And what better way to enjoy gaming than with an audience?

For the best setup, you’ll need a capture card for your Mac.

All those resources are better spent running your favorite games, anyway.

person using a mac computer to edit

What’s impressive is that you don’t have to jump through a thousand hoops to get it working.

It comes in handy if you like to vary the games you play.

For example, the Elgato HD60 S+ can capture 480p, which is perfect for retro games.

a view of the epiphan systems inc av.io 4k up close

It’s lightweight yet still has bonus features like Flashback Recording for saving epic moments.

GENKI ShadowCast

Everyone has to start somewhere, right?

Though it’s unfair to assume that the Genki Shadowcast is a “beginner” capture card.

a view of the elgato hd60 s+ up close

A more apt description of the Genki Shadowcast would be a quick-and-easy solution to capturing video for your streams.

It’s one of the tiniest capture cards available, yet it still packs a punch.

While it’s admittedly limited to 30fps, don’t let that be a deal-breaker.

a product shot of the genki shadowcast capture card

Are you not a fan of OBS?

Lastly, the AVerMedia GC513 doesn’t force you to reduce visual fidelity for the sake of your audience.

The AVerMedia GC513 allows a 4K signal to pass through but captures and streams at 1080p at 60fps.

a view of the avermedia gc513 capture card from the front

Elgato Cam Link 4K

Who said capture cards had to be strictly for capturing game footage?

Finally, the AVerMedia Live Gamer Mini plays well with various software like OBS and Streamlabs.

Best of all, it reaches the 60-frames-per-second target that every streamer should strive for.

a close up of the hdmi port featured on the elgato cam link 4k capture card

FAQ

Q: Are 4K Capture Cards Worth It?

Capture cards that can record in 4K have their benefits but, ultimately, aren’t worth it.

Twitch scales content down to 1080p at 60fps, anyway.

the hdmi port featured on the av.io 4k capture card

Q: Do I Need a Capture Card for Streaming?

No, but capture cards drastically reduce the strain on your Mac.

Capture cards are built with hardware to handle that strain instead.

the usb 3.0 port featured on the av.io 4k capture card

Q: Is Streaming on a Mac Any Different From a Windows PC?

No, they’re nearly identical, with only one slight difference.

a close of the ports featured on the elgato hd60 s+ capture card

the elgato hd60 s+ capture card being used on a computer

Elgato HD60 S+ frontal

genki shadowcast capture card on a desk, next to a laptop

a close up view of the avermedia gc513 featuring two 3.5mm ports

avermedia gc513 capture card connected to a laptop

the elgato cam link 4k capture card connected to a laptop and camera

elgato cam link 4k capture card connected to a pc and camera

avermedia live gamer mini capture card connected to a computer

hdmi and usb 2.0 ports featured on the avermedia live gamer mini capture card

a view of the top of the avermedia liver gamer mini capture card

hdmi and USB 2.0 featured on the extenuating threads capture card

extenuating threads capture card plugged into a mac laptop

a measurement of the extenuating threads capture card