StreamLabs vs StreamElements: Which is Better for Donations? (2025)
In-depth comparison of the two most popular alert platforms for Twitch streamers. Features, pricing, performance, and our verdict.
Choosing between StreamLabs and StreamElements is one of the first major decisions new Twitch streamers face. Both platforms offer donation alerts, overlays, chatbots, and a suite of streaming tools — but which one is actually better in 2025?
We've tested both platforms extensively with real streams, analyzed their features side-by-side, and gathered feedback from thousands of streamers. This comprehensive comparison will help you make the right choice for your channel.
Quick Verdict (TL;DR)
- Best for beginners: StreamLabs (easier setup, more templates)
- Best for advanced users: StreamElements (better performance, more customization)
- Best for budget: StreamElements (100% free, no premium tier)
- Best for CashApp/Venmo alerts: Stream Alert (works with both platforms)
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | StreamLabs | StreamElements |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free + Prime ($149/yr) | 100% Free |
| Donation Alerts | ✅ PayPal only | ✅ PayPal only |
| Custom Overlays | ✅ Large library | ✅ Smaller library |
| Chatbot | ✅ CloudBot | ✅ StreamElements Bot |
| Performance (CPU) | Heavy | Lightweight |
| Customization | Moderate | Advanced (CSS/HTML) |
| OBS Integration | StreamLabs OBS | OBS Studio (plugin) |
| Mobile App | ✅ iOS + Android | ✅ iOS + Android |
| Learning Curve | Easy | Moderate |
| Support | Community + Premium | Community + Discord |
⚠️ Important Limitation
Neither StreamLabs nor StreamElements natively support CashApp or Venmo alerts. For automatic CashApp/Venmo detection, you'll need Stream Alert which works with both platforms.
StreamLabs: Detailed Review
What is StreamLabs?
StreamLabs (owned by Logitech) is the most popular streaming toolkit with over 30 million registered users. It's best known for StreamLabs OBS, a customized version of OBS Studio with built-in alerts and overlays.
StreamLabs Pros
Easier for Beginners
StreamLabs OBS combines streaming software and alerts in one package. Setup is more intuitive than StreamElements.
Massive Theme Library
Thousands of pre-made overlays, alert themes, and widgets. Great if you want plug-and-play aesthetics.
All-in-One Platform
Donation pages, merch store, tip jar, and more all built into one ecosystem.
Better Mobile App
StreamLabs mobile app is more polished with better notifications and remote stream management.
StreamLabs Cons
Resource Heavy
StreamLabs OBS uses 20-30% more CPU/RAM than regular OBS Studio, which can hurt stream quality on lower-end PCs.
Premium Paywall
Many advanced features require StreamLabs Prime ($149/year or $19/month).
Slower Updates
StreamLabs OBS lags behind regular OBS Studio in features by several months.
Limited Customization
Harder to customize alerts with custom code compared to StreamElements.
StreamLabs Pricing
- Free: Basic alerts, overlays, donation page, chatbot
- Prime ($149/year): App store, custom branding removal, loyalty store, prime-exclusive themes, priority support
StreamElements: Detailed Review
What is StreamElements?
StreamElements is the #1 alternative to StreamLabs, with over 1 million monthly active users. It's completely cloud-based, works with any OBS, and is 100% free with no premium tier.
StreamElements Pros
Completely Free
No premium tier, no paywalls. All features are free forever.
Better Performance
Cloud-based alerts don't run on your PC. Uses 30-40% less resources than StreamLabs OBS.
Advanced Customization
Full CSS/HTML/JavaScript editing. Perfect for streamers who want complete creative control.
Works with Any OBS
Not locked into StreamLabs OBS. Use OBS Studio, OBS.Live, or any variant.
Better Chatbot
More powerful commands, better spam protection, and active module development.
StreamElements Cons
Steeper Learning Curve
Requires understanding of OBS scenes and browser sources. Not as beginner-friendly as StreamLabs.
Fewer Pre-Made Themes
Smaller library of plug-and-play overlays compared to StreamLabs.
Support is Community-Based
No official priority support option (though Discord community is very active).
StreamElements Pricing
100% Free — All features included, no premium tier, no hidden costs.
Head-to-Head: Key Differences
1. Performance & System Resources
Winner: StreamElements
StreamLabs OBS is notoriously resource-heavy. On a mid-range PC, it can use 20-30% more CPU than OBS Studio, which directly impacts stream quality. StreamElements runs in the cloud, so it has near-zero performance impact.
2. Ease of Use
Winner: StreamLabs
StreamLabs wins for beginners. The all-in-one approach of StreamLabs OBS makes setup faster and more intuitive. StreamElements requires manually adding browser sources to OBS.
3. Customization
Winner: StreamElements
If you want total creative control, StreamElements is unbeatable. Full CSS/HTML/JS support means you can create exactly what you envision. StreamLabs limits you to their editor.
4. Cost
Winner: StreamElements
StreamElements is 100% free forever. StreamLabs locks many features behind Prime ($149/year).
5. Donation Processing
Tie
Both platforms only support PayPal donations natively (with 2.9% + $0.30 fees). Neither supports CashApp or Venmo automatic alerts.
💡 Pro Tip
Use Stream Alert alongside either platform to get automatic CashApp and Venmo donation alerts with 0% fees.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose StreamLabs if you:
- Are brand new to streaming
- Want the easiest setup possible
- Prefer all-in-one solutions
- Like having many theme options
- Have a powerful PC (to handle the resource usage)
- Don't mind paying $149/year for premium features
Choose StreamElements if you:
- Have some streaming experience
- Value performance and low CPU usage
- Want complete customization freedom
- Prefer free over premium paywalls
- Use or want to use OBS Studio
- Know basic HTML/CSS or want to learn
Our Recommendation
For new streamers, start with StreamLabs for 1-2 months to learn the basics. Once you're comfortable, switch to StreamElements for better performance and no costs.
For existing streamers, we recommend StreamElements unless you specifically need a StreamLabs Prime feature.
For serious streamers wanting CashApp/Venmo alerts, use StreamElements + Stream Alert for the best performance and zero donation fees.
Alternative: Stream Alert
Both StreamLabs and StreamElements have one major limitation: no CashApp or Venmo support. This is a huge problem in 2025, as these payment methods have surpassed PayPal in popularity among younger audiences.
Why Stream Alert is Different
Stream Alert works alongside StreamLabs or StreamElements and automatically detects donations from:
- ✅ CashApp (0% fees)
- ✅ Venmo (0% fees)
- ✅ PayPal (2.9% + $0.30)
It monitors your Gmail inbox for donation emails and automatically triggers alerts in real-time. Setup takes 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both StreamLabs and StreamElements?
Technically yes, but it's not recommended. Stick to one platform to avoid conflicts and confusion. However, you CAN use Stream Alert with either platform.
Is StreamLabs OBS better than regular OBS Studio?
Not necessarily. StreamLabs OBS is easier to set up but uses more resources and gets updates slower. Most experienced streamers prefer OBS Studio + StreamElements.
Which has better donation alerts?
The alerts themselves are comparable in quality. The difference is customization (StreamElements wins) vs ease of setup (StreamLabs wins). For CashApp/Venmo, neither works — you need Stream Alert.
Can I switch from StreamLabs to StreamElements?
Yes! Most streamers make the switch once they outgrow StreamLabs. StreamElements has import tools to migrate your settings, though you may need to reconfigure some things.
Do I need StreamLabs Prime?
No. The free version has everything most streamers need. Prime is only worth it if you specifically want custom app stores, white-label branding, or prime-exclusive themes.
Final Verdict
Both platforms are excellent, but for different reasons:
- StreamLabs: Best for absolute beginners who want the easiest setup
- StreamElements: Best for everyone else (better performance, free, more customization)
- Stream Alert: Best for CashApp/Venmo donations (works with both platforms)
Our recommendation: Start with StreamElements (free, performant) and add Stream Alert for CashApp/Venmo support. This combination gives you the best of everything.
Works with StreamLabs AND StreamElements