Livestreaming has become extremely popular in recent years as a way for creators to engage with their audiences in real time. Two of the biggest platforms for livestreaming are Facebook Live and YouTube Live. But which is better for creators – Facebook or YouTube? Here is an in-depth comparison of the two platforms.
Popularity
When it comes to popularity and reach, Facebook Live has the edge. As of 2022, Facebook had 2.93 billion monthly active users, making it the largest social media platform in the world. YouTube, by comparison, has 2 billion monthly logged-in users. So theoretically, you have access to a larger potential audience for your livestreams on Facebook versus YouTube.
However, YouTube remains the king of video. YouTube has over 2 billion monthly active users, and people watch over 1 billion hours of video per day on the platform. So while Facebook has more overall users, people go to YouTube specifically for video content. Those who tune into YouTube Live streams are truly engaged viewers who want to watch video.
Video Quality
YouTube allows for streaming at resolutions up to 4K, as well as 60fps frame rates. This makes it possible to deliver an extremely high-quality broadcast. Facebook Live maxes out at 720p HD resolution and 30 fps frame rate. So YouTube has a clear edge in terms of video quality.
For creators who want to deliver the most polished, high-quality production possible, YouTube is the better choice. The superior video quality really impacts the viewing experience and allows you to create stunning livestreams.
Latency
Latency refers to the delay between the actual live event and when viewers see it on the stream. Lower latency is always preferable, as it creates a more seamless viewing experience.
YouTube generally has lower latency than Facebook. YouTube Live latency can be as low as just a couple seconds, while Facebook Live latency tends to be around 10-30 seconds. This makes the YouTube live viewing experience slightly more real-time for your audience.
Chat
The ability for viewers to chat and interact in real time is a major component of livestreaming. Both YouTube and Facebook offer live chat features, but there are some differences.
YouTube Live chat is directly tied to your YouTube channel and community. Viewers use their YouTube/Google accounts to chat. Moderation features are robust, with the ability to add moderators, blacklist certain words, remove viewers, etc.
Facebook Live chat happens directly through comments on your Facebook post. Users comment with their Facebook profiles. Moderation can be a bit trickier and comes down to your post settings and Facebook’s automated systems.
Ultimately YouTube Live chat is a bit more tailored specifically to live video. But Facebook’s system may feel more familiar to those used to broader social media commenting.
Stream Key
A stream key is the code that links your encoding software with the platform’s servers. It allows you to push your stream to the platform’s content delivery network.
Facebook Live stream keys do not expire – you can use the same key indefinitely. This is convenient, as you don’t need to continuously update the stream key in your broadcasting software.
YouTube Live stream keys expire every 24 hours, meaning you need to update the key daily in your encoding program. This provides more security but can also be inconvenient.
Monetization
Making money from livestreams is an important consideration for creators. Here’s how monetization works on Facebook versus YouTube:
- Facebook Live – Earn money through viewer paid stars during your livestream. 1 star is equal to 1 cent. Facebook takes no revenue cut.
- YouTube Live – Monetize through YouTube’s Partner Program to earn a revenue share from ads. YouTube takes a 45% revenue cut.
So on Facebook, the monetization is directly tied to viewer engagement during the livestream. On YouTube, you can earn passive revenue long after a stream ends through video ads.
YouTube monetization is generally more lucrative. But Facebook Stars provide a way to get instant support and feedback from your biggest fans.
Discovery
Being discovered by new viewers is vital for any creator. YouTube and Facebook each provide ways to surface your livestreams:
- YouTube allows livestreams to appear on your channel’s home page, in search results, and in recommended videos.
- Facebook displays livestreams at the top of News Feeds and in the “Live” section. They also surface in searches.
YouTube’s algorithmic recommendation engine is extremely powerful for discovery. Positioning your livestream well with titles, tags, etc. allows it to tap into this system.
Facebook discovery depends more on your existing followers being engaged and sharing your stream. Leveraging groups and fan pages can help expand your reach.
User Experience
Here is a comparison of key user experience factors:
| Factor | Facebook Live | YouTube Live |
|---|---|---|
| Video Quality | 720p HD | Up to 4K |
| Latency | 10-30 seconds | 2-10 seconds |
| Chat | Facebook comments | Dedicated live chat |
| Stream Key | Always stays the same | Expires every 24 hours |
As the table illustrates, YouTube Live provides a better viewing experience overall thanks to higher video quality, lower latency, and a dedicated live chat. YouTube definitely seems optimized specifically for streaming video.
Content Restrictions
Both Facebook and YouTube have content moderation policies in place that restrict certain types of content from being livestreamed:
- YouTube prohibits sexually explicit content, hate speech, harassment, dangerous acts, and more.
- Facebook restricts nudity and sexual content, hate speech, graphic violence, terrorist propaganda, and other policy violations.
YouTube’s policies tend to be a bit more relaxed compared to Facebook’s strict community standards. This allows for more creative freedom on YouTube, but also increases the risk of your streams being taken down.
Post-Stream VOD
It’s important to consider what happens to your livestream after you end the broadcast. Both platforms allow your streams to be saved as video on demand (VOD) content:
- Facebook Live videos remain on your Facebook page or profile. You can choose to delete them at any time.
- YouTube automatically saves your livestream as a new video on your channel once complete. You can edit or delete it as you see fit.
Having the stream archived as a VOD can help you maximize your livestreaming efforts. New viewers can catch up on previous streams on demand. So make sure you understand how to access archived streams on each platform.
Platform Communities
The community environment on each platform also impacts the livestreaming experience:
- YouTube has a thriving community of creators who support each other with collabs, cross-promotion, and more.
- Facebook communities tend to center more around personal connections, groups, and pages. There is less of a predominant “creator community.”
YouTube’s creator ecosystem can be extremely helpful when you’re trying to grow your livestreaming channel. But Facebook groups can also drive dedicated fans to your streams.
Summary
In summary, here are some key takeaways when comparing Facebook Live and YouTube Live:
- Facebook Live offers a larger potential audience, while YouTube Live viewers are purely there for video.
- YouTube Live delivers a superior technical streaming experience with less lag and better video quality.
- Monetization works differently on each platform – Facebook Stars vs. YouTube’s Partner Program.
- YouTube takes a creator-first approach, while Facebook moderation is stricter.
- Facebook Live synergizes better if you already actively use Facebook.
- YouTube Live is built specifically for streaming and integrates seamlessly with your YouTube presence.
The Best Choice Depends on Your Goals
Ultimately, there is no definitive “better” choice between Facebook Live and YouTube Live. The right platform for you depends entirely on your specific goals and target audience as a creator.
If you want to leverage an existing social media following on Facebook, then Facebook Live makes sense. But if you’re purely focused on building a streaming audience, you may prefer YouTube Live.
Consider which features are most important for the type of content you want to stream. This will help determine which platform is the best fit.
In most cases, there is no harm in cross-streaming to both Facebook and YouTube simultaneously. This allows you to maximize your reach and tap into different communities across multiple platforms.
When in doubt, it can be helpful to test out both options. Go live on Facebook and YouTube, see how each platform responds to your content, and make adjustments from there. Pay close attention to metrics like viewer engagement and growth to see which platform resonates.
The most important thing is creating great content that resonates with your specific audience. Focus on that rather than which platform is “better.” With smart leveraging of both Facebook Live and YouTube Live, you can build a successful streaming channel that drives results.