Donations let viewers send you money directly through third-party payment processors, not through Twitch itself

Twitch does not have a built-in donation button. Instead, you connect your channel to a separate payment service — usually Streamlabs, Tiltify, or PayPal — and that service handles the money. Viewers click a link or button you provide, enter an amount, and the payment processor takes a small cut before sending the rest to your bank account.

This is different from Twitch subscriptions and bits, which Twitch manages directly. Donations go straight from the viewer's payment method to your processor, then to you. You control the minimum amount, what the donation page looks like, and whether to offer perks like custom alerts or messages on stream.

Setting up donations takes 15 to 30 minutes and requires a bank account or payment method where the processor can deposit money. Most streamers use donations alongside subscriptions and bits, not instead of them.

Key Takeaways

  • Donations are processed by third-party services like Streamlabs or Tiltify, not by Twitch, so you need to create an account with one of these services first.
  • You set your own minimum donation amount, and the payment processor takes a percentage (usually 2 to 5 percent) before sending the rest to your bank account.
  • Viewers access donations through a link you share in your Twitch panels, chat commands, or stream title — there is no native Twitch donation feature.
  • You can customize donation alerts that play on stream when someone donates, including sounds, animations, and text messages from the donor.
  • Donations are separate from subscriptions and bits; viewers can do all three, and each goes to a different place in your earnings.

Setting up donations with Streamlabs

Streamlabs is the most common donation processor for Twitch streamers. Go to streamlabs.com, click Sign Up, and choose Twitch as your platform. You will be asked to log in with your Twitch account and grant Streamlabs permission to access your channel. This does not give Streamlabs control of your stream — it only lets them create a donation page linked to your name.

After you authorize Streamlabs, you will land on the dashboard. Click Tip Page in the left menu. This is where you customize how donations look to viewers. You can set a minimum donation amount (Streamlabs suggests $1, but you can go higher), choose a currency, and write a message that appears on the donation page. You can also upload a custom background image or logo.

Scroll down to Tip Settings and turn on Alerts if you want a notification to play on stream when someone donates. Streamlabs provides default alert videos, or you can upload your own. You can set different alerts for different donation amounts — for example, a small animation for $5 and a longer one for $50.

When you are done customizing, copy your Tip Page link from the top of the dashboard. This is the URL you share with viewers. Add it to your Twitch channel panels (the boxes below your stream title), your chat commands, or your stream title itself.

Setting up donations with Tiltify

Tiltify works similarly but is built more for charity campaigns and team fundraising. Go to tiltify.com and click Sign Up. Choose Twitch, log in, and authorize the connection. You will be taken to your campaign dashboard.

Click Create Campaign and choose whether this is a personal fundraiser or a team effort. Name your campaign, set a fundraising goal if you want one, and write a description. Unlike Streamlabs, Tiltify emphasizes the cause or goal — you might say "Raising money for my streaming setup" or "Supporting [charity name]."

In the campaign settings, you can customize the donation page colors, add a banner image, and set reward tiers. Reward tiers let you offer perks at certain donation amounts — for example, a $10 donor gets a shout-out, a $50 donor gets their name on a graphic for a week. Tiltify handles the alerts and notifications automatically.

Copy your campaign link and share it the same way you would with Streamlabs — in panels, commands, or your title. Tiltify also lets you embed a donation widget directly on your Twitch panels if you use their panel app.

Using PayPal or Stripe directly

If you already have a PayPal or Stripe account, you can skip the middleman and set up donations through those services instead. This saves you the 2 to 5 percent fee that Streamlabs or Tiltify takes.

With PayPal, you can create a donation button through your PayPal account settings and get a link to share. PayPal charges a small transaction fee (around 2.2 percent plus $0.30 per transaction in the US), but there is no additional platform fee. The process is less polished than Streamlabs — you do not get built-in alerts or customization — but it works.

Stripe is similar. You set up a payment link through your Stripe dashboard, customize the amount and description, and share the link. Stripe charges 2.9 percent plus $0.30 per transaction. Like PayPal, you lose the alert features and customization, but you keep more of each donation.

Many streamers use PayPal or Stripe as a backup option or for viewers who do not trust third-party platforms. You can offer multiple donation methods at once.

What happens to the money

When a viewer donates, the payment processor charges their card or bank account when ready. The processor then takes its cut and deposits the rest into your bank account within 1 to 5 business days, depending on the service.

Streamlabs takes 2.9 percent plus $0.30 per transaction by default, though you can upgrade to a paid plan to lower the fee. Tiltify takes 5 percent. PayPal takes 2.2 percent plus $0.30. Stripe takes 2.9 percent plus $0.30. These fees come out of what the viewer sent — if someone donates $10, you receive less than $10.

You are responsible for reporting donation income to the tax authority in your country. In the US, this means reporting it on your tax return as self-employment income. Keep records of your deposits and the fees you paid, because you can deduct the fees as a business expense.

Donations are not the same as Twitch subscriptions or bits. Subscription revenue is split between you and Twitch (usually 50/50 for standard streamers, but it varies). Bits are also split with Twitch. Donations go entirely to you (minus the payment processor fee), so they are often more profitable per dollar received.

Customizing donation alerts and perks

Donation alerts are the notifications that play on your stream when someone donates. They can include sound, animation, text, and even text-to-speech that reads the donor's message aloud. Alerts make donations visible to your audience and encourage others to donate.

In Streamlabs, go to Alerts in the left menu and click Tip Alerts. You can set different alerts for different amounts — a small notification for $5, a bigger one for $25, and a full-screen takeover for $100. You can use Streamlabs' built-in alert videos or upload your own. You can also enable text-to-speech so the donor's message is read aloud on stream.

In Tiltify, alerts are automatic and customizable through the campaign settings. You can choose alert styles and set which donation amounts trigger alerts. Tiltify also lets you create reward tiers that unlock perks — for example, a $50 donor gets their name displayed on a graphic for 24 hours, or a $100 donor gets a 5-minute conversation with you after stream.

Some streamers offer perks like custom emotes, Discord roles, or shout-outs at certain donation levels. You manage these manually — there is no automatic system — but they give viewers a reason to donate more than the minimum.

Adding the donation link to your channel

Once your donation page is set up, you need to make it straightforward for viewers to find. The most common places are your Twitch channel panels, chat commands, and your stream title.

To add a panel, go to your Twitch Creator Dashboard, click Panels, and click the plus icon to add a new one. Choose Custom Panel, give it a title like "Support the Stream," add a description, and paste your donation link in the URL field. You can upload a custom image to make it stand out. Panels appear below your stream title on desktop and in your channel menu on mobile.

To create a chat command, go to your Creator Dashboard, click Moderation, then Commands. Click Add Command and create a new one — for example, !donate. Set the response to your donation link. Now whenever someone types !donate in chat, the bot will post your link. You can also add the link to your stream title or category description, though it will be less visible there.

Some streamers put the link in their Discord server, on their website, or in their social media bios. The more places you put it, the more viewers will see it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a Twitch Affiliate or Partner to accept donations?

No. Anyone with a Twitch account can set up donations through Streamlabs, Tiltify, or PayPal. You do not need Affiliate status or a Partner contract. Donations are completely separate from Twitch's official monetization features.

Can viewers donate anonymously?

Yes. Most payment processors let viewers choose whether to include their name or message with the donation. Some viewers donate anonymously, and that is fine — you still receive the money. You can set your alerts to say "Anonymous Donation" instead of the viewer's name if they choose that option.

What if someone donates and then disputes the charge with their bank?

This is called a chargeback. The payment processor handles it, but you may have to refund the money or lose it. Chargebacks are rare, but they happen. Most processors have chargeback protection policies — read yours before you start accepting donations. You can also ask your audience to use a payment method they trust and to contact you directly if there is a problem instead of disputing the charge.

Can I use donations and subscriptions at the same time?

Yes. Viewers can subscribe to your channel and also donate. These are separate transactions that go to different places. Subscriptions go through Twitch, donations go through your payment processor. Many streamers offer all three options — subscriptions, bits, and donations — and let viewers choose what works for them.

Do I have to pay taxes on donations?

Yes, in most countries. Donations are income and must be reported to your tax authority. In the US, report them on your tax return as self-employment income. Keep records of your deposits and the fees you paid, because fees are deductible as a business expense. If you are unsure, talk to a tax professional in your area.