How to Become a Twitch Affiliate in 2025

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TL;DR
To become a Twitch Affiliate, you must complete the “Path to Affiliate” achievement by streaming for 8 hours, on 7 different days, with an average of 3 concurrent viewers, and reaching 50 followers. These goals must be met simultaneously within a 30-day period.

Taking the step from casual streamer to earning an income from your content is a major milestone, and the first big step on that journey is learning how to become a Twitch Affiliate in 2025. This program is Twitch’s way of rewarding dedicated streamers with monetization tools, including subscriptions, Bits, and ad revenue. While the requirements are straightforward, achieving them requires consistency and a solid strategy.

Becoming a Twitch Affiliate is all about completing the “Path to Affiliate” achievement. This involves meeting four key criteria over a 30-day period: reaching 50 followers, streaming for at least 8 hours, streaming on 7 different days, and maintaining an average of 3 concurrent viewers. Once you meet these goals, Twitch will automatically send you an invitation to join the program. Let’s break down exactly what you need to do to get there and how to make the most of it once you arrive.

What is the Twitch Affiliate Program?

Think of the Twitch Affiliate Program as the gateway to professional streaming. It’s the level just before the more exclusive Twitch Partner status. As an Affiliate, you unlock the core tools needed to build a community and generate revenue directly from your channel. It’s designed to be an achievable goal for streamers who are serious about growing their presence on the platform.

The Four “Path to Affiliate” Requirements for 2025

To get that coveted invitation, you need to check off four boxes simultaneously within any 30-day rolling period. It’s a common misconception that you have to achieve this in your first month; in reality, Twitch is looking for a consistent 30-day performance, whenever that may be. Here are the goals:

• Reach 50 Followers: This is the first social proof that you’re building an audience.
• Stream for 8 total hours: This shows you’re committed to putting in the time.
• Stream on 7 different days: This demonstrates a consistent streaming schedule.
• Achieve an average of 3 concurrent viewers: This is often the hardest goal. It means that across your 8+ hours of streaming in the 30-day window, you had an average of at least 3 people watching at any given time.

You can track your progress towards these goals in your Creator Dashboard under the “Achievements” section. The dashboard provides a clear, real-time look at where you stand.

Strategies to Meet the Affiliate Requirements

Hitting all four goals, especially the average of 3 viewers, requires more than just going live. Here are some actionable strategies to help you get there.

1. Create a Consistent Streaming Schedule

A schedule is the most powerful tool for growth. Streaming at the same times on the same days helps your followers know when to find you. It turns casual viewers into regulars. You don’t need to stream every day; a schedule of 2-3 days a week for a few hours each is enough to hit the 8-hour and 7-day requirements easily.

2. Engage With Your Viewers (All of Them!)

When you only have 1-2 viewers, it’s tempting to stay quiet. Don’t! Talk constantly, even if you think no one is listening. Narrate your gameplay, share your thoughts, and ask questions. When someone does type in chat, greet them by name and respond to their message. This makes your stream feel welcoming and encourages people to stick around, helping you maintain that crucial 3-viewer average.

3. Promote Your Stream Off-Platform

Don’t rely on Twitch’s discovery features alone. Share your “going live” announcements on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok. Join Discord communities related to the games you play and share your stream in the appropriate self-promotion channels. This is a great way to bring in those first few crucial viewers.

You’ve Been Invited! What Happens Next?

Congratulations! Once you complete the Path to Affiliate, you’ll receive an email and a notification in your Creator Dashboard. Now, you need to complete the onboarding process, which involves:

1. Providing Payout Information: You’ll need to fill out basic personal information and tax forms (like the W-9 for U.S. residents).
2. Agreeing to the Twitch Affiliate Agreement: This is the legal contract between you and Twitch. Read it carefully.
3. Setting Up Payout Method: Choose how you want to get paid (e.g., direct deposit, PayPal). Note that Twitch has a $50 minimum payout threshold.

Once onboarding is complete, the “Subscribe” button will appear on your channel, and you can start earning from Bits and ads!

Turn Your Best Moments into Growth with Eklipse

Becoming an Affiliate is just the beginning. Now, the real work of growing your channel begins, and that means creating content that attracts new viewers. Manually editing clips for social media is time-consuming and can burn you out. This is where Eklipse becomes your essential partner.

Instead of spending hours searching VODs, let Eklipse’s AI do the heavy lifting. It automatically identifies your best stream moments and converts them into high-quality clips perfect for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels. You can start for free and get 720p clips from your streams. When you’re ready to level up, Eklipse Premium offers 1080p quality, no watermarks, 3x faster processing, and even a social media caption generator to make posting effortless. It’s the smartest way to market your stream and grow beyond the Affiliate level.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How long does it take to become a Twitch Affiliate?
A: It varies greatly. Some streamers achieve it in a month, while for others it might take several months. The key is consistency in your schedule and active engagement with your community to raise your average viewership.

Q: Do I lose Affiliate status if my stats drop?
A: No. Once you are a Twitch Affiliate, you do not lose the status if your viewership or stream frequency drops below the initial requirements. However, your account must remain active to continue in the program.

Q: Can I be an Affiliate on Twitch and stream on other platforms?
A: Yes, but with a key restriction. The Twitch Affiliate Agreement specifies a 24-hour exclusivity period for your live content. This means you cannot stream or upload your live Twitch content to another platform for 24 hours after your broadcast ends. However, you are free to stream entirely different content on other platforms.

Q: What’s the difference between a Twitch Affiliate and a Partner?
A: The Partner program is the next tier up and is much more exclusive, requiring a much larger and more engaged viewership. Partners get additional benefits like a higher revenue share potential, a verified chat badge, and more emote slots. Affiliate is the necessary first step toward the Path to Partner.