Bits are Twitch's built-in virtual currency for showing support during a stream. Viewers buy Bits and then use them to Cheer in chat, which sends an animated message and signals support to the streamer. In return, streamers earn a share of revenue from the Bits used on their channel.
This guide explains how Bits work from both sides: how viewers get them and Cheer effectively, and how streamers earn from them. Prices, bonuses, and revenue details can change over time and vary by region, so treat any figures as approximate and confirm the current numbers on Twitch before relying on them.
What Bits are and what Cheering does
A Bit is a small unit of virtual currency you buy on Twitch. You spend Bits by Cheering, which means posting a special message in a channel's chat using Cheermotes, the animated emotes tied to Bits. The more Bits you include, the larger and more noticeable the Cheer.
Cheering does two things at once. It puts an animated, attention-grabbing message in chat, often pinning it briefly or highlighting it, and it directs financial support to the streamer. For viewers, it is a way to stand out and say thanks; for streamers, it is a recurring source of channel revenue.
How viewers get Bits
The most direct way to get Bits is to buy them through Twitch, either on the website or in the app, using the Bits purchase option in chat or your account. Twitch sometimes offers a discount on larger Bit bundles, but pricing changes, so check the current rates when you buy.
There are also no-cost or lower-cost ways to earn Bits at times. Twitch has historically let viewers earn small amounts of Bits by watching certain ads, and occasional promotions or rewards can grant Bits as well. Availability of these options varies by region and over time, so they are a nice bonus rather than something to count on.
- Buy Bits directly through Twitch on web or mobile
- Watch eligible ads to earn small amounts of Bits when offered
- Keep an eye out for occasional promotions that grant Bits
- Availability and pricing change and differ by region
How to Cheer effectively
To Cheer, type a Cheermote code followed by the number of Bits in a channel's chat, for example using the word Cheer with an amount attached. Twitch converts it into an animated message sized to the number of Bits you used. You can combine Cheermotes with a normal message so your support comes with a comment.
Many streamers set Bit-based goals, alerts, or sound effects, so a Cheer can trigger on-stream reactions. Some channels also have leaderboards that recognize top Cheerers over a period. Checking a channel's panels or chat rules can tell you how that streamer likes Bits to be used.
- Type a Cheermote plus a Bit amount in chat to Cheer
- Add a message so your support comes with a comment
- Watch for Bit goals, alerts, and leaderboards on the channel
- Check the channel's rules for how it prefers Cheers
How streamers earn from Bits
Streamers earn revenue from Bits that viewers Cheer on their channel. To unlock Cheering and start earning from Bits, a channel generally needs to reach Affiliate or Partner status, which has its own follower, stream, and viewership-based requirements that Twitch sets and can update.
Once enabled, Bits accrue toward your channel earnings and pay out through Twitch's standard process once you meet the payout threshold. The exact per-Bit value to the streamer and the payout terms are set by Twitch and can change, so review the current Affiliate or Partner agreement for the figures that apply to you.
- Reach Affiliate or Partner status to enable Cheering and Bit revenue
- Bits Cheered on your channel accrue toward your earnings
- Payouts follow Twitch's standard threshold and schedule
- Per-Bit value and terms are set by Twitch and can change
Bits, growth, and social proof
Bits reward an engaged audience, which means they tend to follow growth rather than create it. The path to more Bit revenue is usually more reliable than any trick: stream consistently, build a community that wants to support you, and reach the status tiers that unlock Cheering.
Looking established helps you attract and keep that audience in the first place. BoostHill offers Twitch followers from real, active accounts using only your public channel link, with no password and a 30-day refill guarantee. It can strengthen your social proof as a head-start, but it does not generate Bits, views, or guaranteed growth — those come from your streams and your community.
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