Twitch CEO tips streamer $100 instead of gifting subs so platform can’t take a cut

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Twitch CEO Dan Clancy believes viewers get more value by directly tipping streamers instead of buying subscriptions, because of how Twitch shares revenue from subs.

Honestly, Twitch is awesome for making some money as a streamer. It’s really cool that they give us tools like ads to help support ourselves, you know? It makes a big difference when you’re trying to turn this hobby into something more.

Streamers also earn money from subscriptions. Viewers can subscribe directly, or fans can purchase multiple subscriptions and give them to others in the community.

So, I was watching a stream the other day, and Dan Clancy, the CEO of the site, was hanging out with Heavenly. Someone asked him to gift 20 subs to her audience, but instead of doing that, he came up with a clever way to make sure Heavenly actually *kept* all the money herself. It was a cool move, honestly.

Twitch CEO says it’s “better” to just tip streamers over gifting subs

As Clancy went on his phone to complete the transaction, he stopped and had second thoughts.

“Actually, forget the 20 subs,” he said, taking out his wallet. “I have a better idea. If I just gift them, Twitch keeps a portion of the money.”

(segment begins at 47:00)

With that, the company’s head honcho took a $100 bill and handed it to Heavenly directly.

“This is for the live learn. There you go! And that way she gets it all. There we go, ok?”

Heavenly asked the head of Twitch to autograph the hundred-dollar bill, explaining she intends to keep it as a memento. This highlights a point: if the company’s leader suggests tipping streamers directly is preferable, then purchasing subscriptions might not be the best way to support them.

Twitch, which is owned by Amazon, has faced ongoing criticism regarding its subscription system. Many content creators and viewers feel the current split isn’t fair, believing they deserve a larger share of the revenue generated.

Kick, a competing platform, gives creators 95% of their subscription revenue, letting them keep the vast majority of the money earned from subscribers. However, creators on Kick don’t receive any extra income from advertisements.

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2025-10-08 23:18