Kick stream settings: bitrate, resolution and OBS setup
Short answer: Kick supports up to 8000 kbps at up to 1080p and 60 fps. It only accepts H.264 with CBR rate control. Set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds and send stereo audio at 48 kHz or less.
Kick's limits
| Setting | Kick |
|---|---|
| Video bitrate | 1000–8000 kbps |
| Resolution | Up to 1920×1080 |
| Frame rate | Up to 60 fps |
| Codec | H.264 only (no HEVC or AV1) |
| Rate control | CBR only (VBR is not supported) |
| Keyframe interval | 2 s |
| Audio | Stereo, up to 48 kHz |
Kick doesn't give a per-resolution table. A practical choice: 1080p60 at 6000–8000 kbps, or 720p60 at around 4500 kbps if your upload is tight.
OBS settings for Kick
In Settings → Output (Advanced mode), Streaming tab:
- Encoder and preset: any H.264 encoder, at whatever preset your PC runs best.
- Rate control: CBR.
- Bitrate: up to 8000 kbps.
- Keyframe interval: 2.
In Settings → Video, if your canvas is bigger than 1080p, set the output (scaled) resolution to 1920×1080.
Streaming to Kick and Twitch at the same time
Kick allows 8000 kbps, Twitch's guidelines top out at 6000. When one stream goes to both, use 6000 kbps so Twitch viewers don't buffer. More in what bitrate to use when multistreaming.
Common questions
What is the max bitrate on Kick?
8000 kbps, for every encoder.
Does Kick support 1440p or 4K?
No. Kick streams are up to 1920×1080 at 60 fps.
Can I use HEVC or AV1 on Kick?
No. Kick currently only supports H.264.
Does Kick work with VBR?
No. Kick only supports CBR.
Source: Kick help: how to stream on Kick (updated May 2026). Checked October 2026.