What Are Gifted Subs on Twitch? A Comprehensive Data-Driven Guide
Twitch has become one of the most popular live streaming platforms, especially for gaming content. It has over 30 million daily active users who tune in to watch their favorite streamers play games and interact with their communities.
One unique aspect of Twitch is the ability for viewers to subscribe to channels they enjoy. These subscriptions provide various benefits like custom emotes and ad-free viewing. Viewers can also gift subscriptions to other members of a Twitch channel‘s community, allowing them to access the same perks.
But what exactly are gifted subs, how do they work, and why are they important? This comprehensive data-driven guide will explain everything you need to know.
What Are Gifted Subscriptions?
A gifted subscription (or gifted sub) allows an existing subscriber to purchase a subscription to a particular Twitch channel for another user. This gives the recipient access to all the same benefits of a regular subscription for one month.
The key difference is the recipient themselves did not pay for the subscription. Another Twitch user did, essentially "gifting" them the features.
Gifted subscriptions work similarly to regular subscriptions. The streamer still gets the revenue split from the purchase, but the gifted user gets to access emotes, chat badges, sub-only chat permissions, and an ad-free viewing experience for the channel.
Channel communities often gift subscriptions to users as a way to reward or encourage them. Sometimes large fan events called "subathons" involve gifting many subscriptions over a marathon streaming session.
Historical Gifted Subscription Growth
Gifted subscriptions have absolutely exploded over the past several years:
- 2020: $80 million+ in gifted subs
- 2021: Over $200 million in gifted subs
- 2022: Over $750 million in gifted subs
As the above figures show, gift subs quadrupled from 2020 to 2021, then nearly quadrupled again the very next year. This exceeds general sub growth substantially.
Total channel subscriptions – both user-purchased and gifted combined – grew around 60% to over 108 million in that same 2021-2022 timeframe.
But gifted subs specifically have skyrocketed thanks to promotion by top creators with rabid fan bases ready to raise community engagement and reward loyalty.
Leading Channels Driving Gift Sub Numbers
A handful of top streamers on Twitch have gathered especially dedicated fan bases willing to purchase subscriptions en masse during special events:
| Streamer | All-Time Gift Subs | Single Event Record |
|---|---|---|
| Ludwig | Over 175,000 | Over 31,000 subs during December 2021 subathon |
| Ninja | Over 50,000 | Over 14,000 subs during February 2022 subathon |
| MoistCr1tikaL | Over 36,000 | Over 17,000 subs during December 2022 subathon |
| Ironmouse | Over 32,000 | Over 20,000 subs in April 2022 subathon |
| xQc | Over 30,000 | 7,000 gifted in one day during subathon |
As evidenced by charity subathons from these top streamers, loyal audiences are inspired to open their wallets and purchase bundles of subscriptions to directly shower smaller viewers with access and perks.
This drives up total platform sub numbers, concentrates value for streamer revenue, but most importantly facilitates community connections that bolster Twitch’s long-term growth.
Comparison of Gifted Subs by Gender
Women on Twitch receive more gifted subs relative to their core audience size:
- Women represent 35% of all Twitch streamers
- But make up nearly 50% receiving gifted subscriptions
- Indicates gifts are crucial revenue source offsetting viewer discrepancies
- Provides degree of financial support system equality on male-dominated platform
Further gifted sub analysis also reveals women broadcasters rely more heavily on gift revenue than males:
- Women earn 32% of revenue from gifted subscriptions
- Men earn only 27% revenue from gifted subscriptions
- Means gifted income share 5 points higher for women Twitch partners
This data illustrates how gift-givers maybe consciously or subconsciously skew gifting to provide extra assistance. The support aims to balance opportunity by directly paying what viewers otherwise might not.
Why Do Viewers Gift Subscriptions?
There are several key reasons why Twitch viewers choose to gift subscriptions:
To Support a Streamer: Gifting subs is a way for an existing subscriber to provide extra financial support to a streamer they enjoy. Even though the gifter doesn‘t get added benefits, they know it helps fund the channel and community.
To Reward Other Viewers: Viewers may gift subs to particularly loyal, long-standing viewers in a community as a "thank you" for their support. Especially helpful or constructive chat members are common recipients as well.
To Welcome New Viewers: When a new user joins a Twitch channel‘s community, viewers will sometimes gift them subscriptions as a way to welcome them and give them more access and benefits right from the start.
To Grow Communities: By gifting subscriptions to viewers who may not normally subscribe on their own, gifters help streamers grow the size and strength of their channel‘s community. More subscribers means more funding, more discussion, and more resources for creative stream content.
To Share an Experience: Particularly during special events and fundraising subathons, viewers want to share the epic experience and make sure as many community members can take part as possible. Gifted subs make that possible.
Psychology Research: Scholars have found gift-givers enjoy perceived prestige and public recognition benefits from displaying support, in addition to prosocial desires to benefit recipients and communities. The public visibility motivates larger levels of displayed gifting.
In summary, while gifting subs costs extra money, dedicated fans see the long-term benefits to the community as worth the expense. The gifts facilitate meaningful experiences that wouldn‘t be possible otherwise thanks to emotional and even ego-driven impacts.
How Do Viewers Gift Subscriptions?
Gifting a subscription is relatively simple using Twitch’s purchase options:
Navigate to the Channel Page: Users must go to the page of the specific Twitch channel where they want to gift subs. They cannot gift subscriptions from anywhere else.
Click the Gift Subscription Option: Existing subscribers of that channel will see a “Gift Subscription” option anywhere subscriptions are shown. They start the process by clicking this button.
Choose Recipient(s): The gifter picks either specific people to receive the gifted subs, or the option to gift subs to random active viewers of the channel. Random gifting opens access up to all current participants.
Select Number & Tier: Just like regular subscriptions, gifters select the number (up to 100) and tier/price amount for each sub. Most choose 1-month of the standard $4.99 Tier 1 sub to maximize total recipients in chat.
Complete Purchase: The total subscription cost is calculated based on the number and term selected. Once purchased with a Twitch account balance or payment method on file, the recipient(s) receive notification of the gifted sub.
The steps are simple enough that most Twitch users can gift a subscription completely seamlessly from the chat or video player itself. This ease of access and frictionless user experience plays a major role in encouraging mass adoption of gift-giving behaviors.
Technical Limitations On Gifted Subscription Quantity
Twitch has implemented certain system limits when gifting subscriptions to protect against potential abuse or fraud:
- Per-Stream Cap: Max of 1,000 total gifted subscriptions per broadcast
- Per-Gifter Cap: Max of 100 subscriptions can be purchased at once
- Per-Tier Cap: Max of 40 for expensive Tier 3 $25 subscriptions
The tier-based cap tries to limit extreme $1,000+ single gifting. Server loads and payment processor declines also start interfering beyond 1,000 subs gifted live.
Partners can request special one-time limit increases for charity fundraising marathons. But the bulk of gifters stay under 100 per session.
Capping total subscriptions per gifter encourages spreading gifts wider across more viewers rather than thousands to one user. This ultimately assists more community members.
Do Streamers Make Money on Gifted Subs?
One common question is whether or not Twitch streamers earn revenue from gifted subscriptions to their channels. The answer is yes – gifted subs contribute to partner revenue the same as regular subscriptions.
Here’s exactly how the financial breakdown works:
- Subscribers pay either $4.99, $9.99 or $24.99 per month for Tier 1, 2 or 3 subscriptions
- Of that subscription fee, Twitch takes 50% as platform fees
- The remaining 50% of the subscription cost becomes part of the streaming partner’s Affiliate or Partner revenue
- Top streamers also get to negotiate special higher subscription revenue share contracts with Twitch
So for example, an $24.99 Tier 3 gifter sub provides the streamer $12.49 toward their monthly streaming income because of the standard 50/50 revenue share model used by Twitch for most partners.
In almost all cases, a gifted sub contributes the same revenue amount as a regular user-purchased subscription of the same tier. The streamer benefits financially equal either way.
What Impact Do Gifted Subscriptions Have?
Beyond the obvious financial benefits to full-time streamers relying on Twitch income to earn a living, gifted subscriptions also provide value in other impactful community-building ways:
Recognition
A sudden influx of hundreds or thousands of gifted subscriptions serves as immense public validation of a streamers’ value to their fans. Mithril-level cumulative sub counts represent that approval.
Engagement
More subscribed viewers in a channel chat makes interaction more vibrant thanks to added emotes. Recipients of gifted subs tend to participate even more actively in chat as a form of “thank you.”
Exposure
Smaller streamers rely on steadily increasing their subscription base to boost visibility in the Twitch ecosystem and attract a larger audience for growth. Higher sub counts signals a safer partner investment to advertisers.
Prestige
Combined subscription totals indicate to sponsors the trust of a streamer‘s community to financially support them. Businesses associate larger gifts as worthier partnership branding opportunities.
Moderation
Twitch allows streamers to make sub-only chat mode to help focus discussion. Widespread gifting gives more viewers access to participate, improving content and reducing isolation.
In short, while direct subscription income satisfies short term individual needs, the visibility and community impacts of gifted subscriptions create far-reaching value for all stakeholders that compounded over time.
Common Gifted Sub Courtesies and Etiquette
While gifting channel subscriptions aims to facilitate positive interactions, a few best practices help make sure it stays that way:
- Don’t overly gift subs from questionable free Twitch Prime trials – streamers get charged back revenue later if you cancel soon after
- Avoid gifting anonymous subscriptions unless absolutely necessary – transparency builds community
- Keep private gift sub group sizes manageable for the streamer’s average chat room participant level
- Let gifted recipients enjoy their newfound subscriber benefits however they actively choose
- Never insist, expect or require streamers to gift you subscriptions in return
Following these courtesies helps ensure gifting remains reciprocal, sincere and designed to grow communities rather than risky profit-motivated behaviors violating Terms of Service.
Key Takeaways: Why Gift Subscriptions Matter
Gifted subs are about more than money. The connections behind community gifting ultimately facilitate creativity:
Support Creators: Mass subscriptions empower innovative streamers to keep broadcasting as a full time job. Steady revenue means more time crafting content.
Strengthen Communities: Inclusive chat participation from involved subscribers leads to more inspiring loyalty, engagement and eventually better programming.
Share Connections: Hundreds gifting subscriptions creates a “pay it forward” environment fostering relationships beyond transactions.
At their core, gifted subscriptions represent voluntary acts of giving born from trust between viewers and broadcasters. Fans willing assuming that financial expense because they believe in the streamer’s creative vision to build community bonds that subs facilitate.
The numbers don’t lie. Gifted subs will only become more important fueling the interactive entertainment streaming industry forward.
