How Twitch bits work
Bits are Twitch's on-platform tipping currency. Viewers buy bits from Twitch, then "cheer" them in chat. For every bit cheered, the Affiliate or Partner receives exactly one cent ($0.01 USD). The difference between what viewers pay and what streamers receive is Twitch's cut plus payment processing.
Do bits expire?
No — purchased bits stay in a viewer's account until cheered.
When do streamers get paid for bits?
Bits revenue joins your normal Twitch payout, sent ~15 days after the end of the month once you pass the payout minimum ($50 for most methods).
Are bits better than direct donations?
Direct tips (PayPal, Ko-fi, Stream Elements tipping) give the streamer ~97% instead of the effective ~70–80% with bits, but bits are safer (no chargebacks against the streamer) and more convenient for viewers.