Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Lightstream VS ShadowPlay

Compare Lightstream VS ShadowPlay and see what are their differences

Lightstream logo Lightstream

Powerful, cloud-based live streaming studio.

ShadowPlay logo ShadowPlay

ShadowPlay
  • Lightstream Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-05
  • ShadowPlay Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-04

Lightstream features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Lightstream offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for both beginners and seasoned streamers.
  • No Downloads Required
    As a web-based application, Lightstream does not require any software downloads, allowing users to stream directly from their browser.
  • Cloud-based Overlays
    Users can create and manipulate overlays directly in the cloud, eliminating the need for powerful local hardware to manage complex streaming scenes.
  • Real-time Collaboration
    Lightstream enables real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work simultaneously on the same projects or streams without delays.
  • Integration with Popular Platforms
    The service integrates seamlessly with popular streaming platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook, facilitating a smoother workflow for streamers.

Possible disadvantages of Lightstream

  • Limited Customization
    While the platform offers a variety of features, some users may find customization options limited compared to more robust software like OBS Studio.
  • Subscription Cost
    Lightstream requires a subscription for access to all features, which could be a drawback for users looking for a free solution.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Being a cloud-based service, Lightstream's performance is highly dependent on the user's internet connection, which could be problematic in areas with unstable connectivity.
  • Advanced Features Restrictions
    Some advanced features are restricted to premium tiers, which might deter users who need these functions but are unable to subscribe at higher pricing levels.
  • Limited Offline Capabilities
    As a web-based service, Lightstream does not support offline use, which can be restrictive for users who may want to prepare streams without an active internet connection.

ShadowPlay features and specs

  • High-Quality Recording
    ShadowPlay supports recording in high resolution and frame rates, up to 4K at 60 fps, offering gamers the ability to capture gameplay in near-perfect quality.
  • Minimal Performance Impact
    ShadowPlay utilizes GPU acceleration rather than CPU, allowing it to have minimal impact on game performance compared to some other recording software.
  • Instant Replay
    The Instant Replay feature continuously records the last several minutes of gameplay, so users can save unexpected highlights after they happen.
  • Easy Sharing
    ShadowPlay allows users to easily upload captured footage directly to popular platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook.
  • Free with NVIDIA GPUs
    ShadowPlay is included for free with NVIDIA's GeForce Experience, making it accessible to anyone with compatible NVIDIA graphics cards.

Possible disadvantages of ShadowPlay

  • Limited to NVIDIA Users
    ShadowPlay is only available for users with compatible NVIDIA GPUs, excluding those with other brands or older NVIDIA models.
  • Resource Usage
    Despite being efficient, recording and broadcasting can still use a significant amount of system resources, which might be noticeable on less powerful systems.
  • Feature Limitations
    Some advanced features available in third-party recording software, like in-depth editing tools or comprehensive overlay customization, are not present in ShadowPlay.
  • Possible Stability Issues
    Users have reported occasional stability issues or crashes, especially with new game titles or driver updates.
  • Not Cross-Platform
    ShadowPlay is limited to the Windows operating system, leaving macOS and Linux users without direct access to the platform.

Lightstream videos

LightStream Personal Loans Review

More videos:

  • Review - Scott Tries Lightstream - and a Short Comparrison of Mac Streaming Apps
  • Review - LightStream Auto Loans Review

ShadowPlay videos

OBS Studio 144 - OBS VERSUS NVIDIA SHADOWPLAY - Which One is Better? Why use OBS?

More videos:

  • Review - Nvidia Shadowplay Review and Comparison

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Lightstream and ShadowPlay)
Live Streaming
64 64%
36% 36
Video Streaming
100 100%
0% 0
Screen Recording
57 57%
43% 43
Utilities
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Lightstream and ShadowPlay. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Lightstream and ShadowPlay

Lightstream Reviews

Top 15 Free Alternatives to OBS | Online Free Screen Recorder for PC
Lightstream is a free cloud-based application with a number of useful features, such as providing scenes and superimposed layers, which are very similar to those of OBS. In addition, because it is a cloud-based application, it consumes less CPU and does not affect game performance like OBS. You can use it instead of OBS in this regard.
Top 10 OBS Alternatives
Lightstream is a free cloud-based program that you can use instead of OBS. It has numerus useful features including integration with other popular tools like Streamlabs. It also allows for the use of scenes and overlays, similar to the ones you would find on OBS. But it is considerably easier to use, with a very navigable user interface.
Best Streaming Software for 2021 (Twitch & Youtube)
You can use LightStream Studio to stream to Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, and custom RTMP. It provides cloud-powered broadcasting accessed through a web browser. You can also capture Xbox and PlayStation gameplay for streaming to Twitch without a capture card.
14 Best OBS Studio Alternatives for Mac & Windows (2021)
It is similar to Lightstream as it is also designed for the low-end PC. If you need decent software for steaming with fewer features but with speed, then it will be best for you.
Source: techdator.net

ShadowPlay Reviews

Top 15 Free Alternatives to OBS | Online Free Screen Recorder for PC
Shadowplay is a recording tool mainly aimed at gamers, and it is most similar to OBS studio when it comes to game recording. It's essentially a hybrid of hardware and software, so it's a great solution for gaming performance support that doesn't significantly affect game performance. Unfortunately, it is only available for Nvidia graphics card users and does not support...
Top 10 OBS Alternatives
Shadowplay comes with the Nvidia GeForce graphics cards. It is primarily targeted at gamers, making it the most similar software to OBS studio. Since it is essentially a mix of hardware and software, it is the only option you should choose if you want a solution that will not significantly affect the performance of the game.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Lightstream seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 18 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Lightstream mentions (18)

  • having crashing issues
    There's something called Golightstream: https://golightstream.com/ which is basically a cloud streaming service for your console and browser. It's sort of expensive ($20 / month for 720p 30fps annually) but it would remove the need for OBS and potentially save you more resources. There's a 7 day free trial. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Can I Stream Directly Off Of My Ps5 To Apps Like Twitch & TikTok?
    If you want to be able to stream to other locations and add things to your stream, LightStream might be the best option. Source: over 2 years ago
  • can I get obs on xbox without a pc\laptop
    Not really, but there are services like Lightstreamthat give you similar functionality over the internet. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Self-hosted broadcast software
    Does anyone know of a self-hosted alternative to https://melonapp.com/ / https://golightstream.com/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Can you have a browser source when streaming using Xbox’s twitch app
    I would recommend using something like lightstream for overlays using Xbox: https://golightstream.com/. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

ShadowPlay mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ShadowPlay yet. Tracking of ShadowPlay recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Lightstream and ShadowPlay, you can also consider the following products

OBS Studio - Free and open source software for video recording and live streaming for Mac, Windows and Linux.

XSplit - Live stream and record your content with ease & share it to streaming services like Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, Mixer, etc. Start your broadcast today.

Wirecast - Users in need of tools to edit their livestream broadcasts will find everything they need in Wirecast.

Flash Media Live Encoder - Browse for the technical support periods for products.

Contentflow - Live Streaming Software

Kickstarter - Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects. A home for film, music, art, theater, games, comics, design, photography, and more.