Logo
Published on

TikTok Live Overlay Tools: Chatbot, Chat Overlay, Likes, and Alerts Setup (2025)

Authors
  • avatar
    Name
    Robin
    Twitter
TikTok Live Overlay Tools Banner Turn your TikTok Live stream into an interactive experience with overlays that respond to every like, gift, and comment.

Source discussion: "Anyone recommends a streaming where i can add chatbot, Live chat overlay, Likes and etc?" — r/streaming. Core problem: creators new to TikTok Live want to add interactive overlays — chatbots, live chat displays, like counters, gift alerts — but don't know which tools work with TikTok or how to set them up.

Why TikTok Live Overlays Matter

When you're streaming on TikTok Live, your viewers can:

  • Send likes (tap the heart button).
  • Send gifts (digital roses, coins, and more).
  • Follow your account.
  • Comment in real-time.
  • Share your stream.

But if you're just using TikTok's basic mobile app or Live Studio without overlays, you're missing a huge opportunity:

  • Viewers can't see their names pop up when they send gifts.
  • You can't display a live chat overlay on your stream.
  • There's no automated chatbot to greet new followers.
  • Like counters and goal bars stay invisible.

That's why posts like the Reddit thread keep appearing: creators discover TikTok Live, go live for the first time, and immediately realize they need the same overlay tools that work on Twitch and YouTube.

The good news: TikTok Live does support overlays — you just need the right tools and setup.

Option 1: TikFinity — The TikTok-Specific Overlay Platform

TikFinity is built specifically for TikTok Live, which makes it the most straightforward option for beginners.

What TikFinity Offers

  • Gift alerts: When someone sends roses or coins, their name and gift appear on screen.
  • Like counters: Real-time display of total likes.
  • Follower alerts: Welcome new followers with animations.
  • Chat overlay: Show recent comments scrolling on your stream.
  • Goal bars: Visual progress bars for follower or gift goals.
  • Custom sounds: Play sounds when specific events happen.

How to Set Up TikFinity

  1. Create a TikFinity account at tikfinity.com.
  2. Connect your TikTok account (authorize TikFinity to access your live stream data).
  3. Choose or customize an overlay theme:
    • Browse free templates.
    • Customize colors, fonts, and animations.
    • Set up which events trigger which alerts.
  4. Get your overlay URL:
    • TikFinity generates a unique URL for your overlay.
    • This URL is what you'll add to TikTok Live Studio or OBS.
  5. Add to TikTok Live Studio:
    • Open TikTok Live Studio.
    • Click "Add Source" → "Browser Source".
    • Paste your TikFinity overlay URL.
    • Set the resolution (usually 1920×1080 for horizontal or 1080×1920 for vertical).
    • Position and resize the overlay as needed.

TikFinity Limitations

  • Free tier limits: Limited customization and slower update speeds.
  • Server reliability: Can be slow or disconnect during peak times.
  • TikTok-only: Doesn't work with Twitch or YouTube (though that's fine if you're only on TikTok).

Option 2: StreamElements with OBS — Multi-Platform Solution

If you're already using OBS Studio or Streamlabs OBS, StreamElements can work for TikTok Live, though it requires more setup.

Why StreamElements for TikTok?

  • Free and reliable: More stable than TikFinity's free tier.
  • Multi-platform: Works with Twitch, YouTube, Kick, and TikTok.
  • Highly customizable: Full control over overlay design and behavior.
  • Chatbot included: Built-in chatbot for automated responses.

Setting Up StreamElements for TikTok Live

  1. Create a StreamElements account at streamelements.com.
  2. Connect your TikTok account:
    • Go to "Integrations" in StreamElements.
    • Find "TikTok" and authorize the connection.
  3. Set up your overlays:
    • Go to "Overlays" → "My Overlays".
    • Create a new overlay or use a template.
    • Add widgets:
      • Chat Box: Shows recent messages.
      • Alert Box: Displays gift/follow/like alerts.
      • Goal Widget: Progress bars for goals.
      • Follower Goal: Track follower milestones.
  4. Get your overlay URL:
    • Each widget has a unique URL.
    • Copy the URLs you want to use.
  5. Add to OBS:
    • In OBS, add a "Browser Source".
    • Paste your StreamElements overlay URL.
    • Set the width and height (match your stream resolution).
  6. Route OBS to TikTok Live Studio:
    • Use OBS's "Virtual Camera" feature.
    • In TikTok Live Studio, add "Virtual Camera" as a source.
    • Select OBS Virtual Camera.

StreamElements Limitations for TikTok

  • TikTok integration is newer: Some features may not work as smoothly as on Twitch/YouTube.
  • Requires OBS: You need OBS or Streamlabs OBS (not just TikTok Live Studio).
  • More complex setup: More steps than TikFinity.

Option 3: Own3D.pro — Free Overlay Templates

Own3D.pro offers free overlay templates that work with OBS and can be adapted for TikTok Live.

What Own3D.pro Offers

  • Free overlay packs: Pre-made designs for alerts, chat, goals.
  • OBS integration: Easy to import into OBS.
  • Customizable: Edit colors, fonts, and animations.

Setting Up Own3D.pro for TikTok

  1. Sign up at own3d.pro (free account available).
  2. Download an overlay pack:
    • Browse free packs.
    • Download the files (usually PNG images and OBS scene collections).
  3. Import into OBS:
    • Open OBS.
    • Go to "Scene Collection" → "Import".
    • Select the downloaded overlay pack.
  4. Connect to TikTok events:
    • Use StreamElements or TikFinity to trigger alerts.
    • Own3D provides the visual design; you still need an event source.

TikTok Overlay Setup Flow: Visual Guide

Here's a visual map of how most creators end up setting up their TikTok Live overlays:

TikTok Overlay Setup Flow

The diagram shows three main paths:

  • TikFinity path (TikTok-only): Simplest for beginners, but limited to TikTok.
  • StreamElements + OBS path (multi-platform): More complex but works across platforms.
  • Own3D.pro path (free templates): Good for visual design, but still needs an event source.

Each path converges on testing your overlay before going live — a critical step that many creators skip.

Practical Setup: Step-by-Step for Beginners

If you're completely new to overlays, here's the simplest path:

Step 1: Choose Your Tool

  • Just TikTok? → Start with TikFinity (easiest).
  • Multi-platform (Twitch + TikTok)? → Use StreamElements + OBS.
  • Want free templates? → Try Own3D.pro with StreamElements.

Step 2: Set Up Your First Alert

  1. Create a test overlay:
    • In TikFinity or StreamElements, create a simple "New Follower" alert.
    • Make it big and obvious so you can see it working.
  2. Add to your stream:
    • In TikTok Live Studio, add the browser source.
    • Position it in a corner where it won't block important content.
  3. Test it:
    • Have a friend follow you or send a test gift.
    • Watch the alert appear on screen.

Step 3: Add Chat Overlay

  1. Enable chat widget:
    • In TikFinity or StreamElements, add a chat box widget.
    • Set it to show the last 5–10 messages.
    • Choose a font size that's readable but not overwhelming.
  2. Position carefully:
    • Place it where it won't cover your face or important game UI.
    • For vertical streams, the side works well.
    • For horizontal streams, bottom or top corners.

Step 4: Set Up a Chatbot (Optional)

  1. In StreamElements:
    • Go to "Chatbot" → "Commands".
    • Create custom commands (e.g., !discord to share your Discord link).
    • Set up auto-responses (e.g., greet new followers automatically).
  2. In TikFinity:
    • Check if chatbot features are available (varies by plan).
    • Some features may require a paid tier.

Common Overlay Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Too many overlays at once:

    • Don't add chat + alerts + goals + tickers all at once.
    • Start with one or two overlays, then add more gradually.

  2. Overlays blocking important content:

    • Don't place chat over your face or game UI.
    • Test your layout before going live.

  3. Using the wrong resolution:

    • TikTok Live supports both vertical (9:16) and horizontal (16:9).
    • Make sure your overlay resolution matches your stream resolution.

  4. Not testing before going live:

    • Always do a test stream (unlisted/private) first.
    • Check that alerts trigger correctly and chat displays properly.

Final Take: Overlays Make TikTok Live Interactive

The Reddit post that inspired this guide came from a creator who was "just trying out a lot of streaming platforms especially TikTok Live."

That's the key insight: TikTok Live is powerful, but it feels incomplete without overlays. When viewers send gifts and see nothing happen on screen, they're less likely to engage again.

Start simple:

  • Week 1: Add a gift alert (see names pop up when someone sends roses).
  • Week 2: Add a chat overlay (show recent comments on screen).
  • Week 3: Add a follower goal (visual progress bar for hitting milestones).

You don't need to set up everything at once. Pick one tool (TikFinity is the easiest for TikTok-only), add one overlay, test it, then build from there.

Overlays turn passive viewers into active participants — and that's what makes TikTok Live streams grow.

View on GitHub