Intro
When it comes to reliable income on Twitch, subscriptions are the clear winner. Unlike ads—which fluctuate based on CPM, engagement, and ad blockers—subscriptions provide predictable, recurring monthly revenue and are the financial backbone for most successful Twitch streamers.
This article breaks down:
- How Twitch subscriptions work
- How much streamers earn per subscription tier
- Affiliate vs Partner subscription payouts
- Real-world earnings examples
- Why subscriptions outperform ads and views
- What affects how much streamers actually take home
How Twitch Subscriptions Work
Twitch offers three subscription tiers, all billed monthly:
- Tier 1: $4.99
- Tier 2: $9.99
- Tier 3: $24.99
Subscribers get benefits like:
- Ad-free viewing (on most channels)
- Custom emotes
- Subscriber-only chat or content
- Channel badges and perks
Streamers earn a revenue share from each subscription.
How Much Does Twitch Pay Per Subscriber?
Tier 1 Subscriptions
- Price: $4.99/month
- Standard revenue split: 50/50
- Streamer earns: ~$2.50 per subscriber per month
Tier 2 Subscriptions
- Price: $9.99/month
- Streamer earns: ~$5.00 per subscriber per month
Tier 3 Subscriptions
- Price: $24.99/month
- Streamer earns: ~$12.50 per subscriber per month
These figures are before taxes and payment processing, but after Twitch’s revenue split.
Affiliate vs Partner: Subscription Earnings Difference
Twitch Affiliates
- Standard 50/50 split
- No negotiation on revenue share
- Most small to mid-sized streamers fall here
Twitch Partners
- Base split often still 50/50
- Some Partners negotiate better splits:
- 60/40
- 70/30
- Occasionally higher for top-tier creators
Higher splits can significantly increase subscription income at scale.
Monthly Subscription Earnings Examples
Example 1: Small Streamer
- 100 Tier 1 subs
- 100 × $2.50
Monthly sub revenue: $250
Example 2: Growing Channel
- 500 Tier 1 subs
- 100 Tier 2 subs
Revenue:
- (500 × $2.50) = $1,250
- (100 × $5.00) = $500
Total: $1,750/month
Example 3: Large Streamer
- 5,000 Tier 1 subs
- 500 Tier 2 subs
- 100 Tier 3 subs
Revenue:
- 5,000 × $2.50 = $12,500
- 500 × $5.00 = $2,500
- 100 × $12.50 = $1,250
Total: $16,250/month
This income repeats monthly as long as subscribers stay subscribed.
How Many Subscribers Do Streamers Typically Have?
Subscriber counts vary massively by channel size:
- Small streamers: 10–100 subs
- Mid-sized streamers: 200–2,000 subs
- Large streamers: 5,000–50,000+ subs
Subscriber conversion rates usually fall between:
- 1–3% (small channels)
- 3–5% (mid-sized channels)
- 5–10%+ (large, highly engaged communities)
Why Subscriptions Are So Powerful on Twitch
1. Recurring Monthly Income
Unlike ads or donations, subscriptions renew automatically.
2. Predictable Cash Flow
Streamers can plan expenses, reinvest in content, or stream full-time.
3. Stronger Community Loyalty
Subscribers are more engaged, more likely to donate, and more likely to support sponsors.
4. Less Dependency on Ads
Subscription-heavy channels can:
- Run fewer ads
- Improve viewer experience
- Maintain higher retention
How Subscriptions Compare to Ads
Let’s compare subscriptions vs ad revenue directly.
Scenario A: Subscriptions
- 1,000 Tier 1 subscribers
- ~$2.50 per sub
Monthly revenue: $2,500
Scenario B: Ads
- 1,000,000 views
- ~$1.50 RPM
Ad revenue: ~$1,500
👉 1,000 subscribers can outperform 1 million views in monthly income.
Factors That Affect Subscription Revenue
Subscription income depends on:
- Audience engagement
- Stream consistency
- Community perks
- Emotes and badges
- Streamer personality
- Content niche
Highly engaged communities convert far better than large but passive audiences.
Prime Gaming Subscriptions
Amazon Prime members can use one free Prime sub per month.
Important notes:
- Streamers earn roughly the same as Tier 1 subs
- Prime subs still pay ~$2.50 per month
- They must be renewed manually each month
Prime subs are a major growth driver for many channels.
Taxes and Fees (Important to Know)
Subscription revenue is:
- Subject to income tax
- Paid out after Twitch’s revenue share
- Sent via Twitch’s payout system
Actual take-home pay depends on:
- Country of residence
- Tax obligations
- Payment method fees
Final Answer: How Much Do Twitch Streamers Make From Subscriptions?
In simple terms:
- $2.50 per Tier 1 subscriber per month
- $5.00 per Tier 2 subscriber per month
- $12.50 per Tier 3 subscriber per month
- Potentially more for Partners with custom splits
For most Twitch creators, subscriptions are the most important and stable income source, far outperforming ads tied to views.
If you want to understand Twitch income realistically, start with subscriptions—not views.
