How Much Do Twitch Streamers Make?

Since its launch in 2011, Twitch attracted millions of both viewers and streamers, transforming from a niche site primarily focused on users broadcasting gaming content, into a diverse platform that opens up new career opportunities for content creators around the world. This evolution has made it possible for many popular Twitch streamers to earn money through multiple channels, such as subscriptions, ads, donations (bits), and sponsorships. The income generated by these streamers varies widely, creating a platform where streamers at the top can make several millions of dollars annually, while smaller streamers might earn modest amounts or struggle to make money at all, let alone enough to break even on their time.

The platform's impressive growth has not only attracted gamers but also caught the attention of brands and advertisers eager to make money off the large viewer base. As a result, Twitch streamers over the years have been given more and more pathways to monetize their content. Nevertheless, the potential earnings on the platform are far from uniform, and are influenced by a number of factors, including a streamer’s popularity, content niche, viewer retention, and the monetization strategies they choose to employ. Because of the various avenues available to them, determining exactly how much Twitch streamers make can be somewhat nebulous and complex. But, by looking at the different revenue streams available to content creators, we can roughly estimate how much streamers make.

Over time, this created the image that, if you're a gamer and want to get paid to play video games, Twitch is a great platform for that. Is this a fact, or a myth that benefits Twitch, its sponsors and its top streamers?

Earnings by Streamer Type

Understanding the different types of Twitch streamers and their potential earnings is crucial to understanding how income on the platform is structured. Streamers can be broadly categorized into top streamers, mid-level streamers, and small streamers, each with distinct revenue potentials and challenges.

Top Twitch Streamers

When discussing the top Twitch earners, a few names transcend the gaming community and have become mainstream celebrities. Streamers like xQcOW, CriticalRole, and Ninja have not only succeeded on Twitch but have managed to sustain their brands outside of the platform. These streamers have turned their channels into massive revenue-generating machines, with earnings that reach millions of dollars each year, even when disconnected from Twitch earnings.

CriticalRole, for example, is a group of voice actors who play Dungeons & Dragons live on their Twitch channel. Their unique content, high production value and dedicated fanbase have made them one of the most successful channels on the platform.

Similarly, xQcOW, a former Overwatch pro player, has a massive following and earns tens of millions annually through a combination of subscriptions, ads revenue, donations, and sponsorships.

He has several sponsorship deals, most notably with GFuel, with multiple xQc-themed products available on the internet. In 2023, he signed a $100 million USD deal with Kick, one of Twitch's competitors.

Ninja, who initially gained fame through his Fortnite streams, set the bar high for earnings potential. He was reportedly paid $1 million for streaming Apex Legends on its release day. His ability to command significant sponsorship deals is a testament to the influence top streamers wield over the gaming and entertainment industries. In August 2019, however, Ninja announced that he would move exclusively to a Microsoft-owned streaming platform and Twitch competitor, Mixer.

These top-tier streamers are often at the forefront of Twitch's revenue generation, along with the Twitch content that will spill onto other sites. They command substantial sums from both viewers and sponsors, while also being able to expand their influence across other social media platforms, such as his YouTube channel and Instagram.

Top-Earning League of Legends Streamers

League of Legends is one of the most popular games on Twitch, consistently ranking among the top-streamed titles, even outside of gaming content. This enduring popularity has paved the way for several LoL streamers to become some of the best earners on the platform. Top Twitch streamers in the LoL community include personalities such as Tyler1, Nightblue3, Gosu, Doublelift, Thebausffs, and TobiasFate. These streamers have amassed large followings, leveraging both their gameplay and personalities to build thriving channels.

Take, for example, Tyler1, who has become a household name among LoL fans. His earnings are estimated to range from $2 million to $5 million annually, driven largely by subscriptions, donations, and sponsorships. It is also reported that he earns at least $300,000 a year from merchandise sales alone. Tyler1’s story is notable because he was initially banned from League of Legends for toxic behavior but was unbanned in 2018 after an appeal. His first stream after being reinstated peaked at over 382,000 concurrent viewers, breaking a non-tournament record on Twitch. Massive follower engagement can translate directly into earning power for top-tier streamers.

Mid-Level Streamers

While the top 1% of Twitch streamers earn astronomical amounts, the platform is also home to a large number of mid-level streamers who have managed to turn their channels into viable careers. These mid tier streamers typically have a dedicated fanbase that supports them through subscriptions, donations, and bits, allowing them to guarantee a medium number of viewers on each of their streams. On average, mid-level streamers can earn between $3,000 and $5,000 per month from subscriptions alone. When factor in other monetization strategies, their total monthly earnings can be significantly higher, although securing good sponsorships can be challenging for many Twitch streamers.

Mid-level streamers often see average viewership numbers ranging from hundreds to a few thousand concurrent viewers. Their content might not reach the viral levels seen by top-tier streamers, but their consistent engagement and focus on niche content allow them to maintain a steady income. These streamers often emphasize community-building, regularly interacting with their viewers and creating a welcoming environment that encourages ongoing support. It’s not uncommon for their presence to extend beyond their Twitch channels, as many mid-level streamers also create content for other social media platforms, like YouTube or maintain Patreon pages to diversify their income streams. This approach helps them offset the inherent volatility of Twitch's streaming income.

Small Streamers

These streamers make up the vast majority of Twitch's content creators. These streamers generally have viewer counts ranging from just a handful to a few dozen on average, making their earnings significantly lower compared to mid-level and top streamers.

Estimates suggest that streamers at this level will usually make about 10 USD$ a month per average viewer, until they get to 100-150 average viewers, at which point they're considered mid-level instead. With

Their earnings can vary greatly depending on factors such as the streamer’s subscriber base, viewer retention, and the number of hours they stream each week. Many may not even have Twitch Affiliate status, and may just be Patreon creators or YouTube channels who maintain a Twitch on the side.

For smaller streamers, turning their Twitch channel into a sustainable income source is challenging, especially given the platform's competitive nature. According to reports, approximately 72.8% of smaller streamers do not earn any income from their own Twitch streams or channels.

Finding a niche and growing an audience as a new Twitch streamer in 2024 can be incredibly difficult without an existing brand, particularly when competing against established channels that have been around for years. Despite these obstacles, the Twitch Affiliate Program provides a pathway for smaller streamers to start earning, giving them access to basic monetization tools that can help them grow over time.

Revenue Streams for Twitch Streamers

Streamers on Twitch can tap into several revenue streams, each with its own potential benefits and challenges. Understanding these revenue sources is key to appreciating how streamers earn their income.

Twitch Subscriptions

One of the primary revenue streams for Twitch streamers is subscriptions. Viewers can subscribe to their favorite channels at different tiers to directly support streamers, with each tier offering additional perks, such as ad-free viewing, custom emotes, and exclusive content. The standard subscription tiers are $4.99, $9.99, and $24.99 per month.

Streamers earn a split of the subscription fees, which varies depending on their agreement with Twitch. Typically, new streamers receive a 50/50 split with Twitch, meaning they earn $2.50 for each $4.99 subscription. Streamers in the Affiliate, Partner and Partner Plus program earn a 70/30 split, instead.

Subscriptions provide a reliable source of income for streamers, offering recurring monthly payments that help stabilize their earnings. Additionally, Amazon Prime members can subscribe to one channel per month for free through the Prime Gaming benefit, and streamers still make a few dollars from these subscriptions.

Ads

Ads are another significant part of Twitch streamer earnings, particularly those who have reached Twitch Partner status. Only Partners can earn a share of ad revenue, which is generated based on the number of views their streams receive.

The amount earned from ads can fluctuate based on the cost per mille (CPM, how much an advertiser pays for one thousand views or impressions of an ad) rates, which vary depending on factors such as the time of year, the advertiser, and the streamer’s audience demographics.

While ad revenue can be lucrative, it is not as consistent as subscription revenue or income, as it depends heavily on the number of viewers and the frequency of ad placements during streams. Some streamers may choose to run ads more frequently to boost their earnings, while others might limit ads to enhance the viewer experience, potentially sacrificing some ad revenue to maintain better viewer retention and enhance viewer engagement.

Bits (Donations)

Bits are a form of virtual currency that viewers can purchase to donate to their favorite Twitch streamers. When viewers "cheer" with Twitch bits, they send a specified amount of money to the streamer, who earns a share of the proceeds. One bit is worth approximately one cent to streamers, making it a straightforward way for viewers to support their favorite content creators.

Although Twitch bits are less consistent than subscriptions, they can sometimes account for a significant portion of a streamer’s income, especially during moments of intense engagement. During tournaments, charity events, or milestone celebrations, viewers may be more inclined to donate bits, leading to increased revenue for the streamer.

Sponsorships

Sponsorships represent one of the most lucrative revenue opportunities for Twitch streamers. For the top Twitch streamers, this may even be their main source of revenue. Companies may pay streamers to promote products, services, or even specific games on their channels. These deals can range from occasional promotions to long-term partnerships, with earnings varying widely based on the streamer's reach, audience engagement, and the sponsor's budget. Streamers might also receive sponsorship deals to promote gaming accessories, energy drinks, or even clothing brands.

Merchandising

Many successful twitch streamers make money and expand their brand by selling merchandise, such as T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, and other branded items. Selling merch can help build a stronger connection with fans, as viewers often enjoy the opportunity to support their favorite streamers while also getting something tangible in return. Moreover, merchandise can offer an additional revenue for small twitch streamers that doesn’t rely directly on Twitch's platform, helping streamers diversify their income and build a more sustainable career.

Factors Influencing Twitch Earnings

The amount of money a Twitch streamer can earn depends on several factors, including:

Viewer Engagement

Streamers with higher engagement, whether through chat interaction, social media presence, or community events, tend to see better earnings.

Stream Frequency

The number of hours a streamer broadcasts can directly impact their income. Streamers who can stream full-time often earn more than those who stream part-time.

Streaming Hours

Stream viewership, and thus the amount of streams, fluctuate every hour, following a wave pattern, the peak of which spans between 1PM-6PM (ET/UTC-4). The lowest point is at 3AM-6AM (ET/UTC-4). As such, some streamers will try to go for an early morning streaming schedule to make use of the low amount of streams during that time, and carry the viewers into the morning, noon and even into the afternoon, which is when viewers peak. Similarly, some other streamers can instead opt to start streaming in the late afternoon, taking advantage of when the bigger users will stop their streams to try and "scavenge" a few viewers who are looking for something else to do, and hope to have them in their stream until evening or night-time, when most US viewers stop watching to go to bed.

Specific Content Niche

The choice of content also plays a role in attracting viewers. Popular games and categories typically attract more viewers, but niche content can also be profitable if it has a dedicated audience.

Audience Demographics

The viewer demographics can affect advertisement and sponsorship opportunities. For example, streamers with a predominantly young, tech-savvy audience may find it easier to secure tech and video game-related sponsorships.

Twitch Monetization Programs

The Twitch Affiliate Program

Before diving into how streamers earn, it is important to understand how Twitch categorizes its streamers. Streamers who wish to monetize their channels generally need to join the Twitch Affiliate Program, which is the first step towards earning on the platform. Gaining Twitch Affiliate status grants streamers access to basic monetization features like subscriptions, bits, and ads. To qualify, a streamer must have at least 50 followers, stream on at least seven different days, broadcast for a minimum of eight hours over the past 30 days, and maintain an average of at least three concurrent viewers.

This program serves as a gateway for streamers who are just starting out, providing them with the tools to build and engage their audience while earning income. As they grow, Twitch affiliates can eventually become Partners, gaining access to even more opportunities to monetize their content.

The Twitch Partner Program

The Twitch Partner Program is another program similar to, but with more benefits, than the Affiliate Program. This program is limited to streamers who demonstrate large, engaged viewership and followings on other sites. Those who have streamed for at least 25 hours, on 12 different days, and that pull in an average of at least 75 viewers, are eligible for this program, as long as they adhere to the Service and Community Guidelines.

Twitch Partners have expanded benefits, including:

• Channel Subscriptions & Emotes: Twitch Partners can earn revenue by accepting subscriptions from their viewers. The subscription options are: $5.99, $9.99, $24.99, or the Prime Gaming free subscription. Partners can also unlock up to 50 channel emotes.

• Bits: Twitch provides participating Partners a share of the revenue Twitch receives from Bits equal to 1 cent per Bit used to Cheer for them. As a Partner, you also get to customize your Cheermotes and Bit Badges.

• Ads: Partners can determine the length and frequency of mid-roll advertisements through their dashboard.

• More Channel Customization: Custom chat badges, emoticons, emote prefixes, free lifetime channel subscription for your chatbot, and up to 3 additional free lifetime channel subscriptions to friends and family based on your total amount of subscribers.

• Better VODs: Partners have VODs stored for 60 days, vs only 14 days for Affiliates, along with access to reruns and premieres for their content.

• Teams: A Twitch streamer in this program may create their own stream team by requesting one through Partner Help.

The Twitch Partner Plus Program

The latest program for Twitch streamers was introduced in October of 2023. A Twitch streamer in this program will automatically receive a 70% share of net subscription revenue, up to $100K USD in 12 months.

To qualify, Partners must maintain a sub count of at least 350 recurring paid subscriptions for three consecutive months. Once that happens, Partners will be automatically enrolled for the next 12 months, even if you dip below the subscription threshold during the 12-month period.

Streamers by Earnings

For most streamers, making money is tough. They compete with monsters that attracts up to millions per month. The difference between small and large streamers can often just feel like pure luck, specially if a niche's specifically saturated. Users have to dedicate themselves to competing for the viewer's attention if they want to make a living off of Twitch.

The big names of the industry, though, as illustrated in the 2021 Twitch data leak, can earn millions. CriticalRole, xQcOW, summit1g, Tfue and NICKMERCS all gained above 5 million USD in just the span between 2019 and 2021, coinciding with Twitch's spike in viewership and revenue in March of 2020 due to the COVID pandemic.

Conclusion

To circle around, let's finally answer the question. How much do Twitch streamers make?

If we're to assume this includes all users that attempt to stream and monetize, according to a small-case poll, 72.8% of streamers don’t make money on Twitch. Only 15.2% of respondents make between $1 and $25 monthly. This seems to fit with what we learned from the 2019-2021 Twitch data leak, which demonstrated that only a few thousand streamers in the platform make over minimum wage by US standards, and that the top 3000 is incredibly top heavy. Most streamers make little or no money, compared to how many try to, while the top streamers make most of the revenue in the platform.