Kick streaming platform: Twitch’s new competitor

Since its launch in 2011, Twitch has grown to become the dominant live streaming platform, especially in areas such as video game streaming, cybersports, and music streaming. The platform, which is now part of Amazon, has gained immense popularity, to the point where many well-known streamers have been able to turn their hobbies into full-fledged careers.

Not long ago, many Influencers were actively moving their Instagram followers to Twitch. But as of October 2022, Twitch has imposed restrictions on gambling streams, allowing them only if they have a U.S. license. Getting banned is getting easier by the day, and adapting to the new rules is getting harder. Therefore, it is time to look for alternatives. One such alternative is Kick, which we will tell you about in more detail today.

Kick: A new round in the world of streaming

Launched in December 2022, the Kick platform represents a revolution in the world of streaming, combining a familiar Twitch-like interface with a groundbreaking business model. What sets Kick apart is its softer moderation and significantly more favorable terms for streamers compared to existing platforms. While Twitch and YouTube offer streamers 50% and 70% of revenue respectively, Kick flips this approach by giving content creators as much as 95% of the revenue and keeping just 5% for themselves. This offer has become one of the most attractive in the streaming industry.

Who has moved to the Kick platform?

The audience that has migrated to Kick consists mostly of young and ambitious streamers. These content creators are looking for a platform that values free speech and their contributions, unlike Twitch where they felt undervalued for their labor. One of the key benefits of Kick is that all donation revenue and the vast majority of subscription revenue goes directly to streamers.

In addition, the Kick platform has a dedicated category for gambling, with the added feature of confirming a user’s age before accessing content. This reflects the platform’s commitment to combining content freedom with responsibility to its audience. Kick thus opens up new opportunities for streamers looking for a more profitable and free environment to realize their creative potential.

Streams on Kick are presented in a multitude of languages, although English predominates, indicating a wide geographic reach. The platform’s audience includes interested and solvent users, especially in the context of gambling. Note that not all users are ready to leave familiar platforms, but those who have moved to Kick can become valuable leads with an effective approach.

Kick was created as an alternative to Twitch and its gambling restrictions, so the gambling and betting areas are particularly relevant on this platform. At the same time, the second most popular category on the platform is Just Chatting.

The Pools, Hot Tubs, and Beaches categories, which on Twitch could lead to a ban, are of interest. On Kick, despite the existence of this category, it is undesirable to show sexual content.

Kick also focuses on cryptocurrencies and trading.

For those with language skills and enough time, there are opportunities to experiment with creative approaches such as dating or Nutra. However, don’t rely on the absolute loyalty of the platform and ignore possible restrictions similar to those on Twitch.

Safety features and content regulation on Kick

The security and level of moderation on the Kick platform has sparked debate among users noting weaker moderation compared to Twitch and YouTube. This is especially important given that the streaming platforms’ audiences include children and teenagers. Moreover, Kick’s support for cryptocurrency casinos reinforces the availability of gambling to all online users, which increases security concerns.

Despite its youth, Kick already has 12 million active users. Its interface is almost identical to Twitch, offering various broadcast lists on the homepage, including favorite and popular streams, top categories, and recommended channels.

Kick vs Twitch: perspectives on the world of streaming

At the current stage, Kick is still behind Twitch in terms of popularity. Many streaming fans question the rationale for switching to the new platform, with some users criticizing it for creating a “toxic” atmosphere and increasing incidents of harassment. This is due to less strict moderation on Kick, making it harder to control such issues without introducing stricter rules. Nevertheless, it is easier to make money on Kick than on Twitch due to the more favorable terms for streamers. Despite these advantages, the future of Kick is still uncertain as streamers face the dilemma of choosing between the two platforms.

The future of Kick is still uncertain as streamers face the dilemma of choosing between the two platforms.

Comparing Kick and Twitch at the moment

1. User Base and Popularity:

• Twitch, with a score of 9/10, has a huge user base and is widely known among audiences and streamers.
• Kick, with a score of 5/10, is still just developing its popularity and has a smaller user base.

2. Yield for Streamers:

• On Twitch (6/10), streamers make approximately 50% of their revenue from subscriptions and ads.
• On Kick (9/10), streamers are offered up to 95% of revenue, which is significantly higher.

3. Security and Moderation:

• Twitch (8/10) maintains a strict moderation and security policy.
• Kick (4/10) is characterized by looser moderation, which can lead to increased toxicity.

4. Opportunities for Growth:

• Twitch (7/10) offers great growth opportunities, although there is high competition.
• Kick (6/10) has less competition, but the audience is also still limited.

5. Interface and Usability:

• Twitch (8/10) is characterized by an intuitive interface and extensive features.
• Kick (7/10) mimics Twitch’s interface, but some features may be less developed.

6. Streamer support:

• Twitch (7/10) offers various support programs for streamers.
• Kick (6/10), while offering a high revenue share, has limited support programs so far.

7. Content Monetization:

• Twitch (7/10) provides streamers with a variety of monetization options.
• Kick (8/10) offers streamers a lucrative monetization opportunity through a larger revenue share.

Closure

In the world of streaming, the new Kick platform is gaining momentum, offering a unique experience for different categories of users, but even taking an optimistic view, one can’t help but notice that at the moment Kick is not a serious competitor for Twitch.

• For new streamersKick could be a great starting point due to less competition and higher returns compared to other platforms.
• For experienced streamers Twitch remains the preferred option, providing access to a wider audience and offering more advanced features.
• From the viewers’ perspective, Twitch provides a wider selection of content and tighter security.

Despite Kick’s attractive terms, especially in terms of profitability for streamers, the platform still does not represent a serious competitor to Twitch. Users point to several of Kick’s shortcomings, including a “borrowed” interface, a focus on gambling, the lack of an Android mobile app, and various technical issues. Nevertheless, Twitch’s long-term problems could help boost Kick’s popularity. It’s worth keeping a close eye on Kick’s development as if it “fires” it could offer new prospects for streamers and viewers.