The Money Question Everyone Asks
Can you actually make money streaming? The honest answer: yes, but probably not the way you think. This guide breaks down every revenue stream available to Twitch streamers in 2026, with realistic numbers and strategies for each.
Revenue Stream 1: Subscriptions
Viewers pay $4.99, $9.99, or $24.99 monthly to subscribe. Twitch takes 50% (30% for Partners meeting certain thresholds).
Realistic earnings:
- 100 subs = ~$250/month
- 500 subs = ~$1,250/month
- 1,000 subs = ~$2,500/month
Strategy: Focus on retention over acquisition. Making current subs feel valued matters more than chasing new ones.
Revenue Stream 2: Bits
Viewers buy bits from Twitch and donate them to streamers. Streamer receives $0.01 per bit.
Realistic earnings: Highly variable. Expect bits to represent 10-20% of subscription income for most streamers.
Strategy: Create interactive bit goals and celebrations that encourage spending.
Revenue Stream 3: Ads
Twitch pays streamers to run ads during streams. Rates vary by region, time, and partner status.
Realistic earnings: $2-5 CPM (per 1,000 views). A stream with 100 viewers running 3 minutes of ads might earn $0.60-1.50.
Strategy: Run ads during natural breaks (bathroom, game loading) to minimize viewer annoyance.
Revenue Stream 4: Sponsorships
Brands pay streamers directly to promote products. This is where the real money is—but it requires audience.
Realistic earnings:
- Small sponsors: $50-200/stream
- Mid-tier brands: $500-2,000/stream
- Major sponsors: $5,000+/stream
Strategy: Build a media kit. Reach out proactively. Niche audiences (gaming peripherals, energy drinks) are easier to monetize.
Revenue Stream 5: Affiliate Links
Amazon Associates, game affiliate programs, and hardware referrals. Commission on sales driven by your links.
Realistic earnings: 1-10% commission. Most streamers earn $50-500/month from affiliates.
Revenue Stream 6: Merchandise
Selling branded merchandise through platforms like Streamlabs Merch or Spring.
Realistic earnings: Profit margins of $5-15 per item. Requires established community to sell volume.
The Visibility Requirement
Here's the honest truth: every monetization method requires viewers. Subscriptions need loyal viewers. Bits need spending viewers. Sponsorships need audience numbers to pitch. No viewers = no income.
This is why накрутка зрителей twitch becomes relevant for monetization discussions. Building initial visibility through services like streamhub.shop (https://streamhub.shop/) creates the audience base that makes monetization possible. You can't monetize an invisible channel.
Affiliate vs Partner Requirements
Affiliate: 50 followers, 7 unique broadcast days, 8+ hours, 3 average viewers over 30 days.
Partner: No exact numbers, but typically 75+ average viewers, 12+ broadcast days, 25+ hours monthly.
Income Expectations by Level
- 50-100 concurrent viewers: $500-2,000/month (side income)
- 100-500 concurrent viewers: $2,000-10,000/month (livable in some regions)
- 500+ concurrent viewers: $10,000+/month (professional income)
The Path Forward
Build visibility first. Monetization follows audience. Invest strategically in growth, then convert that growth into revenue. The numbers are achievable—for those who approach streaming as a business.