The Best Streaming Gear for a PC

The dials suit audio mixing. Four dials and a touch strip sit under eight LCD keys, which makes it an audio mixer as well as a shortcut pad. Smart profiles switch layouts when you change apps.

Multi Actions trigger several steps at once, and the app store offers plugins, icons and royalty-free music. Plugins cover Wave Link and OBS. It shares a USB connection with the Litra Glow and Stream Deck Mini; the BM88 arm goes with a desk clamp 0.8-2.4in connection.

It needs Elgato's Stream Deck software on Windows or macOS. At our last price check it topped the group, with the PSA1+ the nearest cheaper option.

It is dongle-sized. It works with camcorders, action cams and iPhones, and low latency keeps video and audio in sync. An iPad with USB-C can serve as a field monitor.

It connects through a USB 3.0 USB-A plug and supports Windows 10 and 11 as well as macOS. No other pick in this guide offers a 1080p60 or 4K30 key figure; compare the BM88 arm, which has a 29in reach key figure. A capture card needs the console or second PC's HDMI output and a free USB port on the streaming PC; check which USB version it needs. It was priced above the Litra Glow and below the PSA1+ at the time of writing.

G HUB sets brightness and color temperature. Its frameless diffuser spreads soft light without harsh shadows, and TrueSoft full-spectrum LEDs keep skin tones natural. It runs from USB.

Like the Stream Deck + and Stream Deck Mini, it has a USB connection, while the PSA1+ uses a desk clamp up to 70mm connection. You get a TrueSoft light key figure here, which sets it apart from the Stream Deck Mini and its a 6 keys key figure. Check its mounting method against your monitor or desk. On price it sat third of 6, between the cheaper BM88 arm and the pricier Cam Link 4K, at the time of writing.

It clamps to desks up to 70mm thick. It is the only pick here with a desk clamp up to 70mm connection; the Stream Deck + has a USB connection instead. A mics 0.25-1.2kg key figure is unique to it among these picks, while the Litra Glow uses a TrueSoft light key figure.

Check the desk edge thickness against the clamp range, and the mic's weight and thread. Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Stream Deck Mini at the time of writing. Its price falls between the Cam Link 4K and the Stream Deck +, based on our last check.

It clamps to desks 0.8 to 2.4in thick. It extends to 29 inches and tilts through 220 degrees, and hidden cable channels keep the mic cord tidy. You get a desk clamp 0.8-2.4in connection here, which sets it apart from the Stream Deck Mini and its a USB connection.

It is the only pick here with a 29in reach key figure; the Cam Link 4K has a 1080p60 or 4K30 key figure instead. It also offers 1/4, 3/8 and 5/8in threads. Check the desk edge thickness against the clamp range, and the mic's weight and thread. When we checked, only the Stream Deck Mini cost less, and the Litra Glow cost more.

Six LCD keys trigger shortcuts, scenes or app actions with one press. It works with OBS, Zoom, Teams and Office apps through the free Stream Deck software. One key can run several actions in sequence with precise timing.

Each LCD key shows an icon, so you can see what it does before you press it. It shares a USB connection with the Stream Deck + and Litra Glow; the BM88 arm goes with a desk clamp 0.8-2.4in connection. It is the only pick here with a 6 keys key figure; the Cam Link 4K has a 1080p60 or 4K30 key figure instead.

It also comes with the lowest price tier among Stream Decks. It needs Elgato's Stream Deck software on Windows or macOS. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the BM88 arm was closest.