Streaming on Twitch is a good way to make some extra money, or even a living if you decide to turn it to a career.
However, the vast level of competition makes this much more challenging to achieve than it sounds. In reality, even earning your “Subscribe” button is not effortless, as it requires immense effort and dedication.
Luckily, there is an alternative way of earning on Twitch, and that is through donations.
This guide will cover everything you need to know about donations, including how to set them up.
There are two ways to receive donations on Twitch. The first method is the “traditional” one, which includes linking a payment method such as a PayPal account, and the alternative consists of receiving donations in the form of Twitch Bits.
This guide will teach you how to set up both methods, so without further ado, let’s get right into it.
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Adding A PayPal Account For Donations On Your Twitch Channel
This is relatively easy to do. Follow the steps below to successfully link your PayPal account and start receiving Twitch donations from your followers.
- Visit Twitch and log in to your account.
- Navigate to Profile → Channel → Edit Panels.
- Click the “Edit Panels” button.
- You now have the option to add a custom panel.
- Name the panel. “Donations” will work fine.
- In the “Image Links To” field, add your PayPal.me address.
- Enter a description in the “Description” field. Provide a reason why viewers should donate.
- For better visual appeal, you can add a custom image to the panel.
- Finish by clicking “Submit” and then “Save” before exiting the page.
You must have a PayPal account for this approach. If you do not yet possess one, make sure to establish and validate it beforehand.
Coming up next is Twitch Bits. Discover how to activate this process in the upcoming part.
Enabling Twitch Bits For “Cheer” Donations On Your Channel
Twitch Bits is the platform’s native currency. Anyone can purchase Bits and use them to “Cheer” in certain channels.
Cheering means showing support to a streamer by sending them a special type of chat message, including Bits. The streamer then gets paid one cent for every Bit they receive.
You can enable Twitch Bits on your channel by following these steps.
- Visit Twitch and log in to your account.
- Navigate to Profile → Dashboard → Partner Settings.
- Click “Cheer,” which should be located at the top.
- Enable the setting by clicking “Enable Cheering with Bits.”
- Save and exit the tab. Viewers can now donate Twitch Bits to your channel.
You can change other additional settings, too, such as the “Minimum Bits to Cheer” option if you are not satisfied with the standard values set by Twitch.
The next method includes setting up donations using cryptocurrency.
How To Set Up Crypto Donations On Twitch
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are a hot topic, and many savvy streamers enable these types of donations in addition to traditional money.
Here’s how you can do it too:
- Visit Twitch and log in to your account.
- Navigate to Profile → Channel → Edit Panels.
- Click the “Edit Panels” button.
- You now have the option to add a custom panel.
- Give a name to the panel. In this case, “Crypto Donations” will do.
- You can add an appropriate image, perhaps the logo of Bitcoin or another popular cryptocurrency.
- Explain to your viewers why donating using crypto is the method you prefer.
- Paste your receiving cryptocurrency address in the description.
- Make it clear which address is used for each currency.
- Save your progress, and you’re done.
It is crucial to note that if a user sends a distinct cryptocurrency to an address intended for Bitcoin, for instance, you won’t receive the funds, and they will lose theirs.
This is why crypto donation is still not very popular. Warn your followers that they’re donating at their own risk.
How To Set Up Twitch Donations Through StreamLabs
Setting up donations on StreamLabs is slightly different compared to the other methods.
Follow these steps to set up donations for your channel properly.
- Visit StreamLabs and log in.
- Select “Sign in with Twitch” on the page that appears and connect your account.
- You will be redirected to the homepage. Click “Dashboard.”
- On the dashboard, click “Donation Settings.”
- Here, you can customize each donation method separately.
- Change the basic settings if you’re unhappy with the default values.
- Click “Save Settings” when you’re done.
- Copy the URL of your tips page, which will be at the top of your donation methods in the dashboard.
- Visit Twitch, then log in to your account.
- After logging in, click the username icon in the top right, then click “Channel.”
- “Tick” the “Edit Panels” button and create a new panel.
- Name the panel, and add your preferred description and an image if you want to.
- In the “Image Links To” field, paste the URL you copied from StreamLabs during step #8.
- Submit the changes, save your progress, and you’re done.
StreamLabs focuses on making the entire Twitch streaming experience simpler and easier. This also applies when setting up a donation method through their dashboard.
Conclusion
Even if you are only streaming on Twitch as a hobby, you shouldn’t ignore the opportunity to receive donations from fans or followers. Now that you know how to, it’s just a matter of time until you receive your first unforgettable donation.
As earning your “Subscribe” button requires at least a month of effort, donations can “bridge the gap” and help you out in the meantime. So, get streaming!