Are you looking to enhance your channel’s visual appeal and make your broadcast stand out from the crowd?

Stream overlays are the answer you’re searching for.

In this article, we’ll explore the world of stream overlays and dive into the best places to find both free and premium options to level up your streaming experience.

What are Stream Overlays?

Stream overlays are a set of graphical elements that you can add to your live streaming video to enhance its visual appeal and provide additional information to your viewers.

These graphics can include a variety of elements such as webcam frames, social media links, donation bars, subscriber counts, and more.

With the help of these overlays, you can create a more engaging and professional-looking broadcast, which can ultimately lead to a larger and more loyal audience.

Stream overlays are widely used by content creators who stream on platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook Gaming.

They are particularly popular among gaming streamers, where gaming overlays can show off your in-game achievements, current objectives, and even your character’s health or inventory.

By using Stream Overlays in OBS, you can quite quickly take your stream from boring, to professional level in seconds.

Where Can You Find Stream Overlays?

There are plenty of resources available online where you can find free and premium stream overlays.

Some popular sites include own3d, Visuals by Impulse, Nerd or Die, and Twitch Temple.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these options.

own3d

own3d is a comprehensive platform that offers a wide range of stream overlays for content creators. Their selection includes overlays specifically designed for various gaming genres, such as FPS, MOBA, and Battle Royale. own3d offers both free and premium options, with the premium designs providing a more polished and professional look.

The platform also offers a Stream Design Factory, a subscription service that grants access to over 400 premium stream designs, including overlays, alerts, and panels. With a user-friendly interface and a vast selection, own3d is an excellent place to start your search for the perfect stream overlay.

Grab your first overlays from Own3d right here.

Visuals by Impulse

Visuals by Impulse is a design studio that specializes in creating stream overlays and graphics for content creators. They offer a variety of packages, ranging from free overlays to fully customized, premium designs. Visuals by Impulse takes pride in their high-quality designs and boasts collaborations with some of the most popular streamers in the industry.

In addition to stream overlays, Visuals by Impulse also offers custom emotes, badges, logos, and more. Their comprehensive range of services makes them an excellent choice for streamers looking to create a cohesive and professional brand.

Personally, this is where I picked up my own stream overlays and I cannot recommend them enough. The product is great, easy to install in OBS and does everything I would want it to for a great price.

Nerd or Die

Nerd or Die is another popular platform for stream overlays, known for its sleek, modern designs. They offer a range of free and premium overlays, compatible with various streaming software such as OBS, Streamlabs OBS, and XSplit. Nerd or Die’s designs are particularly popular among gaming streamers, thanks to their interactive and visually appealing gaming overlays.

Alongside stream overlays, Nerd or Die also offers a range of other stream graphics, such as alerts, widgets, and panels. Their user-friendly website and dedicated customer support make it easy for streamers to find the perfect overlay for their channel.

StreamElements

StreamElements is a popular all-in-one platform for streamers, offering a wide range of tools and features to help you grow and manage your channel. Among these tools are their stream overlays, which are available for free. StreamElements offers a variety of overlay themes, ranging from minimalistic designs to more elaborate, animated options.

StreamElements overlays are web-based, which means they can be easily added to your streaming software, such as OBS, with minimal impact on your computer’s performance. Alongside overlays, StreamElements also offers a suite of other features, such as chatbots, alerts, and analytics, making it an excellent choice for streamers looking for a one-stop solution.

Creating Your Own Stream Overlays

If you’re looking for something more personalized, you can also create your own stream overlays using various graphic design software, such as Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or Canva.

Designing your own stream overlay allows you to create a unique look that reflects your channel’s brand and personality.

When creating your own stream overlay, consider the following tips:

  • Keep the design clean and uncluttered to avoid distracting your viewers from the content.
  • Use consistent colors and fonts that match your channel’s theme.
  • Ensure that any text is easy to read, even on smaller screens.
  • Test the overlay with different types of content to ensure it works well in various situations.

My name is Peter and I've been a streamer on both Twitch and Youtube for a number of years.
Mostly streaming Fifa or FPS games, I've learned as much as I can about improving my streaming setup to give me the best possible output for my audience.
During the day I work as a digital marketer helping businesses improve their presence and grow an audience which helps me in streaming to do the same.