1. What is Kick?
Kick came into life in 2022 when two guys realized streamers were getting screwed, to say it nicely. Twitch was taking half of everything creators earned, and nobody was doing anything about it. So Kick was the beginning of the plan to revolutionize things. It started small, but then big streamers got tired of Twitch’s rules and payouts and jumped over, with that, millions of viewers followed them and this butterfly effect brought us to the giant we have now! Kick exploded from nothing to everywhere in just a few years.
The Game of Thrones (or gaming chairs)
You might think I’m just hyping up Kick (and I am… kind of), but hear me out. Kick is the underdog that nobody saw coming, misunderstood by some, but revolutionary and powerful with momentum that’s impossible to ignore or you will feel left out. It has that “we’re doing things differently” feeling to it and actually backs it up with real resources and creator-friendly incentives.
Twitch is the king of the hill, established, polished, crushing it as always, but rigid. It calls the shots, takes its commission, and operates with that “take it or leave it” mentality. For the longest time, creators didn’t have options. Twitch was the only option.
Then Kick showed up and changed the conversation overnight. This wasn’t some small competitor, it was a serious challenger with capital to burn, willing to pay creators what Twitch wouldn’t, and determined to prove that the old way of doing things wasn’t the only possible way. And when you threaten the throne like that, everything changes. That’s the Kick effect.
Everyone’s divided: some creators refuse Kick because of concerns about where the money comes from and less moderation. Others are completely sold because Kick gives creators 95% of subs while Twitch only gives 50% of it all. If you know a bit about the industry, that’s a lot.. Twitch has 140+ million users. Kick is catching up fast with millions of new users showing up every single month. Both are winning differently, Twitch has a massive established audience, Kick has momentum, better payouts, and that rebellious energy.
The “Why Now?” Factor
It’s 2025, and streaming is a real career now. People make six figures. You can become rich! The internet is faster, audiences are hungry for real entertainment, and creators like Adin Ross and Amouranth blew up on Kick because the algorithm actually helps new creators get discovered, unlike Twitch where you have to build your audience somewhere else.
The Vibe
The bright green logo wasn’t random. It screams “futuristic, gamer, cool” and the clean, mobile-first layout matches what streamers actually need. It is more authentic and less corporate. Kick is different, chaotic, and unapologetically real.
2. How Much Does Kick Pay?
The 95/5 Split: The Game-Changer
On Twitch, if someone gives you a $5 sub, you get $2.50. That’s only half! Kick? You get $4.75. That’s almost double. Streamers like Pokimane, Sykkuno, and Valkyrae have all talked about how this difference is massive when you’re doing this as a job. They, like a lot of other creators, went from Twitch to Kick because the money actually makes sense. Imagine working the same hours but getting paid almost double! The dream of being filthy rich is not so far!
But here’s the brutal truth: Kick’s smaller audience means fewer viewers overall. Not everything is perfect. You might pocket $4.75 per sub instead of $2.50, but if you’re getting half the subscribers on Kick that you’d get on Twitch, you could end up earning less. A creator making $50 a month on Twitch keeps $25, but might only make $24 on Kick after keeping their better cut. The 95/5 split only wins if you can build a big enough audience, and a lot of creators can’t.
Donations: 100% Yours. Kind of!
On Kick, when someone donates, you keep it, no platform taking a cut like Twitch does. There’s a small payment processing fee (around 2-3% depending on the payment method), but that’s pretty much it. No “convenience fee” stealing your hard earned cash, no platform tax eating into your earnings for no reason at all. This is how you become filthy rich. Loyal fans who believe in you actually show up to support you with money simply because they want to. Build a community, be real with your audience, and they’ll throw donations at you because they feel connected to you. That connection translates directly to your bank account. Aside from the fact that the sense of community built is priceless.
KCIP: The Hourly Wage
Kick Creator Incentive Program is basically an “hourly wage” for streaming. If you hit certain viewer counts and stream hours, Kick pays you directly, starting at around $16 per hour, though the actual amount varies based on viewers and engagement. The pro? You’re getting paid for your time instantly, and you earn this on top of ad revenue, not instead of it. Both income streams stack. The con? You actually have to put in the hours. There’s no “get rich while sleeping”, well, some creators do stream their sleep, but that’s still hours of work, and snoring. Social media looks easy until you realize it is hours of streams, editing clips, managing Discord servers, responding to fans, being consistent, and dealing with haters. It’s real work.
The catch? The math isn’t exactly clear. It’s based on a hidden algorithm that looks at your concurrent viewers, chats, and stream hours. Not all creators earn the same amount. Some make a few dollars per stream, others make hundreds. It’s stable money if you hit the requirements, but it’s not predictable like a real salary. But that’s expected working on social media.
3. What Are Partnerships & Exclusivity Deals?
In June 2023, xQc signed a $70 million deal with Kick (plus $30 million in performance bonuses) when he had 12 million followers on Twitch, not bad right? Days later, Amouranth signed a $30 million deal with 6.4 million Twitch followers. Both are non-exclusive, so they can stream on both platforms, which is a plus. The reason for these massive payouts is the audience size and reach. xQc’s deal was so large that his first stream on Kick forced the platform to upgrade its servers, and that’s exactly what they wanted. Kick was willing to invest in established streamers because that audience directly translates to platform growth and credibility.
The Partner Requirements
To become a Kick partner, you need: 75 average viewers, 30 hours streamed per month, and a “vibe check” from the staff (basically, they want to make sure you’re not toxic or breaking rules). You have to be cool!
Is it easy? No. But it’s doable.Nothing in this industry is easy. Seventy-five viewers might sound impossible if you’re starting with five viewers, but it’s easier on Kick than Twitch because the algorithm actually helps you. Thirty hours a month is basically 7 to 8 hours per week. If you’re serious about streaming as a career, that’s realistic. The vibe check just means don’t be a terrible person. And we love that!
Multi-Streaming
Here’s where Kick wins big time: you can stream on Kick, TikTok, and YouTube at the same time. Twitch hated this and banned it because they wanted streamers only on their platform. Kick doesn’t care. This is huge because you can reach TikTok’s massive audience while earning Kick money and your audience grows faster. More people = more subs = more money. It’s basically playing on hard mode with cheats enabled.
4. How Much Do Subs and CPM Pay Weekly?
The $4.75 Dream
Let’s do the math. Ten subs at $5 each:
|
Platform |
You Get |
Total |
|
Twitch |
$2.50 per sub |
$25 |
|
Kick |
$4.75 per sub |
$47.50 |
That’s more than double the money for literally the same 10 fans. Can you believe that? Multiply that by hundreds of subs and you will see why people are jumping on the Kick wave
How Much Does Kick Pay Per 1,000 Views?
CPM (Cost Per Mille) is how much you earn from ads per 1,000 views. On Kick, CPM rates vary widely based on content category, viewer engagement, and stream quality, but here’s what creators typically earn:
For 1,000 Views: $2-$5 (varies by category)
For 1,000,000 Views: $2,000-$5,000 (varies by category)
These rates can fluctuate significantly. Gambling content historically earns higher CPM rates (up to $10+ per 1,000 views), while other content categories like music or casual gameplay average $2-$4 per 1,000 views. Keep in mind that Kick is still developing its ad system, and these rates may increase as the platform matures.
The key advantage over Twitch? Even with similar CPM rates, you’re keeping your subscriber revenue at 95% instead of 50%, so your total earnings are substantially higher when you combine subs + donations + CPM.
Weekly Payouts
Twitch makes you wait 30 days for your money. Not fair at all! Kick pays weekly. For new creators trying to survive, this is the key. You get paid Friday and can actually pay your bills on Monday, reinvest money into better equipment faster. It’s actually very practical. Quick cash translates into faster growth.
5. How Does the Kick Algorithm Work?
Discovery: Nobodies Get Seen
On Twitch you’re streaming to 5 viewers and nobody finds you. The algorithm pushes established streamers because they get clicks. And more money DUH. On Kick, the algorithm actually supports new creators. You could be a total nobody with zero viewers and the next day the algorithm recommends you and suddenly your life changes forever.
The “Recommended” Tab
Kick’s Recommended tab is designed to push new streamers because they know we’re all tired of watching the same 10 huge creators over and over. You can actually find new streamers you actually vibe with instead of just consuming the same old faces.
Pros: No Gatekeeping
This is literally the opposite of Twitch. Kick says, “Anyone can make it.” Your dreams aren’t blocked by an algorithm that hates you. It’s inclusive. Anyone with consistency and good quality can grow. And by being persistent, maybe you will too!
Being a Smaller Platform
Kick is smaller than Twitch. But that’s not a con, that’s actually your advantage. Less competition means easier growth. You’re not fighting 50,000 streamers for attention, maybe “only” 5,000. Better odds, come one.
6. Kick vs. Twitch: Which Platform Pays More?
Rules & Bans
Twitch has a lot of rules. Kick is way more chill. You can say and do more on Kick without getting banned. But with fewer rules comes more chaos. It’s not necessarily unsafe, but it means you’ll see wilder content. Think of it like this: Twitch is your strict grandpa. Kick is the cool rich aunt that gives you presents.
4K Dreams
Both platforms now support 4K streaming, but Twitch makes it complicated. Twitch began experimenting with 4K in January 2024 through its Enhanced Broadcasting beta, but it requires specific NVIDIA hardware and comes with strict bitrate limits. It can be a lot to deal with! Kick lets you stream in 4K very easily with higher bitrates. If you have the internet to support it, Kick gives you cleaner video quality without the hardware hoops. That’s great for beginners.
The Community
When it comes to Twitch, it’s just all about millions of people, predictable vibes, corporate feel. Kick is more about the younger audience, chaotic energy, less filtered. Twitch feels like mainstream TV. Kick feels like underground YouTube. Both are valid. It just depends if you want the established audience or the energetic new crowd.
7. My Streaming Journey
The Twitch Struggle: Three Viewers and a Unicorn Costume
I streamed on Twitch for a long time and I only got three loyal viewers. That’s it. I tried everything, from different games to different styles and, yes, even dressed as a unicorn thinking maybe that would help. But nope! One person showed up consistently, and honestly? They were just there to hate. It was like being in The Last of Us where only one zombie is attacking you. Not that cool, I promise you.
But here’s the thing: I had grown super fast on YouNow back in the day. Within a month, I had a real audience. So I knew it wasn’t me and I knew it wasn’t my unicorn costume, it was the platform.
It’s Still Hard, But It Feels Fair
I tried Kick and the algorithm actually works. I started growing, and relatively fast. Not overnight, but real growth. The truth is: Kick isn’t magic. It’s still hard work and you have to be consistent, show up and build a sense of community. But you actually get somewhere with it. The money side? I didn’t monetize, but taking creator’s feedback into consideration, the payouts feel fairer than Twitch. That’s all that matters.
8. Why This Actually Works
The Casino Connection
Kick’s founders also own Stake, a crypto gambling platform. This matters because Kick is built with a heavy prioritization on casino, slots, and video game content. Gambling content thrives over there, it’s actually the most watched category. In March 2025, Kick removed hourly payouts for gambling streamers, but the platform still promotes it heavily. The algorithm isn’t transparent, but streamers report that gambling content gets recommended more than other categories. That is one thing a lot of people worry about when it comes to Kick. So while you can stream music or games or whatever you want on Kick, the platform’s DNA is tied to casino content. That’s not a coincidence and now you know why.
The Long Game
People ask, “Will Kick die anytime soon?” and the answer is “Probably not”. Stake has billions in crypto money and they’re established and wealthy enough to play the long game. And they’ve already signed exclusive deals with massive streamers. They’re not going anywhere. Kick is here to stay and that’s good for creators who need stability.
9. How Do New Streamers Grow?
The “One Game” Rule
Don’t bounce between 10 different games every week. Pick one game you actually love. People follow streamers for consistency and eventually stay for who they are. If you’re playing Valorant Monday and then Minecraft Wednesday and then some random indie game Friday, your audience gets confused.
Discord is Your Secret Weapon
The algorithm helps, but Discord helps you build a loyal fan base. Create a Discord server and actually talk to your people off-stream. Post memes, hang out, be real. Not only that but bringing audiences from other platforms like TikTok, YouTube and X is huge. Don’t just rely on Kick’s algorithm. Even though you can if you want to.
Consistency Beats Marathon Streams
Three days a week for 4 hours each is better than one insane 12-hour stream. Viewers get tired. But three predictable days? People plan around it. They show up. Consistency builds habits, and habits build communities.
10. FAQs
“Do I Have to Gamble to Make Money?”
No. You can earn money streaming, getting subs, and donations without ever touching Stake’s casino. In reality, we don’t encourage gambling. It’s risky, and it’s not the path to making money on Kick. Your subscribers don’t care if you’re gambling, they care about you. Just be you and be cool and hot and funny!
“Can I Get Banned for Saying ‘Twitch’?”
Lol, no. Kick is actually way more liberal than Twitch. Just don’t be a terrible person, and you’re good.
“What Gear Do I Need to Start?”
Your phone and decent audio. Seriously. A phone camera is enough to start. But invest in a good microphone because we all know that audio quality matters way more than video. People forgive bad cameras; they don’t forgive bad audio. But you know what actually makes a difference? RGB lights in the back, it makes you look cool. That’s legit it. You don’t need a $5,000 setup to start.
11. Closing: Your Turn to Press ‘Go Live’
The “Not Broke” Mindset
Stop waiting for the “right time.”This is your moment. You have something to say, something to offer, something the world needs to see and there are people out there who will listen, understand and care about you. You’re not going to find them sitting on your couch so just press ‘Go Live’ and put yourself out there. Don’t be scared!
Final Words: Embrace the Chaos
Streaming is chaotic and beautiful. You’ll get hate comments but seriously, don’t bother. Every single big creator you see has faced the same insecurities and challenges at the start but the difference is that their mindset was set to success. They showed up anyway. And so will you because I believe in you, my darling.
So here’s your move: Try Kick (or Twitch, but let’s be honest, Kick bro). Be brave. Be chaotic. Be you. The paycheck is much better, the algorithm will be a good friend, and your people are waiting for you to start.
Just Go Live, and the world will be watching you.
