Software · head to head
Steam vs Twitch
Steam
Software
The ultimate destination for playing, discussing, and creating games
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Twitch has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Steam publishing a game requires developers to pay a non-refundable $100 Steam Direct fee per title, recouped only once the product earns $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue; Twitch twitch's own App Store description discloses that the app includes Nielsen's proprietary measurement software contributing to third-party market research (Nielsen TV Ratings), with an opt-out only available via a separate Nielsen privacy policy page.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Steam and Twitch actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Steam
Nothing recorded that Twitch does not also cover.
Only in Twitch
- Live streaming
- Chat interaction
- Video on demand
- Clips and highlights
- Channel subscriptions
- Donations and bits
- Extensions
- Mobile streaming
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Steam
No use cases recorded yet. See the Steam review.
Twitch
- Gaming live streamsnot Steam
- Content creationnot Steam
- Community buildingnot Steam
- Esports viewingnot Steam
- Creative streamingnot Steam
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Steam
- Publishing a game requires developers to pay a non-refundable $100 Steam Direct fee per title, recouped only once the product earns $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue
- Core purchases and library are tied to a single Steam account with no vendor-stated official resale or transfer mechanism for owned games
Twitch
- Twitch's own App Store description discloses that the app includes Nielsen's proprietary measurement software contributing to third-party market research (Nielsen TV Ratings), with an opt-out only available via a separate Nielsen privacy policy page.
Pricing, plan by plan
Steam
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Steam review.
Twitch
Free- FreeFree
- Watch live streams
- Chat participation
- Follow streamers
- Turbo$8.99/month
- Ad-free viewing
- Expanded emoticon set
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Steam if
Nothing in the data separates Steam from Twitch on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Choose Twitch if
- You need live streaming.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo-switch.
- You also want chat interaction.
Questions people ask
- Is Steam or Twitch better?
- Neither clearly leads. Steam starts at On request and Twitch at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Steam or Twitch?
- Twitch has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Steam and Free for Twitch.
- Does Steam or Twitch run on more platforms?
- Steam runs on Web. Twitch runs on Web, Ios, Android, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo-switch.
- Can I use Twitch for free?
- Yes. Twitch has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Steam starts at On request.
- What can Steam do that Twitch cannot?
- Twitch covers Live streaming, Chat interaction, Video on demand, Clips and highlights.