Go viral with custom merch
Want to learn how to make money streaming?
Whether you’re on Twitch, YouTube, or Facebook Live, we’ll share nine strategies for generating revenue from live streaming.
Explore various tools and methods, such as ads, exclusive content, and merch sales, to start turning your passion for video streaming into a thriving income source.
Key takeaways
- You can start monetizing live broadcasts with a small audience, but diversifying your income through merchandise sales, affiliate marketing, and donations is vital for sustainable growth.
- Shoppable live streaming offers a unique way to integrate product sales directly into your stream, engaging viewers while increasing revenue.
- Attract sponsorships with a consistent and sizeable viewership, and choose partners that align with your content and your audience’s interests.
- Ads offer supplementary income, ranging from $1 to $10 per 1,000 views, but use it sparingly to avoid disrupting the viewer experience.
- Use platforms like Patreon and pay-per-view content to monetize exclusive material and combine it with other methods for a reliable income stream.
Choose the best streaming and monetization platform
First, you need to find the best live-streaming platform that fits your needs and niche.
Here are some of the most popular channels to make money, each offering unique monetization opportunities:
Twitch
Twitch is one of the most popular live-streaming platforms in the gaming and entertainment space. Twitch streamers can earn money through subscriptions, ads, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, and donations.
Monetize live streams with Twitch Partners and Affiliate programs, which provide revenue sharing on ads and subscriptions. Successful streamers can make anywhere from $1.29 to $2.14 per 1,000 views from ads.
YouTube Live
YouTube is another major platform for streamers, offering monetization through ads, channel memberships, Super Chats, and merchandise shelves.
YouTube’s Partner Program helps streamers earn through ads in their live streams and videos. A popular YouTube channel can make between $2 to $3 per 1,000 views.
Besides streaming on Facebook itself, the platform has Facebook Gaming. Earn while playing games and make money through Stars (a virtual currency), subscriptions, and ads.
Facebook supports pre-roll and mid-roll ads in recorded content and also offers live-stream shopping. Revenue from Facebook ads typically falls between $1 to $10 per 1,000 views.
Patreon
While not a traditional streaming platform, Patreon is popular among streamers for letting subscribers access exclusive content in exchange for monthly fees.
Set up different membership tiers and provide behind-the-scenes content, coaching, or invite-only streams. It’s a great way to complement income from other platforms.
DLive
Known for its decentralized blockchain-based system, DLive lets streamers earn LINO points – exchangeable for real currency.
DLive doesn’t take a cut from streamers’ revenue, making it appealing for those looking to maximize profits.
Trovo
Trovo is an emerging live-streaming platform that focuses on community engagement. Streamers can earn through Gems (the platform’s currency), subscriptions, and ads.
The platform’s Trovo 500 Program rewards top streamers with bonuses based on hours watched.
TikTok Live
Although known for short-form videos, TikTok has live video streaming. Content creators can earn through virtual gifts, live shopping, and ads.
Now that you have your platform options figured out, it’s time to look at nine fun ways to generate revenue with streaming.
1. Create and sell branded products
Looking for an excellent way how to make money live streaming? Consider selling branded merchandise.
By showcasing your products in real time, you offer viewers a convenient, engaging way to support your work. This turns your community’s enthusiasm into steady revenue and reinforces your brand identity.
Try selling products such as:
- Merchandise. Monetizing physical brand merch can increase your passive income. Sell branded apparel and accessories like t-shirts, mugs, and stickers.
- Digital products and downloadables. Gaming overlays, chat emotes, and custom screen backgrounds are easy to distribute and have little to no production costs.
- Books and courses. Consider making eBooks, tutorials, downloadable guides, or webinars. Depending on your expertise, teach viewers anything from how to improve their gaming skills to building a personal brand.
Print on Demand is a great eCommerce business model for content creators to sell merch without the hassle of logistics and manufacturing.
Try Printify and choose from over 1,300 products to customize your fan merch. Sell them on your live streams and online store while we handle printing and shipping – you keep 100% of the profits.
Start selling today!
2. Monetize streaming with ads
Ads serve two purposes for streamers – to increase visibility and provide a reliable income stream.
Expand your reach
Running targeted ads on live-streaming platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook helps attract new viewers.
Use display and overlay ads, small banners, or pre-roll ads to promote your streams. Choose ad placements that will increase your exposure to viewers likely to engage with your content.
Explore various ad types
Streamers with a steady viewership can monetize their live content by integrating different types of ads into live streams:
- Display and overlay ads: Small banners that appear while the stream continues.
- Pre-roll ads: Videos that run before viewers start watching a stream.
- Mid-roll ads: Ads during the stream that pause the content.
- Baked-in ads: Direct mentions or product placements within the stream.
- Post-roll ads: Ads that play at the end of a stream.
- Product ads via widgets: Tools like Twitch widgets let viewers buy products directly.
- Interactive ads: Engaging ads such as polls or mini-games during the stream.
Ad revenue generally ranges around $3.50 per 1,000 views, depending on the platform and engagement. Use ads strategically to avoid interrupting the viewer experience.
3. Collect tips and donations
This remains the simplest way for newcomers to make money from streaming.
Platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook allow users to set up donation links or custom panels for tips. You can also use third-party services like Streamlabs to make tipping smoother for viewers.
Build engagement by rewarding donors with shout-outs, special tags, or exclusive content. Platforms now enhance donations with visual elements like chat stickers and badges, making tipping more interactive.
- Use the integrated payment interface on your live-streaming platform or link your PayPal or Buy Me a Coffee account in the stream description.
New streamers can earn $50 to $200 per month from occasional donations. Earnings vary based on viewer retention and activity.
4. Affiliate marketing
To earn money streaming through affiliate marketing, content creators partner with businesses to promote products or services via affiliate links.
Share these links through in-stream ads, content descriptions, or social media and earn a commission – typically between 5% to 30% – on every sale. Commissions vary depending on the product category and affiliate program.
- Experienced streamers affiliated with the Twitch Partners program can reportedly earn between $3,000 and $5,000 monthly if they stream around 40 hours weekly.
Choose brand partnerships that align with your niche to help your promotions feel genuine, enhance engagement, and maintain your audience’s trust. For example, using a product or wearing custom apparel while streaming is a simple, effective method.
Check out the Printify Affiliate program to unlock a 12-month partnership and earn 5% from every referral sale.
Our affiliates make an average of $1,000 per month and enjoy monthly payouts, a 90-day cookie life, and limitless earnings.
5. Patreon pledges
Explore how to make money as a streamer with Patreon. Many YouTube content creators leverage viewer loyalty as a path to making money while live streaming.
When launching a Patreon page, invite viewers to make a monthly pledge that awards access to premium content and backstage discussions.
Create different payment tiers that increase in value to encourage higher contributions. Tiers can range from:
- Early access to drafts and pre-release video content.
- Publishing the patron’s name in the credits of a live stream.
- Exclusive live-streaming content.
- Official merchandise.
- Access to private chat communities on Discord.
- Digital products such as guides or coaching.
Patreon pledges offer a straightforward way of making extra money if you have an existing viewer base. All you need to do is set up a Patreon page, decide on the tier benefits, and promote it in your live streams.
6. Set up a paid subscription
Enabling YouTube channel memberships or Twitch streamer subscribers is an additional way to make money with live streaming. Fans make direct contributions to support their favorite live streamer.
Offering monthly subscriptions to fans is a great way for them to access pre-recorded videos and exclusive live-streaming sessions. You can also offer private chat communities.
On platforms like Twitch, subscriptions typically start at $4.99 per month, with streamers receiving about 50% of that. YouTube and Facebook offer similar paid membership systems, with Google typically taking a 30% cut.
7. Develop pay-per-view content
Creating pay-per-view (PPV) content is a great way to generate income. It lets streamers charge a one-time fee for access to live events, tutorials, or behind-the-scenes material.
Promoting limited-time offers or VIP access can further increase demand and maximize earnings.
This model works well for special streams, exclusive gaming sessions, or content that goes beyond your usual offering.
Platforms like Uscreen, Muvi, and VPlayed specialize in PPV setups, allowing creators to keep 100% of their revenue after fees, with flexible pricing and high scalability.
8. Sponsors and brand deals
Integrating sponsored content into your live streams is a significant step toward profitability for any content creator. Sponsors typically pay for mentions, product introductions, reviews, or themed visuals during your stream.
- Small YouTube creators (1,000 – 10,000 subscribers), for example, can earn from $50 to $30 per sponsored video, depending on engagement and audience demographics.
To attract sponsors, streamers need consistent viewership – often in the thousands. Sponsorships can be lucrative but also challenging, as poor alignment between a sponsor and your content can disrupt viewer engagement.
Keep in mind that sponsorship terms vary widely, so scoring a long-term brand deal depends on your traffic and content’s appeal to the sponsor’s target market.
9. Offer coaching to others
Experienced streamers can turn their expertise into a profitable coaching service. Whether offering one-on-one mentoring or group workshops, you can guide aspiring streamers through skills like streaming setup, audience engagement, and platform optimization.
- For example, charge from $95 per hour for personalized coaching sessions. Let’s say you specialize in gaming – offering guidance on how to make money streaming video games could command a higher rate.
Alternatively, group workshops on topics like content production and branding can pull higher amounts per session, especially if they target a highly engaged audience.
Start by creating a dedicated coaching page on your personal website or use platforms like Patreon to manage subscriptions. Share teasers to attract clients and show people what they can expect.
You can even include testimonials or success stories. The key is consistency – advertising your services during streams builds awareness and credibility.
Make it your way!
Use Printify to sell your branded products
Creating content and monetizing streaming takes time and may initially require some investment.
To avoid spending money rather than making it, explore risk-free methods like selling print-on-demand merchandise. Start making money quickly without upfront investment.
Use Printify to create custom products with your signature imagery, memorable phrases, and inside references that resonate with your community. Turn loyal fans into proud ambassadors of your streaming channel.
1. Register
Create a free Printify account to access our features.
2. Select a product
Check out our Product Catalog of over 1,300 items and find merch your streaming audience will love.
3. Apply your designs
Design unique products using our beginner-friendly Product Creator.
4. Set up product information
Add tags, photos, product descriptions, and product prices that maximize your profits.
5. Connect a store
Integrate your account to an eCommerce sales channel.
6. Start selling
Promote your merchandise on live streams while our printing network prints, packages, and ships your products worldwide.
FAQ
Revenue from streaming and live videos depends on your monetization method and the number of viewers. Through subscriptions alone, some live streamers can earn from $2,000 monthly.
A successful live streamer can make good money and earn around $2,000 more per month through merch sales.
There are several ways to make money with live streaming. Viewer monetization includes creating branded merchandise, receiving donations and tips, setting up paid subscriptions, and creating monthly pledges via platforms like Patreon.
Partnership monetization includes promoting an affiliate link, running ads in your video content, and scoring sponsorships or brand deals. We recommend combining multiple methods in your live streams.
Start getting paid to stream on platforms like Twitch and YouTube Live – the former is more popular for streaming but the latter has more viewers. Other streaming platforms, including DLive, UStream, Facebook Live, and Mixer, are gaining popularity.
Before deciding where to live stream, consider whether the platform matches your niche, has a large audience, and offers sufficient monetization opportunities to earn money.
To summarize
Now that you know how to make money live streaming, leverage the endless possibilities to build a live-streaming career and earn a sustainable income.
Try methods like affiliate marketing, collecting donations, sponsorships, paid subscriptions, ads, and Patreon to live stream and earn money.
Expand your income stream and leverage live shopping by selling branded merchandise with Printify. Connect with your streaming audience and build an even stronger community with custom products.
