Twitch Bits Payout Rate 2026: How Much Streamers Earn Per Bit

If you're a Twitch streamer or aspiring content creator, understanding how Twitch Bits work is essential to maximizing your streaming income. Bits are one of the primary ways viewers support their favorite streamers, but many creators don't fully understand how much they actually earn from each Bit.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll break down exactly how much Twitch streamers make from Bits, compare Bits to other income sources, and share strategies to increase your Bits revenue.

What Are Twitch Bits?

Twitch Bits are a virtual currency introduced by Twitch in 2016 as part of Amazon's strategy to keep donations within the platform. Viewers purchase Bits directly from Twitch and use them to "cheer" in chat, displaying animated emotes and messages to show support for their favorite streamers.

When viewers cheer with Bits, they get special animated cheer emotes that appear in chat, and the streamer receives a portion of the money. The more Bits used in a cheer, the more elaborate the animated emote becomes.

Bits were specifically designed to solve the chargeback problem that plagued PayPal donations. Once Bits are cheered, they cannot be refunded or charged back.

Twitch Bits Payout Rate in 2026

As of 2026, the Twitch Bits payout rate remains $0.01 per Bit — the same rate since Bits launched in 2016. Twitch has not changed this rate in over nine years, and there's no indication they plan to. Whether you're a freshly minted Affiliate or a long-time Partner with thousands of concurrent viewers, you receive exactly one cent for every Bit cheered in your channel.

What has changed is how viewers buy Bits. Twitch periodically adjusts bundle pricing and regional pricing. In some regions, viewers pay less per Bit than the standard US prices — but the streamer payout stays the same globally. Your $0.01/Bit is unaffected by where your viewers are located.

The Bits payout rate is separate from the subscription revenue split. While Twitch has adjusted sub splits over the years (from 70/30 for top partners down to the standard 50/50), the Bits rate has stayed fixed at $0.01 since day one.

How Much Do Streamers Earn Per Bit?

The answer is straightforward: streamers earn exactly $0.01 USD per Bit. This rate is fixed and universal—whether you're a new Affiliate or a top Partner, every Bit is worth one cent to you.

This simple 1 Bit = $0.01 conversion makes it easy to calculate your earnings. If someone cheers 1,500 Bits during your stream, you'll earn exactly $15.00. Need to convert Bits to dollars quickly? Use our free Twitch Bits to USD Calculator.

Bits Earnings Reference Table

Here's a comprehensive table showing common Bits amounts and their dollar values for streamers:

How Much Does Twitch Take from Bits?

When viewers purchase Bits, Twitch takes a cut before the money reaches streamers. The amount Twitch keeps varies based on the Bits package size—bulk purchases have better rates.

• 100 Bits: Viewers pay $1.40 → Twitch keeps $0.40 (40% cut)
• 500 Bits: Viewers pay $7.00 → Twitch keeps $2.00 (40% cut)
• 1,500 Bits: Viewers pay $19.95 → Twitch keeps $4.95 (33% cut)
• 5,000 Bits: Viewers pay $64.40 → Twitch keeps $14.40 (29% cut)
• 25,000 Bits: Viewers pay $308.00 → Twitch keeps $58.00 (23% cut)

Twitch's cut from Bits (23-40%) is taken when viewers purchase Bits, not when they cheer. As a streamer, you always receive exactly $0.01 per Bit, regardless of what the viewer paid.

Twitch Bits Payout Schedule 2026

Twitch doesn't pay you instantly when someone cheers. Here's how the payout process works in 2026:

• Minimum threshold: You need at least $100 in combined earnings (Bits + subs + ads) before Twitch will issue a payment.
• Payout date: Twitch processes payments around the 15th of each month for the previous month's earnings. So Bits cheered in January get paid around February 15th.
• Payment methods: Direct deposit (ACH), PayPal, wire transfer, or check depending on your country. ACH and PayPal are the fastest (2-5 business days after processing).
• Net 15 terms: There's roughly a 45-day gap between earning Bits and receiving the money — the month of earning plus ~15 days for processing.

If you're a smaller streamer who hasn't hit $100 yet, your earnings roll over month to month. They don't expire. Once you cross the threshold, Twitch automatically triggers the payout.

Bits vs Subscriptions: Which Pays More?

A common question among streamers is whether Bits or subscriptions provide better income. Let's compare dollar-for-dollar what viewers spend:

Dollar for dollar, Bits pay more to streamers than subscriptions. If a viewer spends $20 on Bits (1,500 Bits for $19.95), the streamer gets $15. If that same viewer subscribes for 4 months at $4.99/month ($20 total), the streamer only gets about $10 after Twitch's 50% cut.

However, subscriptions have their own advantages:

• Recurring revenue: Subs auto-renew monthly for predictable income
• Emote slots: More subs unlock additional emote slots for your channel
• Community building: Sub badges show viewer loyalty over time

Bits vs Direct Donations

Before Bits existed, streamers relied on PayPal and other third-party donation services. Here's howBits compare to direct donations:

The biggest advantage of Bits is security. PayPal donations can be charged back weeks or even months later, leaving streamers out of pocket. Bits cannot be reversed once cheered, making them a safer income source. For a deeper dive, check out our full Bits vs Donations comparison guide.

How to Maximize Your Bits Earnings

Want to increase your Bits income? Here are proven strategies used by successful streamers:

1. Set Up Bit Goals and Alerts

Use streaming software like OBS with Streamlabs to display Bit goals and celebration alerts. Viewers are more likely to cheer when they see progress toward a goal.

2. Acknowledge Every Cheer

Thank viewers personally when they cheer Bits. Recognition encourages more cheering and builds community loyalty.

3. Create Bit Incentives

Offer special perks for Bit cheers—song requests, shoutouts, or mini-games. Give viewers a reason to use their Bits on your channel.

4. Remind Viewers About Free Bits

Many viewers don't know they can earn free Bits by watching ads through Twitch's "Get Bits" feature. Mentioning this occasionally can increase Bit activity.

5. Stream Consistently

Regular streaming schedules build loyal audiences who are more likely to support you with Bits over time.

Real Earnings: What Streamers Actually Make from Bits

So how much do streamers really make from Bits? Based on community surveys and publicly available data, here's what different streamer tiers typically earn in 2026:

According to StreamScheme's survey of 5,000 streamers, 76% of small streamers hadn't reached Twitch's $100 payout threshold. For those who do earn regularly, Bits typically represent about 15-25% of their total Twitch income.

Remember: you need to accumulate at least $100 in earnings before Twitch will process a payout. This includes income from Bits, subscriptions, and ads combined.

Frequently Asked Questions

Summary

Understanding how much Twitch streamers make from Bits is essential for any content creator. Here are the key takeaways:

• Streamers earn exactly $0.01 per Bit (100 Bits = $1.00)
• Twitch takes 23-40% when viewers purchase Bits
• Bits pay more per dollar spent than subscriptions
• Bits cannot be charged back, making them safer than PayPal
• You need $100 minimum to receive a Twitch payout

Ready to calculate your Bits earnings? Try our free tool to instantly convert any Bits amount to dollars.