Twitch monetization — Bits, Subs, ads, payouts at a glance

Affiliate vs Partner

Twitch monetization happens in two tiers.

• Affiliate — automatic invite when you hit 50 followers + 8 broadcast hours + streaming on 7 different days + 3 average concurrent viewers within 30 days. Unlocks Bits, Subs, and game-sales revenue share.
• Partner — invite-only review; the internal guideline is sustaining 75+ average concurrent viewers for 90 days. Higher ad revenue share, plus perks like category-discovery weighting.

Bits — chat-style donations

Bits are Twitch's cheering currency. Viewers buy them in packages (100 bits ≈ $1.40) and send them with a chat effect. The host is paid at 1 bit = $0.01 (Twitch keeps part of what the buyer paid).

So a 100-bit cheer pays the host about ₩1,400 (at a ₩1,400/USD rate). Twitch's cut varies by package and payment method, so some cases pay slightly less. Exact figures are on dashboard → Revenue → Bits.

Subscriptions

Subs are a monthly subscription — and the biggest single chunk of Twitch revenue. Pricing:

• Tier 1 — $4.99/month (the most common)
• Tier 2 — $9.99/month
• Tier 3 — $24.99/month
• Prime — Amazon Prime members can sub once a month for free

The base host share is 50% (Affiliate default). Once a channel hits certain subscriber thresholds as a Partner, this is negotiable up to 60–70%. One Tier 1 sub = host take-home around $2.50 (~₩3,500).

Ad revenue

Twitch CPMs average $3–$5 per 1,000 impressions. Korean hosts with US / EU audiences see $5–$8 CPMs. Partners get matched at better frequency and revenue via the Ads Incentive Program. Affiliates get the base rate.

Twitch Plus Program (launched 2025)

Launched in 2025, Twitch Plus is a tier above Partner. Ad revenue share goes up to 70%, plus category-discovery priority and a dedicated manager. The threshold isn't public but 500+ average concurrent viewers is the typical floor. Some Korean hosts with global gaming content have reached it.

Payouts + taxes

Twitch pays out monthly once accrued revenue passes $100 — usually around the 15th of the next month. Choose PayPal, wire transfer, or eCheck. Wire to a Korean bank takes 3–7 extra business days.

Korean hosts must submit a Form W-8BEN when signing up — proving non-US tax residency. Without it, US withholding tax of 30% is automatically deducted. With it, the US–Korea tax treaty drops it to 0–10%.