It is often said that technology brings people together, and this is undoubtedly true for streaming platforms, for better or worse.
Millions of people of all ages can express themselves intellectually, emotionally, and artistically, share their ideas, interact, chat, and provide exciting, high-quality content to others.
Two of the most popular platforms for sharing and live streaming are undoubtedly Twitch and Picarto.
This article will examine these two content platforms and explore their core features. We will identify what each offers to both creators and viewers, how they operate, and which one is the better choice to meet all your entertainment and creative needs.
Table of Contents
The Basics of Live Streaming Platforms
Firstly, we’ll take care of some housekeeping and discuss basic information about Twitch and the Picarto streaming platform. This will serve as a brief reminder for experienced users and a short history lesson for those who are new to it.
Twitch
Twitch is probably the most popular streaming service globally. Here, you can live stream anything from gaming to political debates.
But how did Twitch come to exist, and what is this platform all about?
Brief History
In 2007, Emmett Shear and Justin Kan launched a website called Justin.tv, a platform for people to live stream and interact with its many viewers.
Unlike other platforms like YouTube, gaming has gained significant momentum on Twitch over the years. This is not surprising, given the platform’s younger and more tech-savvy audience.
This resulted in Amazon acquiring it in an exclusive deal in 2014 for an impressive 970 million dollars, renaming it Twitch Interactive in the process, and the platform has continued to thrive ever since.
A Heterogeneous Streaming Platform
Although the original concept was primarily based on video game streaming, the platform has evolved since its inception.
Today, you can find a wide variety of live video content on Twitch. While people continue to stream and play games, you can also enjoy vlogging, music creation, and performances. You can watch gambling streams and appreciate the work of numerous content creators and artists, which has transformed Twitch into a powerhouse of online entertainment that competes with giants like YouTube in the streaming market.
It is also important to note that this platform is recognized as an excellent venue for hosting live streams of Esports events, broadcasting interviews with sports stars, or even engaging in significant sponsorship deals with select streamers to enhance their user base.
Picarto
Picarto is a well-known community and video platform for artists, although its popularity does not match that of larger platforms like YouTube or Twitch.
What is the story behind this, and who is this platform intended for in the first place?
Brief History
Picarto was established in 2013 by Mehmet Karatas, Ozcan Dogan, and Michael Kriegel. From its inception, it has served as a prominent platform for artists to gain recognition within the community.
This platform pioneered concepts such as creative live streaming. It revolutionized the genre by introducing new features like multi-streaming with friends and the option to keep your stream completely private.
Picarto allowed individuals to develop as artists while also earning some income, but more on that later.
A Hub for Art Streams and Creative Community
Picarto is primarily designed for artists and those who appreciate art in any form. It allows you to watch art streams from other artists, as well as create and stream your own videos and artwork, either publicly or privately. Additionally, it provides a platform to connect with fellow artists from around the world.
It offers a hassle-free way to express your passions and articulate your thoughts, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of a loyal and dedicated global community in the process.
If you are already active on other platforms, you can manage multiple platforms simultaneously using browser streaming software like StreamYard.
Now that we have a grasp on the details, it’s time to directly compare Twitch and Picarto, examining what they can offer you and what you can provide to them.
Are these two platforms direct competitors, or do they occupy separate niches?
Design and Usability
First, we’ll examine the appearance and accessibility of Twitch and Picarto. We’ll determine how easy they are to navigate and use for you to set up your live streaming.
Interface
Picarto
The interface on Picarto is clear, streamlined, and straightforward. It is relatively easy to navigate, allowing even first-time users to quickly understand the basic concepts of how things work and what options are available to them.
You can find nearly everything that may interest you directly on the home page. You can quickly access live streams and top categories on the site, premium streams, smaller streams, recommended channels, the best videos, selected masterpieces from the gallery, and more.
Twitch
In contrast, Twitch is a more vibrant and colorful platform. It may appear overwhelming at first glance, but it provides essentially the same functionality as Picarto, albeit in a slightly more scattered and unorganized manner.
Users can access many materials directly from the main page, including live streaming, popular clips, recommended channels, and several major categories to choose from.
It is also worth noting that a dark theme is available if you prefer it over the default white theme, as the dark option is somewhat easier on the eyes.
Ease of Use
Picarto
Picarto is quite user-friendly for the average, not-so-tech-savvy person, particularly if you are a viewer. You can enjoy art streams from any streamer without needing to register. You can navigate the site using the search bar or the intuitive menu, and you’re all set.
If you’re a streamer, the process will become slightly more complex, but not excessively so. To post and download content on Picarto, you need to complete a straightforward registration and then utilize either open-source broadcasting software like OBS or commercial software like XSplit.
Finally, a mobile app enables users to live-stream traditional drawings on Android and iOS. However, currently, there is no effective solution for streaming digital art.
Twitch
Similar to Picarto, Twitch is very user-friendly for viewers who want to enjoy gaming streams or other live content from their favorite creators. You can access most live streams without registering by simply using the search bar to find what you like or browsing through the available categories.
If you plan to broadcast on Twitch, you need to register and install broadcasting software of your choice. A Twitch Studio beta is a tool you can use for this purpose, along with Gamecaster, Streamlabs Desktop, Lightstream Studio, Melon, and others.
You don’t need any special streaming equipment—just a webcam and either a computer, laptop, or gaming console to run your content.
Live streaming on your smartphone is as simple as downloading the Twitch app, logging in, and beginning your stream.
Features
But what can you do on these two platforms, and how much freedom do they offer you to express your creativity?
All The Possibilities
Both platforms are quite straightforward regarding their features and provide numerous tools for you to express yourself and engage with your audience.
Picarto
There is nothing surprising about the features offered on Picarto. As a viewer on this website, you have access to numerous categories to explore and enjoy. You can share your opinions on your feed. You can watch live streams, browse the gallery, post public comments on any artwork, and download it if you wish.
You can also customize your own channel and follow or subscribe to other channels if you wish to support your favorite artist.
You can, of course, stream your content on Picarto. As mentioned earlier, broadcasting software like OBS is essential in this case. You can use it to add filters, overlays, cool transition effects, and more from various sources.
You can host a multi-stream with your friends, upload images and other artwork, set up a chat on a video for your community, and stream from various platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and more.
Twitch
Similar to Picarto, Twitch enables you to watch nearly any live video, view short clips, and support your favorite streamers by following and subscribing to their channels. Additionally, you can engage in chat with others and participate in meaningful discussions with streamers and fellow viewers.
Twitch differs slightly when it comes to posting content, as it only allows live video streaming. You have many options available through the creator dashboard. This tool assists you with everything from downloading the appropriate broadcasting software to installing extensions, monitoring analytics, and managing your stream, among other tasks.
Finally, one of the most valuable features is the Creator Camp, an excellent resource where you can learn everything you need about streaming to support you on your streaming journey.
Freedom of Expression
What are the implications of copyright infringement and censorship? How restrictive are these platforms toward their content creators?
Picarto
Picarto is a platform solely dedicated to artists and creative individuals. Creativity does not necessarily consider the sensitivities of those who express their discontent on Twitter or Facebook, nor the political correctness of the themes it represents.
Picarto is a smaller community that allows everyone to post and stream any art-related content that comes to mind, free of charge. This may include sexual content or other material that could be considered problematic on other internet streaming platforms.
Twitch
Twitch is a completely different entity in this category, and its internet popularity is a factor that works against it in this case, primarily due to corporate hierarchy and censorship.
This platform is well-known for issuing bans and censoring any stream or streamer that violates strict rules concerning copyrights and the use of inappropriate language, for instance.
Streamers must only use copyright-free music, so ensure you have all the necessary rights before proceeding. Additionally, be cautious about your words and actions if you want to avoid being banned and prevent your chat from being flooded with DMCA strikes.
Subscriptions and Monetization
As with every streaming platform, what you can achieve with these two depends on whether you are a free or premium user, and the same applies to monetization.
Free vs. Premium
Picarto
Registered users on Picarto can enjoy live streams and other art available on the website for free. They also have the ability to multi-stream, download some completed works such as drawings, or engage in art streaming themselves; however, this experience comes with certain limitations.
For anyone eager to maximize their experience on Picarto while supporting the platform, two paid membership options are available: the Gallery membership and the Premium membership.
Former provides various upgrades, including unlimited gallery storage, 4K support, custom album covers, and much more, making it ideal for anyone seeking to enhance their gallery.
The latter will provide you with all that and much more. The Premium upgrade is designed for individuals who are serious about live streaming and working on Picarto. In addition to everything included with the Gallery membership, this package also offers features such as storing previous streams, conducting polls in chat, retaining 75 percent of subscription profits, and much more.
Twitch
This platform is free for you to follow, enjoy streams, and create content on the site.
You can stream videos for free to your heart’s content, with the only expense being for your streaming equipment.
The same applies to viewers, as the only cost they might incur is when and if they choose to financially support their favorite streamer.
All of those decisions are optional, and Twitch is undoubtedly superior to Picarto in this regard.
What About Profitability?
Picarto
There are several ways to accumulate money on Picarto.
One way is through the subscription service. Viewers can subscribe to their favorite channel for a duration ranging from 1 month to 12 months, thereby directly supporting their preferred artists and other streamers. There are no specific conditions for viewers to begin making these payments; however, they must be made monthly, and users can cancel them at any time.
Another way to earn some cash is through a tipping system. Viewers can purchase kudos for real money and tip their favorite art streamers to show support. Streamers can set milestones for these kudos and offer various rewards, such as multiple tiers of custom channel badges.
Both of these options must be activated in the settings by content creators. Otherwise, they will not be able to receive any donations from their appreciators.
Twitch
This platform offers significantly more diversity and opportunities for gamers and other streamers to generate profit.
As a beginner, you can earn money through direct donations from your viewers, receive commissions from brand partnerships, or sell your merchandise to other users via a third-party site. Merchandise can include items such as coffee mugs, t-shirts, stickers, and more.
If you meet certain criteria as a content creator and advance in your career, new opportunities will arise. As an affiliate, you can generate income through monthly subscriptions, virtual cheers (bits), and commissions from game sales that users can buy by clicking on a link provided on your channel.
If you take a step further and become a partner, you will also gain the ability to earn a percentage of the ad revenue generated from your page.
Verdict
When all is said and done, both of these platforms excel at what they are and at fulfilling their intended purposes.
They do not appear to be direct competitors, nor do they necessarily complement one another. They exist as distinct entities in the realm of streaming.
Picarto is a streaming platform with a smaller community, primarily focused on art in all its forms. In contrast, Twitch operates in an entirely different realm, being a hugely popular site with a vast audience of younger viewers, mainly centered on gaming and entertainment-related live streams.
Whatever your interest may be, one of these two options will likely meet your needs. Choose your preference and enjoy.
FAQ
Is Twitch Good For Artists?
Yes, as previously established, Twitch can and is being used to post all kinds of art stuff, but it comes with a few caveats, especially regarding finding your place with viewers and copyright and censure issues. This platform caters to larger audiences by design. Given the demographic trends present and their primary interests, it’s better to put your focus elsewhere when it comes to broadcasting and streaming art-related stuff.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eThat’s why something like Picarto is a lot better choice as an art streaming platform. It is more specifically tailored for that experience, and it has fewer restrictions on expressing your creative mind.
Does YouTube Or Twitch Pay More?
That depends on the popularity and the size of your channel. Twitch partners can make substantial funds through direct donations, subs, and bits. If you lead an established medium, this platform is the right choice for you.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eOn the other hand, beginners without viewership power behind them might find that Youtube is a better choice since they only take 30 percent of revenue, while their competitor takes 50 percent.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eBoth platforms have a Partner program, but given the popularity of games nowadays, it’s not surprising that Twitch brings more audience and more money than Youtube gaming, u003ca href=u0022https://streammentor.com/how-to-stream-on-facebook-gaming/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eFacebook gamingu003c/au003e, etc.
Is Twitch Or YouTube Better For Streamers?
The best thing any streamer can do is diversify and use both platforms simultaneously.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eYoutube has a much larger viewer base and is better for gaining traction with the audience, especially if you need to make cash faster. Not to mention that Youtube is packed to the brim with prerecorded videos, so the streaming competition isn’t as tough.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eBut once you grow significantly as a channel, the best thing to do is to stream your content directly on Twitch and post videos separately on Youtube. That’s an easy way to kill two flies with one stroke and make more money in return.
How Do I Stream On Picarto?
Unlike something like Youtube, live streaming here demands fewer conditions to be met first, but it’s not overly complicated if you follow a few simple steps:u003cbru003eu003cbru003e1. Download and install OBS studio(link is provided on Picarto website) u003cbru003e2. Register and log in to your Picarto accountu003cbru003e3. Generate a streaming key by clicking on the u003cstrongu003eGo Live u003c/strongu003ebuttonu003cbru003e4. Start OBS studio and go to settings to set upstream configurationu003cbru003e5. Select Picarto as your streaming serviceu003cbru003e6. Paste the streaming key appropriately, and you’re ready to go live
