How to make money on Twitch: every income source explained

Hardly anyone makes money on Twitch from a single source. Most streamers combine income from Twitch itself (subscriptions, Bits and ads) with money that comes straight from viewers and brands. Here is how each source works, what you need for it and what you actually keep.

1. Subscriptions

Viewers pay monthly to subscribe to your channel and get emotes and badges. By default you receive half of the net revenue; Twitch's Plus Program can raise your share to 60% or 70% when you earn enough points several months in a row. Subs require Affiliate or Partner status, or whatever access Twitch currently gives your account.

2. Bits

Bits are virtual points viewers buy from Twitch and cheer in your chat. You receive 1 US cent per Bit. They are fun because they show up in chat, but Twitch converts them to dollars and only pays out above a minimum balance.

3. Ads

Twitch runs ads during your stream and shares the revenue. The amount depends heavily on your viewer count, your audience's country and how often you run ad breaks. For smaller channels it is rarely the biggest source.

4. Direct donations: available from your first stream

A donation does not go through Twitch but through your own donation page, with no follower or viewer threshold. With DonoLink you create a free page, add the link to your panels and a chat command, and every donation shows up as an alert on stream. DonoLink charges 3.5% per successful donation with no subscription; Stripe charges its processing costs separately. See the Twitch donation setup guide for the steps.

5. Sponsors and affiliate links

Brands pay for mentions, codes or a permanent spot in your overlay. That usually starts with a loyal community and a regular schedule rather than a specific follower count. Affiliate links, for example for your own gear, earn a commission per sale.

What does it add up to? Calculate per source

Each month, write down the gross amount, the costs and the net result for every source. Bits and subs are paid in dollars, donations in euros. Do not forget tax: streaming income is usually taxable. The streamer income guide walks through a donation example, and the pricing page shows current fees.

Start today

1. Create a free donation page and choose your username.
2. Add the link to your Twitch panels and a chat command such as !donate.
3. Add the OBS donation alert and test it before you go live.
4. Work towards Affiliate in the meantime: the current requirements are under Achievements in your Creator Dashboard.

Create your free donation page and receive your first donation this week.