Elgato Stream Deck Is Way More Useful Than Just a Streaming Tool

The Elgato Stream Deck lineup has a reputation as a streamer's gadget, but it's genuinely useful for anyone who spends serious time at a computer — whether that's editing video, working from home, or just wanting faster access to the apps and files you use every day.

The core idea is simple: a panel of fully customizable buttons, configured through an intuitive app on PC or Mac. You can map keys to open specific applications or files, trigger macros, control smart home devices, mute yourself on Zoom with a single tap, or chain multiple actions into one-button "modes" — like a work mode that opens your email and Slack, and a gaming mode that closes everything and launches Steam and Discord. Apps like Discord, Teams, YouTube, and Spotify have ready-made integrations, but building your own custom workflows is straightforward too. The author personally uses two Stream Decks — one on PC, one on Mac — to manage writing workflows, Photoshop actions, and Google Drive folders.

Elgato offers several models to suit different needs. The standard Stream Deck comes in 6-key, 15-key, and 32-key versions, and all support multiple pages so you're not limited by the physical button count. The Stream Deck + adds dials and a touch strip, making it a strong pick for audio or video editors. The Stream Deck Neo is the compact option — just 8 keys, but it includes touch points and an info bar. Right now, a couple of models are discounted on Amazon in the UK: the 15-key Stream Deck is £109.99 (down from £139.99), and the 32-key Stream Deck XL is £194.99 (down from £229.99).

If you've been dismissing Stream Deck as something only content creators need, it's worth a second look. The flexibility is hard to match, and having a dedicated physical button for your most-used actions genuinely speeds up your day.