How Much Do Twitch Streamers Charge for a Sponsored Stream?

Most Twitch streamers charge roughly $1 to $3 per average live viewer for a dedicated 1 to 2 hour sponsored stream. That works out to about $50 to $150 for a streamer with 50 viewers, $170 to $500 at around 170, and $575 to $1,700 at around 575. This is an estimate, not a published rate card. Many small streamers will also play an indie game for a free key, so you may not need to pay at all.

Below you'll find a rate table, the things that move the price up or down, and a simple way to check whether a quote is fair. You'll also get example wording for asking, and a checklist of what to put in the deal.

Typical Twitch sponsored stream rates by size

Twitch pricing follows average live viewers, not follower count. Followers are a lifetime total. Average viewers tell you how many people are actually watching when the streamer goes live.

The viewer numbers below are medians from UGC Finder's directory of 20,204 Twitch streamers, where average viewers are counted while the streamer is live (checked about once an hour). The price ranges are my own estimates using the $1 to $3 per viewer rule, not directory data.

Two things stand out in the directory. About half of all streamers (10,001 of 20,204) have under 10K followers. And in the 10K to 100K tier, 83% are Twitch Partners, compared with 26% below 10K. Partners tend to stream on a schedule and treat sponsorships as part of their income, so they're more likely to quote a price.

Tip The median is a midpoint, not a promise. A streamer with 400 viewers who plays your genre will often beat a streamer with 1,000 who plays something unrelated. Price the audience you actually want, not the biggest number.

What changes the price

The viewer rule gives you a starting point. These factors move the quote up or down:

• Stream length. A 30-minute segment costs much less than a 2-hour dedicated stream. Longer streams cost more, but not in a straight line.
• Dedicated vs. mixed. A stream built around your game costs more than a short mention in a variety stream.
• Audience fit. A streamer who regularly plays roguelikes will convert better for your roguelike. They know it and may charge a premium for it.
• Chat activity. Active chat usually matters more than raw viewer count. A quiet 300 is worth less than a lively 150.
• Extras. Panels, a chat command, an edited VOD, clips and a YouTube upload all add value. Each one can add to the price.
• Exclusivity. Asking them not to play competing games for a week or more will cost extra.
• Usage rights. If you want to reuse their footage in your trailer or ads, expect to pay for it separately.
• Your game's price. A free-to-play app or a $5 game is a harder sell than a $30 title, so you may need to offer more.

If you've priced YouTube sponsorships before, Twitch works differently. YouTube is paid per video with lasting views. Twitch is paid for a live moment, with a smaller long tail from VODs and clips. Our guide on how much YouTubers charge for a sponsored video covers the other side.

Free keys, flat fees or revenue share

You have three main ways to work with a streamer. Pick based on your budget and how well the streamer fits.

1. Free key, no payment

You send a key and ask them to try your game. There's no obligation and no guarantee. This works best with streamers under a few hundred viewers who already play your genre. Be clear that you're not requiring a stream, and don't chase them if they don't play.

2. Flat fee for a sponsored stream

You agree on a price, a date, a length and what they'll do (play, show panels, mention a link). This gives you certainty and is the usual approach once a streamer has 150+ viewers.

3. Fee plus affiliate or revenue share

A lower flat fee plus a share of sales through a tracked link or code. This is common for apps and paid games on stores that support it. It lowers your risk, but it only works if you can track the sales. Many small streamers prefer a guaranteed fee, so offer both.

How to check whether a quote is fair

Do this before you say yes to any price:

1. Ask for their average live viewers over the last 10 streams. Streamers can see this in their Twitch analytics. Don't rely on peak viewers or follower count.
2. Multiply viewers by stream hours. A 171-viewer streamer playing for 2 hours gives you about 342 viewer-hours.
3. Divide the quote by viewer-hours. A $300 quote for those 342 viewer-hours is about $0.88 per viewer-hour. Compare quotes this way.
4. Watch two recent VODs. Check that chat is real conversation, not just bots and emotes. Check how they present a sponsor.
5. Check the game fit. Look at their last month of categories. If they've never played your genre, expect a weaker result.

If a quote is far above the $1 to $3 per viewer range, ask what's included. They may be bundling a YouTube upload, clips and an edited VOD. If nothing extra is included, you can negotiate or walk away.

How to find streamers who fit your budget

Set your budget first, then work backwards. With $300, aim for streamers with about 100 to 300 average viewers. With $100, look at 40 to 80 viewers, or offer a free key plus a small thank-you fee.

Next, narrow by game. Search for streamers who already play games like yours. For an indie roguelike, that means people who regularly stream roguelikes, not the top Just Chatting streamers. In UGC Finder's directory, Just Chatting is the most-streamed category (6,861 streamers), but a Just Chatting audience may not buy your game.

You can browse Twitch streamers in the directory and filter by average live viewers, how often they stream and the games they play. Look for a business email on their profile, and save the ones that fit. Only 19% of streamers under 10K followers list an email, versus 37% in the 10K to 100K tier, so for the smallest streamers you may need to use Twitch panels or a social DM. For a longer walkthrough, see how to get Twitch streamers to play your game.

If you also make games for YouTube audiences, a cheaper way to extend your reach is to look at indie gaming YouTubers alongside your Twitch shortlist. Their videos keep getting views long after the stream is over.

How to ask for a rate

Keep your first message short. State what you made, what you want, and ask for their rate. Don't open with a lowball.

Example:

"Hi Sam, I'm Alex, the developer of Ashfall, a small roguelike on Steam. I watched your last run of Hades II and think your chat would enjoy it. Do you do sponsored streams? I'm looking for one 90-minute stream in the next 3 weeks. Could you send your rate and your average live viewers over the last month? I can also send a free key whether or not we work together."

Send a follow-up after 4 to 5 days if there's no reply, and stop after two follow-ups. If you want a starting draft, the YouTuber outreach email generator works as a base you can adapt for Twitch.

Tip When they quote a number, don't counter straight away. Ask what's included, then offer a smaller scope (shorter stream, no VOD edit) instead of a lower price for the same work. Streamers respond better to that.

What to put in the deal

Even a $100 deal should be written down. A short email thread is enough. Include:

• Date, start time and minimum length (for example, 90 minutes on a Thursday evening).
• What they'll do: play live, react to the game, answer chat questions about it.
• Links and visibility: a chat command (such as !game) set up for the stream, a link in the stream description or panel for a set period, and a pinned message.
• Disclosure: the streamer should use Twitch's branded content label and follow local ad rules. Don't ask them to hide the sponsorship.
• VOD and clips: whether the VOD stays up, and whether you can share clips on your own channels.
• Creative freedom: you can brief them on key points, but let them play in their own voice. Forced scripts perform badly on Twitch.
• Payment terms: half upfront and half after the stream, or all after. State the amount and the method.
• Fallback: what happens if the stream is cancelled or goes badly (for example, a reschedule within 14 days).

Send them a build or key at least a week before, with a one-page brief: what the game is, 3 selling points, the link, and anything they shouldn't say (like unfinished features).

Mistakes that waste a sponsorship budget

• Paying for followers. A 100K-follower channel with 40 live viewers is a poor buy.
• Skipping the genre check. The best audience is already playing games like yours.
• Booking one big stream. Three $100 streams with different smaller streamers will often give you more feedback and more chances to learn.
• No tracking. Use a unique link or code per streamer so you know which stream led to wishlists or sales.
• Expecting instant sales. Some viewers wishlist and buy later. Check the VOD and clip views a week after, not just on the day.

Start small: pick 5 streamers around the 50 to 200 viewer range, offer a mix of free keys and a couple of paid streams, and see what the numbers tell you. If you'd like to compare plans for tracking and contacting creators, see UGC Finder pricing.