How to support a streamer on Twitch

Some people enjoy a streamer's content enough that they want to financially support the streamer so they can continue to put out quality content. There's a handful of different ways to do this and some are more lucrative to the streamer. Here are a few ways to support the streamer from best to worst. They will be explained by what you pay vs what the streamer receives. Note that all of this is based on transactions in the USA. Actual values will vary slightly depending on location and PC vs Mobile.

Direct gift through Paypal:

Pay: $20 PC, $20 Mobile
Receive: $20 PC, $20 Mobile

Of course the most bang for the buck is going to be the direct Paypal to Paypal. You send it directly to the streamer using the "gift" option through Paypal. This one is much less common since it requires you to know the streamer's personal Paypal information and majority of streamers do not give out their personal information so freely. Depends on how close you are to said streamer.

Donations:

Pay: $20 PC, $20 Mobile
Receive: $18.73 PC, $18.73 Mobile
Net loss: About 4%

Donations through a 3rd party service like Streamlabs. Most streamers have this set up in some fashion. Streamlabs does not charge any processing fees to donate but Paypal does. Paypal considers it a commercial transaction and is subject to fees accordingly. In the US, this is 3.9% + flat fee which is $0.49 per transaction. Values will change slightly depending on where the donator and streamer are located but not by a whole lot. Maybe 1% + $0.10, give or take.

Cheering bits:

Pay: $20 PC, $20 Mobile
Receive: $15 PC, $10.50 Mobile
Net loss: 25% PC, 47.5% Mobile

If donating is not an option, cheering is the next best way to go. The more bits you purchase, the less the gap in paid vs received. In this case, the streamer is looking at a profit of 52.5-75% of total money spent by the viewer. The rest goes to Twitch covers taxes, processing fees, and Twitch's profit margin.

Subs/Gift Subs (4):

Pay: $20 PC, $24 Mobile
Receive: $10 PC, $10 Mobile
Net loss: 50% PC, 58.3% Mobile

Subs and gift subs are the least profitable way to support a streamer. The streamer will only receive 41.7-50% of the money you have paid to support them. It's most common way to support a streamer even though it is the least profitable. This is most likely due to getting something usable in return in the form of emotes. That's what your extra money is going towards and people love emotes.

Using the Mobile App, you get a lot less bang for your buck due to processing fees for using an app. You can offset this on mobile by going directly to Twitch via a browser and making your purchases instead.

So, if you want to support your local streamer to the fullest that your contribution will allow, donations are the best way to go. They will see more of the money than any other method. If you want to or can only support through Twitch methods, cheering bits purchased via a browser. If you want your emotes, sub just yourself and cheer the rest of the way. Everyone appreciates gift subs but the streamer will benefit much more if you do not.

Ultimately, the choice is yours on how you wish to show your support. Any and all support is still appreciated by any streamer!