One of the most popular platforms for live streaming, Twitch is on a roll when it comes to opening up monetization opportunities for gamers. It is the de facto space for live streamers and gamers who want to bring in the moolah with their streaming skills and sustain their passion while at it. Today, Twitch is close to averaging about 200 million unique monthly viewers and an average of over 1 billion hours of streaming content per month, which is a testament to the huge growth potential it offers to emerge as well as existing creators on its platform. With user growth moving at about a 60 percent increase every year, Twitch is showing no signs of slowing down.
This begs an important question – “Can you get paid on Twitch ?” The answer to this question is a resounding and reassuring yes. Be it competing in eSports, selling subscriptions and merchandise, or just live streaming games, there are numerous money earning possibilities with Twitch that you will get to know in detail in this article.
Let’s start with understanding Twitch better – there are two crowds that make the platform – the Streamers and the Viewers. Streamers can choose to play any game and live stream themselves while viewers can choose to join any live stream and spend time watching it. Twitch live streams are up 24 hours a day, so this opens up a never-ending entertainment stream for viewers. Signing up for a Twitch as a streamer or a viewer is as easy as joining any other online service provider or platform.
With the basics aside, looking at the question again – “Can you get paid on Twitch?” and dive deep into the payment and monetization routes offered by the platform. Broadly, Twitch monetization can be split into two broad categories:
1. Twitch Affiliate Program: for entry-level or beginner live streamers. To become an Affiliate, Twitch streamers need to meet the following minimum requirements:
- 50 followers
- Streamed 500 minutes of broadcast over the last 30 days
- Seven unique broadcast days over the last 30 days
- An average of three viewers per broadcast
Once you become a Twitch Affiliate partner, you’ll be able to use some of the exclusive monetization features of a channel, including Bits, Subscriptions, and Ads. Plus, you also get access to perks like uploading emotes and sub badges, which help attract and entice viewers to engage in some of the revenue-sharing incentives like subscriptions.
2. Twitch Partner Program: for advanced or pro-level live streamers. To become a Partner, Twitch streamers need to meet the following minimum requirements
- Streamed 25 hours of broadcast over the last 30 days
- 12 unique broadcast days over the last 30 days
- An average of 75 viewers per broadcast
Twitch partners earn more from subscriptions and get access to many other unique tools, such as the Bounty Board and more ways to monetize their channel.
Now that you know about the two major monetization routes, it’s helpful to understand in detail the ways you can get paid on Twitch.
- Subscriptions: After becoming a Twitch Affiliate or Partner, any creator can monetize their channel by accepting subscriptions from followers. Typically, you can choose from three different subscription plans – $4.99, $9.99 or $24.99. It is important to note that a certain commission goes to Twitch from each subscription you get. However, as your channel grows, you will get the opportunity to earn 100 percent of your subscriptions.
- Sponsorships: For streamers who have amassed a decent, steady number of followers on their channel, it becomes easier to get sponsorship deals from companies and businesses. Typically, a Twitch streamer gets paid in exchange for promoting the goods or services in exchange. The most popular ones are – streaming games, displaying gaming chairs, computer accessories, etc. who offer both short-term and long-term deals to popular streamers for doing ad streams.
- Bits: Bits are a virtual currency inside the Twitch universe, and it enables viewers and fans of a live stream to support their favorite creators. Viewers can cheer for game plays or live streams through special messages or emotes that can be bought using Bits. For each ‘bit gem’, a steamer gets paid $0.01 every time someone uses one in their chat room. After a certain level, some streamers can unlock advanced perks such as the ‘Bit Badge’ and exclusive emotes for the channel.
- Donations: Twitch streamers can also integrate their PayPal account into their channel to accept donations from their followers and viewers. By clicking on a button, viewers can send money to your account and you can accept 100 percent of the donation money as a token of support.
- Ad Integration: Reserved only for Twitch Partners, once a streamer meets the minimum requirement, they are open to including ads on their channel and set them during play breaks of a live stream event. Twitch offers both pre-roll and display ads and based on the popularity of the streamer and their channel, the cost-per-click or the earning per click is determined. Typically, an average Twitch creator makes around $250 in ad revenue for every 100 subscribers they add to their channel.
So that’s pretty much answers the question “Can you get paid on Twitch?” in detail. Everyone can be a streamer on the platform, but to make money consistently, it helps to understand the rules of the game.
Now that you know the many different ways you can monetize your Twitch channel, it’s time to start building an audience.