Want to become a popular streamer, build your community, and reach a huge audience? It’s never too late to start! In 2025, entering livestreaming is easier than ever, and in this article, Streams Charts will share some tips to help you start this journey. We’ll talk about choosing a platform, creating content, and more: everything you need to know as a beginner streamer.
Tip #1: Do your first familiarization with the different platforms
There are many streaming platforms around the world, and the number keeps growing. These platforms have a lot in common, but they can also differ in terms of content type, audience geography, device availability, etc.
For example, YouTube is blocked in China but is widely available on most devices in other regions. In South Korea, Twitch has been banned since 2024, but local platforms like SOOP Korea and CHZZK are popular with viewers. Some platforms also have restrictions on streamers withdrawing money based on where they live, so it’s important to know these details before you start getting donations. Each platform has its own rules, and it’s good to understand them before you start streaming. For instance, Twitch monitors female streamers closely and bans gambling ads, while Kick is more relaxed about that kind of content.
As a new streamer, the first thing to do is “look around” and get a feel for the options. You don’t need to dive deep into the industry, but you should know what to expect from the platform you’ll spend a lot of time on. Explore a few platforms and see what you like or dislike. Maybe it’s the easy navigation, fun emojis in the chat, or just a good design. If you like the platform as a viewer, it could be a good place to start streaming. But if you don’t like it, that’s also something to consider.
Tip #2: Decide on the content you want to stream
Another key question every new streamer should think about is: what type of content do you want to stream? It could be playing story games or multiplayer sessions, hosting talk shows or podcasts, reviewing things like politics, movies, or entertainment, sharing travel experiences or outdoor activities, offering self-care tips, teaching something, or focusing on a hobby — the options are endless. Figuring out your niche can be challenging, but it’s the first step in finding the right platform for you.
Are you a passionate gamer looking to stream? You’re in luck, as gaming streamers are welcome on almost every platform. But there are some things to keep in mind. If you love team-based games like League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Valorant, Dota 2, etc., Twitch is a great choice. These games often top the platform in watch hours, meaning there’s a huge audience. You’ll find a lot of potential viewers, but be prepared for tough competition. Plus, many professional esports players stream on Twitch, so they likely have a lot more experience than you.
If you enjoy Let's Plays or story-driven games, YouTube might be the right fit. It has a big fanbase for games like Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, GTA V, sports sims, Soulslike games, and more. A big advantage of YouTube is that you can stream live and keep past streams on the same channel. You can organize your content into playlists for each game, and your viewers can go back and watch your best moments anytime.
YouTube is a great choice if you want to create educational gaming content, like guides, reviews, tips, and advice. Viewers often turn to YouTube when they need help with tough parts of a game. If they’re looking for answers, they might find your channel. YouTube is ideal for gamers who want to combine livestreaming and vlogging.
Some platforms might be better if you’re targeting a specific audience or niche games. For example, Trovo is smaller than others, but it has a big Russian-speaking audience that watches niche games like World of Tanks and Lineage II. Competition is lower on Trovo, so if your content is aimed at Russian-speaking fans of older games, it might be a good fit.
Lineage II is one of the most popular games on Trovo
It can be hard for new streamers to find their first viewers, but here’s a tip: try community casting for a tournament or event. You don’t need to start with big world championships (they already have their streamers, and streaming them without permission could get you banned), but you can cover smaller leagues and local tournaments that are open to all streamers. Be sure to do your research before streaming any esports event. And remember, some games have fans who prefer certain platforms. For example, most Mobile Legends: Bang Bang fans watch tournaments on YouTube, while PUBG Mobile fans are more active on Facebook.
Want to start your own vlog or talk show? Enjoy discussing the latest news in sports or entertainment? YouTube is the perfect platform for that! It has the largest audience reach and organizes non-gaming content into categories like News & Politics, Entertainment, Music, Sports, People & Blogs, and more. While Twitch has some non-gaming categories, Just Chatting is the most popular, covering a mix of topics.
Most-watched categories on YouTube — January 2025
YouTube is the top platform for livestreaming, with a huge audience in almost every country. Whatever content you want to stream, YouTube is a great choice and an easy starting point for new creators. Another advantage of YouTube is its recommendation algorithm. It’s designed to help smaller streamers with fewer viewers get noticed. In contrast, Twitch’s algorithm mostly benefits mid-level and top streamers.
As mentioned before, YouTube combines both streaming and video hosting, making it ideal for series-based content. You can create playlists for different topics: talk about sports on Mondays, review gadgets on Wednesdays, and share cooking recipes on Fridays. This way, your subscribers won’t get lost in your content and can easily find past episodes.
Are you following the latest world events? Think you’re a political expert and want to discuss it live? If so, besides YouTube, check out Rumble — it's been getting a lot of attention lately. Its rise in popularity is closely tied to the political situation in the U.S. and the recent presidential election where Donald Trump won.
Rumble's front page
Rumble is known for its livestreams focused on news and politics and is popular among U.S. viewers with Republican views. There are many broadcasts of news channels and political talk shows, but entertainment content is still limited. However, more IRL and sports bloggers are joining, and even some gaming streamers are showing up.
In November 2024, popular streamer Herschel ‘’DrDisRespect’’ Beahm IV became a co-owner of Rumble and is now working on growing Rumble Gaming. If he succeeds, Rumble could become a big platform for gaming and esports, similar to Twitch or YouTube. While Rumble Gaming is still in its early stages, it’s a great chance for gaming streamers to establish themselves on the platform.
Do you enjoy gambling, extreme entertainment, and adult content? If so, Kick could be the best place to start your streaming career! The platform has more relaxed rules — they allow online casino ads and don’t have strict appearance requirements. Moderators don’t pay much attention to swearing, giving streamers more freedom to express themselves (though there are limits).
Gambling broadcasts are very popular on Kick
Kick doesn’t have many esports streams yet, but viewers love bold IRL streams where streamers visit nightclubs, casinos, and other fun spots. Night tours, boxing matches, rap battles, street racing, pranks, and beautiful women in pools or hot tubs are all very popular on Kick. If this matches your content, then this platform is a great fit for you.
Planning to travel a lot and share your experiences live? You don’t need a fancy setup with a powerful computer and multiple monitors to get started. You can stream directly from your phone, whether you’re outdoors, traveling, or even hiking up a mountain. Mobility is key for IRL streamers and travel vloggers, which is why many creators choose TikTok.
Streaming on TikTok is growing in popularity, especially among younger audiences who spend more time on their phones than on computers or TVs. The platform is easy to use, and its algorithms help smaller channels find viewers — perfect for beginners. TikTok also offers monetization options and interactive features like comments and visual effects during your streams.
How TikTok streams looks like
TikTok has a wide range of viewers, but if your content is about fashion or beauty, it’s an especially great platform for you. You could also try streaming on Instagram, which works as an alternative to TikTok. While Instagram is mostly known as a social media platform, it’s very popular in Southeast Asia, where it could help you reach a new audience.
Local streaming platforms focused on specific countries or audiences can be a great way to start your streaming career. For example, SOOP Korea and CHZZK are popular in South Korea, with almost no foreign viewers. Similarly, Rooter and NimoTV cater to India and Vietnam (though Rooter also has many English-language streams). These platforms are similar to international ones but have a more localized audience — they offer gaming streams, IRL broadcasts, and more.
There are also niche platforms. For instance, Lang.live is popular in Taiwan, where young people host IRL vlogs and connect with others. Openrec.tv is big in Japan, streaming entertainment shows. China has many platforms, like Douyu, Huya, and bilibili, that mainly target local viewers. If you speak Chinese or live in China, these could be a good fit. Twitch’s Chinese audience is also growing.
Tip #3: Analyze your progress
Once you've figured out your content and picked the best platform, the next step is to track your progress. Like any profession, streamers need to analyze how they’re doing. Streams Charts is a tool that helps with live stream analytics, giving you stats for both your channel and individual streams.
Example of viewer statistics of the channel on Streams Charts
Streams Charts can help you find the best time to stream, see when viewer activity is highest, and give you both basic stats and detailed analytics for each stream. You can also check out your competitors' streams by category, genre, or language, and see how they interact with their audience, when they stream, and what topics they cover.
Of course, you could just hit "Go Live" every day and hope success comes to you. But in reality, that’s unlikely to happen.
Read also:
- Top Streaming Platforms: TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch Compared for Popularity and Ease
- TikTok Live: How the platform is gaining solid ground in esports broadcasting
- Q4 2024 Global Livestreaming Landscape — Kick sets new records, YouTube Gaming back on top, and gradual shifts begin in Korea
- Top news and politics livestreaming media channels of 2024
