If you’re a streamer, you may feel the need to integrate a system on your platform to improve the look, feel, and functionality of your streams. You might see other stream channels with fancy overlays, special stream alerts, and fun chat commands. These assets generally come from one of two platforms: StreamLabs or StreamElements. Both of these platforms are great for streamers, and there’s no unanimous favorite between the two; each creator selects the one that best meets their needs.

StreamElements

StreamElements is a cloud-based streaming platform that allows you to connect to your OBS as a plugin, managing all of your stream assets without downloading them.

StreamLabs

StreamLabs is a streaming platform with options to use as a cloud-based OBS plugin or as a fully functional streaming software by itself. You can use StreamLabs as an addition to your broadcasting software or download it to your desktop and not need any additional software to stream to your channels.

Similarities

StreamElements and StreamLabs have a lot in common as far as assets they provide for your streams.

Overlays

StreamElements and StreamLabs both offer a variety of overlays and themes to choose from, including specific games and genres to make your overlays match your overall brand.

Alerts

You can create a unique collection of alerts and variations with StreamElements or StreamLabs. The most common alerts for streams are follows, subscribers, bits, donations, and raids. Users can add variations to these alerts as well, like new subscriber vs returning subscriber (resub) or different alerts for higher bits or donations .

Chat Commands

You can add chat commands into your stream, with absolutely endless possibilities. StreamElements and StreamLabs offer easy commands to start with, and allow you to create your own. These are the most common commands streamers add to their chats:

• Shoutout: a shoutout command recognizes a friend or fellow creator to the streamer or their community, and links their channel in the chat for viewers to click
• Discord: links the streamer’s community discord server for viewers to join
• Lurk: allows viewers to send a message to chat that they’re going to “lurk”, or keep the stream window open to count for a view, even though the viewer may be stepping away or otherwise not engaging in the stream chat

There are plenty of other command options, but these are a great start to get your viewers engaged in your stream.

Donations

StreamElements and StreamLabs offer donation or tipping settings. They create a safe link between you and your viewers, so you can receive donations without compromising your viewers’ information or your own.

Merch

Both platforms allow you to design your merch store, creating items specifically for your brand that your community may want to purchase.

Loyalty

StreamElements and StreamLabs offer loyalty programs for your community, allowing you to develop contests, giveaways, and rankings.

Goals and Labels

You can add labels and goals to your stream, such as a donation goal or a recent followers label. You can create these goals and labels on either StreamElements or StreamLabs, and they will add those into your stream for your community to see live, with live updates.

Moderation

Moderating a stream can be hard when your focus is already on several things, like your content, your chat, and your activity feed. StreamElements and StreamLabs offer some moderation help, like banned words in chat to keep your community safe.

Differences

Cost

StreamElements prides itself on being 100% free, while StreamLabs has their Ultra membership that gives users unlimited access to every tool on their platform. As of January 2025, StreamLabs Ultra is $27/month or $189/year, the annual membership being the cheaper option for users.

CPU Usage

StreamElements is cloud-based, using less CPU usage as a plugin for OBS. Meanwhile, StreamLabs can be used as a plugin, or you can use it as a complete broadcasting software, which would be heavier on the CPU usage.

Multistreaming

StreamLabs offers multistreaming, also known as simulcasting, where streamers can broadcast their livestream to multiple platforms at one time. This feature is not offered by StreamElements.

User Experience Level

StreamLabs is designed more for beginners, with everything in one place and easy to use. StreamElements has more adjustment features, making it great for more seasoned creators that have experience with OBS.

App Add-Ons

StreamLabs has an app store that allows you to integrate more features into your streams, while StreamElements does not offer an app store.

Customization

StreamLabs has limited customization options, while StreamElements allows you to customize nearly everything in your stream.

StreamElements or StreamLabs?

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which platform would better suit your streaming needs. Try each of them out and see which one has the options you need. If you’re looking for a platform that will get you some assets quickly and with minimal effort, then StreamLabs may be the better option for you. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a platform that gives you complete freedom with your assets, you may want to look into StreamElements.