What is the difference?
Now Playing is the deeper dial-based edition for Stream Deck+, while Playback is the focused key-based edition for any Stream Deck with keys. Choose your control surface first, then select the Windows media or Sonos version that matches what you listen to.
These are not “basic” and “pro” versions of one plugin. Now Playing and Playback are separate products built around different Stream Deck surfaces. After choosing dials or keys, choose the Windows or Sonos edition that matches the media system you want to control.
Make the decision in thirty seconds
- No Stream Deck+? Choose Playback. It works on any Stream Deck with keys.
- Want queue, seeking, or source switching? Choose Now Playing on Stream Deck+.
- Want one visible action per key? Choose Playback, even if you own Stream Deck+.
- Controlling Windows players? Choose a Windows edition.
- Controlling Sonos rooms or groups? Choose a Sonos edition.
Now Playing vs Playback comparison
| Feature | Now Playing | Playback |
|---|---|---|
| Primary control | One dial plus the touch display | Separate Stream Deck keys |
| Required hardware | Stream Deck+ | Any Stream Deck with keys |
| Live feedback | Track, progress, volume, target, and active view | Artwork, track, progress, and volume on a live key |
| Direct actions | Turn, press, tap, and hold on one control | One focused action per key |
| Deeper navigation | Queue and seeking, plus player or Sonos target switching | No nested views; actions stay visible and direct |
| Profile space | Preserves the key grid | Uses as many keys as the actions you add |
| Customization | Main and accent colors across dial screens | Main and accent colors across key actions |
| Price per platform | €9.99 one time | €4.99 one time |
| Best for | More control from one physical dial | Fast, glanceable actions placed anywhere |
Choose Now Playing when depth matters
Now Playing is designed around the four interactions Elgato makes available on a Stream Deck+ dial: rotate, press, touch-display tap, and long press. Those inputs let one control move between related media views without filling the key grid.
It is the stronger choice when you want queue browsing, timeline seeking, and player or Sonos target switching close to playback and volume. The tradeoff is hardware: this interaction requires Stream Deck+ and takes a little more exploration than one action per key.
Windows · €9.99
Now Playing - Windows
Playback, per-app volume, queue, seek, and active-player switching from one dial.
Mac and Windows · €9.99
Now Playing - Sonos
Track, queue, seek, and Sonos room or group control from one dial.
Choose Playback when clarity matters
Playback makes each action visible and direct. Add a live now-playing key, transport actions, and volume controls wherever they fit in your profile. A quick glance tells you what the key does before you press it.
It is the right choice for keyed Stream Deck models, for shared profiles that mix media with other controls, and for people who prefer one action per key. The tradeoff is depth: queue, seek, and target-selection views belong to Now Playing rather than Playback.
Windows · €4.99
Playback - Windows
A live Windows media key plus focused playback and volume actions.
Mac and Windows · €4.99
Playback - Sonos
Live Sonos playback and dedicated controls for the room or group you choose.
Choose by the way you work
| Scenario | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Stream Deck Mini or MK.2 | Playback | These models have keys but no dials |
| Stream Deck+ with a busy key grid | Now Playing | One dial keeps deeper media controls off the keys |
| Shared streaming profile | Playback | Media actions can sit beside scene, microphone, or lighting keys |
| Several Windows players | Now Playing - Windows | The player view can switch the active media source |
| Several Sonos targets | Either | Playback can hold target-specific keys; Now Playing can switch targets within its views |
| Queue and timeline control | Now Playing | Queue and seek are part of the dial experience |
| Fastest learning curve | Playback | One visible action per key is immediately literal |
Neither interaction is universally better. Now Playing optimizes physical space and depth; Playback optimizes visibility and directness. The better edition is the one that removes the action you currently repeat in the player.
Then choose Windows media or Sonos
Windows editions control compatible native and browser-based players through the media sessions they expose to Windows. They are the fit for Spotify desktop, compatible browser audio, and other players active on the PC. Read the Windows media setup and compatibility guide.
Sonos editions target rooms or groups in a Sonos system and support Mac and Windows. They are the fit when audio plays through Sonos and you want the desk control to follow a room or group. Read the Sonos setup guide.
Understand the one-time pricing
- Each Now Playing platform edition costs €9.99 as a one-time purchase.
- Each Playback platform edition costs €4.99 as a one-time purchase.
- Owning both control styles for one platform costs €14.98 at current listed prices.
- There is no plugin subscription, but your media service may have its own subscription.
- Each product is purchased separately through Elgato Marketplace.
The product pages state the current compatibility and link directly to the correct Marketplace listing. Final checkout currency and terms are shown by Elgato for your region.
The practical recommendation
- Look at the Stream Deck on your desk. If it has no dials, choose Playback.
- If it is Stream Deck+, decide whether you value nested depth or visible one-action keys more.
- Choose Windows media or Sonos based on where playback actually happens.
- Open the matching product page and run the live browser demo.
- Confirm the operating system and Stream Deck software requirement before opening Marketplace.
Choose by control surface first
The product finder asks the two decisions that matter and takes you to the matching live demo.
Official references and related reading
- Elgato: Stream Deck+ dials introductionOfficial explanation of rotate, press, touch-display tap, long press, and adding actions to dials.
- Elgato: Stream Deck pluginsOfficial guidance on plugin discovery and installation through Elgato Marketplace.
For setup rather than comparison, use the Sonos guide or the Windows media guide. Each one includes a compatibility model, troubleshooting table, and target-specific setup path.
Now Playing and Playback questions
Is Now Playing included with Playback?
No. Now Playing and Playback are separate products. Choose the platform and control surface that match your setup.
Which edition is best for Stream Deck+?
Choose Now Playing when you want several views and deeper navigation on one dial. Choose Playback when you prefer separate, glanceable keys or want to use the key area alongside other Stream Deck+ controls.
Can I use both editions together?
Yes. The editions use different control surfaces and can complement each other, but each is purchased separately.
Which edition works without Stream Deck+?
Playback works on any Stream Deck model with keys. Now Playing requires Stream Deck+ because its interaction is built around a dial and the touch display.
Are the Windows and Sonos versions included together?
No. Windows media and Sonos are separate products with different playback targets and setup paths. Buy only the platform version you need.
Which edition is easier to learn?
Playback is more literal because each key has one focused purpose. Now Playing takes a little more exploration, but it keeps deeper controls such as queue, seeking, and source switching on one dial.