Best Streaming Accessories 2021- How To Stream On Twitch, YouTube, And More

Video game streaming is a popular and fun way to play games, entertain an audience, and interact with your friends and viewers. However, streaming can be incredibly confusing when it comes to getting started and figuring out what you need. That’s why we’ve tested a multitude of products–from USB microphones and capture cards to webcams and gaming headsets–to help you find the best streaming accessories that are perfect for Twitch, YouTube, or anywhere else that lets you stream your gaming skills to the world.

If you want to start streaming, then there are some things you need to consider. First and foremost, you need a PC that is capable of streaming. In most cases, dedicated desktop PCs will be able to handle this task much better than laptops, and if you’re also gaming on that PC, you should take your specs and settings into consideration as you’ll need to split the workload between the game and the stream. As for the type of accessories you’ll need, the bare essentials tend to be a capture card, USB microphone, headphones, and webcam. Some of the accessories that’ll improve your stream (but aren’t exactly necessary) include a second monitor and a controller like Elgato’s Streamdeck. In fact, Elgato makes a number of great products made specifically with streamers in mind.

Of course, there are plenty of professional-grade products that producers and top-tier streamers take advantage of, but in this guide, we’ve focused on products that are affordable and accessible to those who want to start streaming or improve their setup–products from streaming-focused companies like Elgato, Razer, and HyperX. All of these USB microphones, capture cards, and other accessories are excellent and easy-to-use, and if you’re looking to get started, then this guide will be perfect for you.

As we test more accessories that are great for streaming, we’ll update this guide with our recommendations. For now, read on for the best streaming accessories we’ve tested and swear by.

Note: The prices shown below indicate a product’s standard list price and may not reflect any current discounts or other fluctuations.

Quick look: The best streaming accessories for 2021

• Elgato 4K60 Pro capture card — $250
• Elgato HD60 S+ capture card — $200
• Razer Ripsaw HD capture card — $160
• Elgato Wave 3 USB microphone — $160
• Razer Seiren Elite USB microphone — $199
• HyperX QuadCast USB microphone — $140
• Razer Serien Emote USB microphone — $180
• Razer Kiyo webcam — $100
• Logitech C920S webcam — $70
• HyperX Cloud Alpha S gaming headset — $130
• Razer Kraken Kitty gaming headset — $150
• Elgato Streamdeck — $150
• Elgato Streamdeck XL — $250
• Acer R240HY monitor — $130
• HP VH240a monitor — $110

Best streaming capture cards

If you want to capture and stream your PS4, Xbox One, or Switch, then you’ll need a capture card to bring the signal into your PC and out to your live stream. They come in compact form factors, sometimes even as internal PCIe cards that you can plug directly into your PC’s motherboard, and thankfully, there are a couple of great options to choose from.