How to stream on Kick: Full guide

Kick.com is a new streaming platform that officially rolled out in January 2023. It’s attracted a lot of attention for being more creator-friendly than other live streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube. It’s still too early to tell if Kick will stick around and give Twitch and YouTube a run for their money, or if it will suffer the same fate as platforms like Mixer, which made a splash in the live streaming world but ultimately failed.

If you’re a new streamer who wants to build an audience or an established broadcaster looking for another streaming option, Kick might just be the platform for you. This guide will help you go live on Kick step-by-step.

What is Kick streaming?

Kick a live streaming platform that allows you broadcast live videos for viewers to watch in real time. It’s very similar to Twitch, YouTube Live and Facebook Live. Kick was started as a creator-friendly platform that takes a smaller cut of creators’ earnings than Twitch, YouTube or Facebook do. It also has more lax rules when it comes to content and more transparency concerning its policies, compared to other platforms.

When you go to kick.com, you’ll probably notice some strong similarities to Twitch. Kick organizes live videos into categories just like Twitch does. Video games are popular on Kick but the biggest draw is the Slots and Casinos category — a genre that is essentially banned on Twitch. The other main categories on Kick are IRL streaming, music, creative arts and alternative streams. The new streaming platform also has a feature that lets creators stream games with friends or on a team, even if they’re in different locations.

Kick vs. Twitch

Kick and Twitch are similar in terms of content and navigation, but there are some key differences.

Kick has already lured big streamers away from Twitch, including Tyler “Trainwreck” Niknam, Hikaru Nakamura, Adin Ross, Evelone and Corinna Kopf. Since the platform is still in its early stages, the possibilities for creators on Kick are pretty wide open.

Many live streamers are attracted by the more favorable monetization policies. Twitch creators only get 50% of subscription earnings and YouTube offers creators 70%. With Kick, creators get to keep 95% of subscription earnings.

How to go live on Kick

To go live on Kick you'll need a live streaming software that uses RTMP, such as Restream Studio or OBS Studio. We’ll explain how to go live on Kick using Restream.

Part 1: Create your Kick channel

1. Go to kick.com and create an account if you haven’t already.

2. Click your profile avatar in the top-right corner, then click Creator Dashboard.

3. To start a new stream, click Edit stream info in the bottom right corner.

4. Give your stream a title, category and language. Also decide if it’s for 18+ audiences only. Then, click Save.

5. On the left side of the Creator Dashboard, click the Settings tab. Then, click Stream Key.

6. Scroll down until you see your Stream URL and Stream Key. Copy your Stream URL.

Part 2: Connect Kick and Restream

7. In another tab on your browser, go to restream.io and create a Restream account. Or log in to your Restream account if you already have one.

8. In Restream, click Edit Destinations, then Add Destination.

9. Click the Kick Streaming icon from the list of streaming platforms.

10. Paste the Stream URL you copied from Kick into the RTMP URL field in Restream.

11. Go back to your Kick Creator Dashboard. Copy your Stream Key.

12. Return to Restream and paste the Stream Key you copied from Kick into the Stream key field in Restream.

13. Paste the URL of your Kick channel in the Channel URL field.

14. When you’ve pasted your RTMP URL and Stream key in Restream, click Add Channel. Your Kick channel is now connected to Restream.

Part 3: Go live on Kick using Restream Studio

14. On your Restream dashboard, click Stream with Studio.

15. Enter your name as you want it to appear on-stream (you can toggle it off later), give access to your camera and microphone, and then click Enter Studio.

16. Ensure that your Kick channel is connected by clicking on your destinations at the top of the screen, right next to the red Go Live button.

17. Configure your settings in Restream Studio (upload custom graphics, choose a screen layout, have remote guests join you in the studio, etc.).

18. When you’re ready to start broadcasting, click the red Go Live button.

Note that Kick is still in beta. If you have issues broadcasting on Kick, you can visit the platform’s official Discord server to look for answers.

Multistream on Kick and other platforms with Restream

When you use Restream Studio to go live on Kick, you aren’t limited to just streaming on Kick. You can stream on all your favorite streaming platforms, like Facebook, YouTube and Twitch, simultaneously. Read our channel setup guides to learn how to connect popular streaming platforms to Restream.

When you go live using Restream Studio, you also have access to tons of features to help you customize your stream and make it look more professional:

• Multistream to Kick and other streaming platforms simultaneously
• Add logos, graphics, backgrounds and captions to your live stream
• Have up to nine guests join your stream remotely
• Change your screen layout to suit your preferences
• Have your Kick chat show up on your Restream dashboard and display the chat as an overlay
• Play local video files during your stream
• Stream in Full HD
• Add affiliate or donation links as QR codes that display on-screen
• Get insights on your stream performance with robust analytics

Why stream on Kick?

Streamers have started broadcasting on Kick for several reasons. The most common are:

• The 95-5 revenue split: It’s hard to ignore Kick’s revenue model, which lets creators keep 95% of their earnings. If streamers can get enough viewers on Kick, they can earn substantially more than streaming on other platforms.
• Still room for beginning streamers to gain traction: Twitch is saturated with content creators, including big and small streamers. Making a name for yourself in those conditions can be difficult; Kick offers an alternative with lower competition.
• More built-in social features: Kick was designed as a social platform before it turned to streaming so there are more features to help you connect with other streamers and viewers, such as group streaming.
• Multistreaming: Kick can be just one of several platforms in your live streaming toolbox. You can simulcast to Kick, Twitch, YouTube and other streaming platforms to broaden your reach.

It’s important to keep in mind that Kick is still a very new streaming platform. There could be big changes to the platform in its first year — there’s doubt as to whether that 95-5 model is tenable long-term. For the moment, Kick seems like a good platform for beginners to establish themselves and get exposure. But if you do decide to stream on Kick, just be prepared for changes over the coming months.

What to stream on Kick

Kick is still a new platform so knowing which type of content has the most success will take some time. It’s managed to attract some big-time streamers but for the most part, Kick seems better suited to content creators who are just starting out and looking to gain some exposure.

If you create live video content around gambling, slots and casinos, then Kick should be a good home for you. Gambling is currently the top category on the platform. Other popular types of streams on Kick include:

• Just Chatting
• Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
• Fortnite
• Just Sleeping
• Music
• Pools, Hot Tubs & Bikinis
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
• Valorant
• Apex Legends
• Grand Theft Auto

Classic esports games like League of Legends, Dota 2, PUBG: Battlegrounds, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive don’t seem to have made a big splash on Kick yet.

FAQs

Wrap-up

If you’re looking to try out a new streaming platform, head over to Kick and give it a whirl. Going live on Kick is easy if you use an intuitive streaming software like Restream Studio. Connect your Kick channel to Restream in just two minutes, customize your live video and then start broadcasting.