How much money can you really make on Twitch? Ask five streamers and you'll get five different answers from "I made $8 last month" to "I quit my job."
The truth? Your earnings depend less on viewer count and more on understanding which revenue streams work at each growth stage. A streamer with 50 engaged viewers using the right monetization mix can out earn someone with 200 passive viewers doing it wrong.
This guide breaks down realistic earnings by viewer count, which methods work before and after Affiliate, and how to start earning today even with zero subscribers.
Understanding Twitch Affiliate
Before you can earn through Twitch's built-in monetization, you need Affiliate status. The requirements dropped dramatically in June 2025:
- 25 followers (down from 50)
- 4 hours of total streaming time
- 3 average concurrent viewers on 4 different days within 30 days
- Two-factor authentication enabled
The three concurrent viewer requirement remains the hardest milestone. Most new streamers hit Affiliate in 1-2 months if they stream 3-4 times weekly for 2-3 hours consistently.
Twitch Partner sits much higher: 75 average viewers, 25 hours, and 12 broadcast days within 30 days. Only about 1% of Twitch streamers achieve Partner status, and it requires manual application with no guarantee of approval.
Once you hit Affiliate, three revenue streams unlock: subscriptions, Bits, and ad revenue. Here's how each one pays—and what to expect at your viewer count.
How Twitch Pays You: Subscriptions, Bits, and Ads
Subscriptions - Your Primary Income
Twitch takes half. Always has. Here's the breakdown:
- Tier 1 ($4.99) = you earn $2.50
- Tier 2 ($9.99) = you earn $5.00
- Tier 3 ($24.99) = you earn $12.50
That's the baseline 50/50 split for all Affiliates and most Partners.
Converting 5-15% of concurrent viewers into subscribers represents healthy performance. A channel maintaining 100 concurrent viewers would typically have 50-125 active subscribers.
If you're wondering how much money is 500 gifted subs on Twitch, that's approximately $1,250 for Affiliates at standard splits (500 × $2.50). The person gifting pays $2,495 total.
Key Takeaway: Subscriptions typically comprise 40-60% of total Twitch income for most streamers.
Bits and Cheering
Bits are simple: you earn exactly $0.01 per Bit. 100 Bits = $1. 1,000 Bits = $10. No complicated math.
Bits offer one critical advantage: complete elimination of chargeback risk. Unlike PayPal donations, Bits transactions are final once processed through Twitch.
Ad Revenue
Twitch ad revenue averages $3.50 per 1,000 ad views in 2025. The standard split gives you 30%, but Twitch's Ads Incentive Program raises this to 55% for streamers who run at least three minutes of ads per hour.
For most streamers, ad revenue comprises 15-25% of total income. Best practice: run 90+ seconds of mid-roll ads to disable pre-roll ads for 30 minutes, improving viewer experience.
What to focus on at your size: Under 50 viewers? Prioritize subscriptions and direct donations. 50-200 viewers? Optimize your ad strategy with consistent mid-rolls. 200+ viewers?
Start Earning TODAY (No Affiliate Status Required)
But here's the good news: you don't have to wait for Affiliate to start earning.
These methods work regardless of your viewer count or qualification status.
Direct Donations and Tips
Start here. Today. Right now.
- Streamlabs: Zero platform fees, customizable alerts, professional integration
- Ko-fi: Zero platform fees, instant payouts, clean interface
- StreamElements SE.Pay: Chargeback protection (US, UK, EU only)
- PayPal: Universal trust, works in 200 countries (3.5% + $0.30 per transaction)
For beginners: Set up Streamlabs or Ko-fi immediately—both are free and take 15 minutes. Add your donation link to your Twitch panels and mention it naturally during streams.
Sponsorships
Sponsorships become viable around 50-100 average concurrent viewers for indie game companies. The standard industry formula: $1.50 per concurrent viewer per hour.
Starting rates for small streamers typically range from $75-150 per sponsored hour for indie companies or free product arrangements.
Affiliate Marketing
Amazon Associates offers immediate access:
- 1-4% commission on gaming products
- 4% on electronics
- Up to 20% on Amazon Games
Gaming hardware programs often offer better rates:
- Secretlab: up to 12% commission
- Logitech: 3-10%
- Razer: 3% on peripherals
Realistic earnings: $50-200 monthly for small streamers under 100 viewers, scaling to $200-1,000 monthly for mid-tier streamers.
How Much Money Can You Realistically Make on Twitch?
Here's the truth. Your earnings depend on viewer count, engagement, and which monetization methods you use.
Starting Out (0-10 avg viewers): $50-200/month
Primarily from subscriptions with minimal ad revenue. One streamer with five average viewers earned $64.81 monthly: $57.55 from subs, $6.47 from Bits, and $0.79 from ads.
Growing (10-50 avg viewers): $200-750/month
Revenue splits to 70-85% from subscriptions, 10-20% from Bits/donations, 5-10% from ads. Donations often exceed Twitch's built-in monetization at this stage, especially in music and creative categories where audiences demonstrate higher support propensity.
Established (50-100 avg viewers): $500-2,000/month
This tier typically includes 20-40 active subscribers, regular donations, emerging ad revenue of $50-100 monthly, and potential for first small sponsorships worth $100-500.
This represents the threshold where streaming becomes financially meaningful rather than purely hobby revenue.
Mid-tier (100-500 avg viewers): $1,000-5,000/month
Revenue diversification becomes critical:
- Subscriptions: $800-3,000 (50-150 subscribers)
- Ad revenue: $200-800
- Sponsorships: $500-2,000
- Donations + Bits: $200-500
At this level, geographic audience composition significantly impacts ad revenue—United States-heavy audiences can generate five to ten times more ad revenue than audiences from developing countries.
Large Streamers (500-1,000 avg viewers): $5,000-13,000/month
At this level, streaming becomes full-time income in lower cost-of-living areas. Most successful creators also maintain YouTube channels, TikTok presence, and multiple sponsorship relationships.
Key Insight: Engagement rate impacts revenue by 20-30% at identical viewer counts. Fifty highly engaged viewers generate more total revenue than 200 passive viewers.
Your Action Plan to Start Earning Today
For Complete Beginners
TODAY (takes 15 minutes):
- Set up Streamlabs or Ko-fi donation links
- Add the link to your Twitch panels
- Create a chat command (!donate or !support)
Common mistake: Streamers wait for "enough viewers" before setting up donations. Don't. Set them up today. Even one $5 donation in your first month proves your content has value and builds momentum.
Once You Hit Affiliate
- Enable subs and Bits immediately through your Creator Dashboard
- Create sub perks (custom emotes, Discord role, shout-outs)
- Test different methods—sponsor outreach, affiliate links
- Track what works with a simple spreadsheet
Quick Wins
- Network with similar-sized streamers for raid exchanges
- Repurpose your best moments into 60-second TikTok/YouTube Shorts
- Be patient but strategic—expect 3-6 months before seeing consistent income
The harsh truth: 99% of streamers earn under $100 monthly without consistency and strategic positioning. But streamers who understand platform economics, optimize for engagement, build multi-platform presence, and diversify revenue streams early can build meaningful supplementary income.
Most successful streamers took 1-2 years to reach $500-1,000 monthly, and 3-5 years to build full-time income.
FAQ: Making Money on Twitch
Q: How much money do Twitch streamers make per sub?
Affiliates earn $2.50 per Tier 1 sub (50/50 split), $5.00 per Tier 2, and $12.50 per Tier 3. Partners with enhanced splits can earn up to $3.50 per Tier 1 sub.
Q: How much money is 100 gifted subs on Twitch?
100 Tier 1 gifted subs generate approximately $250 for Affiliates at the standard 50/50 split. The person gifting pays $499 total (100 × $4.99).
Q: Can you make money on Twitch without being an Affiliate?
Yes! Direct donations, sponsorships, and affiliate marketing all work before Affiliate status. See the "Start Earning TODAY" section above for full details.
Conclusion
Making money on Twitch in 2025 is more accessible than ever with lowered Affiliate requirements, yet platform economics remain challenging. The key insight: meaningful income correlates with average concurrent viewership rather than followers, and engagement rate multiplies earnings significantly.
The realistic expectation for new streamers should be hobby income of $50-200 monthly within the first year. Building side income of $500-1,000 monthly represents 1-2 years of strategic work. Full-time streaming income remains reserved for the tiny fraction combining exceptional entertainment value, strategic positioning, and multi-year consistency.