Twitch is a famous interactive online platform for live video game streaming. Since its launch in 2011, the social platform now has 140 million monthly active users and has grown to become a competitor of Youtube Gaming. The vast influence of the live streaming platform has allowed the gaming community to discover how to make money on Twitch in many different ways.
Twitch invites its users to be part of a community of entertaining streamers that teach the techniques to improve gameplay. The platform also provides a revenue stream for any avid gamer that has a significant amount of followers. So, how do you get paid on Twitch? Continue reading this article for all you need to know about how to become a Twitch streamer and make money.
How Much Do Professional Twitch Streamers Get Paid?
The income range of Twitch streamers varies greatly, with small streamers earning an average of $50 per month, to the most popular streamers raking in $3,000 to $5,000 on average. The top 10 streamers currently earn between five and nine million dollars annually by entertaining and interacting with viewers.
Though professional streamers make thousands of dollars per month, the earnings are still based on content and affiliated links, the viewers who subscribe to the channel, the amount of money or “bits” they donate, and other factors.
How Many Followers Do You Need to Get Paid on Twitch?
To make money as a Twitch affiliate or partner, you’ll need to have at least 50 followers and an average of three concurrent viewers per month. Additionally, you must have 500 minutes of broadcast time per month, with at least seven special broadcast days.
How to Make Money on Twitch
Twitch offers different ways for streamers to make money, including donations, affiliate link marketing, subscriptions, and merchandise. Below you’ll find the top 10 ways to earn real cash by streaming on Twitch.
1. Ad Revenue
Twitch shows pre-roll advertisements before viewers can join a stream. There are also video ads that viewers can watch during the stream. Streamers receive a percentage of advertising revenue from the ads shown during their streaming broadcasts and content. The ad revenue depends on the number of concurrent viewers and the viewer’s location, age, and streamed games.
2. Affiliate Marketing
One of the best ways to earn money on Twitch is by joining its affiliate program. The affiliate program works by selling game items on a streamer’s channel. To do this, you must stream a game from the Twitch store. Then, a “buy now” button appears on your affiliate status profile, allowing viewers to purchase your game. Streamers then earn money from these affiliate links and game purchases.
3. Donations
Twitch channel users often enjoy donating money, especially to their favorite streamers. Streamers can also ask for donations through third-party services, such as PayPal, Stripe, Muxy, or Streamlabs. Twitch Partners or Affiliates can also ask for assistance through Twitch Bits, which are monetary tokens used throughout the platform.
4. Merchandise Selling
The more you live stream, the more viewers and followers you can get. There will always be avid followers who love watching you play. Another key way to make money on Twitch is to sell merchandise such as shirts, mugs, and stickers to your followers. You’ll also be promoting yourself, as your followers wear your merchandise and advertise your channel.
5. Patreon
Streamers can have their viewers send donations on Twitch through Patreon. To use Patreon, you’ll have to first create a profile, and then link it to your Twitch account and other social media platforms. One way to persuade your viewers to donate is to provide exclusive video content and share leading gaming tutorials that are only accessible with a Patreon donation.
7. Sponsorships
Many devoted users spend more time on Twitch than on other social media platforms, and they frequently follow their favorite streamers. Brands often use this as an opportunity to sell their products and services to users and provide sponsorship deals to streamers to promote their brand to a large audience. If you are a streamer and interested in brand sponsorships, you can reach out to partnership companies, such as PowerSpike and HelloGamers.
8. Twitch Bits
Twitch Bits are virtual Twitch currency and generally function as mini-donations from viewers. Twitch sends $0.01 to their affiliates and partners every time a Bit fan uses their channels. Bits are virtual goods, allowing followers to support streamers by using animated emoticons, voting in polls, and receiving recognition through leaderboards and badges.
9. Youtube
Another way to increase revenue from Twitch is to upload recordings of your Twitch broadcasts to your Youtube channel. You can show game compilations, tutorials, and exciting clips from your streams to promote your Twitch channel. The goal of this method is to attract new Twitch followers and increase your following, which earns you more subscriptions and money from advertisement views.
10. Twitch Subscriptions
Twitch streamers earn money from subscriptions, where followers pay a subscription fee to access special content and benefits that non-subscribers can’t. A monthly subscription gives users access to exclusive chat rooms, merchandise discounts, subscriber-only streams, and unique emoticons. With subscriptions, the audience is engaged and active on the platform, and streamers earn money based on the number of subscribers.
How Do You Get Paid on Twitch?
Twitch Affiliates are eligible to receive a payout once their pre-taxed accrued revenue balance reaches $100. Otherwise, Twitch will carry over the balance to the following month until the $100 minimum threshold is met. Twitch streamers can be paid by ACH or direct deposit, PayPal, wire transfers, or check. A small processing fee will be deducted from each payment to be paid to the third-party app that handles payouts.
How to Make Extra Money on Twitch
- Talk shows and podcasts: The streaming platform allows affiliates to host gaming talk shows, where they discuss and review different video games. You can also talk about current trends and issues in the gaming industry.
- Stream in radio-style: The Twitch music category is an excellent avenue for streamers who want to provide non-copyrighted music to their audiences. This is a creative method of increasing broadcast hours, suitable for streamers inclined to music and lyrics.
- Art Livestream: If you are into art and design, you can live stream your art in the Art category on Twitch, featuring physical or digital artwork. It is another creative method to increase broadcast hours, viewers, and ad revenue.
- ‘Just Chatting’ with viewers and followers: You can join the ‘Just Chatting’ category on Twitch to directly engage with your followers. Here you can discuss topics, answer your followers’ questions, and ask them questions.
- ASMR videos: ASMR is famous for giving soothing or tingling sensations to its viewers using sound. You can join ASMR Twitch and increase broadcast hours while making soft, repetitive sounds.
How to Make Money Fast on Twitch
You may find earning money challenging if you’re new to the Twitch app. The first step is to become a Twitch affiliate, being sure to stream as much as possible in order to meet the program requirements. As soon as you are an affiliate, you’ll be able to take advantage of income opportunities from bits and game sales as you stream.
To make money through Twitch, you must know your niche. Find a way to stand out from the crowd and deliver unique niches that your audience loves. Additionally, you can work to build a following on other social media platforms, where you can promote your channel and attract new followers on Twitch.
How to Make Extra Money from Home
If live streaming gameplay doesn’t interest you, there are numerous ways you can make extra income from the comfort of your own home. There are plenty of side hustles you can dive into, such as freelance writing, transcription, video editing, and web development. Web designers also make excellent salaries, and you may want to consider joining a top web design bootcamp to jumpstart your remote career.
Is Twitch a Good Way to Make Extra Money?
Twitch is a great way to make extra money, especially if you’re fond of gaming and live streaming. The more you stream on Twitch, the more followers you’ll get, and with more followers, the more money you’ll earn. If you are a passionate gamer and feel comfortable in front of the camera, consider becoming an affiliate and you could double your income in no time.
How to Make Money on Twitch FAQs
Twitch is prohibited for users under the age of thirteen, and users between ages thirteen and eighteen can use Twitch only if their parent or guardian agrees with Twitch’s terms of service. If you’re between these ages and have gained your parents’ consent, you can follow the same principles of how adults stream to earn money on the platform.
Yes, being a part of Twitch partner programs isn’t the only way to earn money. You can also source sponsorships, donations, and merchandise sales to generate revenue on the platform.
A Twitch streamer with about 100 viewers per stream can earn $250 if they have roughly 100 subscribers. Small streamers average about $50 per month, and professional streamers can earn millions of dollars annually.
Yes, small Twitch streamers make money from streaming, with an average monthly income of $50 for streamers with ten average viewers. A large streamer with 100 average viewers can make up to $1,500 per month.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
