Whether you’re a Twitch beginner or just want to take your channel to the next level, today’s guide will teach you how to increase your Twitch viewer count, qualify for the Twitch sub button, and how to maximize your potential for gaining paying channel subscribers.

Key Points:

• What Are Twitch Subscribers?

• Twitch Sub Button Requirements

• How To Start Earning Subs On Twitch

• Does Twitch Pay You For Subs?

• How To Get More Twitch Viewers

• How To Get Successful On Twitch

• Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Twitch Subscribers?

On Twitch, users have the option to subscribe to qualifying channels for a monthly payment in exchange for exclusive features unique to that channel.

This is the main source of monetization on Twitch, so unlocking the ability to add a Subscribe button to your channel is a big deal and one of the key milestones for many streamers.

How Do Twitch Subscriptions Work?

Eligible channels will have the ability to feature a Subscribe button to the right of the Follow and Gift A Sub buttons.

Clicking this will trigger a pop-up featuring the channel’s unique subscription perks.

Alternatively, you can type in the channel name at the end of this URL to visit the Subscribe page directly: 

https://www.twitch.tv/subs/CHANNELNAME

Users can subscribe by clicking the purple Subscribe button and following the on-screen instructions. 

At the time of writing, the Twitch subscription tier costs are as follows:

• Tier 1: $5.99 USD

• Tier 2: $9.99 USD

• Tier 3: $24.99 USD

Learn more about Twitch channel subscriptions here.

What Do You Get For Subscribing On Twitch?

Every channel has different perks, and each subscription tier offers additional features, but generally subscriptions offer users a combination of the following:

• Custom emotes 

• Sub badges

• Increased channel points

• Ad-free viewing

• Exclusive chat for subscribers

• Exclusive streams for subscribers

Learn more about Twitch subscriptions & their perks in our guide here.

What Are Twitch Gifted Subs?

Gifted subs are a way for users to send a channel subscription to another user so they can enjoy channel perks too. Gifted subs can be any tier, and can also be bought in bulk.

Gifting a sub to someone will unlock a special badge next to your username.

Learn more about Twitch gifted subs in our guide here. 

Twitch Sub Button Requirements

In order to unlock the ability to feature a subscription button on your own channel, you must become a Twitch Affiliate by meeting the following requirements within a 30-day period:

• Have 25 followers

• Stream for 4 hours

• Stream on 4 different days

• Reach an Average of 3 Viewers on 4 different days (they don’t have to be consecutive)

You can monitor your achievements and keep track of your requirements via your Twitch dashboard here.

How To Start Earning Subs On Twitch

So you’ve qualified for the Twitch Affiliate program and unlocked the ability to add a subscription button to your channel. Congratulations!

Now it’s time to start gaining new subscribers - but don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as it sounds.

Adding A Sub Button To Your Twitch Channel

Once you’ve completed the Affiliate qualifications, you’ll have to actually sign up to become an affiliate.

After meeting the requirements you’ll receive both an email invitation and notification on Twitch.

Next, you’ll need to provide payout information, agree to the streamer monetization agreement, complete two tax forms, and select your payout method.

Once you’ve completed all of these requirements, you’ll be accepted as an Affiliate and the Subscribe button should automatically appear on your channel page.

Choosing Your Perks

The best part about channel subscriptions is getting to choose your unique perks.

Click your profile picture on the top right and click Creator Dashboard.

Click Settings > Monetization > Subscriptions.

Click Bonus Subscription Benefits and follow the on-screen steps.

Promoting Your Channel Subscriptions

Now that your subscription tiers are all set up, it’s time to start encouraging your viewers to actually subscribe!

The best way to do this is to let your viewers know that subscribing is an option, both during your stream and in your stream description.

You can also mention it on your additional social media profiles, but don’t spam your followers with it.

Be sure to point out the perks and unique benefits that they’ll get from subscribing - and when you do gain subscribers, be sure to give them a shout-out during your stream to highlight your gratitude and encourage others to join!

Does Twitch Pay You For Subs?

Yes, Twitch streamers earn primarily through viewer subscriptions and from Twitch Prime subscriptions.

Does Twitch Take 50% Of Sub Money?

Yes, but the final amount depends on the regional pricing paid by the individual subscriber which means that not every sub is equal.

You can view a full list of Twitch’s regional subscription pricing here.

Are Twitch Subs $5.99 Now?

Recently, the price for a Tier 1 Twitch Subscription in the US increased to $5.99.

That means the channel creator would earn about $3 from a US-based subscriber.

How To Get More Twitch Viewers

If you want more subs, you’re going to first need more viewers. Viewers are not only essential for building your channel from within, but a high number of viewers on your stream increases the chances that your channel will be featured on the Twitch homepage and the search results.

That means the more viewers you have, the more viewers you could potentially gain and the more subscribers you could accrue.

If you’re just starting out, or want to get over a viewer plateau, you can buy high quality Twitch viewers from real Twitch accounts here.

Do Lurkers Count As Viewers?

Yes, “lurkers” are just Twitch viewers who aren’t actively chatting in the stream. They still count as viewers and your channel isn’t penalized for them.

While some channels prefer a high number of engaged viewers, most streamers don’t mind when viewers simply tune in and observe quietly.

You can make your stream low-pressure for lurkers with the !lurk command. Learn how in our Twitch Lurking guide here.

Do Bots Count As Viewers?

That depends on several factors, but generally low-quality bot views raise red flags for Twitch’s anti-bot detection systems as well as for any real viewers tuning in. 

That’s why it’s so important to only buy high quality viewers backed by actual Twitch user accounts, like the ones offered at QQTube. These viewers are real people watching your stream, so you don’t have to worry about putting your channel at risk.

Can Twitch Detect Viewbotting?

Yes, Twitch has methods for detecting bot viewers but other users on your stream might be able to tell if you’re using bots as well, just by using some common sense.

How To Tell If Views Are Botted?

If a channel has a low number of followers but thousands of viewers per stream, it could point to view botting. 

Additionally, if there are thousands of viewers tuning in but not a single person in the chat it may also look suspicious.

How To Get Successful On Twitch

Succeeding on Twitch is about more than just luck. Aside from setting up your channel profile and qualifying for the Twitch Affiliate Program, you should also consider the following:

• Creating a streaming schedule & sticking to it

• Creating social profiles to promote your stream elsewhere

• Collaborating with other streamers in your follower range

• Buying Twitch followers and viewers to boost your reach

• Using Twitch SEO to your advantage when naming streams

You should also be active on other streamers’ channels - not only to learn about what makes their content successful, but to support others and potentially gain some support in return.

The more active you are in the Twitch community, the more likely you are to be on the receiving end of Twitch Raids and potential collaborations.

Can You Live Off Of Twitch Earnings?

Many successful streamers make a living off of their Twitch channels, so it’s definitely possible!

The main monetization channels on Twitch include:

• Subscribers

• Bits

• Custom emotes

• Ad revenue

• Sponsorships & brand deals

• Merch

Which options you enable on your channel are up to you, but the more ways you provide for your viewers to support you, the greater your chances are for earning.

You can also consider posting your finished streams to YouTube to maximize viewer potential across platforms, or create an account on Patreon or Ko-Fi for followers to support you directly.

Additional Reading

Set yourself up for success with our in-depth guides on everything Twitch:

• Find Your Twitch Stats & Analytics 

• How To Easily Find & Share Your Twitch Channel Link & More

• How To Add A Clickable Twitch Link To Your TikTok Bio

• Why Is My Twitch Stream Lagging And How To Fix It?

Frequently Asked Questions