Can an individual make money on Twitch with gaming? Yes, it is absolutely possible to make money on Twitch with gaming, and many successful streamers have built thriving careers doing just that. Gaming is at the core of Twitch’s content ecosystem, and the platform offers multiple ways for streamers to monetize their passion for gaming. Whether you’re an experienced gamer with a large following or just starting, there are a variety of monetization strategies that can help you turn your gaming hobby into a sustainable source of income. 

How to Make Money on Twitch with Gaming

Let’s explore the different ways you can make money on Twitch with gaming, how to maximize earnings, and what it takes to be successful on the platform.

1. Twitch Affiliate and Partner Programs

Before you can begin earning money from your gaming streams, you need to qualify for Twitch’s Affiliate or Partner programs, which unlock key monetization features. These programs are vital to earning on Twitch as they provide access to subscriptions, Bits (Twitch’s virtual currency), and ad revenue.

• Twitch Affiliate: To qualify as an Affiliate, you need to meet the following criteria:
  • At least 50 followers.
  • At least 500 total minutes of broadcast in the last 30 days.
  • An average of 3 concurrent viewers in the last 30 days.
  • Streaming on at least 7 different days within the last 30 days.
• Affiliates can earn money through subscriptions, Bits, and ads.
• Twitch Partner: Partners are experienced streamers with a larger audience. The requirements are more stringent:
  • Stream for 25 hours in 30 days.
  • Stream on 12 different days in the past month.
  • Have an average of 75 concurrent viewers.
• Partners enjoy the same revenue options as Affiliates but often receive better ad deals, higher subscription splits, and additional promotional opportunities.

Once you meet the criteria for Affiliate or Partner, you can begin monetizing your gaming streams.

2. Subscriptions

Subscriptions are one of the primary ways gamers make money on Twitch. Viewers can subscribe to your channel at different price points: $4.99, $9.99, or $24.99 per month. Subscriptions allow viewers to support you while receiving benefits like ad-free viewing, exclusive emotes, and badges. Streamers typically earn 50% to 70% of the subscription fee, depending on whether they are Affiliates or Partners.

How Subscriptions Work:

• Tier 1 Subscription ($4.99/month): The most common subscription tier. With a 50% revenue share, you earn about $2.50 per subscriber per month.
• Tier 2 and Tier 3 Subscriptions ($9.99 and $24.99/month): These higher tiers provide additional perks, and streamers earn more per subscriber—around $5 and $12.50 per month, respectively.

Potential Earnings from Subscriptions: For example, if you have 500 active Tier 1 subscribers, you would earn approximately $1,250 per month (500 x $2.50). As your subscriber base grows, so will your income. Larger streamers with thousands of subscribers can make significant money from subscriptions alone.

3. Donations and Bits

Donations are a common way for viewers to directly support their favorite streamers. Viewers can donate through services like PayPal or use Bits, Twitch’s virtual currency. Streamers earn $0.01 for every Bit used in their channel. While this may seem small, large numbers of viewers frequently using Bits can add up quickly.

How Donations and Bits Work:

• Bits: Viewers purchase Bits directly from Twitch and use them to “cheer” during streams. Each Bit is worth about one cent to the streamer. For example, if a viewer sends 1,000 Bits, the streamer earns $10.
• Direct Donations: Viewers can send money directly to streamers via services like PayPal, Streamlabs, or other donation platforms. These donations can range from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars, depending on the viewer’s generosity and your audience size.

Potential Earnings from Bits and Donations: Even small streamers can make $100 to $500 per month from Bits and donations. More popular streamers can earn thousands of dollars monthly from their community’s contributions, especially if they have a dedicated and loyal following.

4. Ad Revenue

Once you become a Twitch Affiliate or Partner, you can earn money from ads. Twitch displays ads to viewers before they start watching a stream (pre-roll ads) and during the stream (mid-roll ads). Streamers earn money based on the number of ad impressions they generate. This is typically calculated using a CPM (Cost Per Mille), meaning how much Twitch pays you per 1,000 ad impressions. On average, CPM rates range from $2 to $10, depending on factors like your audience location and the type of ads being shown.

How Ad Revenue Works:

• Pre-Roll Ads: These are automatically played when a viewer first enters your stream.
• Mid-Roll Ads: You can manually trigger ads during your stream at moments when you take a break or between gaming sessions.

Potential Earnings from Ads: For example, if you have 1,000 viewers watching an ad with a $4 CPM, you’d earn $4 for every 1,000 impressions. A streamer with 500 average concurrent viewers could make anywhere from $50 to $300 per month from ads, depending on how often they run ads and how many impressions they generate. Larger streamers can earn thousands of dollars from ad revenue alone, especially when they attract higher CPM ads.

5. Sponsorships and Brand Deals

As your Twitch channel grows, you may attract sponsorships or brand deals from gaming companies or related industries. Sponsorships typically involve promoting a product or brand during your stream in exchange for payment. For gaming streamers, this might mean showcasing a new game, using a specific gaming headset, or promoting a game-related product.

How Sponsorships Work:

• Product Placement: Brands might pay you to feature their product on stream or display their logo during your broadcasts.
• Affiliate Links: Some brands offer affiliate programs where you earn a commission for every sale made through a unique link you provide during your stream.

Potential Earnings from Sponsorships: Sponsorship deals can vary widely depending on your follower count and engagement. Small streamers might earn $100 to $500 per sponsorship, while larger streamers with tens of thousands of followers can command thousands of dollars per sponsored stream. In some cases, sponsorships can become a major part of a streamer’s income.

6. Merchandising

Many gaming streamers monetize their Twitch presence by selling merchandise related to their channel. You can create and sell products like T-shirts, hats, and gaming accessories that feature your branding or unique artwork.

How Merchandising Works:

• Print-on-Demand Services: You can use services like Teespring or Redbubble to create and sell custom merchandise without worrying about inventory or shipping.
• Custom Designs: Streamers often create unique designs or logos related to their gaming persona, which appeals to their community.

Potential Earnings from Merch: The amount you can earn from merch depends on how engaged your audience is and how much they are willing to spend. Smaller streamers might make $100 to $500 per month, while larger streamers with dedicated fanbases can earn thousands of dollars in merch sales.

7. Affiliate Marketing

In addition to sponsorships, you can make money through affiliate marketing. Many companies in the gaming industry have affiliate programs that reward streamers for promoting their products. You receive a commission for every sale made through your unique affiliate link.

How Affiliate Marketing Works:

• Product Promotion: You recommend gaming gear, software, or other related products during your stream and include affiliate links in your channel description.
• Commissions: When viewers use your affiliate link to make a purchase, you earn a percentage of the sale, typically between 5% and 20%.

Potential Earnings from Affiliate Marketing: For smaller streamers, affiliate marketing might generate an additional $50 to $500 per month. Larger streamers with a substantial audience can earn $1,000 to $5,000+ monthly from affiliate sales.

To make money on Twitch with gaming is entirely possible, and many streamers have built sustainable careers on the platform. With multiple revenue streams—subscriptions, Bits, donations, ad revenue, sponsorships, merchandising, and affiliate marketing—there are plenty of ways to monetize your gaming content. However, success on Twitch requires dedication, consistency, and building a loyal audience. The more you engage with your community and refine your content, the greater your potential earnings will be. Whether you’re a casual gamer or looking to become a full-time streamer, Twitch offers numerous opportunities to make money while doing what you love: playing games.