) and Hardware (NVENC). While hardware encoders like NVENC offload the encoding operation to the graphic processing unit (GPU), software encoders like x264 use the streamers’ central processing unit (CPU) to encode video.

GPU-based encoders’ output quality at a given bitrate won’t be as good as software encoders’. However, they have the benefit of a lighter load on a user’s CPU.

Streamers should consider employing a hardware encoder if they have an especially powerful GPU or a computer specifically designed for streaming. As long as the CPU isn’t unduly strained in other places, the software encoder (x264) should manage the encoding operation.

Pros of Streamlabs

Similar to every platform, Streamlabs has strengths and weaknesses. Here are the pros of Streamlabs:

Ease of Use

Streamlabs offers a fantastic user experience and helps users to set up a live broadcast. Simple integration with other services is available thanks to its adaptability, ease of live streaming, and ability to let the platform control all technical aspects with a single button.

The software’s user interface is user-friendly because it offers a place to add widgets where users can put things like chat, channel goals, and objectives. It’s a non-technical OBS.

Customization

The software has several customizable features. Users may customize their stream or recording in various ways. Streamlabs also offers third-party applications that users can install to access even more options, themes, icons, and other customization settings.

Users can connect to YouTube, Twitch, Mixer, and other streaming services and add various audio and video sources.

Mobile App

On Twitch, the use of mobile devices to run live streams has been rising quickly. The pricey requirement for a decent computer, camera, and mic equipment to handle running games and a Twitch stream no longer applies.

Mobile games have become more immersive, and the newest iPhone and Android phones have amazing cameras. The mobile app makes it easy for users to access or even control their Streamlab desktop app from their mobile devices.

Monetization

Every platform offers different opportunities for making money. For instance, Bits, Subscriptions, and Ads are the three ways that Twitch Affiliates and Partners can make money. Super Chat, Super Stickers, channel memberships, and ad income are all ways that YouTube Partner Program participants can earn.

In-stream advertisements, fan subscriptions, commercial partnerships, and Stars are ways for streamers who qualify for Facebook monetization to earn. LIVE Gifts are available during streams for creators that are a part of the TikTok “Creator Next” program. Also, subscriptions and Spells are ways Trovo producers can make money.

Cons of Streamlabs

Here are the pros of Streamlabs:

Requires More CPU Usage

Streamlabs use excessive CPU power, overloading users’ computers. Therefore, a user must have a reasonably powerful computer to avoid streaming problems.

Multiple Bugs

Bugs from app updates sometimes cause the microphone and video to cut out, and these issues can only be fixed by restarting the program. In addition, the bugs sometimes cause things like the Start Recording button to stop working.

Streamlabs Key Features

Streamlabs has built a suite of features to give their streamers a one-stop shop for all their needs. Here are some of the features:

Multistream

Multistream from Streamlabs is the only experience fully incorporated into a popular desktop live streaming tool as a first-party integration. Multistreaming is an easy-to-use feature that allows users to link their streaming accounts and go live immediately.

Users can simultaneously multistream to Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and up to two custom real-time messaging protocol (RTMP) destinations.

Streamlabs Tip Page

Whether a user wants to turn live streaming into a career or do it for pleasure, establishing a tip page on Streamlabs can assist along the way. Setting up a Streamlabs tip page is one of the quickest methods to generate income from broadcasting. Also, the app works with various payment processors, including PayPal, giving users more means to monetize their channels.

Setting up a tip page is free. Streamlabs won’t take a cut of users’ earnings.

Streamlabs App Store

The varied collection of apps in the App Store allows users to improve the production quality of their stream. The App Store also has the resources users need to improve their stream, including stream-safe music, stream design tweaks, and novel ways to engage with their audience.

Custom Alerts

A vital component of every live broadcast is alert. Users should think of them as an extension of their brand. They can be entirely personalized to match a user’s personality or aesthetic. Having distinctive notifications will make a person stand out from the competition, attract new viewers, and inspire participation in their live broadcast.

On-screen alerts are often a viewer’s first impression. Therefore, streamers are encouraged to spend time making them distinctive and unforgettable.

Merch Store

Merch is a fantastic way for streamers to engage with their audience, grow their brand, and generate extra income. Live streamers can modify various products with their logos and sell them on stream, thanks to the Streamlabs merch store.

Creating a merchandise store is free. Anyone can sign up and start selling t-shirts, hoodies, and mugs in less than 3 minutes.

Overlays and Themes

Streamers can choose from the library to showcase their sense of style. Thousands of animated and regular overlay elements were created by 200+ talented designers in the library.

In addition, hundreds of overlays, widget themes, and artwork are all offered without charge.

Streamlabs Pricing

Streamlab provides everything users need to record videos and live streams for free. This includes live streaming software with hundreds of widgets, overlay themes, alarms, a tip page, and Cloudbot moderation capabilities. Also, more than 300 free overlays, video editing tools, a logo, video intro maker, social media reminder animations, and merch store capabilities are all available.

The premium version of Streamlabs OBS is called Streamlabs Prime. This paid version includes features like multi-streaming, thousands of professional overlays, access to all of the applications in the Streamlabs app store, and additional storage space on the Streamlabs Cloud.

Also, with Streamlabs Prime, users may customize tip pages, gain access to more than 60 app add-ons, and take advantage of live stream sponsorship options available in the Streamlabs App Store. This upgrade is 100% optional. Additional benefits include priority assistance and access to a YouTube thumbnail and Twitch panel maker.

Streamlabs Prime costs $19 per month or $149 per year when paid yearly. The streaming app also accepts different payment methods, including Paypal, Unitypay, credit cards, and Skrill.

Getting Started with Streamlabs

Streamlabs is among the top services for generating revenue from a streaming channel. Let’s review how to set up a Streamlabs account.

Go to the Streamlabs website’s address and click ‘Login’ in the upper-right corner of the page. Users can choose the platform they want to use to log in on the following screen.

We’ll use Twitch as our example. Users will see requests for permission for their chosen platform on the following page. To authorize, click the button.

Interface to Login or sign up to streamlabs

Users can configure their preferred payment method on the follow-up screen. The payment methods include Paypal, Skrill, Credit cards, and Unitypay.

Choose the preferred plan and click complete when done.

After setting up the Streamlabs account, one of the most crucial steps is configuring the donation settings.
Click the ‘Donation Settings’ option under ‘Settings’ on the main page.
Select the preferred payment method to use for receiving donations.
Users should note the URL for their tip page, which is where donors go.
Click on the smaller ‘Settings’ sub-selector. The user can alter many features of their donation page, including the type of currency, the length of the donation message, and the tipping presets.
Click the ‘Save’ settings button after making edits.

The Streamlabs dashboard, which contains several customization options, will be the first thing users see after installing the software and logging into their streaming account.

Users can navigate to the “Editor” tab from their dashboard. As the main center for stream configuration, this is where users will spend most of their time. It also helps with themes, input sources, and widget management.

Is StreamLabs Legit?

Based on our review, Streamlabs claims to offer a reliable way to stream and earn money simultaneously. Users are given access to exclusive sponsorship opportunities via the platform’s App Store, including the capacity to create a custom tip page, the ability to sell branded goods via their merch store, and much more.

The software uses an open source Broadcast Software called the OBS, which allows users to add themes, widgets, and other useful features necessary for a successful live stream. With these features, the app requires a powerful computer for a smooth experience.

Streamlabs takes users’ accounts’ security seriously and puts in considerable measures to prevent fraud. The app makes sure that only verified accounts are qualified to receive UnitPay or credit card donations. Therefore, users who have validated their accounts can rest assured that their accounts are safe.

The Verdict

Streamlabs offers a comprehensive set of capabilities to assist creators in better engaging with their fans, growing their audiences, and improving monetization. The company was created because its developers wanted to help creators make a livelihood doing what they love.

Based on this goal, Streamlabs is enhancing its portfolio with Oslo, a video review and collaboration tool; Melon, a browser-based streaming studio; and Willow, an all-in-one bio link tool.