Twitch Gifted Subs Explained: Complete Guide to Gift Subscriptions, Mystery Gifts & Community Gift Bombs

Key Takeaways

• Gifted subs allow viewers to purchase subscriptions for others, either targeting a specific user or randomly distributing them as mystery gifts.
• Pricing matches regular subs: $4.99 (Tier 1), $9.99 (Tier 2), or $24.99 (Tier 3) per gift.
• Community gift bombs let viewers gift up to 100 subs at once to random channel viewers, creating major chat events.
• Streamers earn the same revenue share from gifted subs as from regular subscriptions (50% for Affiliates, negotiable for Partners).
• Gifted subs count toward subscriber goals, leaderboards, and Hype Train progression.

Two Types of Gifted Subs

Twitch provides two distinct gifting mechanisms, each serving different social purposes:

• Targeted Gifts: The gifter selects a specific viewer to receive the subscription. This is personal and intentional—often used to reward a helpful moderator, welcome a new community member, or surprise a friend.
• Mystery Gifts (Community Gifts): The gifter selects a quantity (1 to 100) and Twitch randomly distributes the subscriptions to eligible viewers currently in the channel. Recipients are chosen from non-subscribed viewers who are present in chat.

Both types deliver identical subscription benefits to recipients. The difference lies in the social experience: targeted gifts are personal gestures, while mystery gifts create shared excitement as chat watches random names receive subs in real time.

Eligibility and Requirements

Not every viewer can gift or receive gifted subs. Understanding the eligibility rules prevents confusion:

• Gifter requirements: Any viewer with a valid payment method can gift subscriptions. No minimum account age or follower status required.
• Channel requirements: The channel must be an Affiliate or Partner with subscriptions enabled.
• Mystery gift recipients: Only non-subscribed viewers currently in the channel are eligible. Users who already have an active subscription (self-purchased, gifted, or Prime) are excluded from the random pool.
• Opt-out option: Viewers can opt out of receiving gift subscriptions through their Twitch settings, though few users choose to do so.
• Banned users: Viewers banned from a channel cannot receive gifted subs in that channel.

Pricing by Tier

Most gifted subs are Tier 1. Tier 2 and Tier 3 gifts are rarer but provide enhanced emotes and badges to recipients. Some communities develop cultures around higher-tier gifting during special events or milestones.

Gift Sub Quantity Options

When using the mystery gift option, Twitch presents standard quantity presets along with a custom input:

• Preset amounts: 1, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, or 100 subs
• Custom amount: Any number from 1 to 100
• Maximum per transaction: 100 gift subs at once
• No daily cap published: Twitch does not publicly state a daily gifting limit, though fraud detection systems may flag unusually high volumes

Viewers who want to gift more than 100 subs can complete multiple transactions. During large community events, it is not uncommon to see single viewers gift several hundred subs across multiple rounds.

Revenue Breakdown

Revenue from gifted subs is processed through the same Twitch payout system as all other earnings. Gifted sub revenue accumulates in the streamer's balance and pays out according to the standard payout schedule once the minimum threshold is reached. As noted by the IRS self-employment guidelines, all Twitch earnings including gifted sub revenue are considered taxable income.

Impact on Subscriber Count

Gifted subs directly affect several key channel metrics:

• Active subscriber count: Each gifted sub adds one to the streamer's active sub count for the duration of the subscription (typically one month)
• Sub goals and milestones: Gifted subs count toward sub goals and progress bars, making them powerful accelerators during goal-driven streams
• Hype Train contribution: Gift sub purchases contribute points toward Hype Train activation and progression
• Emote slots: Higher subscriber counts unlock additional emote slots for the channel
• Affiliate/Partner metrics: Gifted subs contribute to the subscription metrics Twitch evaluates for Partner applications

One important distinction: gifted subs do not automatically renew. When the one-month period expires, the recipient must choose to subscribe on their own to continue. This means a surge of gifted subs creates a temporary spike in subscriber count that may not sustain without organic conversions.

How Gift Bombs Work

1. Initiation: A viewer selects the "Gift a Sub" option and chooses the mystery/community gift option
2. Quantity selection: The gifter chooses how many subs to distribute (1-100 per transaction)
3. Payment processing: The full amount is charged to the gifter's payment method
4. Distribution: Twitch randomly selects eligible viewers from those currently in the channel
5. Notification cascade: Chat fills with system messages announcing each recipient, creating a visible wave of notifications
6. Gifter recognition: The gifter's name appears prominently in each notification, along with their cumulative gift count for that channel

Gift Bomb Psychology

The appeal of community gift bombs extends beyond simple generosity. Several psychological factors drive this behavior:

• Social recognition: Gift bombs generate immediate, visible appreciation from the streamer and community. The gifter's name appears repeatedly in chat as each sub distributes.
• Community building: Gift bombs make everyone feel included. Viewers who cannot afford subscriptions gain access to emotes and features, strengthening community bonds.
• Event creation: Large gift bombs become memorable moments that define a stream. They shift the energy and create shared experiences.
• Competitive generosity: In some communities, a culture of generous gifting develops where viewers compete for top spots on the gifted sub leaderboard.
• Milestone celebration: Viewers often trigger gift bombs during streamer milestones—follower goals, subscriber goals, game completions—tying their generosity to shared achievements.

Research from the Computers in Human Behavior journal has explored how digital gifting behaviors in live streaming platforms are motivated by a combination of parasocial relationships, social identity, and the desire for public recognition within online communities.

Leaderboard Mechanics

• Cumulative tracking: The leaderboard counts all gifted subs over the lifetime of the channel, not just the current month
• All tiers count equally: One Tier 3 gift counts the same as one Tier 1 gift on the leaderboard (counted by quantity, not dollar amount)
• Visible in chat: Each gift notification displays the gifter's cumulative total (e.g., "User123 has gifted 150 subs in the channel!")
• Community recognition: Top gifters often receive special treatment from streamers—shoutouts, priority in chat interactions, or informal VIP status
• No monetary display: The leaderboard shows gift counts, not dollar amounts, which keeps the focus on generosity rather than wealth

Leaderboard Strategy for Streamers

The gifted sub leaderboard can be leveraged thoughtfully without being pushy:

• Acknowledge top gifters: Periodically thank your top gifters on stream. Genuine recognition encourages continued generosity.
• VIP rewards: Consider granting VIP status to consistent top gifters as a tangible thank-you.
• Avoid pressure: Never guilt viewers into gifting or create leaderboard competitions that make non-gifting viewers feel excluded.
• Community-first framing: Frame gifted subs as community support rather than personal donations. This keeps the focus on collective benefit.

The Conversion Funnel

Gifted subs create a natural conversion path:

1. Discovery: Viewer watches the stream as a non-subscriber, perhaps casually
2. Gift receipt: Community gift bomb gives them a free subscription
3. Feature experience: Viewer uses subscriber emotes in chat, experiences ad-free viewing, feels part of the subscriber community
4. Social integration: Using sub emotes signals community membership, creating social identity attachment
5. Renewal decision: When the gift expires, the viewer must choose between losing those features or subscribing independently

According to reporting from Business Insider's streaming coverage, Twitch's subscription ecosystem relies heavily on community dynamics to drive recurring revenue, with gifted subs serving as a key acquisition tool.

Conversion Optimization

Streamers can improve the likelihood that gifted sub recipients convert to paying subscribers:

• Welcome gifted subscribers: When gift bombs happen, acknowledge new subscribers and encourage them to try subscriber emotes
• Exclusive subscriber content: Make subscriber-only features genuinely valuable—unique emotes, subscriber streams, Discord roles
• Community engagement: Create reasons for subscribers to interact—subscriber-only polls, game nights, or chat modes
• Timing awareness: Near the end of gifted sub periods, remind viewers about subscription benefits without being aggressive

Comparison Table

Gifted subs offer a unique value proposition: they simultaneously support the streamer financially and benefit another community member directly. This dual impact makes them particularly appealing during community events. For a deeper dive into all revenue options, see the complete subscriptions guide.

Default Notifications

Twitch generates system messages in chat for every gift sub event:

• Targeted gift: "[Gifter] gifted a Tier 1 sub to [Recipient]!"
• Mystery gift (single): "[Gifter] is gifting 1 Tier 1 Sub to [Channel]'s community! They've gifted a total of [X] in the channel!"
• Mystery gift (bulk): "[Gifter] is gifting 50 Tier 1 Subs to [Channel]'s community!" followed by individual recipient notifications
• Cumulative counter: Each notification includes the gifter's all-time gift count for that channel

Custom Alert Setup

Most streamers enhance gift sub notifications through stream alert systems:

• Sound effects: Distinct sounds for different gift quantities (e.g., a bigger sound for 50+ gifts)
• Visual overlays: On-screen animations that scale with gift quantity
• Gift bomb thresholds: Special alerts that trigger only for large gift events (10+, 25+, 50+)
• Aggregation: Some alert systems group rapid gifts into a single notification to prevent alert spam

Properly configured alerts celebrate generosity without overwhelming the stream. The goal is to make gifters feel appreciated while keeping the broadcast watchable. Tools like StreamElements and Streamlabs offer extensive customization options for gift sub alert behavior.

Encouraging Gifting Without Begging

The most effective approach to gift subs is creating an environment where gifting feels natural:

• Strong community culture: Viewers gift subs in communities they feel connected to. Invest in community building, not gift-asking.
• Visible subscriber benefits: When non-subscribers see subscribers using fun emotes and accessing special features, they naturally want the same experience.
• Celebration events: Stream milestones, holidays, and special occasions create natural gifting moments.
• Genuine gratitude: Authentic appreciation for gift subs encourages repeat behavior. Scripted reactions do not.
• Goal alignment: Setting sub goals gives gifters a clear purpose. "We're 15 subs from the next emote slot" is more motivating than "please gift subs."

Revenue Planning

Because gifted sub income fluctuates, streamers should approach it as supplementary rather than foundational revenue:

• Don't budget on gift subs: Base financial planning on recurring subscriptions and predictable income sources
• Track conversion rates: Use Twitch Analytics to understand what percentage of gifted sub recipients convert to paying subscribers
• Seasonal patterns: Gift sub activity often spikes during holidays, events, and channel milestones—plan content accordingly
• Diversify income: Ensure gifted subs complement rather than dominate your revenue mix alongside Bits, ads, and other sources

Myths vs. Reality

• Myth: Gifted subs auto-renew. Reality: Gifted subscriptions last exactly one month and do not renew. The recipient must manually subscribe if they want to continue.
• Myth: You can gift subs to offline channels. Reality: Mystery gifts require eligible viewers to be present in the channel. Targeted gifts can be sent at any time through the user's profile.
• Myth: Streamers earn less from gifted subs. Reality: The revenue share is identical to regular subscriptions. A Tier 1 gifted sub earns the same as a Tier 1 self-purchased sub.
• Myth: Gifted subs count toward the recipient's sub streak. Reality: Gifted subs do not contribute to a viewer's consecutive subscription streak. Only self-purchased subscriptions build streak months.
• Myth: You can gift Prime subs. Reality: Prime Gaming subscriptions cannot be gifted. Only paid subscriptions (Tier 1, 2, or 3) can be gifted to others.
• Myth: Bulk gifting gets a discount. Reality: There is no bulk discount for gifting multiple subs. Each gift costs the full subscription price.

Platform-Wide Trends

• Gift-heavy channels: Channels with strong community cultures and high viewer counts tend to have higher gifted sub ratios
• Event-driven spikes: Major streaming events, game launches, and charity streams generate disproportionate gifting activity
• Regional variation: Gift sub pricing varies by region. Twitch's local pricing adjustments mean viewers in some countries pay less per gift sub.
• Seasonal patterns: Holiday periods (particularly December through February) show increased gifting across the platform

Gift Subs and Channel Growth

For growing channels, gifted subs serve as a growth accelerator. They increase subscriber counts, unlock additional emote slots, improve channel visibility in browse pages, and create positive community moments that viewers share on social media. The Twitch Creator Camp resources emphasize the importance of community engagement features—including gift subs—as part of sustainable channel growth strategies.

Can I refund a gifted sub?

Twitch does not offer refunds for gifted subscriptions under normal circumstances. Once a gift sub is purchased and distributed, the transaction is final. This applies to both targeted gifts and mystery gifts. Viewers should ensure they intend to complete the purchase before confirming.

Do gifted subs count toward Affiliate or Partner requirements?

Gifted subs count toward a channel's total subscriber count, which is a factor in Twitch's Partner evaluation process. However, Twitch considers overall channel health and growth patterns, not just raw subscriber numbers. A channel sustained primarily by gift subs from a single viewer may not demonstrate the organic community growth Twitch looks for in Partner applicants. For more on the application process, see the Affiliate vs. Partner comparison guide.

What happens if there aren't enough eligible viewers for a mystery gift?

If a viewer tries to gift more subs than there are eligible recipients in the channel, Twitch will distribute as many as possible and refund the remainder. For example, if someone gifts 50 subs but only 30 non-subscribed viewers are present, 30 gifts distribute and 20 are refunded.

Can I gift an anonymous sub?

Yes. When gifting, viewers can choose to make the gift anonymous. The recipient still receives the subscription, but the gifter's name is hidden from chat notifications and the leaderboard. Anonymous gifts display as "An Anonymous Gifter" in chat.

Do gifted subs work with Twitch extensions?

Gifted sub recipients gain the same extension access as regular subscribers. If an extension offers subscriber-only features or content, gifted subscribers can use those features for the duration of their gifted subscription period.

Related Resources

• Twitch Subscriptions Complete Guide - Understanding all subscription types and tiers
• Twitch Monetization Strategy - Maximizing all revenue streams
• Twitch Bits Complete Guide - Understanding Bits as an alternative support method
• Gifted Sub Calculator Tool - Calculate gifted sub costs and streamer earnings