How do viewers vote in a Streamlabs poll?
In the Streamlabs poll widget, viewers vote in chat by typing !vote followed by the option. StreamerGiveaway uses shorter numbered commands, !1 to !8, so chat just types a single number.
Streamlabs poll alternative
Streamlabs polls are solid.
Ours are free and standalone.
Streamlabs has a real poll widget with chat voting and an overlay, but it runs through Cloudbot inside Streamlabs Desktop, and viewers vote with the longer !vote command. StreamerGiveaway gives you numbered chat voting and a live overlay on its own, in any software, free to start.
Vote from chat Live overlay No affiliate needed
Free to start
StreamerGiveaway, on your overlayLive
!1Elden Ring62%!2Hades II23%!3Hollow Knight15%Chat votes by typing !1 · !2 · !3
Streamlabs, today
Streamlabs has a genuine poll widget, but it requires Cloudbot enabled in Streamlabs Desktop, and extra widget themes come with a Streamlabs Ultra subscription.
Side by side
StreamerGiveaway vs Streamlabs polls
| Feature | StreamerGiveaway | Streamlabs |
|---|---|---|
| Runs without Cloudbot or Streamlabs Desktop | ||
| Vote by short numbered command (!1 to !8) | !vote <option> | |
| Live poll overlay on stream | ||
| Works in any software (OBS, XSplit, more) | Streamlabs-centric | |
| Subscriber vote weight | ||
| Subscriber-only voting | Manual | |
| Blind results until the poll ends | ||
| Works without affiliate status | ||
| Saved poll history | Limited | |
| Free to start |
Last updated September 2026. Reflects free-tier capabilities. Features change, so check the current docs before you decide.
Make it your own
Make the poll look like your channel
The poll overlay runs through our Overlay Studio, so you can match its colors, font, corners, and glow to your brand. Pick a look once and every poll uses it.
LIVE
Twitch Night
1:32
!1
58%
!2
26%
!3
16%
100 votes · Type !1 · !2 · !3 in chat to voteStreamerGiveaway.org
How it works today
How a Streamlabs poll works
The Streamlabs poll widget is free, but it depends on Cloudbot and the Streamlabs Desktop stack. Here is the gist.
- 1
Enable Cloudbot in Streamlabs
The poll widget runs on Cloudbot, so you first enable Cloudbot in Streamlabs Desktop and connect it to your channel.
- 2
Add the Poll widget
Add the Poll widget from your Streamlabs dashboard. It renders as a browser source you drop into your scene.
- 3
Viewers vote with !vote
Chat votes by typing !vote followed by the option name or number. The widget shows the tally on your overlay while the poll is open.
- 4
Style it with Ultra (optional)
The core poll is free; extra widget themes and matching overlays come with a Streamlabs Ultra subscription.
Straight from their docs
Streamlabs Cloudbot Poll Settings
The poll runs on Cloudbot, so the first step is enabling Cloudbot in your Streamlabs dashboard. From there you build a Poll Profile: a title plus two or more options, and each option gets its own name and its own vote command, so chat is not locked to one fixed !vote phrase.
Advanced settings let you turn on a timer so Cloudbot auto-closes the poll after a set duration, and you can write custom open, close, cancel, win, and tie messages for chat.
Cloudbot itself, poll included, is free: Streamlabs' own Cloudbot FAQ lists polls among the functionality included at no cost. A Streamlabs Ultra subscription does not gate the poll mechanic, it adds a custom Cloudbot name plus access to overlays and widget themes, so the free tier runs the same vote logic behind the stock widget look.
Being honest about it
Which one should you use?
Use StreamerGiveaway when
You want a free, standalone poll with the shortest possible voting command (!1 to !8), a live overlay, subscriber-only voting, a sub vote weight, and blind results, without enabling Cloudbot or running the Streamlabs Desktop stack.
Stick with Streamlabs when
You already run Streamlabs Desktop with Cloudbot enabled for your alerts and widgets. If everything else you use is Streamlabs, keeping the poll there is convenient.
The switch in plain terms
The honest difference is the stack. The Streamlabs poll is good but rides on Cloudbot inside Streamlabs Desktop, and viewers type the longer !vote command. StreamerGiveaway is a single free tool: log in with Twitch, viewers vote with !1, !2, !3, and the result is live on your overlay in any software, with sub-only voting and a sub vote weight included.
FAQ
Common questions
Is the Streamlabs poll free?
Yes, the Poll widget is free, but it runs on Cloudbot inside Streamlabs Desktop. A Streamlabs Ultra subscription adds extra widget themes and matching overlays, not the poll itself. StreamerGiveaway is free to start with subscriber-only voting and a sub vote weight included.
Do I need Streamlabs Desktop to run a Streamlabs poll?
The Streamlabs poll widget runs through Cloudbot, which you enable in Streamlabs Desktop. StreamerGiveaway is standalone: you log in with Twitch, run the poll, and add one browser source to any software, with no Cloudbot or Streamlabs Desktop needed.
Does StreamerGiveaway have a live poll overlay like Streamlabs?
Yes. Both put the results on a browser-source overlay. StreamerGiveaway styles the overlay through its Overlay Studio so you can match it to your channel, and it works in OBS, Streamlabs, XSplit, and Twitch Studio.
Can I weight subscriber votes?
StreamerGiveaway has a built-in subscriber vote weight so a sub vote can count for more. Streamlabs polls do not offer a sub vote weight.
Do I need to be a Twitch affiliate for either?
No. Both read votes from chat rather than the native Twitch poll, so neither needs affiliate status. The native Twitch poll is the part that is affiliate and partner only.
Keep comparing
See the live version
Free to start. Log in with Twitch and run a poll your whole chat votes on, live on your overlay. No affiliate, nothing to install.