Twitch is one of the most popular live-streaming platforms with a primary focus on video games, and streamers can monetize their content and even make money doing what they love. So, how much does Twitch pay? Let’s look at the different sources of income with Twitch.
How Much Does Twitch Pay: Revenue Streams
Twitch allows streamers to make money through various channels:
- Subscriptions: Fans can subscribe to a streamer’s channel at three levels:
- Tier 1: $4.99/month.
- Tier 2: $9.99/month.
- Tier 3: $24.99/month.
Streamers generally get 50% of the subscription revenue — although some top-tier streamers can negotiate a 70/30 split their way.
- Bits: These are virtual goods that viewers can buy to cheer for streamers during their streams. Streamers get 0.01 for each bit they earn.
- Ads: Streamers can earn from ads shown on their streams, with an average payout of 55% of ad revenue.
- Donations: People can donate money to streamers directly or via third-party services like PayPal or Patreon.
- Sponsorships and Brand Deals: Many successful streamers collaborate with brands to create sponsored content, which can be a very lucrative source of income.
- Merchandise Sales: Streamers can sell plenty of branded merchandise to their fans, giving them an additional source of income.
How Much Does a Twitch Streamer Earn?
How much Twitch streamers actually make can really depend on how many people watch them and how engaged users are with their content. Here is a snapshot of estimated earnings based on average viewership:
- 5–10 average viewers: $50–$200 per month.
- 20 average viewers: $200–$400 per month.
- 50 average viewers: $500–$750 per month.
- 100 average viewers: $1,000–$1,500 per month.
- 1,000 average viewers: $5,000 per month.
- 5,000 average viewers: $13,000 per month.
- 10,000 average viewers: $30,000 per month.
These numbers show how hard it is for smaller streamers to make a serious living at first, but that a few can actually attract a really big audience and thus earn a real income.
Top Earners on Twitch
There are some streamers who have astonishing financial success because they have a ton of followers and a really high engagement:
- Ninja (Richard Tyler Blevins): The Fortnite streamer is said to earn upwards of $500,000 a month at his peak, and at the height of his career, he said he was making as much as $5 Million a month.
- xQc (Felix Lengyel): Another top streamer who makes close to $318,821 monthly. xQc earns most of his income from subscriptions and donations on Twitch.
- Mizkif: This is the most lucrative streamer on Twitch; he says he makes between $20,000-$25,000 per week, primarily from ads and subscriptions.
Payment Structure
Every 15 days, Twitch sends its streamers their profits on the condition that the streamers have made over $50. If they fall below that, they have to wait until they hit that threshold. The minimum payout, in the case of wire transfers, is $100.
How Much Does Twitch Pay: Final Words
There are unique monetization avenues for streamers on Twitch. Earnings differ with the size of the audience, levels of views, and interaction, but those making successful streams can earn significant incomes from subscriber fees, advertising, donations and gifts, sponsorships, and merchandise. The potential to earn on Twitch is still massive, as long as those who plan to put the effort in to grow their channel stay determined to do so. With the platform continuing to rise, it’s only a matter of time before the entire world knows about it.
Make sure you read Twitch Affiliate vs Partner to understand the key differences and benefits.
Check our gaming affiliate programs section for the latest opportunities in this niche. Also, connect with us on social media for more affiliate tips:
Sources:
- https://www.shopify.com/blog/how-to-make-money-on-twitch
- https://streamyard.com/blog/how-much-do-twitch-streamers-make
All images from pixabay.com
