TikTok Live Overtakes Twitch in Latest Viewership Rankings

TikTok Live has now overtaken Twitch to become the second-largest livestreaming platform in the world, according to new data from StreamsCharts.

In the first quarter of 2025, TikTok Live captured 27% of total global livestreaming viewership—well ahead of Twitch’s 16.3%.

The only platform ahead of TikTok is YouTube Live, which continues to dominate with over 50% of all hours watched, cementing its place as the world’s leading livestreaming service.

The Livestreaming Landscape: Q1 2025 Highlights

StreamsCharts recorded a staggering 29.7 billion hours of livestreamed content watched between January and March 2025. The platform breakdown looks like this:

• YouTube Live: Nearly 15 billion hours watched

  • Growth: 3.4% (slower than its 25% surge in Q1 2024)

• TikTok Live: Over 8 billion hours, up 30% from last quarter

  • Strongest in IRL content, fashion, and mobile esports

• Twitch: Just 4.8 billion hours, a minor dip of 1–2%

  • Still leads in core gaming content

• Kick: 863 million hours, up 18%

  • Broke internal records in March for watch hours and viewers

• Rumble: Continues strong North American presence

  • Popular for political commentary and news shows

Together, YouTube Live, TikTok Live, and Twitch now account for over 93% of global streaming viewership, leaving smaller platforms fighting for scraps.

Twitch Still Dominates Gaming

Despite falling to third overall, Twitch remains the top platform for gaming content, capturing 12.6% of total gaming watch time. Here’s the Q1 2025 breakdown for gaming-specific hours watched:

• Twitch: 3.8 billion

• YouTube Gaming: 2 billion

• TikTok: 968 million

Gaming analysts note that while TikTok is gaining ground with short-form and mobile-focused streams—like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Garena Free Fire—most creators still treat the platform as a secondary revenue stream, not their primary home for gaming.

Other Platforms Struggle to Keep Up

Several other services saw either flat performance or viewership declines:

• SOOP Korea (formerly AfreecaTV) and CHZZK saw slight dips, likely due to a slow esports calendar early in the year

• NimoTV and Bigo LIVE continue to decline with sharp drops in audience numbers

Only YouTube Live, TikTok Live, Kick, and Trovo posted growth in Q1. The rest either stagnated or shrank—highlighting how competitive and top-heavy the livestreaming space has become.

What’s Fueling TikTok Live’s Rise?

TikTok Live’s growth has been supercharged by its mobile-first approach and strength in non-gaming content. IRL streams, outdoor vlogs, and fashion showcases are attracting massive audiences—especially younger users. The platform is quickly becoming the go-to destination for creators seeking quick engagement and algorithm-driven exposure.

The rise of TikTok Live marks a major shift in global streaming habits. While Twitch still reigns in the gaming space, the broader market is now dominated by mobile-friendly, general-audience platforms.