Currently, there are countless livestreaming platforms available, and YouNow is among early pioneers in social livestreaming. Known for its interactive features and creator-focused community, this platform has provided a stage for thousands of streamers to share their passions and connect with their audience. However, with many new platforms growing in popularity, it's important to explore how YouNow compares and if there's an alternative that better suits your needs.
In this article, we will provide a brief review of the YouNow app, highlight the 7 best alternatives and similar apps for live streaming, explain how to choose the right platform, and show you how to enhance your streams with Filmora Mobile to record, edit, and repurpose your content.
Part 1. What Is YouNow and Why You Might Need an Alternative
YouNow is a social live streaming platform founded in 2011. YouNow is designed to help people broadcast themselves and connect with others in real time. Its main focus has always been on social broadcasting, meaning that the core of the app is the interaction between broadcasters and their viewers.
It's super easy to use YouNow. You can start a live stream right from your computer or mobile device, interact with viewers as they watch, and even receive virtual gifts that can be converted into real income. The platform is accessible via the web, iOS, and Android, so you can stream live on the go or from anywhere.
- Easy-to-use platform, beginner-friendly for novice streamers
- Strong focus on community with interactive chat and fan engagement
- Provides monetization options through virtual gifts and bars
- Available on desktop and mobile devices, so it's easy to adapt to the device you're using
- Popular among young audiences who enjoy casual social streaming
- Smaller audience compared to other major platforms
- Limited tools for niche creators, such as gamers or professional streamers
- Monetization features are not as competitive as those of other platforms
- Fewer updates and slower growth in recent years
- Content discovery can be difficult, limiting exposure for new creators
Why You Might Need an Alternative
Until now, YouNow still provides a space for casual live streaming focused on social interaction, but many creators feel limited by its features. If you want to reach a larger global audience, with special features such as gaming overlays or stronger monetization options, you should consider alternative platforms.
Various platforms offer better tools depending on your niche, such as music, gaming, education, or interactive meetings.
Part 2. Top 7 Best YouNow Alternatives & Sites Like YouNow
If you're looking for another platform that may offer a larger audience, more powerful monetization tools, or features tailored to specific niches such as gaming, art, or lifestyle streaming, many other platforms offer these various features for creators.
To help you explore other available options, here are seven of the best YouNow alternatives and similar apps for you to consider as your streaming platform.
1. Twitch
Known as the world's largest live streaming platform, Twitch is recognized for its focus on gaming, but is now a home for creators from various fields, including musicians and talk show hosts. Its interactive chat feature, subscription system, and diverse categories make Twitch a strong alternative to YouNow.
- Popular with a large global audience
- Growing revenue through subscriptions, donations, and advertising
- Powerful chat and moderation tools
- Large communities around gaming, music, and lifestyle
- New streamers will find this platform very competitive
- Strict content rules can be limiting
2. Kick
As a new streaming platform offering more profitable revenue sharing for creators, Kick is increasingly gaining popularity. The platform combines gaming, lifestyle, and entertainment broadcasts as it attracts viewers looking for new content.
- Has the best revenue share in the industry (95/5 revenue split)
- Kick has a simple and modern interface
- A growing community with less competition than Twitch
- Some features are still limited as they are still in development
- The number of viewers is smaller compared to Twitch and YouTube Live
3. BIGO LIVE
BIGO LIVE is popular as a live streaming platform focused on socializing and entertainment, similar to YouNow. The app is especially popular in Asia, and it allows users to interact, perform, or simply catch up with fans through live streams.
- BIGO LIVE delivers a powerful social experience with live chat, gifts, and group streaming
- It's popular in many countries, especially in Asia
- Live broadcasting is easy from mobile devices
- Audience size may vary depending on the location
- Content tends to be more casual and entertainment-oriented
4. Picarto.TV
For any creative professional, you might be familiar with the live streaming platform Picarto. Picarto is a niche streaming platform designed specifically for artists, illustrators, and creative professionals. It allows creators to share their creative process live and build a community around their art.
- A platform designed specifically for artists and creative content
- Supports multi-channel streaming and collaboration
- A community perfect for art lovers
- Picarto has a smaller and very niche audience
- Limited monetization options compared to major platforms
5. Owncast
Owncast is an open-source live streaming tool that allows you to create your own streaming server. Unlike YouNow, Owncast gives you full control over your content, branding, and monetization. Therefore, it's a perfect alternative to YouNow.
- 100% complete control over your broadcasts and audience
- No platform restrictions or revenue cuts
- Open-source and customizable, ideal for those who want full control
- Not suitable for newbies, as it requires technical setup and knowledge of hosting
- Does not provide a built-in audience
6. YouTube Live
Who doesn't know YouTube? The largest video platform has seamlessly integrated YouTube Live with the world's largest video platform. This is ideal for creators who already have audiences on YouTube and want to expand their reach to real-time interactions.
- YouTube has a large built-in audience and is easy to find
- Various monetization options (ads, memberships, Super Chat)
- Easy reaccessibility as broadcasts remain available as videos
- Known for strict copyright enforcement
- Highly competitive in terms of visibility
7. Instagram Live
Another live streaming platform from the popular social media site Instagram is Instagram Live, part of Instagram's suite of features that enables users to broadcast live to their followers. This feature is simple, interactive, and best suited for casual content and direct interaction with fans.
- Instant access to your existing Instagram followers
- Easy to start streaming with just your smartphone
- Features for strong interaction, such as comments and questions
- Only available for mobile devices, without advanced streaming tools
- Not designed for professional content or monetization
Part 3. YouNow vs Top Alternatives: Quick Comparison Table
With multiple live streaming platforms available, choosing the right one depends on various factors such as audience size, monetization potential, ease of use, and the type of community you want to build. Previously, we've discussed in detail 7 alternative tools to YouNow.
Now, to help you make a decision, here's a quick comparison between YouNow and the top alternatives we've discussed above:
| Platform | Audience size | Monetization | Ease of use | Safety & Moderation | Best for |
| YouNow | Small to medium, mostly younger audiences | Virtual gifts and bars | Easy & mobile-friendly | Basic moderation, limited tools | Casual social streamers and beginners |
| Twitch | Very large and reaches globally | Subs, bits, ads | Moderate learning curve | Strong moderation but strict rules | Gamers, esports, pro creators |
| Kick | Growing but smaller than Twitch | 95/5 revenue split & tips | Easy & modern design | Develop moderation, less strict | Early adopters and creators seeking a high revenue share |
| BIGO LIVE | Large in Asia, expanding globally | Virtual gifts, in-app purchases | Easy to use and mobile-focused | Active moderation, but it varies by region | Casual mobile streamers and entertainment |
| Picarto.TV | Very niche and focused on art | Donations & Patreon integration | Easy for creative uses | Driven by the community, artist-friendly | Artists, illustrators, animators |
| Owncast | No built-in audience | Full control, independent monetization | Requires setup | Fully controlled by the user | Creators who want independence and customization |
| YouTube Live | Very large and worldwide | Ads, Super Chat, memberships, sponsorships | Easy to moderate | Strong copyright and content rules | Established YouTubers and multi-format creators |
| Instagram Live | Large but dependent on followers | Limited, brand partnerships, external monetization | Super easy, mobile only | Basic moderation, according to Instagram policy | Influencers, lifestyle creators, and casual content creators |
Part 4. Enhance Your Live Streams with Filmora Mobile
One of the ways to build an audience is through live streaming on platforms like YouNow. Also, to stand out, you need to create content that supports your live stream.
A short promo before the live stream, highlight clips after the session, or branded intros can help you attract new viewers and keep your community engaged even when you're offline. And to do that, you need a powerful editing tool.
Secure DownloadWondershare Filmora gives creators the tools to edit quickly and creatively without requiring professional skills. Its features are designed to help you transform raw live stream content into polished videos ready to share across various platforms.
Filmora Mobile Highlights:
- Instant Mode for quick content creation with ready-to-use templates
- Filmoa offers AI tools, including automatic text, AI description writing, and AI image-to-video conversion for creative assets
- Filters, transitions, text, and stickers to create trendy intros and outros
- Royalty-free music library to customize the vibes of your broadcast highlights
- Optimized export for Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms
Given available features, you can use Filmora mobile app to:
- Make a short promotional video to announce your upcoming live event on Instagram or TikTok
- Create an engaging opening clip to play before your live session starts
- Edit highlight clips from previous live broadcasts to share on YouTube or as short videos
- Repurpose your live content into short clips to keep your audience engaged daily
How to Make a Short Promo Video for Instagram with Filmora Mobile
Secure Download
Conclusion
YouNow remains a solid choice for casual live streaming, yet it may not suit every creator's needs. Therefore, there are various similar live streaming platforms to YouNow, such as Twitch, Kick, or BIGO LIVE, which offer a larger audience, while niche options like Picarto.TV or Owncast provides specialized features and flexibility.
In choosing the right platform, it depends on your goals, community, and content style. Apart from streaming, editing plays a crucial role in growth. With Filmora Mobile, you can easily create promotions, highlight reels, and custom clips that expand your reach on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. Combining live interaction with polished content is essential for building a strong online presence.
