Checklist · 10 picks · 5 categories
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Streamers always have one more upgrade in mind, so pick something for the desk. The Elgato Key Light Neo is PC Gamer's best key light, and the Govee Strip Light 2 Pro, its best lightstrip, reacts to sound.
The Logitech StreamCam is GamesRadar+'s best 1080p webcam for beginners, and the Insta360 Link has the most natural AI face tracking it has seen. For voice, the Amazon Basics USB mic is PC Gamer's best budget microphone, and the Blue Snowball is TechRadar's best mid-range mic for streaming. Console streamers need a capture card to stream through a PC, and the Elgato Game Capture Neo is PC Gamer's best budget pick. The Elgato Stream Deck+ runs scenes and audio from one box. The splurges are the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra, GamesRadar+'s best webcam overall, and the Rode Streamer X. Every pick is on one of my lists with its source.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they film on their phone more than they go live; the gifts for content creators page has wireless mics, ring lights and tripods.
Best stream lightingmid pick · Light strip
Best for a colorful glow behind them on camera
PC Gamer's best lightstrip: full-range colors and whites with excellent gradients, and it reacts to sound.
Heads up. Hard to reconnect, and the Govee app is a mixed bag
1 outlet. PC Gamer best lightstrip.
$50-100
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mid pick · Desk-mounted
Best for lighting their face so the cam looks crisp
PC Gamer's best key light: super bright for its size, with lots of ways to control it.
Heads up. You could save even more with some ultra-budget lights
1 outlet. PC Gamer best key light.
$50-100
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Best webcambudget pick · 1080p
Best for a smooth face-cam for their first streams
GamesRadar+'s best 1080p webcam for beginners: silky smooth 1080p at 60fps, with backlight correction and center framing.
Heads up. Performance depends on your PC, and it draws a lot of power
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best 1080p webcam for beginners.
$100-150
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mid pick · 4K
Best for art and published streams
GamesRadar+'s best webcam with AI features: a tiny 4K cam with the most natural AI face tracking it has seen.
Heads up. Pricey, with a few software limitations
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best webcam with AI features.
$200-300
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Best microphonebudget pick · USB
Best for discord and voice chat on a budget
PC Gamer's best budget microphone: remarkably cheap, with great audio capture and a sturdy build.
Heads up. No software, and the tilting stand is odd
1 outlet. PC Gamer best budget microphone.
$25-50
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mid pick · USB
Best for streaming and calls without overspending
TechRadar's best mid-range microphone for streaming: crisp, clear audio with multiple pickup patterns at an affordable price.
Heads up. The stand sits low on a desk
1 outlet. TechRadar best mid-range microphone for streaming.
$50-100
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Top pickbudget pick · External
Best for console streamers just getting started in OBS
PC Gamer's best budget capture card: simple, straightforward 1080p capture with minimal fuss.
Heads up. Capture tops out at 1080p 60 fps, and passthrough is limited to 60 fps
1 outlet. PC Gamer best budget capture card.
$100-150
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mid pick · Desktop
Best for switching scenes and audio from one box
GamesRadar+'s best all-in-one streaming controller and mixer: eight keys, a touch bar and four dials run both your stream and your audio mix.
Heads up. Fixed position and a steep price point
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best all-in-one streaming controller and mixer.
$200-300
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Top picksplurge pick · 4K
Best for streamers who want a camera-level face-cam
GamesRadar+'s best webcam overall: excellent 4K footage and the best low-light picture it has seen from a webcam.
Heads up. Expensive, and it can't do 4K at 60fps
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best webcam overall.
$300-500
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splurge pick · Desktop
Best for consolidating a setup into one device
GamesRadar+'s best jack of all trades: a capture card, audio interface and stream controller in one box.
Heads up. No HDMI 2.1, and it lacks some 4K extras
1 outlet. GamesRadar+ best jack of all trades.
$300-500
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Lighting or a webcam. The Elgato Key Light Neo is PC Gamer's best key light, with lots of ways to control it, and the Logitech StreamCam, GamesRadar+'s best 1080p webcam for beginners, shoots smooth 1080p at 60fps.
To stream through a PC, yes. GamesRadar+ notes you can start by streaming straight from a console without one, but a capture card lets you stream and record through OBS. The Elgato Game Capture Neo is PC Gamer's best budget capture card, with simple 1080p capture and minimal fuss.
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