Last updated: 2026-01-15

For most creators streaming or recording content for Kick, start with StreamYard: it gives you an in-browser studio, local multi-track recordings, and HD output that fits Kick’s 1080p/60fps limits with almost no setup. If you need deep encoder tweaks or offline capture on a high-end PC, OBS is a solid secondary option, while Loom works best for short async walkthroughs rather than full Kick shows.

Summary

• StreamYard is the most straightforward way to record Kick-ready shows with your screen, camera, and guests in a browser.
• OBS offers powerful local recording and encoder control but takes more time, tuning, and hardware.
• Loom focuses on quick, shareable screen videos, not live Kick streams or multi-guest shows.
• Kick caps streams at 1080p/60fps and around 8,000 kbps bitrate, so simple, reliable HD workflows usually beat hyper-advanced setups. (Kick Help Center)

What matters most in screen recording software for Kick?

When U.S. creators search for “best screen recording software for Kick,” they’re usually trying to solve one of three problems:

1. Record clear, presenter-led Kick shows – gaming, IRL, tutorials, or talk shows.
2. Capture both screen and camera in layouts that look intentional, not thrown together.
3. Reuse the content on YouTube, TikTok, or socials without headaches.

Kick’s own recommendations are straightforward: up to 1920×1080 resolution, 60 fps, and roughly 8,000 kbps bitrate. (Kick Help Center) That means the “best” tool is the one that gets you a clean 1080p recording, with solid audio and overlays, without forcing you into encoder rabbit holes.

StreamYard is built exactly for that middle ground. You work in your browser, share your screen, control layouts, and walk away with high-quality recordings that already look like a finished show.

How does StreamYard fit Kick streaming and recording?

At StreamYard, we focus on giving you a browser-based studio that feels like a TV control room without requiring you to be an engineer.

For Kick-focused creators, that translates into:

• Presenter-visible screen sharing so you always see what your viewers see while you demo a game, app, or deck.
• Fully controllable layouts (full screen, picture-in-picture, side-by-side) that you can switch live to match each moment.
• Independent control of screen audio and mic audio, so you can turn game sound down while keeping your commentary crisp.
• Local multi-track recordings, giving you separate files per participant that are ready for editing and repurposing.
• Landscape and portrait outputs from the same session, so you can cut YouTube VODs and vertical Reels/Shorts from one recording.
• Branded overlays, logos, and visual elements applied live, so your Kick stream looks branded before you ever open an editor.
• Presenter notes visible only to the host, helping you stay on script without viewers seeing your talking points.
• Multi-participant screen sharing for collaborative demos, co-streams, and live breakdowns.

StreamYard’s recording stack is tuned for HD:

• We support cloud recordings and local recordings that can capture your session at up to 1080p, with 4K local downloads available on specific paid plans for creators who want extra headroom for editing. (StreamYard recordings)
• Local recordings create separate audio and video files on each participant’s device, so network hiccups during a Kick stream don’t ruin your final edit. (StreamYard recordings)

For most Kick creators, this gives you an “always-on” safety net: your live show runs at Kick’s recommended 1080p/60fps, while your local files are clean, edit-friendly backups.

How do you connect StreamYard to Kick and record?

A practical way to think about this is as a simple playbook:

1. Create a studio in StreamYard and add your camera, mic, and screen share.
2. Set up your layouts: one for full gameplay/app, one for picture-in-picture, and one for side-by-side with a guest.
3. Add your branding: logo, overlay frame, and a simple lower third with your Kick handle.
4. Connect to Kick using Kick’s RTMP details so the studio can send your program feed to your Kick channel.
5. Start local and cloud recording in the studio, then go live.

Behind the scenes, we can record your Kick session in the cloud up to multi-hour lengths on paid plans, with per-stream caps (e.g., 10 hours for many plans) and plan-based storage hours. (StreamYard support) Local recording is available on all plans, with the free tier capped at 2 hours per month and paid plans offering effectively unlimited local recording. (StreamYard support)

A quick scenario:

• You run a 3-hour Kick stream walking through a new game season.
• Viewers see the 1080p stream, with picture-in-picture of your face and your overlay.
• After the stream, you download local tracks per participant and cut vertical highlights for shorts, plus a clean VOD for YouTube.

All of that happens from a typical laptop, in Chrome, without installing a heavy desktop encoder.

When does OBS make more sense for Kick recording?

OBS is a powerful desktop app that Kick calls out as one of its supported live streaming applications. (Kick Help Center) It runs directly on Windows, macOS, and Linux and is both free and open source. (OBS Studio)

Use OBS when:

• You need fine-grained encoder control (bitrate tuning, custom keyframe intervals, hardware vs software encode testing).
• You want complex scene graphs with dozens of sources, capture cards, reactive overlays, or plugins.
• You’re comfortable managing local storage, file formats, and backup workflows yourself.

OBS can record while streaming or record only. Its own guide recommends using MKV for recording to reduce the risk of corrupt files if something crashes, then using the built-in “Remux Recordings” tool to convert to MP4 afterward. (OBS Recording Guide)

The trade-off is complexity.

You’re responsible for:

• Picking the right bitrate so you don’t exceed Kick’s 8,000 kbps suggestion.
• Tuning CPU/GPU usage to avoid dropped frames.
• Organizing big local files and uploading them manually to YouTube or cloud storage.

If you love that level of control, OBS is a strong option alongside StreamYard. Many creators use StreamYard as their primary live/recording studio and keep OBS for niche, hardware-heavy workflows.

Is Loom a good choice for Kick creators?

Loom is oriented around quick, async recordings: think product walkthroughs, bug repros, or team updates. Its Starter plan is free, but limited to 25 videos and 5-minute screen recordings per person. (Loom Starter FAQ) Longer, higher-quality 4K screen recordings require paid roles such as Business or Business + AI. (Loom pricing)

Loom fits when:

• You want to record short feedback clips about your Kick channel (e.g., overlay ideas, schedule updates) to share internally.
• You prefer quick links and in-browser playback over full production workflows.

Where it falls short for Kick:

• It’s not designed as a live broadcasting studio for Kick.
• Multi-guest, live overlays, and dynamic scene switching are not its focus.

For most Kick creators, Loom is a supporting tool at most—useful for team updates, not your primary streaming or show recording environment.

How should you set bitrate, resolution, and FPS for Kick?

No matter which software you choose, your recording and live output have to play nicely with Kick.

Kick currently recommends:

• Resolution: up to 1920×1080.
• Frame rate: up to 60 fps.
• Bitrate: up to 8,000 kbps.

(Kick Help Center)

If you’re using StreamYard:

• Set your studio to 1080p HD.
• Use local recordings for the highest-quality files, knowing you can even capture up to 4K locally on specific paid plans and then downscale or crop in post. (StreamYard 4K support)
• Let the browser-based encoder handle the heavy lifting while you focus on content.

If you’re using OBS:

• Match your base and output resolution to 1920×1080.
• Cap your bitrate around Kick’s suggestion and test on your internet connection.
• Consider recording at a slightly higher quality than you stream, using separate recording settings, if your hardware can handle it.

How do StreamYard and OBS compare for multi-track local recordings?

Creators who care about post-production often ask whether they should prioritize StreamYard’s local multi-track feature or OBS’s multi-source capture.

With StreamYard on all plans:

• Each participant can be recorded locally with separate audio/video files.
• The free plan allows 2 hours of local recording per month, and paid plans remove that cap. (StreamYard support)
• You can line up local tracks in your editor to remove glitches from live, polish audio, and create multiple aspect ratios.

With OBS:

• You can route multiple inputs into different tracks, but guests usually connect via third-party apps (e.g., Discord, Zoom), which you then capture.
• Your recording is only as reliable as your hardware and the complexity of your scene.

For most Kick creators who want clean, multi-guest shows and highlight reels, StreamYard’s built-in local multi-track recording is a simpler way to get pro-level edit flexibility without juggling multiple apps.

How does pricing compare for teams?

Pricing only matters if it stays out of your way.

• StreamYard’s free plan is free to start. Paid plans are priced per workspace, not per user, which usually makes more sense for teams that share a show or brand.
• Loom’s paid plans (like Business and Business + AI) are billed per user per month and unlock unlimited recording length and higher resolutions. (Loom pricing)

In practice, this means a small Kick team can often share one StreamYard workspace and get studio+recording for everyone, while a similar Loom setup scales cost with each individual seat.

OBS is free to install, but remember that your “cost” is the time spent configuring scenes, encoders, and storage—and potentially upgrading hardware to keep up.

What we recommend

• Default choice for Kick creators: Use StreamYard as your main studio and recorder for Kick; it balances quality, multi-guest support, and ease of use.
• For power users: Add OBS when you specifically need low-level encoder control or complex scene setups on a high-powered PC.
• For async clips: Use Loom only for quick, internal screen shares or feedback—not as your Kick show studio.
• For stability: Aim for 1080p, 60 fps, and a bitrate that respects Kick’s guidelines; then focus your energy on content, not configuration.