Support a Streamer! All About Donations on Twitch

You can’t really do better right now than Twitch where live streaming platforms are concerned. While there are several other contenders for the content creators’ live streaming crown, the Twitch website stands above the rest, with superior chat features and category directories, as well as loyal fan bases for many Twitch streamers and their channel communities.

For many creators who are live streaming on Twitch as a full-time or part-time gig, tips and donations on Twitch have become a primary revenue source, enabling them to fund their channels, invest in upgraded gear, and create higher quality content. Some donations/tips can be accepted via Twitch's own special revenue-generating features, or are simply sent to your PayPal or other “tip jar” account.

Over 7 million channels go live on Twitch each month (via TwitchTracker) - which means that viewer support is more crucial than ever in the crowded Twitch streaming market. Your support will help sustain your favorite streamers’ online careers so they can continue creating content for you to enjoy!

Let’s look at Twitch streamer support from both angles - how content creators can set up different types of tips and donations on Twitch for their viewers to use, and how those viewers can donate via Twitch features, PayPal, or other methods to support their streamers of choice.  

A Little About Twitch

Twitch is a live streaming service platform that launched way back in June 2011 as a spinoff of streaming platform Justin.tv. Twitch is heavily focused on gaming, and has been since its inception; but over the years it has expanded to include a much wider variety of content, including talk shows and “Just Chatting” streams, live music performance, art streams, cooking streams, IRL (in real life) and travel streams, and more.

Twitch sees over 7 million streamers going live every month to stream games, chatting, music, cooking, IRL (in real life) events, podcasts and talk shows, and more.

With millions of users and channels, Twitch is one of the largest streaming platforms in the world. Its evolution from a niche gaming site to a mainstream streaming entertainment hub has attracted everyone from casual viewers to professional content creators and well-known musicians and celebrities. So it’s a great place to headquarter your live streaming career, whether you’ve been online for a while or are just getting started!

How Donations Support Streamers

Twitch donations/tips through platforms like Ko-Fi or your PayPal account; Twitch Bits; Twitch subscriptions; and other monetary transactions play a vital role in Twitch’s ecosystem. They provide financial support to Twitch streamers, which enables those streamers to continue creating content, upgrading their channels, and improving the viewer experience. 

Financial support, including those Twitch donations, are also a reflection of the community connection between streamers and their audiences, with viewers expressing their appreciation for the content, work, and community management created by their fave content creators. This connection also plays a role in fostering a sense of belonging, encouraging viewers to contribute financially, whether via PayPal, Ko-Fi, or on Twitch itself, playing a supportive role in the streamer’s career growth.

Types of Donations on Twitch  

There are several different ways viewers can support streamers, from donations on Twitch to Twitch subscriptions to PayPal or Ko-Fi tips. Twitch streamers can set up the methods that best fit their needs, whether that's accepting donations through your PayPal account or using the Twitch website's own support features; you don’t need to limit yourself to one (and neither do your viewers!) Activating several revenue support methods gives your viewers options, and may even increase support.

Twitch Features

Twitch has their own donation/tip options that are also part of Twitch culture: Bits, Cheering, Hype Trains, and Power-Ups. These are intertwined with other Twitch features like emotes and alerts.

Bits are Twitch’s “virtual goods” that translate to money for the streamer at a rate of $0.01 per Bit (for instance, 500 Bits = $1, 1000 Bits = $10.) Viewers “Cheer” with Bits during streams, and can choose Cheermotes (animated emotes) to accompany their Bits donation.

Hype Trains are an incentive that triggers a live progress bar, graphics, and confetti above the chat window when a certain amount of stream support is donated or Cheered; the animations get more hyped up as the Train continues and as more Twitch donations are Cheered for the streamer.

And newest to Twitch are Power-Ups, which viewers can purchase with Twitch Bits (again as a donation/tip to the streamer); Power-Ups include glowing message box effects in chat, “Gigantified” emotes also in chat, and Celebrations that consist of a burst of emotes on-screen.

Power-Ups are Twitch’s newest revenue feature for streamers, where viewers can donate to their favorite content creators while unlocking fun special visual effects in chat.

• Pros: Bits, Cheering, Hype Trains, and Power-Ups are all easy to set up and use, and can be very entertaining for chat. These types of Twitch donations/tips are also integrated directly into Twitch chat, enhancing visibility and requiring very little setup from the streamer.

• Cons: Twitch Bits are marked up on the purchase (viewer) side and can be tricky to convert to other currencies, although the streamer does get the full Bit amounts that appear in chat when a viewer Cheers, so the viewer knows exactly how much they’re donating.
  
  
• Suggestions: Hype up viewers to use Bits during exciting moments in the stream to create a lively atmosphere and boost engagement! Hyping the Hype Train is a good way to do this, as viewers can contribute the above features to progress the Train.

Twitch Subscriptions

Twitch subscriptions let viewers support their fave streamers on a monthly basis (prices vary per country/currency) and are recurring, so streamers can depend on them. Subs can also be purchased and gifted from one viewer to another, which both supports the streamer and helps build up the streamer’s Twitch channel and community!

Subscribers get ad-free viewing on each channel they subscribe to on Twitch, plus other perks that the streamer adds, which most often include custom emotes, sub badges (that update over the length of the viewer’s sub) and other exclusive content. Creators can also put bonuses like subs-only videos behind the subscription paywall as even more incentive for viewers to subscribe.

• Pros: Twitch subscribers often keep their subscriptions active month after month, which gives the streamer a more reliable source of income. Subs are also automatically “run” by Twitch; so once they qualify to have subscriptions available, the streamer only has to decide on their incentives for those who subscribe.
  
  
• Cons: Twitch does take a percentage of the revenue from subscriptions, which reduces the overall amount that goes to the streamer (most streamers get between 50-70% of their Twitch subscription revenue.) Currency exchanges often result in different sub prices for different countries.
  
  
• Suggestions: Offer lots of great emotes and other incentives to encourage viewers to subscribe to your channel over others! Some incentive ideas include special privileges during live streams, Discord access, or even physical rewards like custom stickers that you can create and order through a site like Fourthwall.

Direct Donations 

Completed through third-party services like your PayPal account or Ko-Fi, direct donations are exactly what they sound like - they allow viewers to tip or donate on Twitch to a streamer by clicking a donation button and completing the donation transaction. Direct tips like PayPal donations can be done while the streamer is actively live streaming, or even while they’re offline. 

Twitch music streamer MialyMusic accepts donations during her live music streams, and also offers an option via PayPal for fans to tip her without an alert on stream.

This method typically involves the streamer setting up a linked donation button on their Twitch channel's “About” page, plus a command that activates in chat to direct viewers to the donation/tip link. Viewers donating on Twitch can also add a message to the streamer with their donation; some streamers may have text-to-speech switched on, so the viewer can even hear their donation message live on stream.

• Pros: Streamers receive a larger share of the donations; usually there are only very small transaction fees taken out of each donation/tip, for instance PayPal donations take around 3.5% plus a $0.30 fee.
  
  
• Cons: Setting up the payment methods and buttons for donations can be complex for streamers who may be new to the Twitch ecosystem; donations can be charged back through some methods, so it’s best to carefully read the conditions of the tipping/donation platform you choose to use.
  
  
• Suggestions: Use a clearly visible donation button and a friendly, concise chat command about donating. Consider providing incentives for higher Twitch donation amounts, such as shout outs or special on-screen alerts.

A Note on Charity Streams

Many streamers also host charity streams on the Twitch website, where they raise funds for specific charitable causes through donations. Viewers can also donate on Twitch directly during these events, with the extra motivation of donating to a charity like Doctors Without Borders or Extra Life.

Most streamers utilize an online service like Tiltify to accept charity Twitch donations, to keep the finances of the event transparent and make sure the donated funds go to the correct place (the charity, not the streamer.)

5 Steps to Set Up Donations as a Twitch Streamer…

Setting up donations on Twitch to monetize your streaming content is easy! Here are the steps to get started:

1. Set Up Your Twitch Account

The first step in accepting donations on Twitch starts with the obvious - create a Twitch account and stream from your new Twitch channel! If you already have an account and channel, log in to access your channel settings under “Monetization.”

2. Choose a Donation Method

Decide which donation methods you’d like to use, so your viewers can donate on Twitch. You can activate Twitch’s built-in donation features like Bits and subscriptions right in your dashboard; for external methods, you’ll need to link to your platform of choice and include a button on your Twitch "About" page. Each method has its advantages, so consider your audience and preferences.

3. Link Your Donation Account

If you’ve opt for third-party services, integrate your chosen payment platform, whether that's your PayPal account, Ko-Fi, or another option, with your Twitch account. This typically involves accessing your account settings and following the prompts to connect the service.

4. Set Up Donation Alerts

Use tools like Streamlabs or StreamElements to create notifications that will alert you and your viewers when Twitch donations are made. This feature increases engagement by hyping viewer contributions in real time.

5. Consider Donation Goals

Twitch donation goals can be a great way to encourage viewer participation. Create incentive bars for donations through a tool like Streamlabs, so viewers have a visual of their donation progress. Offer unlockable content, future stream goals, or special shout outs to motivate viewers to donate/tip and achieve the goal! 

… and 5 Steps to Donate on Twitch as a Viewer!

As a viewer, donating on Twitch to your favorite streamers is also a pretty straightforward process! Follow these steps to support them:

1. Log In to Your Twitch Account

Sign into your Twitch account to find the streamer(s) of choice, navigating to the channel of your streamer by finding them through your Following list or searching for their username.

2. Check the Donation Options

Check out the different Twitch donation options available for your streamer by looking for donation buttons or links in the stream description, or commands in chat. Many streamers provide direct links to their Twitch donation platforms.

3. Choose Your Donation Method

Click on the provided Twitch donation button/links to use services like PayPal or Streamlabs. If the streamer offers Bits, you can choose that option directly within Twitch (purchasing the Bits through the drop down at the bottom of the chat window).

4. Enter Donation Amount

Specify the amount you would like to donate/tip! For Bits, this involves purchasing a set number of Bits that you can Cheer all at once, or break up into multiple Cheers.

5. Complete the Transaction

Follow the prompts to finalize your donation. Ensure that you review the details before submitting your payment. Enjoy your donation/tip bonuses and the satisfaction of helping support your fave Twitch streamers so they can keep making more content!

Legal Considerations for Twitch Donations

Streamers receiving Twitch donations should be aware of the legal implications, particularly regarding taxes. Donations may be considered income, and streamers are responsible for reporting earnings accurately. Check with the tax website for your country (IRS, etc.) or with your accountant if you’re unsure of how to proceed.

Twitch also has specific requirements and regulations regarding monetization, so streamers should familiarize themselves with these guidelines to avoid potential penalties. If you’re using cash donation services like PayPal, you’ll also want to keep an eye on your PayPal transactions to make sure the donations are legitimate and complete before you cash out or spend any of them. 

FAQ Recap!

How Do I Gift a Subscription to Another Viewer?

You can gift a viewer a subscription to a specific channel on Twitch by clicking on their username in chat. If the streamer has subscriptions enabled, you can click on the "Gift a Sub" button to follow the prompts and purchase a sub for that viewer. You can even donate gifts in bulk to randomly selected viewers in chat! The revenue from your gifts goes to support the streamer, so you're doing a nice thing for both parties.

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Feeling generous? You can “Gift Bomb” your fave Twitch streamer’s chat with multiple gift subs that get randomized and sent out as gifts to viewers, with revenue going to the streamer!

How Much Is 1,000 Bits on Twitch Worth?

1,000 Bits is worth approximately $10 to the streamer, although the exact value (and cost to the viewer/purchaser) may vary based on purchase options and country of origin. In general, Bits translate to one penny ($0.01) for each Bit.

How Do I Donate Bits with Messages?

When donating Bits, you can include a message that will appear in the chat by typing your message in the box provided. That message will then be seen by both the streamer and by your fellow viewers in chat.

How Do I Get a Donate Button on My Own Stream?

To get a donate button, set up a donation link through services like your PayPal account or Streamlabs, and place the button on your "About" page on your Twitch channel. You might also want to set up a !donate or !tip command in chat, so when people would like to support your stream, you can send them directly to your donation link right in the chat window, or to your button in the panels below.

Support Your Fave Twitch Streamers Through Fourthwall, Too!

Many Twitch streamers have their own lines of custom merchandise, and Fourthwall makes it easy for you to do the same! Set up your own ecommerce store on Fourthwall, and easily custom-design a huge range of merch from coffee mugs and T-shirts to mouse pads, notebooks, and home goods. You can easily link to your Fourthwall shop right on your Twitch “About” page, so you can hype your merch drops 24/7!

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Among the many Twitch-friendly benefits of having a Fourthwall account is their Twitch Gifting feature, where your fans can gift your custom merch to each other!

The best part? You can also unlock Fourthwall’s Twitch Gifting feature, that allows your audience to gift your merch to each other while you live stream on Twitch! Your supporters will feel the love, and might even be inspired to make their own gifts or purchases from your merch line. It’s one of many amazing ways Fourthwall offers for viewers to support their favorite content creators on Twitch. Learn more now!