In 2020, the pandemic has undoubtedly transformed the way businesses operate. Additionally, it has altered how people earn their paychecks. Most of us are currently working from home. Among other things, such as online shops, streaming platforms are gaining immense popularity for two reasons. The first reason is that people are experiencing boredom, and some gamers, artists, and creatives want to help us feel better at home. The second reason is that streaming on certain platforms has become a profitable business.
I imagine many of you are eager to learn how much Twitch streamers earn. Theoretically, professional streamers can make between $300 and $30,000 a month on Twitch. In reality, their salary typically ranges from $2,500 to $6,000.
If you would like to learn more details, stay with us and discover!
Table of Contents
How Much Do Twitch Streamers Earn?
To positively address this question, we first need to discuss how much Twitch streamers earn per subscription.
When streamers achieve Affiliate status, they will receive payment for each subscription individually.
Currently, the monthly subscription costs $4.99, with 50% allocated to streamers and the remaining 50% to the platform.
There are additional ways to earn on the site, apart from the standard Twitch revenue per subscription.
Users can make monthly contributions to the channels they enjoy.
The contribution ranges from $9.99 to $24.99 each month.
In theory, if a channel has one thousand monthly subscriptions, a Twitch streamer’s salary would be $2,500 monthly or $30,000 annually.
Additionally, remember the advertisements and the revenue they generate!
Allow me to provide a comprehensive introduction to the various ways you can earn money on Twitch:
1. Earning Through Donations
This is the oldest method to earn money and gain support from your viewers.
The platform utilizes its own currency – Twitch ‘Bits’.
Each person contributes a penny to the streamer.
You can get bits on Twitch in several ways. The most common method is simply by spending money to purchase animated emotes that you can use while chatting.
The streamer earns one cent for each GIF and emote used in the chat on their channel.
Certainly, there are methods to receive direct donations from viewers as well.
There are several methods to receive money this way, using various platforms, such as Streamlabs.
This platform is quite advantageous as it does not impose any charging fees.
2. Earning Through Ads
The streamer earns money for each ad viewed on their channel.
However, placing ads can be somewhat challenging.
You have the freedom to place an ad at any point in the video, but you must be careful not to overdo it.
An excess of ads will quickly bore followers.
Additionally, an advertisement always plays at the beginning as soon as you start streaming.
If you have been fortunate enough to participate in a promotional push, two ads may appear at the start of your stream.
Still, we don’t really know how much money streamers make from ads because they are not permitted to share that information.
Additionally, please note that there is an ‘Ad-block’ option available for viewers, which suggests that streamers may not earn much revenue from ads.
(However, they remain cautious, which leads them to request that viewers watch the commercials at the start of the stream.) Additionally, you cannot earn from ads until you become a Partner.
CNBC reports that the commercial fee is $250 per 100 subs!
Conversely, there are also CPM (cost per thousand) prices.
They are influenced by the time of year and other related factors.
They can range from $2 to $10 per 1,000 views.
However, these fees are highest in June, October, November, and December.
Nonetheless, the platform has unique contracts with each streamer, and confidentiality is strictly enforced.
3. Earning Revenue from Subscriptions
As I have already mentioned, as a viewer, you can stay updated with everything happening on the platform simply by following the channels for free.
However, if you wish to subscribe to a specific channel, you will need to pay a small fee.
Subscriptions renew automatically.
Although the platform retains 50% of the streamer’s earnings, successful Partners can secure better deals and retain up to 70% of their subscription fees.
Some even claim that certain streamers receive 100% of their subscription income!
Additionally, since the subscription is charged automatically every month, the viewer must manually cancel it, providing the streamer with greater opportunities to earn compared to if the subscriber renewed the subscription manually each month.
Pay Attention: Twitch does not disclose the number of subscribers for each channel. The figures displayed on the profile (at the top) represent the number of followers, who are there for free, as I have already explained.
4. Earning Through Sponsorships
Sponsorship operates similarly to other platforms—companies will pay to promote their brands if they believe you are suitable for the role.
Naturally, since the platform primarily focuses on video games, many companies will pay for playing and promoting their titles.
This is referred to as a sponsored stream.
Of course, the amount a particular streamer earns from a sponsor depends on their popularity.
Typically, the rate ranges from 1¢ to $1 per hour for each viewer.
This, of course, means that more viewers equal more money.
Additionally, all other equipment, including earphones, chairs, computers, and more, can also be sponsored.
The rate for these is typically a private agreement between the streamer and the company.
Therefore, we are not familiar with the average earnings of a streamer.
5. Earning Money from Customized Merchandise
This operates in the same manner as it does with influencers on other platforms.
It is relatively ‘simple’—be good enough (which means having enough subscribers and followers who are willing to buy your gear) and earn money by selling customized Twitch merch.
6. Earning Through Championship Wins
Certainly, skilled players can earn money by streaming their gameplay and the championships they win.
What Are Streamers’ Actual Earnings?
Estimated Earnings of the Most Popular Streamers
Twitch provides us with some statistics, however.
There is a list called ‘Twitch Subs Count & Stats’, which allows you to estimate how much a Twitch streamer earns (at least for some of the most popular streamers), based on the number of current subscribers and other parameters.
Wallet Hacks has compiled a list of approximate figures detailing how much the most popular streamers earn each month.
Here are a few numbers:
What Can Small Streamers Expect?
The answer to this question depends on what you mean by a ‘small streamer’.
Individuals with channels that receive 100 views, for instance, can earn between $300 and $700 per month, excluding affiliate deals.
Conversely, niche streamers can earn significantly more, ranging from $900 to $2,100 monthly, and beyond.
However, as a niche streamer, your income relies on the specific deal you negotiate.
How to Apply for the Twitch Affiliate Program?
To begin earning, you need to become a Twitch Affiliate.
If you continue to rock and thrive, they will invite you to upgrade to a Twitch Partner.
However, you will not be able to monetize your account until you become a Partner and obtain Twitch verification.
There are several conditions you must meet before becoming a Twitch Affiliate:
If you meet all the requirements, you can expect to receive an email from Twitch within one to two weeks.
In the meantime, continue to stay active on the platform.
Here is what you need to do to upgrade to a Twitch Partner:
After you have completed your application, you will wait for a response for up to 7 working days.
Below is the comparison table highlighting the differences between Twitch Affiliates and Twitch Partners:
The Top 10 Twitch Streamers
Key Twitch Statistics
Where to Learn How to Use Twitch to Make Money?
In the 21st century, I believe there is nothing that cannot be taught.
You don’t even need to leave your home, as there are millions of online courses available on virtually any topic.
If you are new to the world of Twitch and aren’t sure how to use it to make money, don’t worry! There are people who not only know how to do it but are also eager to teach you!
There are numerous courses available to take online!
For instance, Udemy (a well-known online learning platform) provides numerous courses related to Twitch: Introduction to Twitch TV Video Game Live Streaming, Ninja’s Guide to Streaming: Grow Your Channel (2019), Learn how to Live Broadcast on YouTube & Twitch, or The Complete Twitch Streaming Course – 4 Courses in 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay anything to use Twitch?
In general, it is a free platform, and you can sign in for free.u003cbru003eStill, although you can follow as many channels as you want to, subscribing to them costs money.u003cbru003eTo put it shortly – you can use the website for as much as you want to for free, but if you want to own an account there, you’ll have to pay.
What percent does Twitch from subs?
In the beginning, the platform takes about 50% of what you earn from subs.
How much does a Twitch streamer make per sub?
Each subscription brings another 2.49$ to the streamer.
How much does Twitch pay and when?
You need to earn a minimum of 100$ to get paid.u003cbru003eAfter the end of each month, streamers wait for 45 days to get paid.u003cbru003eStill, if you don’t earn at least 100$ in a year, the platform has the right to end your affiliate status.
Conclusion
While it may appear to be an easy job to some, being a well-paid Twitch streamer is quite the opposite!
The average payment ranges from $300 to a few thousand dollars each month, depending on your working hours and the content you provide.
There are various ways to earn money on the platform, including donations, subscriptions, ads, and sponsorships.
Certainly, you can also earn money indirectly by winning championships or selling customized merchandise.
Applying for the Twitch Affiliate program isn’t difficult, but it does require some effort.
To qualify for the Twitch Affiliate program, you must stream regularly and meet additional requirements, such as achieving a certain number of views and streaming hours.
If you perform well there, you have the opportunity to enhance your status by becoming a Twitch Partner.
Nonetheless, based on certain Twitch statistics, diligent effort on Twitch can be rewarding, as some streamers earn over $30,000 each month!
Certainly, years of hard work support these individuals, whom I will refer to as businessmen.
If you are just starting your streaming journey, you can always take a course on how to use and make money on Twitch.
The bottom line is essentially the same as in any other business: work hard, earn hard.
