Chaturbate Versus Streamate - Which Is Better and Why?
Sometimes it's hard to differentiate one cam site from another. Quite often you'll see hundreds of the same webcam performers live streaming at several sites. And as you browse the site, you might assume it offers the same features as the site you were just on. But, from the number of cam shows offered to the HD quality options, and every niche in between, there are critical differences between them all, and the best cam site for you depends on your needs and desires.
If you've narrowed down your cam site favorites to Chaturbate and Streamate, but want to know which of these two is the better option for you, then carry on reading. We've taken both cam chat platforms and compared them side by side to see which scores highest on objective criteria. You've got private chat show prices, model selection, free content, payment options, chat room features and benefits from each cam site to quickly determine which one fits your needs the best.
As for us, well, we'd put good money on Chaturbate to come out on top if it were facing Streamate in the sex cam boxing ring.
What is Best About Chaturbate?
Without a doubt, if you're looking for free sex cam livestreams, Chaturbate is among the best destinations. You'll find around 6000 webcam models clamoring for your attention around the clock. A vast majority of the cam shows here feature naked hosts performing all types of sex acts. Whether you're looking for a gorgeous cam girl playing with herself using a sex toy, a gay, straight or bi-curious guy stroking or simply showing off his impressive cock, a transgender model showing why they're the best of both worlds, or a bunch of friends with benefits livestreaming their sex party, you'll find it happening at Chaturbate right now.
And, if you're just looking to sit back and watch a porn video, not a live cam session, there's loads of free X-rated videos to watch. Or, you can also check out a performer's chat room to see what explicit content they've got available to watch or download for a symbolic fee. With so much activity, rather than detail it all here, check out our comprehensive Chaturbate review.
Chaturbate Pros
- Enormous cam model selection
- Free recordings of private shows
- Cam2Cam in free chat rooms
- Free webcam sex sessions
What is Best About Streamate?
As a premium webcam site, Streamate doesn't permit nudity in their 1400 or so webcam chat rooms available 24/7. You'll generally have to pay here for a low-cost group show or a private cam session if you want to see the cam model get naked and perform. On the other hand, the talented chat hosts here are experienced and skilled webcam models, mostly in HD at 720p or better, and there's no ads or pop-ups to ruin the sleek layout.
Streamate, unlike Chaturbate and many other cam sites, offers a pay-as-you-go system which makes it much easier to pay for a private session. Rather than pre-purchasing site credits or tokens, and ensuring you've got enough to cover the full length of the cam show you want, you simply add a payment method to your profile and you're ready. You won't have to worry about running out of credits ending your private session on Streamate. For a more detailed description, check out our in-depth review of Streamate.
Streamate Pros
- Pay-as-you-go system
- Private chat rates include cam2cam
- Up to 4K UHD quality webcam chat
- Includes non-traditional cam models
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – Free Content & Options
Cam Site | Free Chat | Free Nude Shows | Free Content |
Chaturbate | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Streamate | Yes | Rare | Yes |
While both offer free webcam chat shows, Streamate's selection of nude and explicit cam shows is extremely limited. On the other hand, the majority of the Chaturbate's thousands of webcam models are sexual exhibitionists. On both platforms, you can enter any cam room free of charge, as long as the performer isn't performing in a private cam show mode. On Streamate though, there are some cam models who only let registered members into their free chat rooms.
In terms of the total amount of free content available at each cam site, Chaturbate wins hands down. It also features a range of X-rated videos starring many of its most in-demand cam models. These are all professional productions in HD quality, with several of the most recent in 4K UHD resolution. At Streamate, there is no such free content. Many cam models do post their own photos and videos. Some are free to watch, but these tend to be short teasers which stop just before the action fully heats up. To see the full clip, you'll need to purchase access to the videos or photos.
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – Premium Content
Cam Site | Private Chats | Content For Sale | Private Messaging |
Chaturbate | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Streamate | Yes | Yes | Yes |
When comparing private cam chats, Streamate just ekes out Chaturbate as the better option. The only reason for this is that not all webcam hosts at Chaturbate will enter private chat, with many preferring to perform for a large tip-giving audience, as opposed to only one fan. On Streamate, as with all premium sex cam sites, every host will go into private chat and nearly all will let you open your webcam feed in an exclusive cam2cam session. At Chaturbate, there's a selection of cam models who let you go C2C during exclusive cam shows, while many will only perform in cam shows where you can see them, but they can't see you.
Comparing content available on both cam sites, they come out pretty much equal. While many of Chaturbate's cam hosts are amateurs hosting cam shows for their own kicks, there's also thousands of semi-pro or pro models and feature a range of videos and photos which you can purchase for a small fee. Some hosts also offer the option to buy a global pass for all of their explicit content.
Streamate's situation is the same, with some cam hosts offering content for sale and others preferring not to post explicit photos or videos of themselves getting kinky. Many of Streamate's webcam models have Fan Clubs. To join, you've got to pay the monthly subscription fee. But, one of the benefits of being a member of the performer's club is that you get full access to all of the content they've posted for sale.
Both platforms let you message the webcam performers, but to do so on Streamate, you'll need to be registered as a member and logged in.
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – Pricing Comparisons
When comparing cam sites, we normally examine the token or credit package costs at each, whether you get free or bonus site currency for purchasing a bigger bundle, and which packages offer the best overall value-for-money. But on Streamate, you don't buy credits or tokens before chatting. Instead, you add a payment method when you register, and then you're charged for what you've spent on private cam shows, group shows, and tipping in a free live cam show.
Cam Site | Site Currency | Price Per 1 Currency | Best Package | Bonus |
Chaturbate | Tokens | $0.08 | $79.99 | No |
Streamate | Pay-as-you-go | Not applicable | None | No |
At Chaturbate, you'll need to purchase tokens if you want to tip the model or enjoy a private 1on1 cam session with them. Even if you don't have any tokens in your account, you can still enter a free live cam show, though some cam models won't interact with viewers without any tokens in their account.
While you do need to buy Chaturbate tokens before enjoying a private chat show, they've got many of the cheapest cam shows available online. Many of the diverse webcam models here ask the site's minimum per-minute chat rate in order to entertain in a 1on1 session.
At Streamate, you don't have to pre-buy any packages before private chat. Just remember that some webcam models won't even let non-members enter their free cam chat room.
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – Private Chat Show Rates
Cam Site | Average Private Chat Rate | Cheapest Private Chat Rate | Activating Cam2Cam in Privates |
Chaturbate | $3.04 a minute | $0.61 a minute | Some models charge extra |
Streamate | $2.49 a minute | $1.39 a minute | Included in exclusive privates |
When it comes to which site is the cheapest in terms of private shows, it depends on whether you look at the global picture and the average cost of a private show at each site, or simply which one has the cheapest sessions. If the latter is the case, Chaturbate comes out on top my a mile, with many cam models asking the platform's minimum show rate of $0.61 a minute. This compares to the cheapest cam rooms on Streamate which start at $0.00 a minute.
When it comes to the average cost, however, both cam sites are similar, with Streamate just slightly cheaper averaging $2.49 a minute, compared to Chaturbate's $3.04 a minute. But, Chaturbate also gives you a free recording of nearly every private cam show performance you enjoy. The video is stored in your Chaturbate account where you can watch it as much as you like for no extra charge. Unfortunately, this isn't offered at Streamate.
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – Show Types
At Chaturbate there are three different cam show options to choose from. Free cam shows where you don't have to pay any per-minute rate and can simply enter the room, watch, and tip the model if you want them to perform a specific act. For their exclusive attention, you'll need to invite them into a Private Show which incurs a per-minute cost. Or, if you want to see what they get up in their performances, but don't want a full private, pay per-minute show, opt for a Spy Show. These are very cheap, though you won't have any interaction with the webcam model. This is strictly a watch only session.
At Streamate, there's four different types of cam shows. Similar to Chaturbate, there are the free cam chat rooms, private 1on1 shows and Spy Shows. But at Streamate, you also have Gold Shows. This is a multi-viewer semi-private show where you pay a set fee to watch the session. The webcam model determines how long the show will last and how much a ticket will cost.
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – Chat Room Features
When it comes to chat room features, Chaturbate easily scores higher than Streamate. If you're using a Chrome browser, then you can open your webcam in free chat rooms on Chaturbate and let the model watch your live video feed as she performs. For step-by-step instructions, here's how to open your cam feed at Chaturbate. And don't worry, only the model can see what you're up to. This is not an option on Streamate. Both platforms allow you to view the livestream session in full screen mode without having to pay any extra.
On the other hand, if you're looking for cam models from a certain country, most profile pics on Streamate have a small flag showing you where the cam model is located. This is something you won't find at Chaturbate. What you do find at Chaturbate is a count of how many viewers are watching any given show as well as a display showing how long the cam show has been going on for. A good rule of thumb is that the more viewers there are in a room, the kinkier the action.
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – Webcam Streaming Quality
Video quality on Chaturbate is generally high, with the majority of rooms offering an HD feed. However, with so many at-home amateur cams, you'll also find some that haven't yet upgraded to high def. There's no indication on a photo as to the streaming quality available, you simply have to enter the cam room and tap the HD button on the bottom right of the video player. If you're in luck, and you've got a fast internet connection with wide bandwidth, you may just happen upon some of the growing number of webcam hosts livestreaming in 4K UHD, as shown in the image below.
Almost all Streamate's live broadcasts are available in HD or HD+. Instead though of showing the actual resolution options offered by the performer, if you go to the bottom left of video window you'll see a small settings wheel. This brings up the resolutions available which are called Low, Medium or High. It doesn't list the actual res in terms of SD, HD+ or 4K.
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – The Webcam Models
With over 6000 models, you'll find nearly every type of performer on Chaturbate. From girls to trans models, straight guys to gay twinks and bears, even live streaming sex parties, you'll see it all. If you're looking for true amateurs, opening their cam feed and getting naked in a public session, Chaturbate is the easy pick. But, it's far from just amateurs. You'll also see professional cam models and even celebrity porn-stars hosting intimate meet and greets, broadcasting from professional designed and lit studio settings.
The number of available performers on Streamate is much smaller, standing around 1400. Unlike Chaturbate though, all the performers here are experienced and skilled live video chat hosting. The site also has cam models you won't find at other platforms such as a bodybuilders and hosts with extreme piercings and tattoos, along with pregnant women and even those still lactating.
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – User Features
There's no comparison when it comes to which site has the better VIP or Premium membership packages. Simply put, Chaturbate has a great one and Streamate doesn't have one at all.
At Chaturbate, for $19.95 a month you can become a premium member. In return, as a Chaturbate Supporter, you'll get:
- An ad-free interface
- Private messaging
- Anonymous tipping
- Cam room previews
- Adjustable tip volume
- One time bonus of 200 free tokens
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – Search Tools
When it comes to tagging and an accurate search engine, Streamate easily surpasses Chaturbate. This is because Chaturbate's cam models tend to tag themselves with as many keywords as possible in the hopes of attracting the largest number of fans. This means you'll find select performers who aren't at all relevant to the specific scene you're looking for.
At Streamate, the models only use relevant keywords to tag themselves. The one glaring oversight here is a lack of private chat price filters for the webcam rooms. The only way you'll know how much your potential partner charges is to go into their cam room and tap the Go Private button. This brings up their per-minute private show rate. At Chaturbate you can filter the rooms based on the cam model's private rate for intimate 1on1 webcam fun.
Chaturbate vs. Streamate – Help & Support
Help and support is another area where Streamate comes out on top, offering multiple ways to contact the site or find an answer to any questions. There's 24/7 online live chat support and you also have options to messenger them via WhatsApp, call them via a toll-free number, or send them an email. Streamate also offers a comprehensive FAQ section.
Chaturbate's customer support options fall short, unfortunately. At the very bottom of the homepage, there's a link for Support. This brings up a large menu of FAQs which does cover most questions. If your topic isn't covered, the only other option is to submit an online ticket with a description of your problem or question and then wait for the customer support team to respond. Another available option is to check and see if our detailed post on Chaturbate FAQs covers your question.
Our Final Verdict
While both are safe, secure, and legit cam sites featuring models who'll get wet and wild with very little persuasion, Chaturbate outshines Streamate in many aspects. Chaturbate's got a much larger selection and variety of webcam models performing 24/7. There's a huge range of free live sex sessions you can watch without even having to register. Private show rates start at one of cheapest per-minute prices of any cam site, and you can open you cam in a free chat rooms, something you cannot do at Streamate,
On the other hand, if you're looking for a partner who's skilled in live video chat performing, and don't want to bother with buying enough tokens to cover a private cam show, Streamate's pay-as-you-go system is both ideal and easy to use.
Once the final bell is rung however, Chaturbate wins in this head-to-head match-up. With loads of free content, and thousands of HD webcam models to choose from, it's simply too good to pass up.
What do you think about Chaturbate vs. Streamate?