Live streaming on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, Facebook Gaming etc. is extremely popular today. As a streamer, using custom alerts and widgets can be a great way to engage your audience and enhance the viewing experience. Let‘s look at 13 places where you can find stream alerts and widgets to take your streams to the next level.
Difference Between Stream Alerts and Widgets
Before we dive in, it‘s important to understand the difference between alerts and widgets:
Stream Alerts: Graphics and animations that pop up temporarily when something happens during a stream, like a new follower, subscriber, donation etc. Alerts are meant to inform and celebrate stream events.
Widgets: Ongoing graphical overlays that show useful stream data and metrics like viewer count, chat, goal trackers etc. Widgets display information and provide interactive elements.
1. Nerd or Die
Nerd or Die offers a wide variety of animated and customizable stream alerts and widgets compatible with Streamlabs and Streamelements.
Alerts: New follower, subscriber, donation alerts with sounds and animations
Widgets: Interactive chatboxes, goal bars, jars, event lists and more
Nerd or Die is completely free to use and has a simple drag-and-drop system to add alerts/widgets to your streaming software. Great for beginners.
2. Streamlabs
As a popular live streaming platform, Streamlabs has in-built options for stream alerts and monetization widgets.
Alerts: Follower, subscriber, bit alerts with custom themes
Widgets: Chatbox, viewer count, tip jar, stream polls, goal widgets
Streamlabs alerts and widgets are designed to perfectly integrate with the platform‘s dashboard and streaming tools. Easy to set up for Streamlabs users.
3. Own3d
Own3d offers stream alerts targeted specifically at gaming streamers on Twitch, YouTube etc.
Alerts: Themes and alert sounds for new followers and subscribers featuring popular games.
Own3d is affordable and easy to set up. Alert audio and visuals bring gaming flair to streams. Limited widget options.
4. Strexm
Strexm provides complete stream overlay templates with built-in customizable alerts.
Alerts: Follower, subscriber, host alerts
Overlays: Themes like Plasma, Ignite, Green Edge with matching alerts
Great one-stop shop for overlays with alerts. Easy to tweak to match branding. Limited widget functionality.
5. StreamElements
StreamElements has customizable alert box overlays for major streaming platforms.
Alerts: Follow, subscribe and other alerts themed to match overlays.
Overlays: Themes with coordinated alerts saved directly in cloud
Useful cloud-based overlays with matching alerts. Limited widgets compared to some platforms.
6. StreamDPS
StreamDPS focuses on Twitch alerts and OBS Studio widgets.
Alerts: Follows, subscribers, donations plus custom animations.
Widgets: Interactive chatboxes, donor walls, wheel spins
Specialized Twitch/OBS focused alerts and widgets. Free and paid options available.
7. StreamSpell
Premium animated alerts and graphics for purchase individually.
Alerts: Highly interactive with sounds and visual effects
Themes: Anime, fire, magic, sci-fi and more
Top notch animated and themed alerts. Integrates alerts, graphics, sounds in bundles.
8. Hexeum
Hexeum offers alert and widget packs for Streamlabs along with OBS compatibility.
Alerts: Follower, subscriber, big, donation and more
Widgets: Chatboxes, event lists, overlays
Useful all-in-one packs with coordinated alerts, widgets, themes and tools.
9. Sound Alerts
Browser-based Twitch extension for alerts powered by sound effects.
Alerts: Triggered by new followers, subscribers etc paired with audio
Audio: Huge library to customize alert sounds
Easy audio alert integration directly on Twitch. Limited graphical customization.
10. Kudos.tv
Kudos.tv specializes in Twitch alert overlays for gaming streams.
Alerts: Tailored to FPS, sports, RPG and other popular games
Overlays: Match alert visuals to specific game aesthetics
Extensive gaming-centric alert options. Lack of widgets or general alerts.
11. Entermedia
Entermedia offers Twitch and YouTube compatible stream widgets with custom code.
Widgets: Alerts, animated lists, chatboxes, goal bars
Set Up: Provide HTML code to add widgets
Focused on providing widgets to paste code into streaming apps. Limited alerts.
12. TwitchOverlay
TwitchOverlay offers free and paid Twitch alerts for download.
Alerts: New follower and subscriber themed alerts
Designs: Sleek animated alerts tailored for Twitch
Straightforward free/paid Twitch alerts gallery. Integration guides provided.
13. StreamJunkies
Vast library of highly customizable alerts, widgets and graphics.
Alerts & Widgets: Follows, subs, donos plus chatboxes, wheels
Branding: Logos, banners, panels, screens in variety of templates
One-stop fully customizable graphics shop. Paid but low cost.
Those are 13 top places you can find stream alerts and widgets to upgrade your broadcasts. They offer a range of options from simple free alerts to advanced customizable graphics and tools. Take your time to explore and find the best fit for your streaming brand and audience.
Best Practices for Using Alerts and Widgets
Here are some tips to use stream alerts and widgets effectively:
- Don‘t overdo it. Too many flashy alerts can be distracting.
- Pick styles and animations that fit your content.
- Ensure important visuals don‘t get obscured.
- Test alerts and fix any glitches before streaming.
- Keep animations/sound short if alert space is limited.
- Use widgets judiciously to show useful stream stats.
- Customize fonts, sizes, positions for easy visibility.
Carefully chosen and well-configured alerts and widgets tailored to your streaming niche not only entertain viewers but also encourage engagement and conversions.
Troubleshooting Issues With Alerts and Widgets
If your stream alerts/widgets are not showing up properly when testing or live, here is how to troubleshoot:
Browser Sources: Ensure browser source is correctly configured in OBS/streaming software and widget URL/code is entered properly. Refresh cache if required.
Account Connections: Double check accounts like StreamElements/StreamLabs are connected properly to streaming channel. Login/logout if needed.
Software Conflicts: Disable other plugins/sources temporarily to check for conflicts. Whitelist streaming software in antivirus.
Platform Restrictions: Some platforms don‘t allow third-party integrations. Make sure to read usage terms.
Permissions/Authentication: Ensure all required permissions to third-party accounts have been granted. Check API keys or tokens.
Follow setup instructions carefully and preview before going live. Have a basic alert ready as backup and inform viewers of any technical glitches.
The Future of Alerts and Widgets
As streaming continues to gain popularity across different platforms, expect more innovations when it comes to engaging and dynamic graphics and overlays.
We will see more seamless cross-platform ecosystems for alerts and widgets from the likes of Streamlabs, along with deeper integrations with gaming consoles for next-gen live streaming.
Interactivity will be key, with viewers able to directly trigger and customize alerts during streams using extensions and bots. The lines between streams and interactive games will continue to blur.
Stream graphics leveraging augmented reality and virtual environments also hold great potential if platforms can solve the bandwidth and latency challenges of live streaming high-fidelity 3D visuals.
The possibilities are endless for stream alerts and widgets to evolve from notification tools into more immersive storytelling mediums that complement gameplay and IRL streaming content.
Final Thoughts
Well-designed stream alerts and data-rich widgets are a great way to increase viewer engagement and take streaming productions to the next level.
Hopefully this guide has given you ideas and resources to find the graphics, sounds, animations and tools you need to give your audience an entertaining and interactive experience.
Just remember to keep testing and optimizing as you grow. Pay close attention to which alert styles resonate with your viewers and double down on those. Personalize widgets to showcase stats relevant to your channel and community.
With so many platforms offering stream alerts and widgets, the possibilities are endless!
