Best Stream Deck 2025: for Twitch, YouTube, Discord and more

The Stream Deck + is probably the most versatile possibility on our checklist, with nice options at an affordable worth. It combines eight huge sq. buttons – the usual management interface on its different fashions – with an LCD contact panel and 4 rotary dials that may be pushed to cycle between capabilities.

Whether or not you are utilizing the Stream Deck + to manage your Elgato Facecam or Elgato Wave:3, are placing on stay productions, or fine-tuning photographs and video in your modifying software program of selection there are such a lot of prospects. Whereas the Stream Deck + lacks as many devoted macro buttons because the Stream Deck MK.2 and the jumbo-sized Stream Deck XL that is offset by the truth that biking by way of macros is quicker and extra environment friendly than earlier than.

Learn our Elgato Stream Deck + evaluation.

When you love having a number of macros in a single place, or you have got an entire host of fancy visible results in your stream, then managing them concurrently utilizing the Stream Deck XL is totally the way in which to go. Whereas it’s a lot pricier than the feature-packed Stream Deck + and the extra modest Stream Deck MK.2, the price-to-key ratio is technically higher right here than on its smaller siblings.

With that mentioned, we would not advocate the Stream Deck XL for those who’re a extra informal streamer, or haven’t got a powerful sufficient use case for having all your macros obtainable directly. Whereas we get pleasure from having the ability to have separate sections on our XL devoted to every part from modifying to Twitch, to peripherals because of the elevated actual property, it is not obligatory for everybody. Saving your self ~$100 by selecting up Elgato’s MK.2 mannequin and dedicating a macro key or two to switching between pages is a significantly better worth proposition.

The Stream Deck XL is ideal for complicated manufacturing, and an important accompaniment to the Stream Deck + for those who actually wish to increase your setup, however as a standalone possibility there are extra smart decisions on the market.

When you’re seeking to decide up a stream deck with out breaking the financial institution an excessive amount of, the Elgato Stream Deck MK.2 is a superb selection – at the least so far as software program is anxious. Because the follow-up to what’s in all probability the preferred stream deck in the marketplace, the MK.2 is the proper instrument not just for streamers but in addition for these seeking to increase their productiveness.

Sporting 15 macro keys, unfold throughout three rows of 5, there are greater than sufficient buttons to assign to something you’d want from Elgato’s glorious plugin library. Granted, Elgato’s buttons have by no means felt probably the most premium – there’s this innate mushiness to them that you just will not discover in one thing just like the Razer Stream Controller X – however there’s nonetheless a satisfying sufficient tactility to their bump.

Not a lot has actually modified from the unique Stream Deck MK.1, barring the welcomed shift to USB-C. Nevertheless, as Elgato took a step ahead, it has additionally taken a step backward by taking out the angle-adjustable stand.

The Logitech MX Artistic Console is our favourite management interface for modifying and normal desktop work. It is also good for streaming, however its modest variety of programmable buttons and give attention to analog management dials is finest fitted to scrubbing by way of video timelines and adjusting  analog settings on the fly.

It is available in two components: the button part that is wired and a wi-fi dials part. The latter has a big central dial that defaults to capabilities akin to scrolling in internet browsers and timeline scrubbing in Adobe Premiere however could be programmed to carry out all types of different capabilities. Within the high proper nook there’s then a smaller vertical wheel that once more can carry out all types of tremendous changes, akin to tweaking quantity ranges.

The programmable buttons pad wants a wire to gentle up all its OLED shows, and these operate very similar to different stream decks, with icons and capabilities being fully customizable. Crucially, Logitech has partnered with an enormous variety of software program makers to offer an enormous library of default capabilities for all types of various apps, so you possibly can typically get going immediately, with little or no setup wanted.

At $199.99, it is not an affordable possibility, however in order for you a stream deck that is good for each controlling a couple of stream capabilities in addition to many facets of your each day computing life, it is a worthwhile funding.z

The Loupedeck Dwell is an absolute dream for editors and solves the largest qualm we’ve got with the Stream Deck + in that its haptics – on each its six dials and capacitative contact display screen – are exemplary.

Whereas the Loupedeck Dwell does not have bodily buttons like the opposite decks on this checklist, its touchscreen is mainly the macro keys and contact bar of the Stream Deck + rolled into one panel. Its native integration with modifying and manufacturing software program is actually its largest promoting level, and the added potential to tweak a number of parameters inside apps like Lightroom at a time with the dials makes modifying a breeze.

The Loupedeck Dwell shouldn’t be excellent, nevertheless. The standard of its plastic stand is questionable, and its app retailer shouldn’t be practically as populated with third-party choices as Elgato’s. Moreover, establishing your Loupedeck generally is a daunting job, as issues like multi-action macros and keyboard shortcuts take some routing round within the deck’s software program to arrange.

As a productiveness instrument, the Loupedeck Dwell is improbable, however for those who’re searching for a deck purely from a gaming perspective, we would advocate going with an Elgato mannequin. As an apart, for those who’re questioning why this appears to be like a lot like Razer’s major Stream Controller, it is as a result of the product’s precisely the identical – the 2 firms partnered up for Razer’s launch. As such, for those who do go for one of many two, go together with whichever hurts your financial institution stability the least.

For many who discover the usual model a bit too costly, the Loupedeck Dwell S affords a budget-friendlier method, with a small, but nonetheless mighty stream deck. Providing an all-in-one system for creators and streamers, the Dwell S has loads of keys, buttons, and dials – we simply want fewer points with the software program.

This glossy machine delivers something you can ask for a stream deck, and in contrast to the cheaper Elgato merchandise, does not skimp out with the lower cost. For ease of use, the pre-configured macro profiles make it simple to get to work immediately, whether or not you are a rising streamer or a inventive searching for easy accessibility to your favourite applications.

Try our Loupedeck Dwell S evaluation right here.

When you’re after a well-constructed stream deck with buttons which you can’t cease urgent, then Razer’s Stream Controller X is the way in which to go. Because the gaming tech model’s reply to Elgato’s Stream Deck MK.2, we’re huge followers of its premium construct high quality.

Whereas the pair look practically an identical, the Stream Controller X’s keys are significantly much less mushy, with much less journey time and better tactility than Elgato’s providing. Moreover, its customizable faceplate is magnetic, making for a extra seamless transition between kinds than the clip-based system used on the MK.2.

Nevertheless, the Stream Controller X is beholden to the identical software program limitations because the Loupedeck Dwell, because of Razer operating off of Loupedeck’s personal software program. It will at the least imply you needn’t run Razer Synapse, although you will not discover devoted RGB controls to your different Razer gadgets consequently.

In the end, the Stream Controller X does not actually convey something new to the house. It is an Elgato clone that by no means actually makes an attempt to compete in an important house of all – software program. Nevertheless, for those who’re all about construct high quality, then it may be yours for a couple of {dollars} lower than the MK.2.

When you’re searching for a productiveness or streaming help for the bottom doable worth, then we advocate the Elgato Stream Deck Mini. Though it solely comes with six buttons, there’s loads of maneuverability as you possibly can stack folders crammed with helpful macros relying on what program you are utilizing.

Whereas this does require an additional key press or two to get to what you want, it is actually price it contemplating the Mini is available in at round half the worth of the usual MK.2. You will not be getting probably the most handy stream deck expertise, however it can nonetheless be infinitely higher than, for instance, having to manually open teams of commonly-used webpages, or tab between applications on single-monitor setups.

Moreover, for those who work on the go, then having a bite-sized companion that may be sat subsequent to your laptop computer is one thing we particularly love in regards to the Mini.

The Mini nonetheless retains the identical flaw because the MK.2 with regard to mushy buttons, and we’re upset to see that it does not include a removable USB cable – a foul hangover from the unique MK.1 Stream Deck that ought to’ve been iterated out by now.

Whereas the Mini’s worth can fluctuate, it is gone as little as $50 at factors (based on camelcamelcamel) which places its price-per-key on the identical stage because the MK.2’s. We would not advocate spending something over $80 for one, however make sure to store round as there are bargains available.