How to Add Emotes on Kick in 2026

To add emotes on Kick, go to your Creator Dashboard → Channel → Emotes → Upload Emote. Kick emotes must be PNG files at 112×112 pixels, under 256 KB. After uploading, give the emote a name (lowercase letters and numbers only, 4–25 characters) — viewers use this name to trigger the emote in chat.

Kick gives all streamers access to channel emotes without requiring a minimum follower count or subscriber tier. Any registered Kick channel can upload up to 50 channel emotes.

TL;DR

• Go to Creator Dashboard → Channel → Emotes → Upload Emote
• Required format: PNG, 112×112 px, max 256 KB, transparent background recommended
• Emote name: 4–25 characters, lowercase letters and numbers only, no spaces
• All Kick channels can upload emotes — no minimum follower or subscriber requirement
• After uploading, viewers type :emotename: in chat to use the emote
• Kick also supports animated GIF emotes (128×128, max 512 KB)

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Kick emote requirements

Before uploading, prepare your emote files to these exact specifications:

Static emotes (PNG):

• Format: PNG
• Dimensions: 112×112 pixels
• File size: maximum 256 KB
• Background: transparent recommended (so emote works on dark and light chat themes)
• Color mode: RGB (not CMYK)

Animated emotes (GIF):

• Format: GIF
• Dimensions: 128×128 pixels
• File size: maximum 512 KB
• Frame rate: Kick renders up to 24 fps

Emote name requirements:

• Length: 4–25 characters
• Characters: lowercase letters and numbers only
• No spaces, no special characters, no uppercase
• Must be unique across your channel’s emote list

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How to upload emotes on Kick: step-by-step

Step 1: Prepare your emote files

Your emote must be 112×112 px PNG before uploading. If you have a larger artwork file (e.g., a 1000×1000 PNG), resize it to exactly 112×112 using:

• Photoshop/Illustrator: Image → Image Size → 112×112 px, Save As PNG
• Canva: Set canvas to 112×112 px, export as PNG with transparent background
• GIMP (free): Image → Scale Image → 112×112, Export As PNG
• squoosh.app (free, browser-based): Drag in file, resize to 112×112, download PNG

Check file size after resize. Most 112×112 PNGs are well under 256 KB unless they have embedded metadata.

Step 2: Open the Kick Creator Dashboard

1. Go to kick.com and sign in
2. Click your profile avatar → Creator Dashboard
3. In the left sidebar, click Channel
4. Click Emotes

Step 3: Upload the emote

1. Click + Upload Emote (or the upload area)
2. Select your prepared PNG file
3. The file appears in the upload preview — verify it looks correct (no clipping, background transparency visible)
4. If it looks off, resize/re-export before proceeding

Step 4: Name the emote

In the name field:

• Enter a name viewers will type to trigger the emote
• Use your channel tag or brand name as a prefix: channelname_pog, channelname_lol, channelname_hype
• Keep names short (6–10 characters is practical — longer names are harder to type in chat)
• Example: streamernerd = too long; sn_pog = better

Step 5: Submit

Click Save or Submit. The emote appears in your channel emote list immediately. Viewers can use it in your chat by typing :emotename: or selecting it from the emote picker.

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How many emotes can you upload on Kick?

Kick allows up to 50 channel emotes for all streamers. There is no tiered emote slot system based on subscriber count (unlike Twitch, which gates emote slots behind sub points). All 50 slots are available immediately.

As of 2026, Kick has not publicly announced plans to increase this limit, but the flat 50-slot access for all channels is a notable advantage for new streamers compared to Twitch’s subscriber-gated system.

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Where to get custom Kick emotes made

Make your own:

• Canva (free): use cartoon/character templates, set canvas to 112×112, export transparent PNG
• Adobe Express (free tier): similar to Canva with more design flexibility
• Procreate/Clip Studio (paid): if you illustrate, these give full control

Commission from artists:

• Fiverr: Search “Twitch emote” — most emote artists work across Twitch and Kick specs. Prices range from $5–40 per emote for basic styles; $50–150+ for detailed illustrations
• Etsy: Some artists sell emote packs (pre-made sets for a channel aesthetic). Instant delivery, fixed price.
• Twitter/X creators: Many emote artists post portfolios. DM pricing directly.

Free emote sites:

• NightBot’s free emotes: Generic emotes, not channel-specific
• StreamElements marketplace: Offers free community-submitted emotes (Twitch spec, but 112×112 PNG works for Kick)

What to ask for when commissioning:

• Deliver at 500×500 px or larger (you can resize down; not up)
• PNG with transparent background
• Multiple expressions from the same character for a cohesive set

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Emote strategy: what to upload first

Not all emote slots are equally valuable. Prioritize by what viewers will actually type:

Tier 1 — universal emotes (upload first):

• Hype / Poggers expression (celebration)
• Laugh / LOL emote
• GG / good game (post-match use)
• Sad / RIP (for deaths, losses)
• Love / heart (subscriber thank-you use)

Tier 2 — channel-specific:

• Your avatar/persona in different expressions
• Catchphrase reference from your channel
• Game-specific emotes for your main game (Valorant spike emoji, FPS crosshair emote)

Tier 3 — seasonal/event:

• Holiday-specific emotes (Christmas, Halloween)
• Event-tied emotes (tournament runs, anniversary emotes)

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Animated emotes on Kick

Kick supports animated GIF emotes at 128×128 px, max 512 KB. Animated emotes have significantly more impact in chat — moving emotes stand out in a fast-moving chat stream.

Creating animated emotes:

• ScreenToGif (free, Windows): record a small animation and export as optimized GIF
• Canva Pro: supports animated elements and GIF export
• Photoshop timeline: frame-by-frame animation with GIF export

Animated emotes are subject to the same 512 KB limit — keeping the animation simple (2–4 frames looping) keeps file size manageable.

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Kick vs Twitch emotes: key differences

Feature	Kick	Twitch
Emote slots	50 (all channels)	Tiered by sub points (starting at 5 for affiliates)
Minimum requirement	None	Affiliate or Partner
File format	PNG 112×112	PNG at 28×28, 56×56, 112×112
Animated emotes	Yes (GIF 128×128)	Partners only (Cheermotes and bits emotes)
Channel point emotes	Separate system	Separate system

For Kick streamers, the flat 50-slot access without subscriber requirements is a strong reason to invest in a full emote set early.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can viewers use my Kick emotes in other channels?

Kick channel emotes are currently channel-specific — viewers can only use your emotes in your own chat. Kick does not currently have a global emote system equivalent to Twitch’s tier-gated emotes.

How long does emote review/approval take on Kick?

Kick has an approval process for uploaded emotes, though approval times vary. Most emotes are approved within 24–48 hours. Emotes with copyrighted characters, brand logos, or policy-violating content will be rejected.

Can I use Twitch emote dimensions for Kick?

Twitch uses a 3-size system (28×28, 56×56, 112×112). Kick only requires 112×112 — so if you already have Twitch emotes at 112×112, they work on Kick without modification.

What makes a good emote name?

Short, memorable, and channel-prefixed. xyzHype is better than xyzGettingVeryExcited. Viewers in fast chat type short codes; long emote names get skipped in favor of shorter alternatives.

Can I delete or replace an existing emote?

Yes. In the Emotes section of your Creator Dashboard, each uploaded emote has a delete option. You can replace an emote by deleting the old one and uploading a new file with the same name (or a different name for a new slot).

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Conclusion

Kick emotes are straightforward to set up — upload a 112×112 PNG to your Creator Dashboard, name it, and it’s live in your chat within 48 hours of approval. The 50-slot allowance for all channels means you can build a full expression set early, before you have significant subscriber counts.

Once your channel is running with consistent streams, Eklipse for Kick automatically processes your Kick VODs and generates highlight clips from each session — the same automatic clipping available for Twitch, applied to your Kick channel.

Connect your Kick channel to Eklipse and start auto-clipping →