For each of these apps, I tested them by looking through the guidelines and rules on each app to see how streaming worked and what kinds of topics were the focus of streams for that particular app. I also researched these apps by reading user reviews and articles about how to make money on the apps.

Many of these apps work best by getting lucky and going viral or by building an audience and curated page over time. I focused on which apps could result in the most benefits by using them to their fullest potential.

I also looked at which apps had membership fees and which ones were free to help determine where each app ranked. Since my focus is on which apps can help you make the most money, it didn’t make sense to focus on ones that weren’t guaranteed to make you money but required a fee to try.

I myself am a writer and focus on using social media as a way to create an audience and make more sales over time. Making money on apps requires practice and learning some basic business skills like any form of money-making. Many people are quite natural at using social media and find that it makes a difference in their business and personal finances very quickly.

For creatives and business owners, it’s silly not to try using some kind of social media or streaming app to further their business. 

Instagram is great for creatives who are building their career and for small business owners. Both can use Instagram to build their audience over time, and create a sales funnel for future products. For writers and other creatives, it is a great space to secure future readers and viewers for your art. In this way, you are building customers who will help you generate income down the line. 

Because the app is so popular, it is also a great place to work as an affiliate for larger companies. Some companies pay as much as 300-400 dollars for a sponsored post. The best way to do this is by creating a curated professional page and building an audience who engages with what you post. This will make you more marketable to brands who pay for advertising through Instagram. 

Marketing advice for Instagram suggests that users pick three topics to stick to on their page. For example, a ceramic potter might post photos about their own pottery whether it’s process photos or photos of items on sale, then they might post about other creators they like, and finally, they might post personal posts related to finding inspiration and living as a creative. 

However, they wouldn’t post something about their friend’s dog because it doesn’t make sense with everything else. It’s helpful to see Instagram as a grid rather than individual photos and to think about how they all work together on a grid. Maintaining a cohesive brand aesthetic on Instagram will make it easier to secure brand deals.

Going live on Instagram is easy to do. So much so that celebrities and influencers are going live regularly to connect with their audience about controversies and successes in real time. You just go to where you would to post a story and scroll to the live option.

The snag with Instagram, like any social media platform, is that it is constantly changing. What is relevant today, might be irrelevant years or even months from now. In order to make the most of a career online, it’s important to keep up to date on changes and new developments happening on the social media platforms you use. 

Instagram gives you the ability to see the times your followers are online most often, and this can help you plan when to post in order to receive the most traction. This can help you secure more followers, which will help you sell your products and secure brand deals.

Youtube is still one of the most used video streaming apps. Therefore, it is used by people of so many different communities and backgrounds. This is beneficial for anyone trying to use Youtube to make income because there are so many more chances for your video to be seen. 

Youtube live is a great way to connect with your audience in real time. Audience members can tip you during your live and comment. It gives you a chance to talk to your audience directly and learn more about what they want to see on your channel. You need 1,000 subscribers to go live on the YouTube app, but do not on the desktop version.

Because Youtube is used by so many people, it is popular with bring brands. The more viewers you have, the better brand deals you can secure. Like Instagram, it’s important focus your video content on a specific niche. This will make it easier for your audience to find you and help them want to stick with you.

Twitch is a gaming community where professional gamers can earn money from streaming themselves playing games. 

Gamers make money on Twitch through their affiliate program. In order to qualify, gamers must meet certain criteria like growing their audience to 50 followers and receiving an average of three reviewers per stream.

From there, you’ll be invited to join the affiliate program. Like any streaming app, the more attention you have on your profile, the more you make. Those with high and consistent viewership can become members of the Twitch Affiliate Program, and make money through affiliate codes. 

Because Twitch is one of the most popular gamer streaming apps, there is more potential to get noticed in the gaming community at large and join competitions. Going live is easy. You just click your profile icon and then click Go Live. Like many streaming platforms, users can also earn cash through donations by viewers.

Because TikTok is so new, there is a lot of opportunity to get noticed and build traction on your page. Creatives often use TikTok to show themselves creating art in the process. 

Views can result in customers wanting to buy products. It is much easier to go viral on TikTok than it is on other apps since the market is less saturated. Users can also make money through donations that they get on live streams. In order to go live, users must have at least 1,000 followers. This is one barrier to TikTok that Instagram doesn't have. However, many people gain followers must faster on TikTok than Instagram.

Facebook has been around for a long time. Because of that, Facebook has continued to shift and grow with the times. There are multiple ways to make money on Facebook and is a great resource for companies and small business owners. 

Users can make money through ads that are played during their video content similar to Youtube. They can also make money through paid subscriptions similar to Patreon. 

Facebook is also a great place for creating a sales funnel, and building a client base over time. Paid advertising on Facebook is available to help you find more customers and make more sales. Users also have the ability to have ads play before their content, and can make a cut from those ad views. 

Going live on Instagram is easy. You do so by going to where you post a status and selecting Live Video.

Facebook can also be a great place to collect leads that can turn into paying clients. Like other social media platforms, users secure brand deals to post on Facebook to make money from.

This app was not chosen because of its functionality. The app did not allow a sign-in without creating an account on a desktop. The desktop site required a Twitter account. Creators can be tipped by users with virtual hearts that creators can cash out.

This app was not chosen because the majority of reviews we read about people’s experience on the app were poor. The app was fast, and there aren't noticeable glitches. However, the display was very noisy, and it was hard to keep track of what was going on.

Crowdcast is a great app for professionals to demonstrate their knowledge through webinars. Users can charge for their webinars and make income that way. This app was not chosen because there is a membership fee, and we focused on money-making apps that did not require fees.

We did not choose Livestream, because compared to the other apps on our list, there was much less information out there on Livestream. It has a wide variety of topics to choose from to watch streams of. This can make the app a great place to get inspiration.

Tango had a very similar to BIGO Live. The research showed that women are the most successful on this app. Similar to BIGO Live, users make their money by getting tipped on videos. This app was not chosen because the other apps on our list were stronger.