How much do Twitch, Kick, and YouTube pay streamers?

Many streamers and content creators hope to get paid doing what they love, but just how much do major streaming platforms Twitch, Kick, and YouTube pay their streamers?

Although streaming has been around for a while, it’s only fairly recently that it has became a potentially lucrative career. In the grand scheme of the internet, concepts such as donations and stream sponsorships are still relatively fresh. Creators like Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Kai Cenat broke through their niche and have appeared in mainstream media, showing the potential reach available to streamers.

Tyler “Ninja” Blevins Teaches Jimmy the Pon Pon Dance

These appearances are naturally accompanied by big-money contracts. Before the platform’s closure, Mixer signed Ninja to a multi-million dollar deal, prompting many streamers to follow in hopes of similar offers. The scene has changed since, and each platform pays its creators differently.

How much does Kick pay streamers?

Kick currently has the most streamer-friendly pay-to-subs ratio, with 95% of individual subscription revenue going to creators. Kick is the youngest of the major platforms currently, averaging only 400,000 daily viewers according to Streams Charts. In a bid to attract more creators to the platform, Kick offers the most rewarding affiliate program for its individual streamers.

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In addition, streamers with an established presence on other platforms may be offered contracts by Kick to stream on their site. Streamers such as Felix “xQc” Langyel and Kaitlyn “Amouranth” Siragusa were offered such contracts to stream on Kick. Despite the contracts, they are still allowed to stream on Twitch and YouTube without issue.

To become a Kick affiliate, a streamer must have more than five hours of stream time and accrue at least 75 followers. Streamers who build enough of an audience may even become eligible for the Kick Creator Incentive Program. The following metrics must be met before streamers can apply:

• Average Concurrent Viewers (30 Days) – 100
• Stream Hours (30 Days) – 50
• Unique Days streamed (30 Days) – 15
• Direct Subscriptions (30 Days) – 25
• Unique Chatters (30 Days) – 500
• VODs (30 Days) – 3
• Followers – 1500

These are accurate to Kick’s requirements as of February 2025. Even if a creator is eligible, they may not be approved if they do not meet Kick’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service requirements. While Kick has noticeably greater patience for controversial content, bans can and have happened when deemed appropriate.

It’s also worth noting that while the revenue split is generous, Kick’s lower viewership means there are fewer overall subs than on other platforms. Kick pays streamers well, but it’s still highly recommended that new streamers also branch out to either Twitch, YouTube, or both for more reach.

How much does Twitch pay streamers?

Twitch offers a 50/50 split for new affiliates and 70/30 for some more established streamers. One of the sticking points for many streamers about Twitch is that it offers the least lucrative split among the “big three” platforms. Even so, Twitch does have more tools and greater potential discoverability to offer, as reported by creators.

I’m Going Back to Twitch

Streamers can become Twitch affiliates by reaching the following metrics:

• 50 Followers
• Eight hours of stream time
• Seven unique streaming days
• Average three viewers

While the revenue split is significantly lower than Kick’s, Twitch offers more tools native to the platform once a streamer becomes an affiliate. Tools such as bits, hype chats, transcodings, sub-only VODs, and Twitch stories are lucrative ways to expand revenue. Twitch also offers a path to partnership, with the following requirements:

• 25 stream hours (30 Days)
• 12 unique stream days  (30 Days)
• An average of 75 concurrent viewers, not including raids and embeds (30 Days)

Once these metrics are reached, Twitch affiliates can apply for the partnership program. Twitch may have stricter requirements and lower returns, but it does offer a much larger reach than Kick. As per Stream Charts, Twitch averages two million viewers daily. This is why many Kick streamers use Twitch and YouTube as a way to expand their brand.

How much does YouTube pay streamers?

YouTube takes 30% of all revenue from super chats and channel memberships. To become eligible for super chats and channel memberships, creators must meet the following metrics:

• 8,000 Subscribers
• 4,000 hours of watch time on videos or 10 million YT Shorts views

YouTube undeniably has the widest reach of all the major platforms, with over a hundred million users daily. That also makes it the most competitive platform, and new creators may struggle to earn from YouTube. The platform does not promote live streaming as much as do Twitch and Kick.

“My concern is that YouTube doesn’t care about live streaming,” famed streamer Ludwig Ahgren said after renegotiating his contract with YouTube.

Ludwig discussed how live streaming is not on equal grounds with other forms of content on the platform, particularly YT Shorts. The partnership requirements also mean streamers have a hard time even becoming eligible. Normal videos and shorts must be uploaded to meet the YouTube Partnership Program requirements, which could prove stressful for those new to content creation.

Even so, a YouTube presence has too much reach and potential to be ignored.

Streamers should not lock themselves to just one platform

Overall, it’s good for streamers to have a presence on at least two content platforms. Streaming is a notoriously unstable job, so multiple revenue streams are always best. For newbies, it’s best to upload highlights and VODs to YouTube while streaming on other platforms. Twitch and Kick are far easier to become affiliates for, with Kick in particular having better returns for new creators if they can find some early audience.

That said, Twitch offers more reach and tools to help a streamer grow. That’s why it’s suggested to try both to see where the audience is for one’s particular style of content. From there, creators can funnel viewers to their preferred platforms. Once a streamer is eligible for YouTube streaming, that’s an additional platform to try out.

🔴 LIVE – FIRST EVER STREAM ON YOUTUBE :) Q&A + youtube vs twitch showdown with friends!

Streamers should also not rely solely on subs and memberships if they plan on making streaming a full-time job. For new streamers especially, the goal should not be revenue, but viewership. Reaching a wider audience means collaborations, sponsorships, and big events. After all, Twitch, Kick, and YouTube won’t pay streamers until they have established some sort of following.

Kai Cenat offers a mix of IRL chatting, gaming, and live events for his streams, which propelled him to new heights. Even vtubers such as Ironmouse often do collaborations with big and small creators alike.

Most of the most successful streamers don’t start out seeing it as a job, but an opportunity to share their personality with the world. New streamers and creators should keep this in mind as they begin their streaming journeys.