Bits are Twitch’s official virtual currency designed specifically for viewer support. Think of them as tips–when viewers use Bits in your chat, they create animated cheering effects while supporting you financially. When a viewer cheers with Bits in your channel, you earn one cent per Bit. For example, if someone cheers with 100 Bits, you earn $1.00.
Here’s how the Bits system works for your viewers:
- Minimum purchase starts at 100 Bits and costs $1.40
- Viewers can cheer any amount of Bits they own
- Special chat animations trigger based on Bit amount
- Cheering often comes with custom channel badges
The key advantage of Bits is their integration directly into Twitch’s platform, making them secure and reliable. However, Twitch takes approximately a 30% cut from Bit purchases, which is why many streamers also offer alternative donation methods.
Direct donations provide a more straightforward way for viewers to support streamers, often through platforms like PayPal, StreamElements, or other payment processors. This method typically means more money reaches the streamer, as payment processing fees are much lower–usually around 2.9% plus a small fixed fee per transaction. Unlike bits, which require minimum purchases, donations can be made in any amount.