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Twitch Bits: What Are Bits on Twitch?
Twitch Bits are an underrated part of growing and properly monetizing your Twitch channel. If you've never heard of them, don't worry. We have you covered.
If you're just figuring out how to get paid on Twitch, then you need to know about Twitch Bits.
What are Bits on Twitch?
Twitch Bits are a super cool virtual currency that can be used in a variety of ways. After acquiring Bits, you can use them to support your favorite streamers, gain access to exclusive chat rooms, and even unlock special loot during esport gaming events.
Additionally, if you are a content creator on Twitch, using Bits earns you badges that will help you expand your community by attracting free Twitch viewers and thus boosting your channel's popularity.
Purchasing and using Bits plays a vital part in keeping the Twitch community active and engaging. They also promote a positive relationship between streamers and their fans, helping to keep the entire live-streaming experience fun and enjoyable for everyone involved.
How Much are Twitch Bits?
Bits allow viewers to support their favorite channels without ever leaving the Twitch platform. At the click of a button, Twitch users can purchase Bits using Paypal, Amazon Pay, or with a valid credit card. This creates a safe, easy, and convenient method of donating to a live-streamer.
The current Bit prices are listed below:
| Bits | Cost |
|---|---|
| $1.40 | |
| $3.00 | |
| $7.00 | |
| $19.95 | |
| $64.40 | |
| $126 | |
| $308 |
*special price for first Bit purchase
How to Buy Twitch Bits
Buying Bits on Twitch is much easier than legitimately buying Twitch viewers. The purchasing process consists of a few simple steps that can be completed in a matter of moments.
- Locate the "Get Bits" Button - You can find the "Get Bits" Button to the left of your profile picture in the Twitch dashboard's upper right-hand corner.
- Select the Number of Bits You Would Like to Purchase
- After you click "Get Bits," a drop-down menu will appear with available Bit amounts. At the moment, Bits can be purchased in increments of 100, 300, 500, 1000, 5000, 10,000, or 25,000.
- Complete Your Purchase - After you have selected the number of Bits you want to buy, a "Complete Purchase" screen will appear. At this point, you will be asked to choose a payment method such as Paypal, Amazon Pay, or a valid credit card to finalize the transaction.
- Start Using Your Bits - After your purchase is complete, your Bit balance will be displayed at the top of the "get-Bits" drop-down menu. At this point, you will be able to spend your Bits as you desire.
How to Get Free Twitch Cheer Bits
As mentioned above, the easiest way to accumulate large numbers of Bits is to purchase them. However, there are a few alternative methods to earn free Twitch Bits.
Watching Ads
Watching ads is a great way to earn a few extra Bits without spending a cent, but first, you have to know where to find these special ads.
To access these "free Bit ads," simply open a broadcast from any of your favorite Twitch streamers, then locate the chat bar. You will see two small icons on the right side of this bar, one that looks like a smiley face, and one that looks like a diamond. Click on the diamond-shaped Bits icon. This will open the Cheering menu containing a small purple box that says, "Get Bits."
After clicking the "Get Bits" button, you will be given the option to watch an ad for a few free Bits (usually 5 or 10).
Sometimes you may try to watch an ad and find that the "watch ad" option is greyed-out with a message that says, "Try again later." This is due to a limited supply of ads per a given time period. So once all the ads have been watched, you'll have to wait for them to reset before you can earn any more free Bits.
Completing Surveys on Twitch RPG
Twitch RPG (Twitch Research Power Group) is Twitch's official program dedicated to improving the game streaming platform's overall user experience. Joining the program is an excellent way to earn free Bits.
Once a member of Twitch RPG, you will have the opportunity to take part in surveys. These surveys often have a large Bit payout (usually 500), making them exceptionally worthwhile if you have a few extra minutes to spare.
The only catch is that you have to be quick. Just like with the "free Bit ads," These surveys are first come, first served, so If you receive an invitation to take part in one, the faster you accept, the better.
How to Cheer with Bits
Cheering is one of the primary uses for Twitch Bits. In addition to subscribing and donating, Cheering with Bits is an excellent way to show your favorite channel's support in a fun and exciting way. Cheering can be used to celebrate or show your enthusiasm during pivotal moments of gameplay, or simply to stand out in the chat.
When you Cheer during a live stream, a "Bit Gem Emote" or “Cheermote" will be displayed in the stream chat. The more Bits you use to Cheer, the bigger the Emote will be.
There are a few different ways to initiate a Cheer. The first way is to click on the diamond-shaped "Bit Gem" icon. This will pull up a selection of other Cheermote options.
The second method is to simply type "Cheer" into the chat bar, followed by the number of Bits you would like to use. For example, if you want to emote with 100 Bits, simply type "Cheer100."
As you Cheer, you will earn chat badges for each individual channel so others can recognize your support and donations.
How to Enable Cheering on Twitch
While Bits can be purchased and used by anyone on Twitch, only Partners and Affiliates can accept Cheers. If you've already reached one or both of these statuses, enabling Cheering is relatively easy and straightforward.
- Locate the Affiliate or Partner Settings - Select the "My Profile" icon in the top right corner of the Twitch dashboard. From there, click on the Affiliate or Partner settings button.
- Enable Cheering - Once you have opened the Partner or Affiliate setting menu, find and Select the Cheer section and check Enable Cheering with Bits.
- Sign the Tax Form - After you have checked the Enable Cheering with Bits box, you will be directed to a Twitch terms and agreements page, where you must virtually sign a tax form.
- Set Minimum Requirement to Cheer - Once the tax form is signed and you have agreed to the terms and conditions, your audience will be able to Cheer on your channel. However, without a minimum of one Bit, viewers will often spam the chat with free Cheermotes.
In the Cheer menu, there is a section entitled Bits Threshold Settings. This is where you can set and adjust the minimum number of Bits required to use Cheermotes on your live-streams.
Becoming a Twitch Affiliate — The First Step to Accepting Twitch Bits
Becoming a Twitch Affiliate is the first necessary step to start earning actual revenue from Cheers and Bits. Twitch realizes that creating high-quality content takes dedication, so they created the Affiliate program to help streamers make a living off of doing what they love. To qualify for the program, there are a few requirements that must first be met.
- At least 500 total minutes broadcast in the last 30 days
- At least 7 unique broadcast days in the last 30 days
- An average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over the last 30 days
- At least 50 Followers
In addition to the money you earn from Bits, as an Affiliate, you can also receive ad revenue and a portion of game sales that originate from your channel.
Becoming a Twitch Partner
Reaching Partner status is the ultimate goal for many content creators. In addition to being committed to delivering high-quality live broadcasts, Twitch Partners are also very active and influential in the Twitch community and on social media. Unlike the Affiliate program, you must apply to become a Partner, but first, you have to meet the following qualifications within 30 days.
- Stream for 25 hours
- Stream on 12 different days
- Average of 75 viewers
On top of all of the Affiliate benefits, as a Twitch Partner, you gain access to numerous premium features that can help you optimize your live-streams to generate the most income and draw in larger audiences.
Getting Paid with Twitch Bits
If you are a channel owner, Twitch will pay you one cent for every Bit used on your channel. So if one of your fans spends 100 Bits on an Emote during your live-stream, you would receive one US Dollar. After you accumulate the equivalent of $100, You can begin to cash out and convert Twitch Bits to USD.
Tips on Getting Cheers on Twitch
Showing appreciation for the support of your audience members is essential. Giving a shout-out and a "thank you" whenever someone Cheers or gives a donation goes a long way. Here are a few "do's and "don'ts" from Twitch to keep in mind when dealing with Bit donations.
Giving your fans the recognition they deserve will ultimately result in more Cheers and an engaged audience. In the end, your success wouldn't be possible without the support of your viewers, so be sure to acknowledge that and give back to them.
If you’re interested in gaining Affiliate or Partner status on Twitch, check out TwitchGainz.com to fast-track your channel’s growth.