Can You Make Money Streaming on Kick? A Comprehensive Guide
Yes, you absolutely can make money streaming on Kick. In fact, Kick is rapidly gaining attention as a viable platform for streamers looking to monetize their content, often offering more lucrative opportunities than established competitors like Twitch and YouTube, especially for smaller creators. This is primarily due to Kick’s more generous revenue sharing and its innovative Creator Incentive Program. Let’s delve into how you can earn on Kick, what makes it different, and address common questions about the platform.
How to Monetize Your Kick Streams
Kick offers multiple avenues for streamers to earn money, making it an attractive option for both new and seasoned content creators. Here are the primary methods:
Subscription Revenue
The cornerstone of income for most streamers, subscriptions on Kick offer a substantial payout. Unlike Twitch’s well-known 50/50 split, Kick offers a 95/5 revenue split, meaning that streamers keep 95% of the subscription revenue, while the platform takes only 5%. With a typical subscription price of around $4.99, this translates to roughly $4.75 per subscription going directly to the creator. This makes it significantly easier to earn a substantial income from subscriptions, particularly for streamers with a dedicated fanbase.
The Kick Creator Program
One of the most appealing features of Kick is its Creator Program, which is designed to incentivize and reward streamers. To qualify for the Creator Program, streamers need to meet certain criteria. These include having at least 75 followers and having streamed for a minimum of 5 hours. Once you’re accepted into the program, you’ll be eligible for the generous 95/5 revenue split.
The Hourly Wage Incentive Program
Kick is also experimenting with an hourly wage incentive program, aimed at paying streamers for their time, rather than solely relying on viewer engagement. Although the specific details of the program evolve, some streamers have reported earning $16 per hour during specific periods of time. It’s important to note that the program is not a fixed rate for all users, with Kick aiming for an automated system that adjusts hourly rates based on creator growth and community activity. Conditions to earn this hourly rate have been reported to include: being awake and interacting with chat, and streaming for a minimum of 4 hours a day, 30 days a month.
Kick vs. Other Streaming Platforms: Why Choose Kick?
Kick’s appeal largely stems from how it differentiates itself from platforms like Twitch. Here are some of the key differences:
Superior Revenue Sharing
As previously mentioned, Kick’s 95/5 revenue split is significantly more generous than Twitch’s 50/50 split and even YouTube’s 70/30 split. This enables streamers to keep a much larger portion of their earnings, making it easier to make a sustainable living from streaming.
Lower Entry Barriers
Kick offers lower barriers to entry than other platforms, particularly in terms of earning revenue. The requirements to join the Creator Program are relatively easy to achieve, particularly compared to Twitch’s rigorous Affiliate and Partner requirements.
Less Strict Moderation
Kick aims to be more open about community guidelines compared to Twitch, which is often criticized for its seemingly arbitrary ban decisions. Kick focuses on two primary rules: “no pornography” and “no hate speech.” Although the moderation policy is sometimes questioned, the goal is to create a more transparent platform for creators.
Gambling Content
Kick allows gambling content on its platform, whereas Twitch has placed restrictions on such streams. While this content may be controversial for some, it provides an additional revenue stream for streamers who are inclined to engage with it. However, it is important to note that Kick has emphasized that gambling is not a requirement to use the platform.
Is Kick Right For You?
The decision to stream on Kick depends on your goals and preferences.
Consider Kick if:
- You want to maximize your income from streaming.
- You are a new or smaller streamer seeking to gain traction.
- You are interested in a platform with looser moderation.
- You have an interest in niche or core audience building.
Consider other platforms if:
- You want to build a large general audience.
- You are uncomfortable with the level of NSFW content or gambling content that may appear on the platform.
- You want to use more mature and well-established platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do I qualify for the Kick Creator Program?
To qualify for the Kick Creator Program, you need to have at least 75 followers and have streamed for a minimum of 5 hours.
2. What is Kick’s revenue split for subscriptions?
Kick offers a 95/5 revenue split, with the streamer receiving 95% of the subscription earnings, and Kick taking the remaining 5%.
3. Does Kick offer an hourly wage for streamers?
Yes, Kick has an hourly wage incentive program that pays certain streamers for their time, in addition to subscription revenue. Some have reported earnings of $16 per hour, under specific conditions.
4. How does Kick compare to Twitch in terms of payout?
Kick generally pays more than Twitch due to its more generous revenue split. Twitch uses a 50/50 split, making Kick a more lucrative option for streamers.
5. Is it easier to grow an audience on Kick than on Twitch?
It’s not necessarily easier to grow an audience on Kick compared to Twitch; however, Kick is generally considered better for niche audiences. Twitch generally has a larger general audience. The choice of platform depends on your goals.
6. What are the main rules for streaming on Kick?
Kick’s main rules are “no pornography” and “no hate speech“.
7. What are the technical requirements for streaming on Kick?
Kick is easy to use for new and veteran streamers. Unlike Twitch, Kick does not have its own native live-streaming software.
8. Is Kick owned by Twitch?
No, Kick is not owned by Twitch. Kick is owned by Stake.com co-founders Bijan Tehrani, Ed Craven, and streaming personality Trainwreckstv.
9. Is gambling allowed on Kick?
Yes, gambling streams are allowed on Kick, though this is a contentious issue with some users.
10. Why is Kick considered controversial?
Kick has been criticized for its moderation practices, which some find lax, and also because of the content promoted on the site, including gambling and NSFW content.
11. What are the requirements to be a Kick affiliate?
Currently, there are no official affiliate requirements other than the basic Creator Program requirements. Kick has an affiliate split of 95/5 when you are accepted to the Creator Program.
12. How much do small Twitch streamers with around 100 viewers make?
A Twitch streamer with around 100 viewers could potentially earn around $1,500 per month, usually with a mixture of subscriptions and sponsorships.
13. Does Kick allow NSFW content?
While explicit pornography is prohibited, NSFW content is allowed as long as it is appropriately tagged as 18+.
14. What conditions must be met to get paid the $16 an hour on Kick?
The reported conditions to receive the $16 an hour payment are: being awake and actively interacting with the chat, and streaming for a minimum of 4 hours a day, for 30 days a month.
15. How can you start making money on Kick?
The easiest way to start making money on Kick is by joining the Kick Creator Program by having at least 75 followers and streaming for at least 5 hours. Once accepted, you qualify for the 95/5 subscription split.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Kick offers a strong opportunity for streamers to earn money, particularly due to its generous revenue split and the Creator Incentive Program. While it’s important to weigh the pros and cons, including the less strict moderation and the presence of gambling content, Kick is definitely a platform worth exploring if you’re looking to monetize your streams and build a following. Whether you’re a small streamer starting out or an experienced content creator, Kick provides a compelling alternative in the live-streaming landscape.