Kick is one of the largest-growing streaming platforms today. And it caters to many niche groups including gamers, so it’s become a popular choice for content creators.

You can stream on Kick using streaming software and a server URL. In this guide, we will show you exactly how to do that. We will show you a few options and suggest one that makes the process the easiest: StreamYard!

Before we start, if you would prefer to watch a video than read, here's a video tutorial.

What is Kick Streaming?

Kick is quite a new streaming platform. In fact, it opened its doors in December 2022. The company was founded by Ed Craven, Bijan Tehrani, and Trainwreckstv. Since its inception, Kick has received a lot of attention - and not always of the best kind.

However, many big streamers use this site regularly to share their content (such as Call of Duty or Fortnite game streaming and esports streaming), and swear by the co-founders, too.

If you’re new to streaming, you might be wondering whether Kick is a good option to upload your videos. The platform offers very lucrative contracts to its content creators — they get 95% of their earnings, meaning Kick only takes a 5% cut compared to Twitch who takes a 70% cut for the average streamer.

But there are a couple of other things you should know, which we will cover in a little more detail soon. For example, the fact that Kick.com is backed by the gambling site Stake.com, and that it allows gambling content.

Differences Between Kick, Twitch, and YouTube (and Monetization)

As we just mentioned above, Kick gives its streamers 95% of subscription earnings (and 100% of the tips or “Kicks” you get). In contrast, Twitch offers 50-70% and YouTube 55%. But this is not the only difference between these giants.

There’s little doubt that Kick was designed to be a rival to Twitch. The differentiator, though, was an emphasis on being friendlier to streamers. How? Well, for one, by having much looser moderation. Visually, the two platforms are quite alike. You have your categories, chat, and color schemes. But the content is different.

Kick has less strict rules when it comes to gambling (no giveaways, but you can stream gambling games) and more adult-oriented content. However, the platform does have a few community guidelines everyone needs to abide by: No pornography, no hate speech, no false sensationalism, no doxxing, no scams, no self-destructive behavior, no terrorism, no hacking, and no inflated metrics.

Compared to YouTube, the latter has a larger general audience (Twitch streamers also have access to more people). However, if you want to make more money streaming, Kick is worth considering because of its generous payouts compared to Twitch.

Kick Controversies

Kick has been at the center of a few contentious events. The first one was probably the migration of former Twitch personalities. For example, Adin Ross moved his streaming to the creator-friendly Kick after he was permanently banned from Twitch. Ross, who had recently befriended Andrew Tate, had received backlash after streaming gambling content and using anti-LGBTQ terms.

Another controversial Kick streamer is xQc, a Canadian who signed a 100-million dollar with Kick to bring his audience to the site. And, of course, Kick also now homes Amouranth, N3on, Hikaru Nakamura, Ice Poseidon, Nickmercs, and Destiny.

All in all, Kick has been under scrutiny, mostly because of the gambling (especially its promotions for partner Stake and its slot machines). Generally speaker, if you choose to stream on Kick, you might have fewer options to deal with harassing comments. There is, after all, little moderation within the platform.

What Do You Need To Stream on Kick?

There are a few things to keep in mind before you go live on Kick. Let’s start with the basic requirements as explained by the platform itself.

The first thing you will need is the stream key and server URL.

You can get both of these by logging into your Kick account and going to your Creator Dashboard. Then, click on Settings > Stream Key.

Using StreamYard With Kick Streaming

You can stream directly to Kick using StreamYard. StreamYard supports RTMP (real-time messaging protocol), so you can actually live stream to any platform - not just Kick but also Twitch, Twitter, YouTube, and others at the same time!

To start streaming to Kick, you will need both a Kick account and a StreamYard account on one of the paid plans. Once you sign up, you can create a new RTMP destination within StreamYard.

To do this, go to the Destinations tab and click on Add Destination:

This is where you will need to have your Stream Key (which we covered above).

In the New Destination screen, select Custom RTMP:

Then, enter your Server URL, Stream Key, and your Nickname, and click on Add RTMP Server:

Now, it's time for the great news: You can live to Kick immediately! All you need to do is go to your Home (within StreamYard), click on Create, and choose Live Stream:

Then, select your recently created Kick channel, write a Title, and click Create Broadcast.

StreamYard will then check your camera and microphone/audio are working correctly:

The last step is to add yourself to the stream. You can do this by going to the bottom left-hand corner and clicking on Add to Stream.

You can also invite other guests by clicking on the Invite button or share your screen by clicking on Present.

Other Advantages of Using StreamYard for Streaming

StreamYard offers several advantages for content creators who want to do live streaming. Let’s go through some of them in more detail, shall we?

  • Multi-Platform Streaming: You can simultaneously stream to multiple platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and many more. All without the need for complex setups.
  • User Friendly Interface: StreamYard has a very intuitive and easy-to-use interface. So, it’s accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Browser-Based: StreamYard works directly in your browser! This eliminates the need for users to download and install additional software.
  • Custom Branding: You can customize your streams with overlays, logos, and backgrounds, helping to create a branded and professional look for your content.
  • Guest Collaboration: StreamYard allows for easy collaboration with guests on your live streams, supporting interviews, panel discussions, and other multi-person formats.
  • Comment Engagement: The platform also provides tools for managing and displaying audience comments on-screen.
  • Recording and Download: StreamYard offers the ability to record your live streams and provides easy options for downloading the recorded content for later use or distribution.
  • Live Editing: Basic video editing features are available during live broadcasts, allowing for real-time adjustments to improve the overall quality of the stream.

StreamYard offers various pricing plans, including a free version with many helpful features and affordable paid plans.

Note: Our custom RTMP feature (which you need to stream to Kick) is currently reserved for our paid plans.

Conclusion

Live streaming is a great way to interact with your audience in real time and give them a more authentic experience. It’s also the perfect way to expand your reach, so it comes as no surprise that the more platforms you can reach, the more your content can grow.

In this guide, we’ve covered how you can easily stream to Kick with StreamYard. As you can see, the process is very straightforward and you can be live streaming in just minutes! And you don’t need to be super tech-savvy to get started.

If you’re looking for a streaming platform that does it all for you, try StreamYard. It works directly from your browser and allows you to stream to multiple platforms at once. You can also stream or record your content (including events and video podcasts) in studio quality and go live with guests no matter where they are.

Try StreamYard today and stream to Kick in just minutes.

Kick Streaming FAQs

Is Variable Bitrate (VBR) Supported by Kick?

Regrettably, no. You need to configure your streaming software for Constant Bitrate (CBR). If you're streaming from a Mac, switch your encoder to x264 to activate this feature.

What is the maximum FPS supported by Kick?

Kick.com supports a maximum FPS of 60fps. Keep in mind, though, that at the time of writing this article, StreamYard only supports streams of up to 30fps.

Is it possible to stream from my Mac to Kick?

Certainly! Just ensure that you choose the x264 encoder to activate Constant Bitrate (CBR).

What equipment do I need for live streaming?

The basic equipment includes a camera or smartphone, a microphone for audio, and a stable internet connection. Advanced setups may include professional cameras, microphones, and additional streaming accessories. For a full deep dive, check out this video.

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