Earn money from streaming and calculate your income
Updated on 13 October 2026 by DonoLink
Streaming income can come from viewer donations, platform payouts, sponsors or other creator activities. Track each source separately. Learn how to use a donation link and calculate the difference between gross donations and what remains after fees.
How can you make money as a streamer?
Streamers can earn money through voluntary viewer donations, subscriptions, advertising, sponsorships, affiliate links and their own products. If you want viewers to contribute directly, a free DonoLink account can help: create a personal donation page, connect Stripe and share your link on Twitch, YouTube, Kick or TikTok. Viewers can donate using iDEAL without a DonoLink account. You can display donation alerts in OBS and track received donations in your dashboard. Creating an account does not generate income by itself; you need viewers who choose to contribute. DonoLink handles the donation flow, not your platform subscriptions, advertising revenue or sponsorship deals. Compare the fees and build a community around your content first.
Start receiving viewer donations with DonoLink
- Create a free DonoLink account and choose a username for your personal donation link.
- Connect your Stripe account, complete the required verification and check that you can receive payments.
- Set up your page and payment methods. iDEAL is the local payment example; available methods depend on Stripe and your settings.
- Share your link in your channel profile, stream description or chat and explain what viewer support helps you do.
- Add your alerts overlay to OBS, test it before streaming and keep records of actual donations, fees and payouts.
How do streamers make money?
A viewer can support you directly through your DonoLink page. This is a separate payment route alongside any earnings within Twitch, YouTube, TikTok or Kick. Sponsorships, affiliate links and your own products are other sources. Keep your support link in a consistent place and explain what the support helps you do. Donations are voluntary; there is no fixed amount per viewer or follower.
How much does a streamer earn per sub, Bit, gift or donation?
There is no fixed amount per viewer: without data about a channel, you cannot reliably predict its income. Returning viewers, your streaming schedule and how much your community wants to support you make the difference. What you can calculate is what you keep from each source.
- Twitch subscription (sub): half of the net revenue by default, up to 70% through Twitch's Plus Program if your channel qualifies. Example: a Tier 1 sub costs €4.99 on the website in the Netherlands and Belgium. After 21% VAT about €4.12 remains, so you get roughly €2 per sub (up to about €2.90 at 70%). Prices in the mobile app can differ.
- Twitch Bits: 1 US cent per Bit, so 1 dollar per 100 Bits. Twitch only pays out subs and Bits to Affiliates and Partners.
- YouTube Super Chat and Super Stickers: 70% of the revenue, after sales tax and any app store fees. This fan funding is available in the YouTube Partner Program from 500 subscribers, with extra upload and watch time requirements.
- TikTok LIVE Gifts: you receive Diamonds that TikTok converts at its own changing rate, and you must be 18 or older for this. Gifts are therefore not euro amounts you can add one to one to your donations.
- Donation via DonoLink: from €10.00 via iDEAL you keep €9.36 after the 3.5% DonoLink fee and €0.29 Stripe fee, when the viewer does not cover the fees. There is no follower threshold.
Platform percentages from the official Twitch, YouTube and TikTok pages, checked on 13 October 2026; they can differ by country, account and programme. Amounts are before tax.
Calculate stream income: from gross to net
For standard iDEAL donations, calculate each payment as: donation amount minus the 3.5% DonoLink fee minus €0.29 in Stripe fees. A €10.00 donation leaves €9.36 when the viewer does not cover fees. With 20 equal donations, that is €187.20 after these fees. This is an example, not expected monthly earnings. Other expenses, refunds and taxes are not included.
Use the donation calculator and keep records
On the pricing page, change the donation amount, payment method and number of donations to calculate DonoLink donation fees for your example. Also keep your actual transaction and payout records. For Dutch tax, VAT or KVK registration questions, our Dutch tax guide links to official starting points. The donation calculator does not calculate your personal taxes.
Your account and OBS overlays are free. For a standard iDEAL donation, DonoLink charges 3.5%; Stripe separately charges €0.29 per payment. There is no subscription. Check the pricing page for fees by payment method.
Choose your next step
- Calculate donation fees
- How to make money on Twitch: every income source explained
- How to make money on YouTube: ads, Super Chat and donations
- How to make money on TikTok: LIVE gifts, Creator Rewards and donations
- Create a donation link
- OBS donation alert setup: overlays, sound and goals
- Dutch tax on stream donations, KVK and bookkeeping
Set up donations on your streaming platform
Create one personal donation page and share your support link wherever viewers follow you. Each platform guide explains where to put the link and how to show a donation on stream.
Frequently asked questions
Can a beginner streamer receive donations?
A DonoLink donation page does not require Twitch Affiliate or YouTube Partner status. Your account must be eligible for Stripe payments and complete the required verification. Sharing a link does not guarantee donations; income depends on voluntary contributions from your community.
What does receiving money through DonoLink cost?
Creating an account is free, with no subscription. The standard DonoLink fee is 3.5% per donation, plus separate Stripe processing fees. In the local iDEAL example, a €10.00 donation leaves €9.36 without voluntary fee coverage. This is after these fees, before other expenses and taxes; card and wallet rates can differ.
Does DonoLink replace subscriptions, sponsors or ads?
DonoLink is a donation platform with a personal donation link, payment processing and stream alerts. Use it for voluntary viewer support alongside other income sources. Platform subscriptions and ads are handled by the streaming platform; sponsorships, affiliate commissions and product sales have their own agreements and records.
How much does a streamer keep from a sub, Bits, a Super Chat or a donation?
On Twitch you get half of a sub's net revenue by default, up to 70% through the Plus Program: from a €4.99 Tier 1 sub (web price in the Netherlands and Belgium) that is roughly €2 after VAT. Per Bit you get 1 US cent. YouTube pays out 70% of Super Chats after sales tax and app store fees. From a €10.00 donation via iDEAL, DonoLink leaves you €9.36 after the 3.5% DonoLink fee and Stripe's fee.
Can I receive donations if I am under 18?
You can open your own creator account from age 18. If you are younger, only a parent with parental responsibility or a legal guardian can create and manage the account in their own name, including the Stripe connection; they accept the terms and remain responsible. Viewers under 18 need permission from a parent or guardian to donate.
How much money do I keep from a donation?
A standard €10.00 iDEAL donation leaves €9.36 after the 3.5% DonoLink fee and €0.29 Stripe fee, without viewer fee coverage. This amount is before any other expenses and taxes.
Can I receive money from viewers on multiple platforms?
Yes, you can share the same DonoLink support link with your Twitch, YouTube, TikTok and Kick audiences. Payments through that link appear in your DonoLink donation history. Payouts from the streaming platform itself remain a separate income source.