Twitch is one of the most popular streaming platforms. One of the reasons is that you can donate to your favorite Twitch streamer or content creator. But how to do this? How to donate on Twitch?
To donate to a Twitch streamer, follow these 5 steps:
- Sign in to Twitch and locate the streamer you want to donate to.
- On their channel page, scroll to the bottom and locate a donation link.
- When you click the donation link, it takes you to a page to enter info.
- Fill out each field, and then click the donate button at the bottom of the screen.
- After you click donate, you will go to a page to submit your payment information.
The Twitch streamer will receive the donation to their PayPal account.
Read on to learn more about how to donate on Twitch and what this streaming platform is all about.
How to Donate on Twitch
There are many ways for you to show your favorite Twitch streamer your support and love. The most basic method of showing support, which also does not involve spending money, follows them. You should also like their streams.
Although they would not be getting any money, you add to their followers and viewers. And this act alone can greatly help the streamer become more popular. It will also turn into more opportunities to receive donations and maybe even corporate sponsorships and advertising revenue.
Aside from following and watching their streams, you can also support them by donating money through Twitch’s payment system. You can also do that through the external means that the streamers set up for themselves.
Even though it is not your obligation to donate to your favorite Twitch streamers, you can still show your support through other means. And maybe someday, if you can afford to, you may start sending donations. Even a little bit helps.
To donate to a Twitch streamer, follow these 5 steps:
- Sign in to Twitch and find the streamer you want to donate to.
- On the channel page, scroll to the bottom, where it shows the donation link.
- When you click the donation link, it takes you to a page to enter info.
- Fill out each field, and then click the donate button at the bottom of the screen.
- After you click donate, you will go to a page to submit your payment information.
Most streamers on the Twitch platform have a donation option set up. This will let their viewers donate to them directly without having to pay the fees set by Twitch. These are usually set, allowing you to send money directly via PayPal or other third-party online payment systems. However, consider that the payment systems will charge a nominal fee themselves.
If the streamer has the donation system set up, you will find a “donate” button on the top or bottom of the screen. Click on it, and you will receive instructions on how to donate. Aside from cash, you can also donate different kinds of cryptocurrencies. These include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and the like.
Now, some Twitch streamers are not monetized by the platform. It is usually because they have very controversial content and opinions. They can still stream on the platform, as long as they do not do anything that gets their accounts banned.
However, they will not be able to monetize their streams. If you follow streamers like this, you can still support them by donating via their third-party payment handlers. A few examples are Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, Ko-fi, and many more.
How to Donate Twitch Bits?
If you cannot commit to a monthly subscription, you can also use Twitch Bits to show your support. Bits are like the site’s official currency that you can buy through the Twitch platform. If you donate one Twitch Bit, the streamer will receive the equivalent of one cent. You can buy as many Twitch Bits as you want from the Twitch website with a slight markup.
You can buy 100 Bits for $1.40, 500 Bits for $7, and so on. Most viewers donate around 100 Bits at a time. This means that the streamer receives $1. However, if you feel generous or liked how the streamer performed, feel free to add more Bits to your usual donation amount.
Donating Bits during live streams is called “cheering.” Every time someone donates, a message will appear on the screen showing your username. It will also show the number of Bits you just donated. Depending on the number of Bits you donated, your message will get a corresponding emoji or animation.
Higher donation amounts will come with bigger message windows and large animated emoji that will grab the streamers’ attention. With that, they will likely thank you for your generosity.
Aside from purchasing Twitch Bits, you can also earn a couple by watching certain ads on the platform. You may also want to take part in surveys. You will not be getting much, but streamers do appreciate every cent that comes their way.
How to Subscribe to a Twitch Streamer
As mentioned earlier, subscribing to Twitch streamers is a basic but great way to support them. Especially if they have affiliates or partner accounts, you can follow a Twitch streamer, which is a free way to show your support. However, being a subscriber can help them pay the bills. You will also be receiving an additional reward for being a paying subscriber.
In Twitch, there are three tiers of paid subscriptions, ranging from $4.99 to $24.99. Each tier will unlock certain privileges. Some of the privileges include ad-free viewing, exclusive emotes, and more, depending on what tier you subscribe to.
To subscribe, do the following:
- You need to log into your Twitch account via your computer or mobile app;
- Head over to the channel that you wish to subscribe to;
- At the top-right of the screen is a “subscribe” button;
- Click/tap on it, and a pop-up will appear asking you what tier you would like to subscribe to;
- To pay for your subscriptions, Twitch will charge the amount using your registered credit card;
- If you have Amazon Prime, you can subscribe to one Twitch streamer for free every month. You will also need to pay extra for more subscriptions. The additional subscriptions will be charged to your Amazon Prime account.
Buying a Twitch Streamer’s Merchandise
If the streamers are big enough, they would also sell their merchandise. Merchandise can be clothes, toys, and other items with their brands on them. T-shirts and hoodies are among the most popular choices for streamer merch.
They usually provide it via outside fulfillment companies, like Printify, Represent, and others. These companies fulfill the orders that came from the streamers’ shop pages. They take a cut from the profits. The streamers are not the ones who create the merchandise.
For instance, you can buy the same headbands that the famous Twitch streamer, Ninja, uses in his streams. You will not be playing Fortnite as well as he does. However, you can support him and get a cool headband for your trouble at the very least.
If you cannot afford the t-shirts, many streamers offer lighter fares like pins, stickers, and other smaller items containing their branding. Merchandising is not just a good way for the streamers to earn extra income. It is also a way to get their brand out there for more people to see.
For instance, a person may not know who a particular streamer is. They might not even be familiar with Twitch at all. However, if they saw the streamers’ merchandise in the wild and like how the product looks, they will start getting curious. They will probably investigate Twitch to find out who they are.
Merchandising is also a great way to create a community with the fans. Streamers usually have their catchphrases or unintentional funny goof-ups that only the fans can relate to. By putting them on their merch, the streamers will strengthen their brand. It is like an inside joke within the community but in t-shirt form.
Using the Twitch Streamer’s Affiliate Links
Sometimes, a Twitter streamer gets so popular that companies will approach them to offer sponsorships. Aside from getting paid for promoting the company’s products, they can earn even more money by buying the products using the streamer’s affiliate codes.
Affiliate links ensure that the streamer gets a cut of the sales of every product purchased. This way, you get a product that you will be using while helping the streamer financially.
How to Support a Twitch Streamer Without Money
Although streamers need to receive donations, gain subscribers and sell merchandise, that is not the only way to help them. Viewers who don’t have enough extra cash lying around can help by becoming followers. They can also promote the creators’ links when they stream.
Even the larger Twitch streamers know how difficult it was to gain enough subscribers to be a part of the Affiliate program (50 followers). With that, every follower is something they feel grateful for. Having an increasing number of followers can help as it makes them more visible in Twitch’s algorithm. It also helps in recommending their channels to other people.
You can also promote a streamer’s channel on your social media accounts. Even if only a couple of people from your friend list becomes followers or subscribers, they still count. Now, if you want to help your favorite streamer even further, you can also volunteer to become a chat moderator. They always need more people to keep the chats clean and friendly.
Don’t worry, even if you do not have the financial means to support your favorite Twitch streamer. There are still plenty of things you can do to help without having to spend money.
How Much Do Twitch Streamers Make?
Many factors come into play regarding how much a streamer makes. Some streamers make ridiculous amounts of money, like Tyler “Ninja” Blevins, who became famous for playing Fortnite. This streamer made more than $10 million back in 2018.
However, Ninja and other big Twitch streamers represent a tiny fraction of everyone on the platform. A huge bulk of the people who stream full time on Twitch struggle to get by with the money they make.
You need to factor in the type of content you are making and how often you stream, among many others. Also, you should market your stream aggressively so you can get as many followers and subscribers as you can.
If you can get at least 50 followers, you become eligible to become a Twitch Affiliate. Meaning you can monetize your channel. If you become famous enough to become eligible for the Twitch Partner program, you will discover that it is where the money is.
If you are thinking of becoming a Twitch streamer yourself, do it as a hobby first. Stream in your free time and see where it goes. You would not want to put all your eggs into the Twitch basket. You might get burned if you do.
Why Donate to Twitch Streamers?
Some people find it hard to believe that some willingly give their money to people online for doing something as simple as playing video games, performing music, or just doing everyday mundane stuff. The thing is that they provide you with entertainment. To continue providing you with the kind of content you enjoy, they rely on donations.
Sure, some twitch streams are questionable. However, you can still consider them as niche. You may not enjoy the content yourself, but other people find them entertaining. It is okay not to like the same things that other people do, as that is only normal.
If you find a streamer with content you like, continue watching and supporting them in your way. As long as you are enjoying yourself, you can watch them and show your support.
Conclusion – How to Donate on Twitch?
To donate on Twitch, follow these 5 steps:
- Sign in to Twitch and locate the streamer you’d like to donate to.
- On their channel page, scroll to the bottom and locate a donation link.
- When you click the donation link, it takes you to a page to enter info.
- Fill out each field, and then click the donate button at the bottom of the screen.
- After you click donate, you will go to a page to submit your payment information.
Twitch streamers will sometimes ask their viewers to donate to them using their PayPal accounts. However, Twitch now provides a more convenient way to receive donations. You can donate to a Twitch streamer by using the Donate button on their dashboard.
However, there are even more ways to show your support and appreciation to your favorite streamers. You can buy the streamers merchandise, like t-shirts, hoodies, hats, and more. You can also subscribe to their streams. This means Twitch will automatically charge your credit card every month, depending on your subscription tier.
Don’t be ashamed for donating to an online personality. Your money is nobody else’s business. Apart from that, you will be supporting a creator whose content you find entertaining.
