How to Donate on Twitch - Support a Streamer by Donating Bits!
Are you new to the world of Twitch? If yes, you might have come across mentions of bits and donations when watching streams. You’ve guessed it right, bits are a form of virtual currency used internally on Twitch. People intend to show appreciation for a streamer’s work by donating bits.
Usually, people cheer bits on Twitch to those who have impressed them.
Cheering Twitch bits tell the respective streamers that they have entertained or inspired the people watching their content. So, have you found a streamer you like and are wondering about how to donate on Twitch? No worries, we got you covered!
But first, let's see what are bits on Twitch.
Table of Contents
- What are Bits on Twitch?
- How to buy Bits on Twitch?
- How to donate on Twitch?
- How to Donate on Twitch on a Mac or PC?
- How to Donate on Twitch on an iPhone or Android
- FAQs- How to donate on Twitch?
What are Bits on Twitch?
Simply put, Bits are a form of internal currency on Twitch. You can buy Twitch Bits for real money and tip your favourite streamers in Bits. Buying bits is approximately 1 Bit per 1c. You can tip them as much as you like and extend appreciation for their work. It is also worth noting that tipping is customarily termed as ‘Cheering’ on Twitch when you use bits as the mode of payment.
So, when you cheer a streamer, you donate an allocated amount of Bits. Donations are known as tips on Twitch. However, they are viewed and function differently for streamers and Twitch users.
It is worth noting that once you cheer the streamer, the transaction is irreversible. The streamer gets Bits transferred into his/her account right away but they need to be accumulated to $100 or more to be cashed out. This is also why streamers who just started or are still working on their follower base need to wait before they can get paid.
On the contrary, streamers with a significant user base do not have to wait for long. That said, Twitch also takes a cut in the bits received by streamers to manage the costs of running the platform. It usually ranges from 25 - 30% of each streamer’s earnings.
Every time you donate Bits, you are rewarded with emotes. They come in various sizes and are payable when you cheer streamers with 1, 100, 1000, 5000 and 10,000 bits. The higher your cheering, the better will be your emotes. In addition, Twitch also adds Cheer Chat badges that tell others that you are a supporter. Here's a mini-guide for you to buy these. Then, we'll see how to donate bits on Twitch.
How to Buy Bits on Twitch?
You should first buy Bits to donate them to streamers you deem fit on Twitch. Here’s how you can buy bits on Twitch:
- Enter your credentials and log into your profile on Twitch.
- Go to a channel of your choice, and select the ‘Get Bits’ option on the top right corner of the stream. Alternatively, you can also click on the ‘Bits’ icon available inside the ‘Send Message’ box.
- Now, click on the ‘Buy’ option. Then, enter the number of Bits you wish to purchase and make the payment.
- Wait for a few seconds before your inventory gets updated. Once it is updated, you can cheer your favourite streamers.
The wait is finally over! Without further ado, let's see how to donate bits on Twitch.
How to Donate Bits on Twitch?
Once your account gets updated and Twitch Bits arrive into it, you can start cheering for creators that stream entertaining, inspiring or any kind of content that impresses you. There are no limitations - you can do it whenever and wherever you like.
Here’s how to donate bits on Twitch:
- Type ‘cheer150 love your work’ or words that match the effect to donate. Please note that there is a countdown timer that allows you to correct your text for typos. So, if you have typed ‘cheer1500’ instead of ‘cheer150’, you have 5 seconds to change your mind and undo it.
- Once the cheer is complete, you cannot get your Bits back as the transactions performed are irreversible. Twitch shows the number of Bits you have donated to a particular streamer through a badge on their chat.
Twitch is compatible with both desktop and mobile devices. Although buying bits on mobile devices might vary a little due to the difference in the interfaces, using them to cheer is the same. You might be interested in knowing that the higher your donations are, the higher the discounts you can avail of while buying Bits.
If you want just to connect with someone personally, you can just whisper to them.
How to Donate on Twitch on a Mac or PC
- Log in to Twitch and navigate to the channel where you want to donate. To donate Twitch Bits, the channel must be live.
- In the "Send a message" space at the bottom of the chat, are two icons. Click the diamond-shaped Bits icon.
- Remember that not all channels let you cheer, and some require you to be a follower or subscriber.
- Enter ‘cheer150 love your work’ or words that match the effect to donate. Again, keep in mind that there is a countdown timer that allows you to correct your text for typos. So, if you have typed ‘cheer1500’ instead of ‘cheer150’, you have 5 seconds to change your mind and undo it.
- Select the number of Bits you want to attach to your Cheer. You can send your Cheer anonymously if you like.
- The message box will automatically fill with the Cheer command you'll need to send. You can add any message you like after the command — it'll be displayed with your Cheer. Send the message when you're ready to send off your Cheer to the stream chat. Your Cheer will appear in a chat immediately.
How to Donate on Twitch on an iPhone or Android
As mentioned before donating bits on mobiles is slightly different than on desktops. But it is as easy!
Here's how to donate bits on twitch using mobiles:
- Open the Twitch app on your iPhone or Android device and log in.
- Then head to the channel you want to Cheer for.
- Tap the diamond-shaped Bits button in the chatbox at the bottom of the screen. The Bits icon is located in the same place in the mobile app.
- A screen will appear, showing all the emotes you can use to Cheer on this channel.
- Pick the number of Bits you want to cheer with. The Cheer command you chose will appear in the chatbox automatically. You can also type out your Cheer manually.
- Attach any message you'd like, and then send it.
Your Cheer will appear in the chat.
In case you're not happy with someone you follow on Twitch, you can unfollow them.
FAQs- How to donate on Twitch
1. What is the distinction between Bits and Cheering?
Bits are evolving, animated emoticons. Viewers buy and use Bits to Cheer. Cheers are chat messages that include Bits.
2. What payment methods can I use to buy Bits?
Bits are purchased via Amazon Payments. We are working hard to make Bits and Cheering awesome, and that includes adding additional local payment methods and currency support in the future.
3. My Cheer message did not appear on the broadcaster’s overlay. Why might that be?
A broadcaster’s overlay is a part of their video streaming feed, and therefore, what they choose to include on that overlay is entirely under their control. We do not require our Partners to use overlays, but we made sure they had the option to use them if they want.
4. Who gets the Bits when I Cheer on a channel that is currently hosting another channel?
Cheering is tied to the chat room it happens in. Therefore, when you Cheer on a channel that is hosting someone else, the channel you are in still gets the Bits, not the hosted channel.
5. Are there restrictions on using Bits?
Yes, Bits are subject to Twitch's Acceptable Use Policy. Bits have no monetary value. So the users cannot make a purchase, donate, or tip with Bits.