Kick vs Twitch vs YouTube: Who Pays More? (2026)
Exact revenue splits compared: Kick 95/5 vs Twitch 50/50 vs YouTube 70/30. Which platform actually pays streamers more — and which one is worth it for your next subathon.
How much is X subs on Kick? (Earnings table)
| Subs on Kick | Net earnings (95%) | On Twitch (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 subs | $47.40 | $25.00 |
| 50 subs | $237.00 | $124.75 |
| 100 subs | $474.05 | $249.50 |
| 200 subs | $948.10 | $499.00 |
| 500 subs | $2,370.25 | $1,247.50 |
| 1,000 subs | $4,740.50 | $2,495.00 |
Kick pays 95% to creators. Each Tier 1 sub ($4.99) = $4.74 net for you. Need an exact number for any amount? Use our interactive Kick sub calculator. Keep reading for the full Twitch and YouTube comparison.
The Platform War in Numbers
Since Kick arrived in 2022 with its 95/5 split, the conversation about where to stream changed forever. Today, three platforms actively compete for content creators, each with radically different revenue models.
This guide gives you the real numbers with no ambiguity, so you can see exactly what you would earn on each platform based on your subathon's scale.
The Split Explained: What It Is and Why It Matters
The "split" is the percentage of each subscription or donation that goes to the creator after the platform takes its cut. It's the most important number when evaluating where to stream.
| Platform | Creator split | Tier 1 sub ($4.99) | 1,000 subs → net |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twitch | 50% | $2.50 | $2,500 |
| Kick | 95% | $4.74 | $4,740 |
| YouTube | 70% | $3.49 | $3,490 |
With 1,000 subs, the difference between Twitch and Kick is $2,240 USD in favor of Kick. In a 30-day subathon with 5,000 subs, that difference exceeds $11,000.
📌 Note on Twitch Partners
Twitch Partners with special negotiations can have a split of up to 70%. However, the standard Affiliate contract and most Partner deals are 50/50. If you don't have a special signed contract, assume 50%.
Estimated Earnings by Sub Volume (Tier 1, $4.99)
This table shows how much you would receive net based on the number of subs during your subathon:
| Total subs | Twitch (50%) | Kick (95%) | YouTube (70%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 subs | $250 | $474 | $349 |
| 500 subs | $1,248 | $2,370 | $1,747 |
| 1,000 subs | $2,495 | $4,741 | $3,493 |
| 3,000 subs | $7,485 | $14,222 | $10,479 |
| 5,000 subs | $12,475 | $23,703 | $17,465 |
* Estimates only. Calculated on base Tier 1 price ($4.99 USD). Does not include taxes or local withholdings.
Beyond the Split: Factors That Change the Calculation
The split is the most visible factor, but not the only one. These factors also affect your real earnings:
Twitch: hidden advantages
- ✓ Larger global active user base
- ✓ Better organic discovery system
- ✓ More mature clips/community ecosystem
- ✓ Bits as an additional income stream
- ✗ 50/50 split for most creators
- ✗ High saturation in popular categories
Kick: hidden advantages
- ✓ 95/5 split — most generous in the market
- ✓ Fewer content restrictions
- ✓ 131% YoY growth in 2025
- ✓ Very active Hispanic audience
- ✗ Still smaller user base than Twitch
- ✗ Fewer native analytics tools
YouTube: hidden advantages
- ✓ Subathon VOD keeps monetizing
- ✓ Greater reach in organic search
- ✓ More diverse audience (includes non-gamers)
- ✓ SuperChats highly visible to streamer
- ✗ 70% split for memberships
- ✗ More music copyright restrictions
Multistream: the sum
- ✓ Revenue from all platforms simultaneously
- ✓ Audiences don't overlap (adds, doesn't divide)
- ✓ No exclusivity for non-Twitch-Partners
- ✓ Unified timer with TriBathon
- ✗ Requires robust upload connection
- ✗ Managing 2-3 chats simultaneously
What Each Streamer Type Earns in a Subathon
Small streamer (50–200 viewers, 5-day subathon)
Twitch only
$750
~300 subs × $2.50
Kick only
$1,422
~300 subs × $4.74
Multistream
$2,100+
both platforms
Mid-tier streamer (300–800 viewers, 10-day subathon)
Twitch only
$3,750
~1,500 subs × $2.50
Kick only
$7,110
~1,500 subs × $4.74
Multistream
$10,000+
both platforms
💡 The multiplier most people ignore
TriBathon's Happy Hour multiplies time earned (2x, 3x) during peak hours. When you announce it simultaneously across all platforms, the effect on donations is immediate. Streamers who use it report 300–400% spikes in sub volume during those hours.
Recommended Strategy: Don't Choose — Multiply
The question shouldn't be "which platform is better?" but "how can I be on all of them at the same time?" Multistreaming is today the most profitable strategy for any streamer planning a subathon.
- Connect Twitch + Kick via obs-multi-rtmp or Restream.io. Your audiences on each platform complement each other rather than cannibalizing.
- Add YouTube in week 2 of the subathon to capture more casual audiences and monetize the VOD afterward.
- Use TriBathon to consolidate events from Twitch and Kick into a single timer. Without it, manually tracking subs from 2+ platforms in real time is chaotic.
- Activate coordinated Happy Hour across all platforms simultaneously to maximize impact during peak moments.
⚠️ Don't forget taxes
Regardless of platform, streaming income is taxable in almost all countries. Set aside 20–35% of your earnings for taxes. Check your country's specific rules for digital income — the regulations vary significantly across LATAM, Europe, and North America.
Conclusion: The Numbers Don't Lie
Kick is objectively the most profitable platform per subscription. Twitch still has the most potential audience reach. YouTube is the best option for post-stream monetization through VODs. The winning strategy isn't choosing one — it's being on all of them with a system that manages it automatically. Learn how to set up a subathon across all three platforms, or see our multistream subathon guide. If you have a YouTube channel, check out how to connect it to TriBathon — it's in open beta and its memberships and SuperChats already add time to the same timer.
Ready to start your multistream subathon? Create your TriBathon account and connect Twitch + Kick in 5 minutes →