Kick looks chaotic on the surface. Wild categories. Spicy rules. Big names flashing big checks. So, how to make money on Kick if you’re not xQc?
There are indeed a lot of ways, even with small numbers. But it’s not a slot-pull jackpot. It’s a system. Kick’s 95/5 split is real, and the Creator Incentive Program pays hourly if you qualify. You just need consistent stream hours, content people care about, and engagement that doesn’t fall flat.
Stay with us in this guide on how to make money on Kick and learn something new.
Kick is a live streaming platform with generous revenue options. Here’s the fast path:
Subscriptions (95/5 split = elite subscription income for creators)
Direct donations via tipping tools
Kick Creator Incentive Program (reports of $16/hour if you meet activity requirements)
Affiliate links & sponsorships (gear, games, services)
Digital goods & merch (guides, overlays, eBooks, private Discord perks)
Bonus: Avoid empty rooms. Use Kick ViewerBot, Kick ChatBot, and Kick FollowBot strategically so first-time visitors don’t bounce from silence.
Start where you are. Stack income streams as your loyal community forms.
| Stage | What Works First | Why It’s Good |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Donations, affiliate links, repurpose to other platforms | Cash flow without thresholds; builds habits |
| Tier 2 | Subscriptions, digital products, Discord perks | Higher-margin, recurring support |
| Tier 3 | Kick Creator Incentive Program (hourly pay if accepted) | Predictable floor if you meet activity |
| Tier 4 | Brand deals and sponsorships | Biggest upside once you have proof of reach |
Small live streams still earn. Add a tip panel. Drop a pinned command for your donation link. Pair that with affiliate program links to gear you actually use. Repurpose stream highlights for Shorts on other platforms to funnel fresh eyes back to Kick. This is the fastest route to first dollars and early trust.
Once chat wakes up, pitch exclusive content. Think “sub-only Discord rooms,” VOD vaults, or monthly coaching/Q&A. Kick’s 95/5 subscription income split is creator-friendly, so even modest sub counts matter.
Digital products scale:
Stream overlay packs
Game guides
“How I rank” PDFs
There are two “tracks” discussed across the community.
One highlights hourly pay around $16/hour with light entry signals like 75 followers and daily stream time, plus active chat time.
Another list mentions heavier metrics like average viewers, stream hours, unique chatters, subs, VODs, and followers totals over a month.
The takeaway is simple… Kick pays hourly if you hit Kick’s current bar and get in. Treat it like a baseline, not the goal.
Brands don’t need millions. They need fit. Package your numbers, niche, and audience profile in a one-page PDF. Include your average concurrence, chat velocity, category focus, and deliverables you offer (on-stream callouts, panels, pinned chat, post-stream Shorts). Pitch small companies aligned with your category. One clean test campaign can unlock more.
The Creator Incentive Program (now Kick Partner Program) is the buzz for a reason. Hourly pay changes the grind. But you need tangible activity:
Lock a schedule and hit daily hours. Show up like a job.
Target consistent chat activity. Ask simple, rapid prompts. Keep messages flowing.
Repurpose highlights to Shorts on YouTube/TikTok to pull new viewers.
Eliminate dead air. Use low music beds and scene hotkeys to keep pace.
Reduce bounce from empty rooms. Use Viewbotter’s Kick tools so first-timers see life when they click:
To qualify, streamers typically need at least 75 followers, consistent daily stream hours, and active chat time that proves real engagement. Higher-tier creators often hit larger monthly benchmarks for what Kick calls its “elite” level.
Aim above the bare minimum. The stronger your stats and consistency, the faster your approval will come.
Getting people to actually pay you on Kick takes more than luck, but it’s definitely easier than it looks once you know what matters. Even small creators can build steady support by focusing on connection, value, and consistency.
If you’re just starting out, these Kick growth tips can help you turn casual viewers into your first 10-100 paying supporters.
People pay for value. That’s it. Value can be high quality content (clean gameplay breakdowns), comfort (daily chill space), or access (private Discord nights).
Build one signature segment each stream. Give a reason to sub today. For example:
“Chat chooses the build”
“Punishment run for every death”
“Friday VOD review for subs”
Kick has weak discovery. Short-form drives discovery. Post 1-3 Shorts per stream session. Make the first two seconds punch. Add on-screen captions. Pin your Kick link in your profile.
This external funnel turns lurkers into Kick regulars and unlocks ad revenue options on other platforms, too.
Make every bit of support feel rewarding. Small, visible perks go a long way:
Add sub goal graphics that update live.
Give loyal supporters a “name in credits” shoutout.
Create a private Discord room for subs.
Host a monthly sub-only game night or mini tournament.
Set tip milestones that trigger fun on-stream events.
Keep everything simple, fast, and public. When people see their support make something happen, they’ll want to be part of it.
Yes, the 95/5 split beats Twitch and YouTube’s cuts.
Yes, the hourly earn potential exists.
But it’s still work. Hours. Clips. Promos. Iteration. Some months pop. Some don’t.
Treat streaming like a small media business. Build repeatable formats. Protect your energy. Stack multiple income streams so one slow month doesn’t break you.
Making money on Kick isn’t a lottery. It’s a lane. Need help skipping the “empty room” phase?
Kick ViewerBot for instant social proof
Kick ChatBot for lively, context-aware chat
Kick FollowBot for long-term optics
Go live. Keep it tight. Get paid.
With the 95/5 split, 1,000 Tier-1 subs is serious money (~$4,750). Want exact math? Use our tool, Kick Subscribers to USD Calculator.
Yes, Kick offers an hourly payout program that pays around $16 per hour once you meet the platform’s current requirements and receive approval. The exact criteria can change over time, but think of hourly pay as a bonus for consistent engagement, not a guarantee.
Kick’s revenue split for subs is 95/5. Twitch’s popular splits are lower and can step down after thresholds. For a full comparison of fees, culture, and growth pros/cons, see our comparison of Twitch vs. Kick.
Kick is not a pure “views = dollars” model. Money comes from subscription income, tips, hourly programs (if accepted), sponsors, and product sales. Views help you earn by unlocking those streams, but views alone don’t equal revenue.
If you want better splits and a faster path to make money, Kick is attractive. Just remember, discovery is really thin. You must drive traffic in and hold it with a repeatable show. Use external Shorts, and run stable schedules.
It varies wildly. Many start with tips and a few subs, then ramp into hourly and small brand deals as activity grows. The fastest wins usually come from clean donation funnels, smart content repurposing, and sticky community perks.