How to Make Money on Twitch: The Ultimate Guide for Streamers

It’s natural for Twitch streamers to want to feel motivated, recognized, and fairly rewarded for their efforts. This often comes from an engaged audience watching you play video games, draw, or sing. 

Yet, if you’re a creator, you’ll probably aim for more than just engagement. You’ll want to earn with their content as well. If you’re determined to learn how to make money on Twitch, it involves using various monetization methods such as subscriptions, Bits, and ads. Success, though, depends on your chosen strategies and how effectively you implement them.

This guide breaks down the most popular Twitch monetization strategies and provides actionable tips to maximize them.

Before we deep dive into Twitch monetization strategies, you need to know the first steps. If you’re a new streamer, you must first attain the Twitch Affiliate or a Twitch Partner status. These platforms unlock the platform’s core monetization features. 

The Twitch Affiliate and Twitch Partner programs are opportunities that most streamers strive for, yet they serve different purposes:

The Twitch Affiliate program is a significant achievement for streamers. It unlocks monetization options such as running ads, offering subscriptions, and customizing streams. You can also build your personal brand through custom emotes, cheermotes, polls, and stories. 

Qualifying for the Affiliate program is easy. All you need to do is: 

Complete each over the same 30-day period, and your Twitch account can start taking advantage of the monetization options on this streaming service. 

The Twitch Partner program is a milestone for streamers with a stable viewership, a consistent streaming schedule, and a supportive community. It gives exclusive benefits to improve your channel, such as: 

Meeting the eligibility criteria is just the first step. Becoming a Partner also requires manual review approval.

You can only unlock monetization on Twitch after becoming an Affiliate. This is a basic requirement that demands lower metrics. Becoming a Twitch Partner takes longer, as you must showcase higher performance indicators. 

An overview of Twitch trends and statistics for 2024 reveals that earnings depend on your channel's popularity and concurrent viewers. A less well-known streamer can earn a few dollars, while more attention-grabbing channels can earn $30,000 monthly. 

Establishing yourself and raising substantial earnings requires patience if you're just starting. To help you along the way, here’s our carefully curated guide on how to make money on Twitch.

Twitch Bits (Twitch’s virtual currency) are among the most common ways to earn money on Twitch. During streams, Bits take the form of virtual goods (such as emotes) that fans use to Cheer in the chat. For every Bit viewers send, it converts into $0.01 for creators.

Many streamers encourage their fans to support the channel using virtual currency viewers can purchase. To boost Bit donations, consider these strategies:

By combining creativity and gratitude, you can make Bits a fun and rewarding part of your channel.

Ads are no news: most Twitch streamers monetize their channels with them. Yet, while a common way to make money on Twitch, it’s crucial to integrate them cautiously. Ads during live events interrupt viewers’ experience. 

Thankfully, Twitch allows streamers to control ad placement and timing. To make the most of this feature, consider these tips:

Remember: Unlike Youtube ads, Twitch ads offer limited customization and are often less relevant to your audience. Selecting ads for live streams can be tricky, as they don’t usually focus on one theme. 

Because of the lack of relevance, viewer dissatisfaction might be higher, with some viewers feeling frustrated by random ads. Considering the increased bounce rate, opting for a more ad-free viewing might be worth it.

Pre-roll ads (before viewers join a stream), however, are mandatory unless you regularly show ad breaks during the stream. Most audiences don’t mind them and would pick them instead of ads running mid-stream.

Learning how to make money on Twitch can mean juggling multiple projects simultaneously. After all, many Twitch streamers look for their moment in the spotlight, and you must promote yourself to stand out. 

Running additional social media accounts is about casting a broader net for potential viewers. Here are some tips on how other platforms can promote your Twitch account: 

Like with everything, growing your social media followers or subscribers takes time. JumpTask is ready to help you grow your user base on any social media platform out there. Join the platform to connect with genuine users who align with your target audience. 

With the right approach and tools, you’ll grow your community while staying focused on creating great content.

Making money on Twitch isn’t limited to what happens during streams. Many Twitch accounts set up options (like PayPal donation button) for fans to support directly through donations. 

Here’s how to get started with Twitch donations:

You can also offer your viewers subscriptions, which means they pay for exclusive perks. People supporting your channel via subscriptions can enjoy:

Revenue from Twitch subscriptions will depend on how many viewers sign up and renew their subscriptions over time.

You can also offer subscription tiers,  allowing viewers to choose from monthly plans like $4.99 or $9.99. Fans can gift subscriptions to friends, and you can reward loyal viewers with free subscriptions.

However, remember that not the entire sum goes to you. Twitch pays you 50% and keeps the rest. 

Despite this, subscriptions remain a valuable way to grow a supportive community while earning income.

After your Twitch profile has more views and an established and engaged audience, brands may start reaching out for sponsorship opportunities. Through brand sponsorships, you earn money through affiliate links, product placements, or brief promotions during live streams.

Key points to have in mind about brand sponsorships: 

Selling your merchandise could work when considering how to make money on Twitch without directly affecting streams. Seamlessly integrate this option through tools like Streamlabs Merch or manage it on a separate platform. To make your merchandise stand out, focus on products that resonate with your channel’s theme and audience.

Here are some examples for inspiration: 

You can also find helpful instructions on creating a merch store without additional skills. Various print-on-demand services make designing, manufacturing, and selling your products simple without the need for advanced skills or inventory. 

Participating in video game tournaments is another way for Twitch streamers to earn revenue. These events often offer cash prizes for top performers, which can supplement your income. Beyond tournament winnings, this method provides excellent exposure for your channel, helping you reach new audiences who share an interest in competitive gaming.

Here’s why tournaments are worth considering:

To get started, check schedules for upcoming tournaments in your niche and prepare by practicing regularly. Even if you don’t win, the exposure and connections you gain can help grow your Twitch channel.

Knowing how to make money on Twitch is one side of the story. You’ll also have to prove the value of your streams, convince people to sit through ads and sign up for subscriptions. 

In addition to streaming regularly, using the right tools helps you create polished and entertaining streams. 

Here are some top resources to consider:

You don’t have to be a streamer to earn money on Twitch. There are plenty of opportunities to support streamers while generating income for yourself:

Among the many faces on Twitch, some streamers stand out through their unique personal brands and impressive subscriber/viewer counts. 

Richard Tyler Blevins (@Ninja), Michael Grzesiek (@Shroud), and Imane Anys (@Pokimane) are all megastars on the platform. From their careers, it’s clear that these creators had a genuine passion and talent for their niche. 

Their success stories reveal a few common threads. Each of these streamers had a genuine passion for their chosen niche and showcased undeniable talent in their content. By consistently engaging with their fans, not only on Twitch but also across other platforms, they significantly expanded their reach and boosted their subscription revenue. Their dedication to frequent streaming, combined with high-quality and entertaining content, helped them build strong and loyal communities.

In addition to their Twitch earnings, these creators pursued diverse income streams, such as brand sponsorships and collaborations outside the platform. This approach not only elevated their earnings but also reinforced their presence as influential figures in the streaming world. 

Their journeys illustrate that with a mix of passion, consistency, and strategic growth, success on Twitch is within reach.

Learning the basics of how to make money on Twitch means knowing the options available to you. However, your channel must stand out and broaden its reach of potential viewers. Thus, don’t forget to implement monetization options on Twitch, set up tips, prove the worth of subscriptions, and boost your social media presence. JumpTask can help both Twitch streamers and fans make money online. For one, you can perform micro-tasks, permitting you to feel no guilt when spending time on social media. Why? JumpTask pays you for different tasks, including watching videos or exploring content creators. As for Twitch streamers, we can assist you in finding your audience and growing your followers.