A long-awaited Kick virtual currency and gifts feature has been launched, but how exactly does it all work, and how do these new KICKs compare to Twitch Bits?
Kick streamer Adin Ross had hinted at an upcoming Kick virtual currency feature that would allow viewers to earn money by watching their favorite content creators. While this feature hasn’t been seen on Kick just yet, the platform has now introduced a new virtual currency called KICKs that can be used to purchase and send gifts to streamers to support them. KICKs are new to the platform, but have already become significantly popular with some among claims that they’re a better alternative to Twitch Bits.
Viewers can simply purchase KICKs from the platform’s online gift shop and then use them to send digital gifts or otherwise donate to the content creators they want to show support for.
Purchasing KICKs is fairly straightforward, with the only real variance in the process being in how the virtual currency can be obtained based on the platform users are on. If a viewer is using the web browser to open Kick, they can then purchase KICKs by clicking the KICKs icon next to their avatar. Alternatively, users can also purchase KICKs through the gift ship in eligible channels by clicking the Get KICKs button or on their KICKs balance.
Mobile users can only purchase KICKs from the official Kick gift shop.
Kick
Once KICKs have been purchased, users need only to open the gift shop from a content creator’s channel and browse the selection. After selecting the gift they want to give to the streamer, users can follow the on-screen instructions to send that gift, which will be publicly displayed in the streamer’s chat for everyone to see. These KICKs aren’t refundable, so viewers must be sure they want to send them before confirming the transaction.
KICKs are priced to be cheaper than Twitch Bits, and streamers also reportedly get a larger revenue share from KICKs than from Twitch Bits, so many are claiming Kick’s new feature is already better than its virtual currency equivalent on Twitch.
Both KICKs and Twitch Bits are priced in USD, but that may be the only similarity in their prces. While 100 KICKs costs users $1.09, Twitch Bits cost $1.40 for the same number. The contrast is visible in each tier of KICKs and Bits, with 10,000 of each costing $105.29 on Kick and $126 on Twitch, respectively.
Kick and Twitch
This difference in cost isn’t apparent only on the giver’s side, either. KICKs may be better than Bits for streamers as well. While Kick hasn’t officially specified exaclty how much of KICKs’ cost goes directly to the streamers receiving them, early reports indicate that content creators get as much as 96% on the Stake-owned platform compared to the 80% of Bits streamers receive on Twitch.
Feature image credit: Kick
21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
