Mixer vs Twitch: Know the Difference and Which Is Best for You
So, you think you want to start streaming. It’s hard not to be interested when you see bigshots like Dr. Disrespect and Ninja pulling in tens of thousands every hour. Plus, they get to play video games for a living.
What’s not to love?
Before you build your live streaming channel, you need to know where to build it first. Streaming on Mixer vs Twitch will lead to very different results and user experiences. It should be said that one isn’t necessarily better than the other.
But between Mixer vs Twitch, one of these will definitely be better for your personal style. So which should you choose? We got you, fam.
Let’s compare and contrast Mixer vs Twitch to help you decide which is best for you.
What Is Mixer?
Mixer was first known as Beam when it hit the scene in 2016. Microsoft acquired the streaming service a few months later and renamed it to Mixer for a global launch. For years, Mixer has been a relatively small contender compared to Twitch.
But recently, things have been changing. Two of Twitch’s most popular streamers — Ninja and Shroud — signed exclusivity deals and pledged to stream on Mixer. Although the financial details are uncertain, professionals speculate that Microsoft paid hundreds of millions of dollars to acquire the streamers.
With Microsoft throwing more money into the game, Mixer has become a compelling Twitch alternative.
What Is Twitch?
If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably heard of Twitch and spent some time on the site. It’s an offshoot of a live stream website known as Justin.tv. When the creators saw a rise in the popularity of video game streaming, they launched a dedicated service known as Twitch.tv.
After Twitch exploded in popularity, Amazon purchased the site for nearly $1 billion. The rest is history.
Now Twitch is responsible for 70% of all live stream viewing time. It’s a staggering statistic, considering Mixer accounts for only 3%.
Mixer vs Twitch
Twitch is a monolith compared to Mixer. But just because it’s bigger doesn’t mean it’s better. Let’s take a deeper look at the pros and cons of these different streaming platforms.
1. Competition
The best qualities of Twitch are also its worst. Although Twitch has a larger viewer base, it also has the largest number of streamers. Since Twitch can only showcase so many streamers at one time, it’s extremely hard to get noticed.
Plus, Twitch has been in the game longer. Most viewers already know their favorite streamers and aren’t looking for more.
If you’re a new streamer with no existing audience, it could take years to become a Twitch partner. But on Mixer, there’s far less competition. If you locate and target a niche, there’s a good chance you’ll gain a following.
2. Monetization
Twitch streamers can earn money through bits — micro-donations — as well as advertisements and subscriptions. Thanks to Amazon Prime, viewers can effectively subscribe to a streamer once a month for free. When all is said and done, Twitch has better profit potential.
But that’s if you manage to get big in the first place. And Mixer has several good perks of its own.
Instead of “bits,” Mixer uses what it calls “embers.” They are essentially the same. What’s different is Mixer is allowing users to donate these embers to any streamer, even if they aren’t partnered.
That means you can start making money on Mixer right away, assuming you draw in viewers who want to donate. On Twitch, you’d have to meet the affiliate requirements before any monetization is available to you.
3. Infrastructure
Mixer live streaming is faster than Twitch thanks to its “FTL” technology. There is less than a second of delay between the stream and the streamer. On Twitch, the delay can sometimes run up to 20 seconds, making it more difficult to interact with viewers.
This infrastructure also allows Mixer streamers to take advantage of real-time viewer polls.
But Mixer doesn’t totally blow Twitch out of the water. Twitch VODs are easier to navigate and record. Their dashboard is also more powerful, with better analytics.
And analytics are essential if you want to grow your channel.
4. Community
With a million concurrent viewers, it wouldn’t be right to generalize the Twitch community. However, Mixer is definitely more tame and friendly as a whole. Just realize that your personality as a streamer will either attract or repel the types of viewers you want in your chat.
Part of Mixer’s approachable community is thanks to its moderation team. In contrast, Twitch’s moderators and staff have come under fire for irregular rulings. Some streamers seem to be able to break the terms of service without penalty while others are banned for the same infraction.
5. Versatility
Lastly, we’ll look at the types of content available. A Mixer live stream is more-or-less constrained to gaming. There are multiple categories beyond gaming, but they are bereft of viewers.
On Twitch, you can stream creative works, such as art, or go about your day in the IRL section. An ironic turn of events, considering Twitch.tv was supposed to separate game streaming from this type of content.
What’s the Best Live Streaming Platform?
Mixer vs Twitch: The decision is ultimately yours to make. Whichever you choose, the secret is to make sure you enjoy it. If you’re having a great time, your chat will, too!
If you’re serious about this whole streaming thing, you’ll want to get the right tools. Pull off a professional look with some of the best green screens for streaming. You’ll also find more product reviews across the blog for things like webcams, monitors, and lighting.
