Twitch has garnered 2.84 million concurrent viewers and over 11 million unique channels since its initial release in 2011.
After monopolizing both the gaming and live-streaming communities, it may come as no surprise that other leading platforms would want a slice of the fame.
Enter YouTube Gaming in 2015, Facebook Gaming in June of 2018, Hitbox, Bigo Live, Beam, and countless other new contestants.
The Internet has dubbed this spectacle “The Stream Wars.”
Recent data would suggest, however, that this ongoing battle isn’t much of a “war”—Twitch still hosts 76% of the market share for hours watched without batting an eye.
This isn’t to say that the other streaming/gaming platforms haven’t put up a fight. After all, Facebook Gaming has held out the longest against Twitch’s market domination and loyal fanbase.
So, in the interest of fairness, today we’ll compare the top two contenders of The Stream Wars: Twitch.tv vs Facebook Gaming.
We’ll take a look at algorithms, features, analytics, monetization, and audiences—all backed by data and my personal experience as a streamer.
By the end of this article, the choice will be clear.
We’ll declare a true winner of The Stream Wars once and for all.
Twitch vs Facebook Gaming: Which Is Better?
In order to truly determine which platform is right for a streamer, I’d like us to walk through this comparison in the footsteps of a streamer. We’ll take a look at the information step-by-step as if we’re building a channel from scratch.
And if you are building a channel from scratch, consider this uniquely juxtaposed walkthrough your guide to both platforms.
Let’s get started with the first step:
Twitch Algorithm
This may seem like a backward place to start but stick with me. The algorithms will help us determine what kind of content to stream, how to stream that content, how to optimize our channel, and so on.
Starting with the easiest algorithm to digest, Twitch:
Twitch has no algorithm. Surprised?
It may come as a shock to learn that there’s no method to optimize content for Twitch (because Twitch doesn’t have an algorithm to categorize and promote your content).
The factor that determines if your content will be shown on the Twitch homepage is just a matter of how quickly you’re receiving views.
It may seem unfair to smaller streamers, but promoting the channels that guarantee entertainment is Twitch’s way of getting users to stick around. The best way to win the favor of Twitch’s “algorithm” is to stream games with an already high viewership.
So what does this mean for our hypothetical channel? We’ll need to either stream popular games with a big following, or on-the-rise niche games that users are searching for.
We actually do have an article to help you determine The Best Games to Stream on Twitch.
Facebook Gaming Algorithm
The Facebook Gaming algorithm is more developed than you might think. And as a bonus, it provides significantly better visibility for smaller streamers.
Let’s break down the Facebook Gaming algorithm into three parts:
- Engagement
- Content
- Details
The Facebook Gaming algorithm pushes streams with high viewer engagement. As you might have noticed, the number of viewers doesn’t necessarily play a huge role in FBG’s algorithm like Twitch.
On FBG, users can like streams, comment, share them, and donate Stars (which we’ll talk about later). It’s important to instigate all of these interactions to get boosted in the algorithm.
However, newcomers be warned: FBG cracks down hard on “Engagement Bait.”
Engagement Bait is best defined as anything you may say, write, or do that would suggest you want viewers to engage with your content.
It sounds harsh, but Facebook really wants to deter streamers who may plague their platform with inauthentic content and scam behavior.
I’d recommend taking a look at Facebook’s Creator Streaming Best Practices to read up on other actions to avoid. (A lot of my other tips come from this post, so it’s a great read in general.)
So, back to the algorithm: the more engagement you receive from the get-go, the more FBG will promote your stream. Put simply: increased engagement = increased exposure.
FBG sends out notifications for your streams in waves over the course of three hours. The more engagement you get, the more notifications FBG will send out in your favor (and to users who don’t even follow you!). You also have a higher chance of appearing on the homepage.
Next: FBG promotes based on content. Similar to Twitch, you’ll have a higher rate of exposure if you play trending games. I’ve also heard it said that playing multiplayer games is best for FBG since they feature fresh storylines (aka more engaging), but this isn’t a confirmed fact.
And lastly, you’ll really want to spend some time on channel details. What do I mean by this?
How To Add Thumbnail To Facebook Gaming Stream | 2021
Killer titles, engaging thumbnails (yes—you can create a thumbnail for your stream! DO THIS!), optimized stream descriptions, and appropriate channel tags.
Though FBG may have a smaller viewer base than Twitch, it’s just as oversaturated. You’ll have to really stand out as a channel and personality to make it.
Let’s recap for our new channel: we’ll need to encourage engagement subtly through exciting content, play games viewers are already watching, and spend time on our channel details and aesthetics.
If we do this correctly, we’ll have much more exposure than Twitch could offer us.
Round 1 Winner: Facebook Gaming
Twitch Features
Now we have a rough idea of what games we might want to stream, how we want to stream them, and how both platforms will rank our streams accordingly.
The next categories we’ll want to take into consideration are the unique features of both platforms. More specifically, how these features could benefit our new channel once we’ve started streaming.
Twitch’s most important features are as follows:
- Emotes
- Extensions
- Stream Schedule
- Verification Badges
Twitch’s version of Emotes gives Twitch somewhat of an upper hand. If nothing else, they sure are easier to unlock than FBG’s version.
Twitch Emotes allows you to create custom stickers for your audience that can be used and distributed throughout your stream. You can use them to add to the uniqueness of your brand, and you can make premium stickers to encourage viewers to subscribe.
Twitch Extensions are perhaps Twitch’s biggest selling point. As of right now, FBG doesn’t have a similar feature. You can customize your streaming and gaming experience by installing new extensions and add-ons right from Twitch.
(And what do you know—we have an article on The Best Twitch Extensions, too).
Twitch’s Stream Schedule is a relatively new feature. If you’ve committed to certain streaming days/times, you can let your users know by filling it out and adding it to your page.
Now, FBG does have a stream schedule option of its own. The only reason I’m mentioning it here is because I believe Twitch’s version is a tad easier on the eyes (and easier to locate).
Finally, Twitch Verification Badges are another completely standalone feature. FBG has no
way to verify users at the time of writing this article.
This feature obviously isn’t important for new creators, but it is important for the overall integrity of Twitch’s platform. FBG will eventually need to roll out a verification feature if they want to make it in the long run.
Alright, let’s recap for our new channel:
Twitch definitely has features that allow for more uniqueness and customization. By taking advantage of custom emotes and extensions, we can provide a one-of-a-kind experience for our viewers.
Twitch’s Verification Badges also provide platform integrity that guarantees the security of our channel long-term.
Let’s see how FBG fairs.
Facebook Gaming Features
Here are the four unique FBG features worthy of a mention:
- Clips/VODs
- Recommended Games
- Pinned Comments
- Share
FBG gives you the option to edit down smaller portions of your streams called Clips. Alternatively, you can save your entire stream as a VOD once you’ve finished.
And yes—Twitch has these features too. But FBG’s versions work differently. Clips/VODs have a MUCH higher replay value on FBG than they do on Twitch. Here’s why:
On the FBG homepage, you’ll see a section called “Top Clips.”
After you’ve edited and uploaded your clips from a stream, they’ll go through the algorithm like a live video. They can be distributed and shared across the platform (unlike Twitch).
What’s more is that your VODs will go through the algorithm, too. They can appear on FBG’s main feed just like a regular post.
What does this mean for us? FBG’s Clips/VODs contribute to much higher visibility for small streamers. We can be discovered through our post-stream content as well as our live content. Twitch’s Clips just don’t compete here.
Next, we have FBG’s Recommended Games feature. And I’m not talking about games to watch—FBG recommends games for you to play.
In your Creator’s Studio, you’ll find a section of games recommended for your streams based on trends and games you’ve played in the past.
This can be handy if you need a bit of direction, or even if you don’t have time to research the games that are performing well in the system.
Are you familiar with Tik Tok’s “pinned comments” feature? Well, FBG has them too. And they come in handy during live streams.
You can actually use them to get around Engagement Baiting. At the start of your stream, write and pin a comment reminding viewers about Stars or other interactions.
You can use them as custom reminders, or even as an incentive for users to stick around if you pin a funny comment. The options are endless.
Finally, let’s talk about FBG’s stream shareability. When you go live, FBG automatically shares the stream to your personal page (if you allow it to).
You can even share the stream directly with Facebook Groups you’d like to notify.
This does wonders for a smaller streamer’s exposure. Not only are you in the algorithm, but Facebook is doing most of the heavy lifting for you by notifying your community.
If we’re basing this competition on visibility, I’d say the victory goes to Facebook. But if we’re basing it off of brand uniqueness and customizability…Twitch would probably secure the win.
For this round let’s say:
Round 2: Draw
Twitch Analytics
Now that we’ve successfully started a channel and streamed a few times, we’ll need to check our analytics.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the available channel data on Twitch:
→ Average Viewers
→ Live Views
→ New Followers
→ Views Breakdown (origin of views)
→ Top Clips
→ Go Live Notifications Performance
→ Tags Performance
And a list of the available stream data on Twitch:
→ Stream Duration
→ Average Viewers
→ Max Viewers
→ Unique Viewers
→ Unique Chatters
→ Live Views
→ New Followers
→ Activity Time Graph
→ Views Breakdown (origin of views)
→ Go Live Notification Performance
Note: This data is available to new streamers. For data available to partners and affiliates, check out the rest of this analytics breakdown from Twitch.
Pretty comprehensive. As a new channel just getting started, this data will let us know how people are finding us, how many of those people are new to each stream, and our overall growth rate.
Also noteworthy are the third-party websites that allow you to check general Twitch statistics like Twitch Tracker and SullyGnome.
Now, how does FBG compare?
Facebook Gaming Analytics
Here’s the breakdown of FBG’s analytics per post:
→ Peak Live Viewers
→ Reactions
→ Comments
→ Shares
→ Average Minutes Viewed
→ People Reached
→ Audience Retention
→ How People Are Watching
→ Audience Engagement
→ Audience Demographics
And a breakdown of FBG’s channel insights:
→ Loyalty (new vs returning viewers)
→ Performance
→ Audience
→ Retention
→ Earnings
So we have a few different categories here. The key to both platforms is this: though the insights don’t share the same names, they boil down to the same data.
The only notable difference is FBG’s audience category, which details where viewers are from, their gender, and how old they are.
This is technically possible for Twitch too, however—just in terms of subscription audience demographics.
Looks like this round is once again a draw.
Onto monetization!
Round 3: Draw
Twitch Monetization
Now that we can start optimizing our new channel for growth, let’s talk about everyone’s favorite category: money.
Here’s the list of requirements to start earning revenue on Twitch:
Twitch Affiliate
→ 500 broadcast minutes in the last 30 days
→ 7 unique broadcasts in the last 30 days
→ Average of at least 3 concurrent viewers over the last 30 days
→ 50 followers
You’ll be able to receive revenue from subscriptions, advertisements, and Bits once you become a Twitch Affiliate.
Twitch Partner
→ 75 concurrent viewers over the last 30 days
→ 12 or more streams over the last month
→ 25 hours of stream time within the last month
Not much changes revenue-wise from affiliate to partner, but I thought I’d mention the requirements here for a comparison with FBG later. Anyway, onto the revenue:
I’m going to throw a lot of stats at you—try to stick with me.
Streamers get 50% of the revenue split between themselves and Twitch. The top-paying option on Twitch is a subscription, which typically costs $4.99 per month.
Twitch Bits are a second form of payment that cost users 1 cent to purchase. There are also donations, which can vary in price depending on the options a streamer has set.
This BusinessofApps report suggests that streamers can average $3000-$5000 a month (not including ad revenue) for 40 hours a week. This, of course, is a best-case scenario—but not too shabby for our new channel. Even with the revenue split.
We might still have to keep our day job, but $3k-$5k a month certainly isn’t anything to scoff at.
Facebook Gaming Monetization
FBG’s programs look a little different. Here’s the breakdown:
Level-Up Program
→ Your Gaming Video Creator Page has been active for over 14 days
→ You’re 18+
→ Must have at least 100 followers
→ Stream gaming content with (the correct) game tags for four hours on two of the 14 days
Okay, so a little different. And a little more difficult. Let’s check out FBG’s partner program:
Facebook Partner
→ No set milestones
Yep, you read the right. There isn’t a set list of requirements for becoming a Facebook Partner. You just have to be… “discovered” by Facebook.
Here’s how they recommend you do so:
→ Join the Level-Up Program
→ Play royalty-free music
→ Stream engaging content
On top of the ambiguity of the Partner program, I think it’s worth noting that you can’t receive subscriptions (also called “supporters”) until you become a partner. This means your only source of revenue is a Facebook Star.
Facebook Stars function almost exactly like Twitch Bits. Users can spend $0.01 to give you a “star” during your stream. Don’t worry, though—Facebook lets you take 100% of the revenue earned. Wouldn’t want to miss out on that cent.
Basically, it’s virtually impossible to live solely off of Facebook Gaming. Twitch isn’t exactly a lucrative job for everyone, either—but at least our new channel will have a fighting chance.
Suffice it to say:
Round 4 Winner: Twitch
Twitch Audience
It’s time for the final—and most important—round.
The algorithms, features, analytics, and revenue will mean nothing to our channel if we don’t have a sufficient audience to grow.
So without further ado, let’s take a look at some stats for Twitch’s Q1 2022 audience:
→ 6.13 B total hours watched (7.5% increase from Q4 2021)
→ 229 M hours streamed (12% increase from Q4 2021)
→ 10.9 M unique channels (14.7% increase from Q1 2021)
→ 2.8 M concurrent viewers (7.7% increase from Q4 2021)
Note: All statistics pulled from StreamLabs Q1 2022 Streaming Industry Report.
Unsurprisingly impressive stats. After all, there was no question about which platform remains most popular with audiences. The question is: can FBG compete?
Facebook Gaming Audience
Here are the stats for Facebook Gaming’s Q1 2022 audience:
→ 803 M total hours watched (29.6% decrease from Q4 2021)
→ 12.5 M total hours streamed (10.7% decrease from Q4 2021)
→ 335K unique channels (9.2% decrease from Q4 2021)
→ 372K average concurrent viewers (24% decrease from Q1 2021)
Note: All statistics pulled from StreamLabs Q1 2022 Streaming Industry Report.
If this post had been written in 2021, there might be a different story here. FBG was reported to have been the only streaming platform experiencing growth for a while.
But most recently, Twitch is the only streaming platform to have experienced any growth from last quarter.
While FBG has continued to introduce new features and gimmicks, it doesn’t seem to be enough (at least at the moment) to compete with Twitch’s loyal audience. FBG is clearly on the decline.
So, for our last round of The Stream Wars, the clear winner here is:
Round 5: Twitch
Is Facebook Gaming Better Than Twitch?
The final results are in:
Round 1: Facebook Gaming
Round 2: Draw
Round 3: Draw
Round 4: Twitch
Round 5: Twitch
Twitch wins our Stream Wars, but barely. Facebook Gaming put up a good fight.
But what do these results actually mean? After all, these “rounds” were just a fictitious comparison. Based on real facts and data—but ultimately subjective.
Well, here’s my analysis:
Facebook Gaming admittedly does a better job at giving smaller streamers exposure.
Its algorithm, features, and overall platform are set up to cast a wide net over potential viewers.
Twitch just doesn’t provide that kind of visibility.
But it doesn’t have to.
Twitch came first and naturally drew in a loyal fanbase. Audiences know Twitch—they’re familiar with it. They’ve learned how it works and accept its flaws in return for guaranteed entertainment and community.
I don’t see that changing anytime soon. And although Facebook Gaming kept itself in the running for longer than expected, it doesn’t look like it’ll be taking Twitch’s title anytime soon.
So, in summary:
If the purpose of the channel we created for this comparison is to gain quick exposure on a smaller scale, we should go with Facebook Gaming.
But if we want to give it its best chance to grow—and give it time to grow—we’ll need to put it on Twitch.
That’s where audiences are staying.
Conclusion
Remember: what you do with your own channel is up to you.
Facebook Gaming this and Twitch.tv that, but the factors that really matter are patience and determination.
Give yourself time to come up with a strategy, a brand, and a purpose.
Then pick a platform (or all of them!) and go after what you want with all you’ve got.
And be sure to check out our post on How to Get More Viewers on Twitch (we’re sure some of those stats will work for FBG, too).
Good luck!
Savannah Sellers is a content creator who started a successful Twitch stream and TikTok channel from scratch as a personal project under the name flarity_.