Twitch vs YouTube Gaming: Which is better for making money?

Twitch and YouTube are two online platforms where content creators or organizations can host live broadcasts to vast audiences. While these two platforms have their similarities, quite a few features set them apart. This Twitch vs YouTube comparison guide is intended to help you find the right one for your content and audience.

	Twitch	YouTube
Funding model	Donations: tips during broadcast	Recurring: monthly subscriptions + ad revenue Donations: tips during broadcast
Payouts	15 days after the end of the month + $100 cashout requirement	21st of every month +100 cashout requirement
Size	9.5 million streamers	2.6 billion active users
Company Founded	2011	2005
Highlighted Tools	Provide viewers perks and rewards Subscriber badges and personalized emotes Starting Soon overlay screen Viewers can gift other viewers a subscription	Creator studio with analytics Personalized emotes Stream uploaded automatically when finished Viewers can gift other viewers a subscription
Highlighted Integrations	Discord	Discord
Fees	Up to 50% of membership	30% of membership fees and 30% of all donations
Best for…	Gaming streamers	Video content creators

What is Twitch Streaming?

 

Twitch is a popular online platform used for live video streaming, offering a large variety of unique content from video games, cooking, and art to people simply reacting to viral videos. 

This streaming service was founded back in 2011 as a spin-off company that had branched off from its predecessor, Justin.tv, launched in 2007 by founders Justin Kan, Emmet Shear, Michael Seibal, and Kyle Vogt. While Justin.TV was divided into a few different niches, and gaming streams were the fastest-growing category by far. 

The popularity of gaming content motivated the company to launch a new platform in 2011 made specifically for gaming streams. The site was named TwitchTV, and in just a year, TwitchTV was accumulating over 20 million unique visitors a month. In addition, the Twitch Partnership program was established the same year, offering streamers who have 500 concurrent views, 1000 followers, and 3000,000 total views perks such as ad revenue and additional channel customization features.

When Amazon acquired Twitch.tv in 2014, the site got up to 55 million viewers watching their favorite streamers per month. Now that Twitch was becoming a prominent platform e-sport niche, the company wanted to get viewers more involved. 

This was when Prime Gaming, a subscription service for streamers and their viewers, was created. The subscription service allowed streamers to offer different perks to their viewers for paying a monthly subscription, including ad-free streaming, free in-game content, discounts on video games, etc.  

Today, Twitch hosts over 9 million streamers per month, and roughly 27,000 of them are part of the Twitch Partnership program.

What is YouTube Streaming?

YouTube is the number one online platform for watching video content uploaded by the public, with over 4 billion hours worth of video views a month and 500 hours of video being uploaded to the site every minute. As a result, plenty of content creators make a living off of creating and uploading videos to their audience. 

This video-sharing website was founded way back in 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jaws Karim after the three men had discussed how frustrating it was to find and share video clips online. They had realized that many people were beginning to collect video clips on their cell phones, but in 2004 there was no way to share them with others. 

The first YouTube video was uploaded by Jaws Karim himself in 2005 and was titled "Me at the Zoo" which displayed Karim standing near the elephants at the San Diego Zoo. The first video to go viral on YouTube was a clip of a Brazilian soccer player Ronaldinho getting a pair of Golden Boots.

In late 2006 Google acquired YouTube, calling it "the next step in the evolution of the internet." Then, in early 2007, the Partner's Program was established, allowing content creators to begin making money off of their uploads. This advancement was life-changing as these creators could now turn their hobbies into an actual career with a steady income.

YouTube Live was eventually launched in April of 2011, which enabled creators and public or corporate organizations to stream their content to a live audience. By 2012, even presidential debates were being live-streamed on YouTube. The video platform later launched a subscription service called YouTube Red and later named YouTube premium, which provided advertisement-free access to the content. 

Today, many content creators stream their content exclusively to YouTube, which has become a serious competition to Twitch in the last year or two. Several popular streamers have even switched over to YouTube from Twitch. 

Does YouTube own Twitch?

YouTube has never owned Twitch. YouTube is owned by Google and Alphabet. Larry is worth millions. He is the owner of Google, YouTube as well. This is crazy. Twitch is also owned by Amazon. It is owned by Jeff Bezos. As many of you may have forgotten, Jeff has an estimated net worth in excess of $200 billion, which makes him the richest businessman in 2020.

Tell me the difference between Twitch and YouTube?

While Twitch and YouTube have similar features, it is still very different compared with YouTube and other video-sharing apps, for example. There is a significant difference between Twitter and YouTube in the viewership. Twitch serves live streams and is one of the world's leading live streaming platforms. YouTube meanwhile is intended to provide long-standing information and is an excellent search engine, this site is able to provide useful info about specific topics. However, these similarities appear as logical as both parties try and steal one another's treasure.

Streaming on Twitch vs Youtube

The difference between Youtube and Twitch is the audience that the creators are catering to. Twitch is designed for the people who consume long-form streaming content (primarily gaming) that is live rather than pre-recorded, edited, and posted later. On the other hand, Youtube was made for its users to post and consume lasting content with an included search engine to find exactly what they want to watch with ease. 

With both of these platforms regularly adding new features that make them more similar to one another, like Youtube adding its streaming feature and Twitch allowing content not related to gaming, it has become more common than ever to compare these two platforms.

Can pre-recorded videos be streamed on Twitch or Youtube?

Yes, you can use pre-recorded videos on both platforms and stream at a time of your choosing. Twitch relies on third-party software like OBS or re-streamer, you'll need to use that software in order to accomplish this.

Which is better: YouTube vs Twitch?

Twitch seems to be one of the most popular streaming platforms for gamers, with all aspects taken into account. It is more likely the site will attract more gamers than YouTube has attracted. Twitch is an obvious alternative to Youtube for gamers who want to play more. Wait, I'll just say Twitch is better. Let us go over the other side. Let us explore growth in platforms. Twitch uses a different system to rank streams, so a great way to get more followers from Twitch is to stream live. It's also true, the bigger the game streams, the faster the stream's growth.

Can you stream YouTube gaming and Twitch at the same time?

Technically the streamer is easily accessible via Twitch and YouTube. It's easy to use an app like Restream for free or paid subscribers. The Restream service allows you to upload and share your video to 30 different streaming websites. And this helps to prevent stress on your body. It also makes it possible to watch the show live on hundreds of platforms. In addition Streamlab Prime is available with multiple streaming options, this is great! It's easy to download Twitch and Youtube videos with a single click. I've been upgrading to Streamlabs Prime. I'll show you how to use StreamLabs Prime for low prices.

Is it better to stream on YouTube gaming or Twitch?

What are your answers to my questions? That is complicated. While nobody likes such answers, the answer depends on the individual and what you seek. YouTube video platform is usually the best choice if you are looking at creating videos and monetizing them. Twitch aims at generating community around your content while also engaging with your audience. On the other hand, YouTube is better for generating more clicks on videos and promoting sharing of those videos. It's great for those aiming to reach a wider audience.

What Type of Content Is Not Allowed?

Twitch streaming platform

Twitch has guidelines on what content you can stream to your audience to make the website a safer place for all its visitors. Violating these community guidelines as a streamer can get you banned depending on the situation and how often you re-offend. 

Here is a quick overview of what type of content you cannot stream on Twitch:

• Streaming content you do not own the copyright to is not allowed and can get your Twitch account banned. Copyright owners can report this and get a DMCA strike on your Twitch account. DMCA stands for the Digital Millennium Copyright Act that Congress passed in 2000. For example, if you watch an episode of an anime live on stream, you risk receiving a DMCA strike on your twitch channel, eventually leading to a ban if you continue. This also applies to copyrighted music, online videos, and even books. 

• Sexually suggestive content 

• The use of weapons intended to physically threaten, intimidate, harm, or kill other people. This policy means that you can responsibly use or display a knife but using it as a weapon and threatening others is not. 

• Streamers can not be shirtless, but Twitch does make exceptions for those who are live streaming at outdoor festivals, beaches, swimming, etc. In these events, twitch only states that those who present as a woman must keep their nipples covered.

• Content that exclusively focuses on extreme or gratuitous gore and violence.

• Sharing your own or other people's personal information on stream.

• The streaming of beta or demo versions of unreleased game content.

• Self-promotion of your channel through another person's account.

Twitch vs. Youtube Content

Although Twitch and YouTube gaming are a video platforms, there is a difference in the content type. Twitch for example draws live gameplay, live broadcasts that are live broadcasts. Watching others playing is becoming popular as a form of socializing. You can communicate with people you cannot meet IRL. Other live streams are also available for games, including interviews, gaming reviews, and other topics covered at Twitch. YouTube combines viewers switching from recorded videos to live streaming. Streaming content must separate streaming and video.

Youtube streaming

YouTube also has its guidelines on what people are not allowed to post onto the video-sharing platform. When violating these guidelines, channel owners can accumulate strikes on their channel that can eventually get your track permanently banned if broken enough. Violating these guidelines can also keep your content from getting monetized if removed completely. 

Here is an overview of the content that is not allowed on YouTube:

• Violent or gory content that is intended to shock or disgust viewers or content to encourage others to commit violent acts. This includes fights involving minors, footage or audio involving natural disasters, wars, attacks, torture, etc., where someone is getting hurt, animal abuse, and dramatized/fictional violence that does not have enough context for viewers to understand it is not real.

• Content that threatens individuals or targets individuals with prolonged or malicious insults based on intrinsic attributes, including their protected group status or physical traits.

• Content intended to praise, promote, or aid violent criminal organizations.

• Hate speech content that promotes violence or hatred against individuals or groups based on the following attributes, age, caste, disability, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, nationality, race, immigration status, religion, gender, sexual orientation, victims of major violent events as well as their kin, and veteran status. 

• Content encouraging dangerous or illegal activities that risk serious physical harm or death. This includes hazardous challenges, pranks, hacking, hard drug use or creation, eating disorders, violent events, theft or cheating, and bypassing payment.

• Content that aims to sell directly, link, or facilitate access to any of the following regulated goods and services: alcohol, bank account passwords, stolen credit cards, as well as other financial information, counterfeit documents or currency, controlled narcotics, and other drugs, explosives, organs, endangered species, firearms, nicotine including vaping products, online gambling sites not yet reviewed by Google, sex or escort services, unlicensed medial services, and human smuggling.

• Sexually explicit content that features minors or content that sexually exploits minors. Harmful or dangerous acts involving minors, infliction of emotional distress on minors, including exposing minors to mature themes, simulating parental abuse, cyberbullying and harassment involving minors, coercing minors, and violence. 

• Explicit content meant to be sexually gratifying and posting pornography may result in content removal or even channel termination. Fetish content will be removed or age-restricted. In most cases, violent, graphic, or humiliating fetishes are not allowed.

• Content that promotes suicide or self-harm is intended to shock or disgust viewers.

How Creators Are Paid

Twitch streamer income

Upon finding the platform, many people's first question is, "can you make money on Twitch?" Once you are an affiliate streamer on Twitch, you can begin receiving revenue from playing ads on your stream. Of course, the amount of money paid to each streamer will vary significantly depending on several facts like their popularity and how long they've been on the platform. However, the basic payout is about $0.25-$1.50 per 1,000 views. 

Creators on Twitch can also earn money from bits, a twitch currency that allows viewers to donate to their favorite streamer directly. Twitch will take 29% off the top and leaves streamers with 71% of the donation made with bits. Donations on Twitch can also be made via PayPal, and this way, streamers receive 100% of the donation. 

Twitch also allows people to subscribe to a streamer's channel for a $5 fee every month. If the streamer is not a Twitch partner, Twitch takes up to 50% of this subscription income. Lastly, streamers can make money off of their merchandise by making live sales on stream without the viewer even having to leave the stream to purchase. 

YouTube Streamer Income

Once a creator on YouTube has reached a certain threshold, YouTube will allow ads to play on their video so that they can begin receiving revenue from their uploads. While this is similar to the way Twitch runs ads, YouTube ad revenue is significantly higher than Twitch’s. As well as video ads, YouTube has a membership feature that allows viewers to pay a monthly subscription fee so that they don't need to have to watch ads and you can get access to exclusive content and rewards like custom emotes.

Creators can also offer different perks and rewards to members, such as early uploads or extra content not available to the public. The creator must have at least 30,000 subscribers to use this feature, and gaming channels must have at least 1,000 subscribers. 

Not only that, but the creator must be a member of the YouTube Partner Program to be eligible. The super chat is another way that streamers can get paid while they stream. This is the official YouTube donation system. 70% of membership fees go to the content creator, and YouTube takes 30% of all donations made in super chat during a live stream. 

What is excellent about streaming on YouTube is that once you end the stream, the entire stream gets posted as a video so that you continue to receive revenue long after the broadcast has ended. When live streaming on YouTube, you receive more of the membership revenue but see less of the donations than you would on Twitch. 

Where can I earn more Twitch or YouTube?

There are few precise numbers because both platforms offer various scenarios for the development they provide. Twitch allows players to start earning money quickly based on the amount you donate to a gamer first and upon the success you get paid via an affiliate program. To make more money however it might be necessary to partner with an advertising agency instead. YouTube has an easy way to gain membership in its adsense program and the income can be huge every new video will benefit your business, especially if you save and delete streams.

Does Youtube offer an affiliate program?

The YouTube affiliate program does not officially exist. However, despite the lack of a youTube affiliate program creators can earn money through the platform by promoting either their own products or putting a link in the comment section. Creator uses live streams to promote affiliate links and earn commissions from them.

Does Twitch offer an affiliate program?

Twitch is owned by Amazon so naturally, no big surprise here that the platform offers an affiliate program. However, the Twitch Affiliate program requires streamers to qualify before being allowed in. Twitch requires streamers to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Must have broadcast for 500 minutes in the past 30 days.

• Must have streamed on at least 7 different days in the past 30 days.

• Must have achieved an average of 3 simultaneous viewers in the past 30 days.

• Must have a community of at least 50 followers.

How much can you earn on the Twitch affiliate program?

Twitch partners earn approximately $250 monthly per 100 subscribers this was according to a new article published by CNBC. Those who qualified as Twitch Affiliates will not earn as much. The amount varies depending on how many viewers are on the channel as well as how many of them are using Adblock on Twitch. In short, don't rely on this program to pay for rent.

What pays better Twitch or YouTube?

For smaller active Streaming Sites Twitch takes an estimated 40% off sub revenue. YouTube only takes an additional 30%. While both platforms offer partners, the game is relatively new and lacks the community and event feature Twitch possesses.

Twitch Vs YouTube Chat and Moderation Policies

Twitch chat

Twitch puts a lot of focus into the creativity of the live chat, including platform-exclusive emotes, mostly representations of phrases and inside jokes that have been custom designed. Upon subscribing to a streamer's channel, you get access to their community's personalized emotes. The live game streaming platform also reinforces chat moderation, and the policies are more strict than most other platforms.

Streamers can even set up their own personal list of things that are not allowed in their chat, and a group of moderators can ban users for violating these rules. In addition, when organizing the live chat log, Twitch organizes the chat by the time that the messages are sent. Twitch also offers bots that make chat easier to control and provides a more interactive experience. 

YouTube chat

YouTube's chat features are a little bit different. For instance, the chat is organized by relevant messages rather than the most recent ones like Twitch. In addition, however, YouTube creators can offer personalized emotes from their community to those that are a member of their YouTube channel. 

YouTube, unfortunately, does not offer as many tools as Twitch for more easily moderating the chat, nor can they set up their own list of rules. YouTube chat is moderated based on the rules and guidelines created by YouTube. 

Discovery and Growth Potential

Live streaming on Twitch

The only ways for users to discover new content creators on Twitch are through the Twitch directory and the homepage. This discovery usually means that streamers have to use their presence on social media to drive traffic to their streams. 

Smaller creators with less significant audiences and presences on social media struggle to find new viewers and grow their channels. This is a big reason many Twitch streamers are moving over to YouTube. 

Live streaming on YouTube

Live streaming on YouTube on the other hand, puts a lot of focus into giving smaller creators a chance to be discovered by a new audience. For starters, YouTube has over 2 billion visitors every month, which creates a bigger opportunity for users to find you. 

Streams on YouTube are also incredibly easy to find. Simply type in the topic you are looking for, such as a video game, and various streamers related to that topic will pop up. Unlike Twitch which lists streams chronologically from high to low, Youtube uses an algorithm that helps give smaller content creators more of a chance to be discovered. You can also create your own thumbnails, which make users more likely to click on your stream. 

Another thing that sets YouTube's discoverability apart from Twitch is that content creators can direct traffic from their pre-recorded and edited YouTube videos that their subscribers are already seeing for free. 

YouTube vs Twitch: The Verdict

Who’s Twitch Better Suited For?

Choosing the best platform as a streamer can depend on many different factors, such as the type of content you make, the size of your audience, and your goals. Twitch, for the most part, is a more streamer-friendly platform that is easier to start streaming out on, offering more opportunities to monetize, especially if you stream gaming content. Twitch algorithm seems even-handed unlike YouTube provides greater opportunities for creators that are just starting out.

This is Hasan Piker, also known as Hasanbi on Twitch. He uses the platform to stream his political content to as many as 70,000 active viewers every day. During these streams, Hasan provides commentary on different current events around the world and his political views. He has over 2 million followers on the website with thousands of monthly paying subscribers. Hasan promotes his Twitch stream every single day on Instagram and Twitter when he goes live.

Who’s YouTube Better Suited For?

If you plan to start streaming on YouTube and hope to get some viewers it's probably a good idea to start first by building a following on YouTube. YouTube's algorithm makes it difficult for people just starting out to get discovered. YouTube gaming also takes a smaller cut of membership plans that can be offered in tiers that Twitch does not yet offer.

Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, also known by his name on YouTube, PewdiePie. He uses the platform to upload videos and also streams himself gaming quite often. Felix offers three membership plans to his YouTube following including one tier for $1.99, $4.99, and $7.99. Being one of the most subscribed YouTube channels, he doesn’t need to do much promoting but often reminds his viewers to subscribe to his videos.