Using a Side by Side Stream Viewer for Multiple Feeds

A side by side stream viewer lets you watch multiple live streams in a single browser window. You can arrange video feeds from platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Kick into a grid. This is useful for following different perspectives of an event, comparing gameplay, or just keeping up with several of your favorite creators at the same time without constantly switching tabs.

Instead of having multiple browser windows fighting for space and audio control, a multi-stream tool puts everything in one place. You choose the streams, arrange the layout, and control which audio you hear with a single click.

Why Watch Streams Side by Side?

The main reason people use a side by side viewer is to get a more complete picture of an event. When you can only watch one stream, you're limited to one perspective. This is especially true for complex events like esports tournaments or breaking news.

By combining multiple feeds, you essentially create your own custom broadcast. You decide what's important and what goes where. This approach moves you from being a passive viewer to an active curator of your own experience. It solves the problem of missing key moments because you were watching the "wrong" feed.

Common Uses for a Multi-Stream Viewer

While you can use a grid for any combination of streams, a few scenarios are particularly well-suited for it. In fact, about two thirds of the grids people create on ViewGrid contain three or more streams.

Esports: Main Feed plus Player POVs

This is one of the most popular uses. During a competitive match, the official broadcast shows a curated view from an observer. While this is great for understanding the overall game, you miss out on the individual skill and communication of your favorite player.

With a side by side viewer, you can place the main tournament stream next to one or more individual player Point of View (POV) streams. You get the casters' commentary and strategic overview from the main feed, while also seeing the raw mechanics and in-game decisions of a specific pro. You can combine a YouTube main broadcast with a player's personal stream on Twitch or Kick.

For big tournaments, you can check our live events calendar for ready-made grids that combine the most popular feeds.

Comparing Gameplay or Speedruns

Want to see how two different streamers tackle the same challenge? A multi-stream view is perfect for this. You can watch two speedrunners race against each other in real time, comparing their routes and strategies side by side.

It's also useful for learning a new game. You could watch a tutorial video on one side while another streamer plays through that section of the game. Seeing different approaches to the same problem can give you new ideas for your own gameplay.

News, Weather, and Live Events

During a major news event, different outlets provide varied coverage. You can set up a grid with feeds from several sources to compare their reporting as it happens. This gives you a broader perspective than any single channel could offer.

This is also useful for tracking local events, like watching multiple storm chaser streams during severe weather or following different camera angles of a rocket launch.

How ViewGrid Handles Multiple Streams

Setting up a grid is straightforward. The goal is to get you watching as quickly as possible, without needing an account or any software.

1. Add Your Streams
2. Go to the ViewGrid multi-stream viewer and paste the link to a stream you want to watch. You can add channels from YouTube (live and videos), Twitch, Kick, and Rumble. You can also use direct HLS (.m3u8) links. If you're looking for a YouTube stream, you can also search for it directly from the grid interface.

1. Choose a Layout
2. ViewGrid automatically arranges your streams in a grid. You can change the layout to fit your needs. On a desktop computer, you can watch up to 20 streams at once. On a mobile phone, layouts are available for up to 6 streams to better fit the smaller screen.

1. Manage the Audio
2. Every stream you add starts muted. This prevents a wall of noise when you first load your grid. To hear a stream, just click the speaker icon on that video player. Clicking another stream's speaker icon will automatically mute the first one, so you can switch your audio focus instantly.

1. Focus on the Action
2. If you want to temporarily make one stream bigger, you can click it to enter "focus mode." This enlarges the selected stream and makes the others smaller. You can also hide the top toolbar for an "immersive view" that gives more space to the video players.

Practical Tips for a Good Viewing Experience

Watching multiple video streams at once can use a lot of system resources. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Internet Connection: A stable, fast internet connection is important, especially for watching many high-quality streams. If you notice buffering, try lowering the video quality on some of the less important streams in your grid.
Screen Space: While you can create large grids, they are best viewed on a desktop monitor. On a laptop or phone, a layout with 2 to 4 streams is often more practical.
Sharing Your Layout: Once you've arranged a grid, the entire layout is saved in the page's URL. This means you can just copy the link from your browser's address bar and send it to a friend. When they open it, they'll see the exact same streams in the same arrangement.
Saving Layouts: You don't need an account to create and share a grid. If you want to save your favorite layouts to open again later, you can create a free account.

Getting Your Grid on a TV

People often ask how to watch their ViewGrid layout on a television. ViewGrid doesn't have a built-in casting button. The methods people use involve general features of their devices, not the ViewGrid site itself.

The most common ways are:
Using the web browser built into your smart TV to open viewgrid.tv.
Connecting a laptop or computer to the TV with an HDMI cable.
* Using your computer or phone's built-in screen mirroring feature (like AirPlay or Miracast) to show your browser on the TV.

Setting Up and Using Chat

This article covers the "why" and "how" of watching multiple streams. If you're looking for more specific instructions, we have other articles that can help.

For a detailed walkthrough of adding your first streams and choosing a layout, see our Side by Side Stream Viewer: Setup Guide.

If you want to have the live chat from a stream open next to your video grid, we have a separate article that explains how to do that: Watch Streams and Read Chat Side by Side.