Twitch Affiliate vs Partner: Complete Guide to Requirements, Benefits & Earnings

Key Takeaways

• Twitch Affiliate is the first monetization milestone, requiring 50 followers, 500 minutes broadcast, 7 unique broadcast days, and 3 average viewers over 30 days.
• Twitch Partner is the premium tier with enhanced features, requiring 75 average viewers, 25 hours broadcast, and 12 unique broadcast days over 30 days.
• Revenue share differs - Affiliates receive 50% subscription revenue, while select Partners may negotiate better splits (up to 70%).
• Partners get exclusive benefits including verified badge, custom cheermotes, priority support, and more emote slots.
• Extensions work for both tiers - Affiliates and Partners can use Bits-enabled extensions to monetize their streams.

The Two-Tier System Explained

Twitch designed this tiered approach to reward creators as they grow their audience and demonstrate consistent streaming commitment. Here's how the progression works:

• Regular Streamer: Any Twitch user can stream, but cannot monetize directly through Twitch
• Twitch Affiliate: Entry-level monetization tier with subscriptions, Bits, and basic features
• Twitch Partner: Premium tier with enhanced revenue options, priority support, and exclusive features

The path from regular streamer to Affiliate is designed to be achievable for most consistent creators, while Partner status requires significant audience growth and engagement metrics that demonstrate you're building a sustainable streaming business.

Affiliate Requirements Breakdown

What These Requirements Mean in Practice

Let's break down what meeting these thresholds actually looks like:

• 500 minutes = ~8.3 hours: This is very achievable—streaming just 2 hours per day for 4-5 days easily clears this requirement.
• 7 unique broadcast days: You don't need to stream every day. Streaming twice a week for a month gets you there.
• 3 average viewers: This is the trickiest metric for many new streamers. It's calculated as a weighted average across all your streams.
• 50 followers: With consistent streaming and community interaction, most creators reach this within their first month or two.

Once you meet all requirements, Twitch automatically sends you an invitation to join the Affiliate program. You can track your progress toward each milestone in your Twitch Creator Dashboard under the Achievements section.

Partner Requirements Breakdown

Beyond the Numbers: What Twitch Actually Looks For

Meeting the minimum requirements is just the beginning. Twitch's Partner review process considers several additional factors:

• Consistent Growth Trajectory: Twitch wants to see that your channel is growing, not just maintaining minimums
• Community Engagement: Active chat, returning viewers, and healthy community interaction matter
• Content Quality: Stream quality, presentation, and professionalism are evaluated
• Platform Compliance: Clean record with no Terms of Service violations or community guideline strikes
• Streaming Consistency: Regular schedule and reliable streaming patterns demonstrate commitment

Many streamers who meet the numerical requirements get denied on their first application. This is normal—Twitch recommends continuing to grow and reapplying after demonstrating further progress.

Monetization Features

Emotes and Customization

Platform Features and Support

Subscription Revenue

Subscriptions are typically the primary income source for most Twitch streamers. Here's how the revenue works:

• Affiliates: Receive a standard 50% revenue share on all subscription tiers ($4.99, $9.99, $24.99)
• Partners: Start at 50%, but high-performing Partners may negotiate better splits (commonly 60/40 or even 70/30 for top creators)
• Prime Subs: Both tiers receive the same revenue from Prime Gaming subscriptions

For a $4.99 Tier 1 subscription, Affiliates receive approximately $2.50 before payment processing fees. Partners with enhanced deals might receive $3.50 or more per subscription.

Bits Revenue

Both Affiliates and Partners earn $0.01 per Bit when viewers cheer. The revenue calculation is straightforward:

• 100 Bits = $1.00 for the streamer
• 1,000 Bits = $10.00 for the streamer
• 10,000 Bits = $100.00 for the streamer

This rate is consistent for both Affiliates and Partners. However, Partners typically receive more Bits due to larger, more engaged audiences. Using Bits-enabled extension games can significantly increase your Bits earnings by giving viewers more reasons to cheer. You can use our Bits Revenue Calculator to estimate your potential earnings from Bits and extensions.

Ad Revenue

According to industry reports from Stream Scheme, ad revenue is where Partner status can provide significant advantages:

• CPM Rates: Partners generally receive higher CPM (cost per thousand impressions) rates than Affiliates
• Ad Control: Partners have more control over ad placement and frequency
• Incentive Programs: Twitch occasionally offers Partners exclusive ad incentive programs with guaranteed payouts

Ad revenue varies significantly based on viewer geography, time of year, and advertiser demand. During peak advertising seasons (Q4 holidays), CPMs can increase 2-3x for both tiers.

Optimize Your Streaming Schedule

• Stream Consistently: Set a regular schedule and stick to it. Viewers are more likely to return when they know when you're live.
• Target Off-Peak Hours: Consider streaming during less competitive times when you're more likely to be discovered.
• Aim for 2-3 Hour Sessions: Longer streams give more time for viewer discovery and accumulate toward your 500 minutes faster.

Boost Average Viewer Count

The 3 average viewer requirement is often the most challenging for new streamers. Here's how to improve it:

• Choose the Right Category: Avoid oversaturated games where you'll be buried in the directory. Look for games with moderate viewership but fewer streamers.
• Network with Other Streamers: Join Discord communities, participate in raids, and collaborate with creators at similar levels.
• Use Interactive Extensions: Interactive Twitch extensions keep viewers engaged and encourage them to stay longer.
• Engage Actively: Talk to every viewer who chats. Make lurkers feel welcome without calling them out.

You can use our Stream Growth Calculator to project your path to Affiliate and understand realistic timelines based on your current metrics.

Grow Your Follower Base

• Cross-Platform Promotion: Share your Twitch content on YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, and other platforms where potential viewers might discover you.
• Create Highlight Content: Clip your best moments and share them to attract new followers.
• Be Active in Communities: Participate in gaming communities, subreddits, and Discord servers related to your content.

Exceed the Minimum Requirements

Don't apply the moment you hit 75 average viewers. Streamers with significantly higher metrics have better approval rates:

• Aim for 100+ Average Viewers: This demonstrates clear momentum and reduces risk for Twitch
• Show Consistent Growth: A channel that grew from 50 to 100 viewers over 3 months is more attractive than one that peaked at 75
• Maintain High Engagement: Active chat, subscriber interactions, and community involvement signal a healthy channel

Build a Professional Presence

• Quality Stream Setup: Good audio, stable video quality, and professional overlays matter
• Consistent Branding: Cohesive visual identity across your channel, panels, and social media
• Engaged Community: Active Discord server, social media presence, and viewer loyalty
• Clean Record: No Terms of Service violations or community guideline issues

Write a Compelling Application

Your Partner application includes a section where you can explain why you deserve Partner status:

• Highlight Your Growth: Share specific metrics and milestones you've achieved
• Demonstrate Commitment: Explain your streaming schedule and long-term plans
• Show Community Value: Describe what makes your community unique
• Be Professional: Proofread your application and present yourself as a serious content creator

Extensions for Viewer Retention

Higher viewer retention means higher average viewer counts—critical for both Affiliate and Partner requirements:

• Interactive Games: Extensions like Stream Avatars, Pokemon Community Game, and other extension games give viewers reasons to stay
• Loyalty Systems: Extensions that reward watch time encourage viewers to stay for entire streams
• Community Features: Leaderboards, predictions, and polls create investment in your stream

Before installing extensions, review our extension security guide to understand permissions and data access.

Extensions for Monetization

Once you reach Affiliate or Partner, Bits-enabled extensions create additional revenue streams:

• Sound Alerts: Viewers spend Bits to trigger custom sounds and effects
• Game Power-Ups: Bits can power characters or trigger events in overlay games
• Interactive Effects: Viewers use Bits for on-screen effects and interactions

Read our comprehensive report on the most used Twitch extensions to discover which extensions top streamers rely on for engagement and monetization.

Can I Lose Affiliate or Partner Status?

Yes, both statuses can be revoked:

• Terms of Service Violations: Serious violations can result in status removal
• Extended Inactivity: Not streaming for extended periods (typically 12+ months) may result in removal
• Partner-Specific: Partners who fall significantly below viewership expectations may have status reconsidered

Can I Stream on Other Platforms as an Affiliate?

The Twitch Affiliate Agreement includes exclusivity requirements. According to Twitch's Affiliate FAQ, while you're live on Twitch, that content is exclusive to Twitch for 24 hours. You can:

• Stream different content on other platforms when not live on Twitch
• Upload VODs to YouTube after the 24-hour exclusivity window
• Create unique content for other platforms that wasn't streamed on Twitch

Partners have stricter exclusivity requirements and should review their individual contracts.

What's the Payout Threshold?

Both Affiliates and Partners must accumulate at least $50 (or equivalent in local currency) before Twitch processes a payout. Payouts typically occur 15 days after the end of the month in which you reached the threshold.

Related Resources

• Twitch Subscriptions Complete Guide - Understand subscription revenue tiers
• Twitch Ads Explained - Maximize your ad revenue potential
• Twitch Bits Explained - Learn how Bits monetization works
• Stream Growth Calculator - Project your path to milestones
• Total Income Estimator - Calculate all revenue streams