How to donate to a streamer on Twitch

It's the most direct way to contribute to your favorite streamer.

The Twitch logo on a purple and teal background.
Image via Twitch

There are numerous ways to support your favorite content creator on Twitch, but donating money is the most direct way. Though Twitch has features like bits and subscriptions that allow fans to give money to streamers, but those avenues of contribution don’t result in all your money going to the streamer.

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For that reason, many streamers have special donation pages that can be easily found on their Twitch channel if you scroll down their channel page. Links to donation websites can typically be found in the banner area of someone’s page.

How to donate on Twitch

Ninja's stream page on twitch showcasing his links
Screengrab via Twtich.tv/ninja

Streamers will frequently set up a donation page through their broadcasting software. For instance, Ninja and Lirik use Streamlabs. Once you’re on the external link, follow the simple instructions on the page to tip a little bit of cash to whatever streamer you’ve selected.

  1. Select a Twitch stream
  2. Click the Donate Button
  3. Enter your Twitch username
  4. Select the amount to donate
  5. Add a message if you like
  6. Hit send
Twitch's tip screen
Screengrab via Streamlabs.com

Depending on who you’re donating to, there may be options to add special effects to your donation or have your message read aloud by a text-to-speech program depending on how much you donate.

Your donation may take a moment to go through, so be patient. Especially on viral channels, Streamlabs alerts can get backed up because of the high volume of people subscribing and donating.

How to donate Bits on Twitch

twitch bits page with amounts in dollars
Screengrab via Twitch

Another option to support streamers, admittedly not as effectively, is in the form of bits.

  1. Download the Twitch mobile app or Log in online
  2. Select a stream
  3. Hit the Bits icon
  4. Hit ‘Get Bits
  5. Select your Bits
  6. Buy the bits
  7. Hit the Bits icon again
  8. Type Cheer [# of bits] in the Twitch chatbox and hit enter or send
Author
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Max Miceli
Senior Staff Writer. Max graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a journalism and political science degree in 2015. He previously worked for The Esports Observer covering the streaming industry before joining Dot where he now helps with Overwatch 2 coverage.
Author
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Austin Ernst
Austin is an Updates Writer and Fallout Fanatic. He founded his podcast channel, Shared Screens, and his words can be found at Six One Indie and TheGamer on top of writing for Gamurs. Austin is recently married as of October 2022, and has two Aussie dogs.