2025 Payout Report: Twitch, Kick, YouTube, TikTok, and More

You’re grinding out streams, building your community, tweaking your overlays at 2AM, and somewhere in the back of your mind is one lingering question: When does the money show up?

Streaming is fun but let’s be real for a second, for a lot of us, getting paid matters. And we don't all care about the “six-figure” headlines. We want to know the real, tangible numbers. If you get 1,000 views, how much do you actually make? If you score 500 subs, what’s your take-home? How does TikTok compare to Twitch? Is Kick’s 95/5 split really that sweet?

We're breaking down how different platforms actually pay you. The dollars per view, per sub, per hour, the payout timelines, the minimum thresholds, the sweet revenue splits, and the weird little rules that can totally sneak up on you if you’re not paying attention.

Let’s get into it.

Twitch Payout Breakdown

So you wanna cash those Twitch checks? Here’s how the money actually shakes out on the purple platform.

A. Subscriptions

Twitch loves to split the pie, and for most streamers, that split is 50/50.
This means if someone drops $4.99 for a Tier 1 sub, you pocket about $2.50.
Big-name streamers sometimes negotiate a 70/30 split, but for the rest of us, it’s the standard half-and-half.

Example:
500 subs → $2.50 per sub → $1,250 per month
(Before expenses, fees, and the governments hand in your pocket.)

B. Bits

Bits are Twitch’s cute little cheer currency.
For you, each Bit = $0.01 straight to your payout.

Example:
10,000 Bits → $100 payout
So yeah, spam those Bit alerts, but maybe pace yourself on the airhorn sound effects.

C. Ad Revenue

Twitch ads pay out based on CPM (cost per thousand ad views), but the range is wildly inconsistent.
For most streamers, it’s around $3 to $5 per 1,000 ad views.

Example:
10,000 ad views → $30 to $50

It’s not nothing, but unless you’re consistently pulling large crowds, ads aren’t gonna buy you a yacht. Maybe a moderately fancy sandwich.

D. Key Takeaway

Twitch is all about subs and community-driven support.
Ad money is there, but it won’t really move the needle unless you’re racking up big viewer numbers.

Kick Payout Breakdown

Kick is the new kid on the block who showed up with a ridiculously creator-friendly revenue split. If Twitch is giving you a polite handshake, Kick is basically shoving a pile of cash into your pocket and saying, “You good, bro?”

A. Subscriptions

This is where Kick turns heads. The platform rocks a 95/5 split.
Yeah, you read that right. You keep 95% of your sub money.

Example:
500 subs → $4.75 per sub → $2,375 per month

That’s nearly double what you’d pull from Twitch with the same sub count. It’s like Twitch’s cool, rebellious cousin who decided creators should actually keep their money.

B. Ad Revenue

Don’t get too excited here, ad revenue basically doesn’t exist yet on Kick.
They’re focusing heavily on subs and building out creator tools first. So if you’re looking to cash in on ads, you’ll have to wait or bring your own sponsors.

C. Other Revenue

Good news: donations and third-party integrations (like Streamlabs, merch, etc.) are 100% yours.
Kick doesn’t touch them. They just stand there with a thumbs-up like, “Yeah, go get that.”

D. Key Takeaway

If you’re all about maximizing subscription money, Kick is the current payout king.
But here’s the catch, Kick’s audience is smaller than Twitch and YouTube. It’s growing, but don’t expect to stumble into a crowd. You’ll need to bring your community with you or grind from scratch.

Bottom line: Kick’s payout model is sweet, but the platform size? Not quite up to twitch levels yet.

YouTube Live Payout Breakdown

YouTube Live is like the Swiss Army knife of streaming platforms. You can livestream, upload videos, post community polls, and somehow still get served videos about raccoons stealing sandwiches. But how does it actually pay? We'll focus on the streaming.

A. Memberships (Subs)

On YouTube, channel memberships work just like Twitch subs. Your viewers pay a monthly fee to support you and unlock perks.
YouTube’s cut? 30%. You keep 70%.

Example:
500 members → $3.50 per member → $1,750 per month

It’s a cleaner cut than Twitch’s 50/50, but not as spicy as Kick’s 95/5.

B. Super Chats

Super Chats are YouTube’s way of letting viewers pay to be noticed during your stream.
When someone drops a Super Chat, YouTube happily takes 30% right off the top.

Example:
$500 in Super Chats → You keep $350

That 30% sting feels personal when someone drops a fat dono and YouTube snags a third before you even say thank you.

C. Ad Revenue (CPM)

Here’s where YouTube shines. Their ad rates blow Twitch out of the water.
Average CPM (cost per thousand ad views) is about $6 to $12.

Example:
10,000 ad views → $60 to $120

If you’ve got decent viewership, ad revenue on YouTube can actually become a major income stream.

D. Key Takeaway

YouTube Live is killer for hybrid creators who want to livestream but also pump out videos, shorts, and other content.
You get better ad rates, decent membership splits, but the Super Chat tax hurts (althought its a nice additional feature).

If you can balance live streams with regular uploads, YouTube might actually give you the most stable, diversified bag. Just prepare to watch 30% of your big moments walk away in YouTube’s pocket.

TikTok Live Payout Breakdown

TikTok: the land of dance challenges, microwave hacks, and a million people lip-syncing the same soundbite. It’s an attention goldmine, but when it comes to actual payouts? Yeah, get ready to squint at those numbers.

A. Gifts/Coins

On TikTok Live, viewers can send gifts that translate into real money, but TikTok snatches up to 50% right off the top.
You send a virtual lion? TikTok just walked off with half your zoo.

Example:
Viewers send gifts worth $100 → You keep about $50

It’s not the most creator-friendly cut, but it’s the main way TikTok Live pays out.

B. Creator Fund (For Regular Video Views)

The Creator Fund pays you for regular, non-live video views.
But the rates? Roughly $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views.

Example:
1,000,000 views → You make $20 to $40

Yes. One million views might only buy you dinner at Applebee’s. It’s that brutal.

C. TikTok Live (Per 1,000 Viewers)

If you’re pulling solid crowds (think 1,000+ concurrent viewers), you can earn around $20 to $50 per live but that’s highly dependent on how generous your chat is with gifts.

If nobody’s throwing coins your way? You’re basically streaming for exposure and warm vibes.

D. Key Takeaway

TikTok is more of a volume game. You need monster view counts and highly engaged audiences to make any real cash.
The payouts are low, the gift cuts are steep, but if you’re popping off with viral moments and raking in gifts, you can build something.

Facebook Gaming Payout Breakdown

And I didn't think I'd ever be posting about FB again. Facebook is the platform that had a moment but now is mostly where the boomers hang out. Still standing, but definitely quieter. If you’re still streaming there (or thinking about it), here’s how the payments work.

A. Stars

Stars are Facebook’s virtual tipping system. Viewers buy stars and toss them your way during streams.

1 Star = $0.01 to you. It’s simple, it’s clean, and Facebook doesn’t make it weird.

Example:
10,000 Stars → $100 payout

It’s kind of like Bits on Twitch, just with less confetti and more grandma avatars in your chat.

B. Subscriptions

Facebook’s subs work just like Twitch and YouTube, with a 70/30 split. You keep 70%, they keep 30%.

Example:
500 subs → $3.50 per sub → $1,750 per month

Solid payout, but keep in mind Facebook’s user base skews a little older. It might be harder to build hype here unless you’ve got an existing community.

C. Ad Revenue

Facebook’s ad CPM (cost per thousand views) usually lands between $5 and $10.
Not YouTube-high, but noticeably better than Twitch.

Example:
10,000 ad views → $50 to $100

If you’re pulling decent views, ads can quietly stack up some extra cash here.

D. Key Takeaway

Facebook Gaming is solid but definitely fading.
The payout structure is fair, the splits are decent, and the platform can still support creators, especially if you already have a personal network or community there.

Side-by-Side Quick Comparison Chart

Let’s cut the fluff and put these numbers side by side so you can actually see where the money lives. Here’s the breakdown of how each platform stacks up when it comes to subscriptions, ad revenue, and what you’d make with 500 subs on each.

Quick Notes:

• Gifts can make or break your earnings on TikTok. Their whole system leans hard on them.
• Kick leads in raw sub money. No one’s even close.
• YouTube balances everything. Ads, subs, gifts (Super Chats). You can stack income sources here.
• Twitch and Facebook are still solid for community-driven revenue, but Twitch’s sub split stings.
• Ad revenue ranges assume ~10,000 ad views as a ballpark, and gifts estimate around 10,000 in Bits/Stars/Coin value from an engaged chat.

Which Platform Pays Best?

So after all this number-crunching, where’s the smart money? Here’s the quick and dirty:

• Maximizing subs? Go with Kick. Their 95/5 split is basically highway robbery in your favor. If you’ve got a tight-knit sub base, this is where your wallet gets thick.
• Big on ads? That’s YouTube. Their ad CPM blows everyone else out of the water, plus you get solid sub splits and Super Chats that can stack up fast.
• Casual community? Twitch is still the king for building community. The payouts aren’t the best but they are diverse, and if you thrive on chat interaction and building a loyal following, it’s hard to beat it.
• Viral hits? TikTok is your playground if you can go big. But here’s the catch: their creator payouts are borderline insultingly low, so you’ll need to line up brand deals and off-platform income streams to actually cash in.

Bonus: Pro Tips for Maximizing Payouts

No matter where you stream, there are some tried-and-true moves to squeeze more juice out of your content. If you want to stop leaving money on the table, here’s how you level up:

1. Multistreaming: Spread Your Net

Why lock yourself to one platform?
Multistreaming lets you cast a wide net across Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and even TikTok at the same time. More exposure, more subs, more chances for gifts and ad revenue. Services like Restream and Streamlabs make this pretty painless.

Just be mindful of partner/affiliate contracts, Twitch, for example, doesn’t love it when their exclusive streamers start popping up everywhere.

2. Diversify Your Income Streams

The real money isn’t just in subs and ads.
Start stacking:

• Sponsorships: Reach out to brands that fit your vibe.
• Merch: Even a simple logo tee can pull in extra cash.
• Affiliate Links: Recommend gear, games, or services you actually use and snag commission when your audience buys.

Creators who rely on just one revenue source? That’s like walking a tightrope with no net.

3. Build Off-Platform Communities

If your entire audience lives on one platform, you’re playing with fire.
Build a community that follows you, not just your channel.

• Start a Discord server.
• Launch a Patreon for bonus content or behind-the-scenes access.
• Grow a mailing list or Instagram page to stay connected when platforms glitch or trends shift.

Off-platform communities give you stability and more ways to monetize your fanbase beyond random algorithm moods.