One of the biggest questions surrounding streaming is how to get started earning revenue and how you can spread your name across. This is where discussions about Twitch affiliate versus partner arise.
Twitch Affiliate vs. Partner Key Takeaway
In summary, a Twitch partner can generate significantly higher revenue than a Twitch affiliate; however, you must first become an affiliate in order to qualify for partnership.
The Twitch affiliate is a lower rank than the Twitch partner. Becoming an affiliate is the first step after starting as a streamer, providing you with a glimpse of the benefits Twitch offers. The next step is becoming a Twitch partner, where these benefits are more substantial and can increase your earnings.
None of these are necessary to start streaming on Twitch, yet they frequently serve as the main motivation for many individuals to engage with Twitch more seriously.
The primary activity of streaming does not require you to become an affiliate or a partner. Furthermore, you can enjoy numerous lucrative benefits from your stream’s popularity, such as receiving donations from your fans or selling your brand’s merchandise. So, what is all this hype about?
Both being an affiliate and later advancing to partner status provide you with numerous options (viewers can subscribe to you, use your emotes, and send you significant donations) that would otherwise be unavailable to most casual streamers.
The distinction between a Twitch affiliate and a partner lies in the size of the channel and the quality of content it provides to the platform. Understanding the differences between Twitch affiliate and partner ranks is essential for maximizing your streaming experience.
If your goal is to achieve the fullest potential that Twitch offers, this article will provide you with everything you need to know to reach your desired outcome. It will thoroughly explain the differences between Twitch partnership and affiliate status, as well as how you can easily attain both.
As the first significant step toward gaining recognition and transforming a hobby into a profitable career, becoming an affiliate serves as an entry point for a more serious approach to streaming, evolving from a mere pastime into a potential full-time job.
The Twitch partnership program is a highly coveted opportunity for nearly all streamers aspiring to become professionals in streaming. Being an affiliate is, of course, a step below, but it is by no means a small achievement!
Becoming an affiliate sets you apart as a unique type of streamer with the potential to grow and, perhaps, achieve that highly coveted Twitch partnership that could elevate your hobby or career.
The cherry on top of all the benefits that come with being an affiliate is, of course, the ability to earn money while streaming games and receiving cheers from your subscribers. Twitch’s digital currency (bits) can be converted into real money once a sufficient amount has been accumulated, providing streamers with an incentive to perform at their best during streams.
Another fantastic benefit included in the bundle is the opportunity to start earning ad revenue. While it is true that many viewers have discovered ways to avoid watching ads.
What Are the Requirements for Becoming an Affiliate?
Newcomers interested in trying streaming may feel intimidated by the requirements for becoming an affiliate. However, gaining affiliate status is much easier than it may initially appear.
One way to view the essential requirements for achieving this status is to consider it a testing period. Some individuals may join Twitch as broadcasters with an idealized vision of what it is like to be in the streaming business, only to discover that it does not meet their expectations. This is perfectly fine, as the platform remains welcoming to newcomers.
A golden rule that applies to nearly every industry (especially the entertainment industry) is that you should love your work. If you do, meeting these criteria will be a breeze:
It doesn’t sound too difficult, does it? A significant difference between affiliate and partner Twitch status is that the former is easier to achieve than the latter. However, both are attainable for a dedicated streamer with the right choice of games and a solid networking strategy.
If everything is in order, you will soon receive an invitation from Twitch to join their affiliate program.
Pros and Cons of Being an Affiliate
There are numerous compelling reasons why becoming an affiliate can significantly enhance your experience as a broadcaster on Twitch, whether you plan to maintain a relatively small channel or aim to grow your brand and generate profit.
The topic of achieving a Twitch partnership is frequently discussed online, and for good reason—channels that partner with Twitch become its ambassadors. They represent the best that Twitch has to offer!
The criteria for attaining such a prestigious position is firmly established, as you must be an affiliate yourself while also demonstrating the potential for growth alongside a loyal community.
You can achieve this status in two ways:
Navigating the partner application process can help you attain a prestigious position that may have a lasting impact on your reputation and earning potential on Twitch. However, the path to becoming a partner can be quite challenging to navigate.
You must pass a subjective assessment of the value you provide as perceived by Twitch’s representatives. Twitch carefully reviews each application to determine if the quality of content, community engagement, and overall potential warrant an elevation to a direct partnership.
However, it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get accepted. There are ways to earn on Twitch without partnering.
What Are the Requirements for Becoming a Twitch Partner?
The most noticeable difference between Twitch affiliate and partner status lies in the difficulty of achieving each one. In fact, whenever you ask someone, “What is the difference between affiliate and partner status on Twitch?” the varying levels of difficulty in attaining each status is the first thing that comes to mind for everyone.
While achieving either is no easy task, partnership emphasizes a more demanding set of criteria through which prospective candidates are evaluated before a final decision is reached:
Pros and Cons of Partnering with Twitch
Even if securing a direct partnership with Twitch is not your primary goal, your success as a streamer already depends on the quality of your content, your networking efforts, and the overall value you provide to Twitch—you might even qualify for this position without intending to!
If you are suited to join this exclusive club (which includes only about 30,000 affiliates who have partnered with Twitch in total), you can expect to receive the following:
Twitch Affiliate vs Partner – Conclusion
Both of these programs used to have more differences, but over time, they have become quite similar in the benefits they offer to individual streamers. When discussing the differences between Twitch affiliate and partner, we can summarize it in a few brief sentences.
Becoming an affiliate provides you with an initial glimpse of what Twitch offers to streamers who wish to commit to the platform. You have the opportunity to personalize your experience, build your own community, and earn money while doing what you love!
Twitch partnership, in contrast, elevates the impressive benefits that an affiliate receives and introduces numerous advantages that can enrich your overall experience.
Reaching a level where you can genuinely earn a comfortable living as a full-time streamer is why the distinction between partner and affiliate Twitch ranks is so significant.
The primary drawback you may face is the requirement for your content to be exclusive to Twitch, which is clearly stated for those looking to establish a partnership with the platform.
You could argue that the discussions surrounding Twitch partner versus affiliate status primarily focus on the benefits, while often overlooking the increased standards of conduct associated with each status.
Partners are under closer scrutiny, and the agreement they must accept is less likely to be modified compared to an affiliate, who may have slightly more freedom to change their relationship with Twitch.
