With the rise of live streaming and video game streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming, many gamers wonder which platform will pay them the most for their streams. Twitch has long been the dominant platform, but Facebook Gaming has been growing rapidly and now poses real competition. So which platform really pays more – Twitch or Facebook Gaming?
How Twitch pays streamers
Twitch pays streamers through several methods:
- Ad revenue share – Twitch runs ads on streams and shares a portion of that ad revenue with partners. The exact revenue share percentage depends on the streamer’s negotiated contract terms.
- Subscriptions – Viewers can subscribe to a channel for $4.99/month. The streamer gets half of that subscription fee.
- Bits – Viewers can purchase Bits and then “cheer” them in chat to support streamers. Streamers earn $0.01 per Bit cheered.
- Prime Gaming – Twitch partners can opt into Amazon Prime offers that provide additional subscriber benefits.
The amount streamers earn from Twitch depends heavily on their viewership. More popular streamers with higher concurrent viewers can make thousands per month from Twitch. But for many streamers, ad revenue alone is not substantial until they reach partnership status with average concurrent viewership in the hundreds or thousands.
Twitch Partner Program
To unlock more monetization features and a higher revenue share from Twitch, streamers must apply and be accepted into the Twitch Partner Program. Requirements include:
- Streaming at least 25 hours in the last 30 days
- Streaming on 12 unique days in the last 30 days
- Having an average of 75 concurrent viewers in the last 30 days
Partners get access to Cheering with Bits, subscriptions, and ads. Twitch takes a 50% revenue share from partners instead of the standard 70% for non-partners.
How Facebook Gaming pays streamers
Facebook Gaming features monetization options similar to Twitch, including:
- Ad revenue share – Facebook shares a portion of ad revenue with partners based on stream performance.
- Stars – Fans can purchase and gift Stars to streamers, with 1 Star equal to 1 cent. Facebook takes no fee, so streamers keep 100% of Star revenue.
- Subscriptions – Fans can subscribe for $4.99/month. Streamers take home 100% after platform fees.
- Game Challenges – Streamers get paid when viewers complete in-game challenges.
- Fan Support – Direct tipping from viewers.
The key difference is that Facebook Gaming streamers keep more revenue from subscriptions and Stars. They take home 100% of Stars and about 95% of subscription revenue after platform fees. So the potential earnings on Facebook can be higher, especially for streamers with dedicated fans gifting lots of Stars.
Facebook Level Up Program
Like Twitch, Facebook has a Level Up partner program that unlocks more monetization features. Level Up requirements are:
- At least 100 followers
- 4,000 watch minutes in the last 60 days
- 10+ live streams in the last 60 days
Partners get access to Stars and subscriptions. They also get a bonus revenue share bump for a period of time after joining Level Up.
Comparing top streamers’ earnings
To compare real earnings on Twitch versus Facebook Gaming, let’s look at reported payouts from popular streamers on both platforms:
| Streamer | Platform | Estimated Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Ninja | Twitch | $500,000 |
| Shroud | Twitch | $300,000 |
| xQcOW | Twitch | $280,000 |
| Summit1G | Twitch | $275,000 |
| Tfue | Twitch | $250,000 |
| Pokimane | Twitch | $150,000 |
| Disguised Toast | $85,000 | |
| StoneMountain64 | $75,000 |
These numbers illustrate that top Twitch stars like Ninja and xQcOW are still earning significantly more than the top Facebook streamers. There is a massive viewership difference – Ninja has over 16 million Twitch followers, while Disguised Toast has 1.6 million on Facebook. More viewers means more potential subscribers, cheerers, and ad revenue.
However, the Facebook payouts are impressive given the platform’s much smaller user base. With similar viewership levels, Facebook streamers do have greater earning potential from Stars and subscription revenue. If Facebook can close the viewership gap, its payout model could attract more top talent.
Pros and cons of each platform
Beyond revenue splits, streamers should also consider other factors when choosing a platform:
Twitch pros:
- Larger audience – Twitch has 17.5+ million daily active users vs. Facebook’s 396,000.
- Established platform for streamers – Most gamers think of Twitch as the standard for game streaming.
- Additional revenue streams – Twitch Bits, Prime subs, licensing fees, etc.
Twitch cons:
- Harder to stand out among 2 million+ streamers.
- 50% sub revenue share for partners.
- Need to hit Partner status to unlock most money-making features.
Facebook Gaming pros:
- Keep more revenue – 100% of Stars, 95% of subs.
- Easier to stand out and grow an audience.
- Built-in audience from 2.9 billion Facebook users.
Facebook Gaming cons:
- Smaller overall audience.
- Younger platform – still growing gaming features.
- Have to hit Level Up for some monetization.
The better option depends on the streamer
There is no definitive answer on whether Facebook or Twitch pays streamers better overall. For already huge streamers like Ninja, sticking with Twitch makes sense – a smaller potential upside on Facebook is not worth leaving millions of followers on Twitch. But for smaller streamers just starting out, Facebook Gaming’s faster growth, greater revenue splits, and built-in audience give them a strong chance of earning money faster.
In summary:
- Large streamers with big Twitch followings will likely earn more staying put. The larger audience offsets Facebook’s better revenue splits.
- Smaller streamers will likely see faster growth and earnings on Facebook. Smaller platform and built-in audience make it easier to stand out.
- Revenue potential is ultimately driven by number of viewers. More viewers = more subscriptions, Stars, ad opportunities.
As Facebook continues expanding its presence in the game streaming space, expect to see the platform pay out increasingly large amounts to attract established personalities. But for now Twitch remains the more lucrative option for most high-profile streamers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make money on Facebook gaming?
Yes, Facebook offers several ways for gaming creators to monetize their streams and make money. This includes ad revenue sharing, subscriptions, Stars, and more. However, streamers need to reach “Level Up” status by meeting certain viewership thresholds to access monetization features.
Who is the #1 streamer on Facebook gaming?
As of late 2022, Disguised Toast is likely the top streamer on Facebook Gaming in terms of popularity and earnings. Other top Facebook streamers include StoneMountain64, QueenEliminator, and TheFierceKitten.
Do Twitch streamers make more money than YouTubers?
On average, top Twitch streamers likely earn more than top YouTubers. However, YouTube also offers significant monetization opportunities through ad revenue sharing, channel memberships, SuperChats, and more. The platform with higher earning potential depends a lot on an individual creator’s viewership and fanbase engagement.
How many viewers do you need to make money streaming?
There is no definitive minimum viewership required, but realistically streamers likely need at least 100 average concurrent viewers to start seeing meaningful revenue from ads, subscriptions, etc. However, building a large and consistent viewership is the biggest factor for earning income streaming on sites like Twitch or Facebook Gaming.
Does Ninja still stream? Which platform?
Yes, Ninja continues to stream after leaving Twitch for Mixer, and then Mixer’s shutdown. He has returned to stream high profile events on YouTube, Facebook Gaming, and Twitch. However, he has not committed full-time to any single platform since Mixer.
Conclusion
Determining whether Facebook Gaming or Twitch pays streamers better depends on a variety of factors. Large, established streamers do tend to make more currently on Twitch. However, for newer streamers, Facebook Gaming presents some advantages and higher revenue potential in many cases. As Facebook continues to grow its platform, streamers’ earnings on both services are likely to increase as more viewers engage with gaming content.