Twitch Subscriptions Explained: Tiers, Revenue, and Earnings

Intro

On Twitch, subscriptions are the most reliable and scalable revenue source for creators. Unlike ads (which depend on impressions) or donations (which fluctuate), subscriptions provide predictable, recurring monthly income and form the financial backbone of most successful Twitch channels.

This guide explains:

• All Twitch subscription tiers
• How much streamers earn per tier
• Affiliate vs Partner revenue splits
• Prime Gaming subscriptions
• Real revenue examples at different scales
• Why subscriptions outperform views and ads

What Are Twitch Subscriptions?

A Twitch subscription is a monthly paid membership that viewers purchase to support a specific channel. In return, subscribers typically receive:

• Ad-free viewing (on that channel)
• Custom emotes
• Subscriber badges
• Subscriber-only chat or content
• Priority interaction and perks

Subscriptions renew automatically each month unless canceled.

Twitch Subscription Tiers Explained

Twitch offers three paid subscription tiers, all billed monthly.

Tier 1 Subscription

Price: $4.99/month** Most common tier** by a large margin

Streamer Earnings

• Standard revenue split: 50/50
• Streamer earns: ~$2.50 per Tier 1 sub per month

Tier 1 subscriptions typically account for 70–90% of total subs on most channels.

Tier 2 Subscription

Price: $9.99/month

Streamer Earnings

• Streamer earns: ~$5.00 per Tier 2 sub per month

Tier 2 subs are less common and usually purchased by:

• Highly loyal fans
• Viewers who want extra recognition
• Supporters during sub drives or special events

Tier 3 Subscription

Price: $24.99/month

Streamer Earnings

• Streamer earns: ~$12.50 per Tier 3 sub per month

Tier 3 subscriptions are rare but powerful. Even a small number can significantly boost monthly income.

Twitch Affiliate vs Partner: Subscription Revenue Differences

Twitch Affiliates

• Fixed 50/50 split
• Cannot negotiate better terms
• Majority of streamers fall into this category

Twitch Partners

• Base split often still 50/50
• Some Partners negotiate better splits, such as:
• 60/40
• 70/30
• Higher for top creators

Higher splits compound massively at scale.

Prime Gaming Subscriptions (Important)

Amazon Prime members receive one free Twitch subscription per month.

Key details:

• Prime subs pay streamers roughly the same as Tier 1
• Earnings ≈ $2.50 per Prime sub
• Must be manually renewed each month
• No cost to the viewer

Prime subs are a major growth lever, especially for mid-sized and large channels.

How Much Can Streamers Earn From Subscriptions?

Small Channel Example

• 50 Tier 1 subs
• 50 × $2.50

Monthly revenue: $125

Growing Channel Example

• 300 Tier 1 subs
• 40 Tier 2 subs

Revenue:

• (300 × $2.50) = $750
• (40 × $5.00) = $200

Total: $950/month

Large Channel Example

• 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

And this repeats every month as long as subs stay active.

Subscription Conversion Rates (What’s Normal?)

Typical sub conversion rates:

• Small channels: 1–3% of regular viewers
• Mid-sized channels: 3–5%
• Large channels: 5–10%+

Engagement, not raw views, determines conversion.

Why Twitch Subscriptions Are So Valuable

1. Recurring Revenue

Subscriptions auto-renew, creating predictable monthly income.

2. Stability vs Ads

Subscription income is not affected by:

• CPM swings
• AdBlock usage
• Advertiser demand
• Seasonality

3. Community Strength

Subscribers are:

• More engaged
• More likely to donate
• More likely to support sponsors
• More likely to return consistently

Subscriptions vs Ads: Revenue Comparison

Let’s compare scale:

1,000 Tier 1 Subs

• 1,000 × $2.50**

= $2,500/month**

1,000,000 Views (Ads)

• ~$1.50 RPM average**

= ~$1,500 total**

👉 1,000 subscribers can outperform 1 million views in monthly income.

Factors That Increase Subscription Revenue

• Consistent streaming schedule
• Clear subscriber perks
• Strong emotes and badges
• Streamer–viewer interaction
• Community recognition
• Sub goals and milestones
• Limited ad interruptions

Subscriptions scale with trust and loyalty, not virality.

Taxes and Payouts (What Streamers Should Know)

• Subscription income is taxable
• Twitch pays out monthly after a minimum threshold
• Actual take-home depends on local tax laws and fees

Creators should track subscription revenue carefully.

Common Misconceptions About Twitch Subscriptions

“You need millions of views to make money.” False. Small, loyal communities often earn more than large passive ones.

“Ads are the main income.” For most channels, subscriptions far outperform ads.

“Tier 2 and 3 don’t matter.” A handful of higher-tier subs can significantly boost income.

Final Takeaway: Twitch Subscriptions and Revenue

Twitch subscriptions are:

• The most stable
• The most predictable
• The highest-leverage income source on Twitch

Typical earnings per sub:

• Tier 1: ~$2.50
• Tier 2: ~$5.00
• Tier 3: ~$12.50

For most streamers, subscriptions are the difference between a hobby and a sustainable income.