PC / Desk build
What do you actually need to start streaming on Twitch?
Streaming comes down to four jobs: a camera, a mic, software, and a connection. Here is the minimum, and where to spend first.
Holds 1080p30 on Twitch (standard)
Your encoder tops out at 1080p30. A higher-end encoder would go further.
Hardware total
$67
+ service plans
| Component | Pick | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camera | NexiGo N60 1080p The default cheap webcam. Wildly popular, gets a new streamer on screen for next to nothing. | $22 | Buy on Amazon |
| Audio | FIFINE USB/XLR Dynamic Hugely popular budget dynamic that rejects room noise and keyboard clatter. | $45 | Buy on Amazon |
| Software | OBS Studio Free, open-source broadcast software. On a PC it is also your encoder, up to 4K with a decent GPU. | Free | Learn more |
It is simpler than it looks. Streaming on Twitch comes down to four jobs: a camera, a microphone, software to broadcast, and an internet connection. You can start with what you own and upgrade one piece at a time.
- Video: a webcam, or your phone to start
- Audio: a real microphone, the single biggest upgrade to how pro you sound
- Software: OBS Studio, free and the standard
- Internet: about 5 Mbps upload for a stable 1080p
OBS Studio
Free, open-source broadcast software. Scenes, overlays, encoding.
Spend your first dollars on audio. Viewers forgive a soft image, but they leave over bad sound.
Then pick how you stream
From a desk, the PC build is your studio. From your pocket, the phone build gets you live for nothing. Out in the world, the IRL backpack is the goal. Each one estimates the exact stream quality it can hold.