Is Twitch or YouTube better for live streaming income?
Twitch pays higher per-viewer income for smaller streamers via subs and bits, but YouTube pays materially better once you factor in the VOD tail — a livestream on YouTube keeps earning ad revenue for months as it's re-watched. Full-time streamers under 500 concurrent viewers typically earn more on Twitch; large streamers usually earn more on YouTube.
Twitch vs YouTube live-stream income comparison
| Metric | Twitch | YouTube Live |
|---|---|---|
| Sub revenue share | 50% (70% if elite) | 70% (memberships) |
| Tip/Bit take | ~$0.70 per bit | 70% of Super Chat |
| Ad RPM (live) | $1–$3 | $2–$8 (long-form) |
| VOD replay revenue | Minimal | Continuous |
| Sponsor-friendliness | Higher — familiar format | Growing |
Context
The multi-stream play (stream on Twitch, VOD-upload to YouTube) captures upside from both. Twitch drives live community + sub income; YouTube captures the long-tail ad revenue that Twitch doesn't. It's essentially free extra income if you already have the source stream file.
Methodology
Revenue-share terms from public Twitch and YouTube Partner docs (2026). Ad RPM ranges from creator disclosures.
Model your own numbers
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Last updated 2026-07-10.