Introduction
Gaming has grown into a billion-dollar industry over the years, and streamers make a significant contribution to the industry's growth. In recent times, thousands of streamers have started using various platforms to broadcast their games, with Twitch and Mixer being the most popular ones. In this article, we will provide you with a comparison of Twitch vs Mixer and help you decide which platform will be more appropriate for your specific needs. But before we do that, let's have a quick introduction to both platforms.
What is Twitch?
Twitch is the largest game streaming platform on the internet, with over 15 million daily active users (DAU) and 2.2 million active broadcasters. Twitch has been the go-to platform for content creators since its inception in 2011. In 2014, Amazon purchased Twitch for an astonishing $970 million.
What is Mixer?
Mixer is a relatively new game streaming platform, launched by Microsoft in 2016. Mixer boasts an interactive streaming experience that allows viewers to interact with their favorite streamers in real-time. Initially, Mixer struggled to compete with Twitch due to the latter's colossal user base. However, Microsoft has made significant progress in establishing Mixer as a frontrunner in the industry.
Comparison of Twitch vs Mixer
User Base
As mentioned earlier, Twitch has a colossal user base, which makes it the clear winner when it comes to the number of users. According to Twitch Tracker, Twitch has over 15 million DAU and 3 million monthly active broadcasters. In contrast, Mixer has an estimated 69,000 DAU and around 1 million monthly active broadcasters.
Monetization and Revenue Sharing
Both Twitch and Mixer offer ways for streamers to monetize their content. Twitch has a Partner program that allows streamers to earn through Twitch's subscription system, which pays out a percentage of the revenue to the streamers. Ad revenue is another source of income on Twitch. Streamers can display ads on their channels and earn a portion of the revenue generated.
Mixer also has its monetization program known as Mixer Partnership. However, it is more restrictive than Twitch Partner. To become a Mixer partner, streamers need to meet specific criteria, including a minimum of 750 followers, 50+ concurrent viewers, and 2,000 hours of streaming in the past 12 months. The revenue-sharing model is also different, with Mixer offering more significant payouts to its partners than Twitch.
Features
Both Twitch and Mixer offer some exciting features, but it's the implementation that sets them apart. Twitch features include channel customization, live chat, emotes, and the option to create private streams. It also has a robust moderation system that allows streamers to filter or ban inappropriate content.
Mixer's standout feature is its real-time interaction experience. This interactive streaming allows viewers to interact with the streamer's content in real-time, making the whole experience more engaging. It also has features such as co-streaming, dynamic FTL support, and the "Sparks" system that rewards viewers for their engagement.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both Twitch and Mixer are excellent game streaming platforms with their unique features and fan base. Twitch wins when it comes to overall user base, but Mixer excels with its interactive streaming experience. Twitch has been the king of streaming for a long time, but Mixer is gaining ground, particularly amongst Microsoft users. Ultimately, the choice between the two platforms will depend on your specific needs as a streamer or viewer.
References:
- TwitchTracker.com. "Twitch Stats - Comprehensive Twitch Analytics & Stats with Graphs". Retrieved from https://twitchtracker.com/statistics. Accessed on 22 September 2021.