Twitch Revenue and Usage Statistics (2023)

Except for newcomers, you’d agree that Twitch is the platform to beat as far as live streaming goes. It’s miles ahead of top competitors such as Vimeo, Mixer, Facebook Live and the almighty YouTube Gaming. 

As 2023 unfolds, it’s more relevant than ever to ask: how many people stream on Twitch? 

Undoubtedly, it is a standout in the social media landscape, surpassing millions of subscribers and shaping the direction of the gaming market. 

But the platform isn’t just about impressive user counts. It’s a complex ecosystem boasting varied revenue streams – from app purchases to channel subscriptions and advertising revenue. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll review some of the most important Twitch revenue and usage statistics. These will help us understand why it ranks high in the gaming industry.

Ready to get started? Let’s jump right in!

What Is Twitch?

What we know as Twitch today was Born out of the visionary mind of Justin Kan. Avid viewers might recall its predecessor, Justin.tv, the platform that broke new ground in live-streaming content. Kan launched Justin.tv in 2007 as an ambitious project to bring reality television to the internet. He effectively became the internet’s first life-caster, broadcasting his day-to-day activities for the world to see.

However, the platform’s destiny was to evolve far beyond this initial concept. As the gaming market blossomed, Justin.tv captured the trend, creating a dedicated category for game streaming.

The popularity of this category grew so rapidly, dwarfing the other content areas, that it spawned an entity of its own: Twitch.

With the gaming industry booming, Twitch positioned itself as the go-to platform for gamers, from casual players to e-sport competitors, to connect, engage, and share their passion. 

Streamers could carry out various activities on the platform. These include:

• interact with their followers through Twitch emotes and chat
• broadcasting their gameplay
• build a dedicated fan base

With steady popularity growth came bids from big tech company owners. One of these was Amazon’s founder, Jeff Besos, who saw its potential. He acquired Twitch for an astounding $970 million. The acquisition bolstered Twitch’s position in the gaming industry and extended its revenue streams. To accelerate things, Amazon integrated Twitch into its Prime service as Twitch Prime. This offered free games and other benefits to subscribers, fueling the platform’s growth. 

Twitch today is more than just a popular destination for gamers. It’s a cultural phenomenon that resonates with millions of active subscribers, enticing them with countless hours of content and a strong sense of community. The platform’s Twitch partners and affiliate program further enhance its appeal, providing streamers with new opportunities to monetize their content and build their careers. Twitch continues to evolve, leaving a lasting impact on the internet engagement model and the entertainment industry.

Twitch Users Statistics 

Having covered what Twitch is, let’s delve into some key Twitch user statistics. In this section, we’ll explore the makeup of this virtual community and how it contributes to the platform’s ongoing success.

How Many Users Visit Twitch Daily?

A day on Twitch is a whirlwind of activity, with its bustling community driving the platform’s continuous growth. 

Twitch currently has an astonishing 30 million daily active users (DAUs), reinforcing its stature in online entertainment. On any given day, over 2.5 million eager viewers tune in to a wide array of streams, cementing Twitch as a habitual destination in their digital routine. 

The high levels of user engagement peak on Sundays and Saturdays, while Mondays observe the least average viewers, illustrating the ebb and flow of internet engagement.

How Many People Stream on Twitch in 2023?

As Twitch’s popularity continues to skyrocket in 2023, so does the number of content creators or streamers contributing to the platform’s immense pool of live-streaming content. This year, an impressive 7.4 million monthly streamers share content, contributing to an overall count of 9.2 million active Twitch streamers. 

Their combined efforts result in a staggering 1.14 trillion minutes, or approximately 1.86 billion hours, of video watched on Twitch each month. The proliferation of active streamers testifies to the appeal of Twitch’s affiliate and partner programs, creating a vibrant ecosystem for creators to thrive.

Male Users vs. Female Users

Twitch, like many social networks, showcases a diverse mix of users. However, it’s notable that the platform is particularly popular among male users, who comprise 65% of the Twitch community. Despite the gender disparity, Twitch remains a powerful player in the online entertainment industry, attracting viewers of all demographics and fostering an inclusive atmosphere for gaming and beyond.

Twitch Revenue Statistics

Twitch boasts an impressive financial record as a powerhouse as far as live-streaming platforms go. For the fiscal year 2022, the platform generated a whopping $2.8 billion in revenue, a testament to its robust revenue streams. One significant contributor to this income is the in-app purchases facilitated through Twitch’s mobile apps. Available on the App Store and Google Play, these apps have successfully generated about $33.67 million globally in Q4 2022.

Since its inception, Twitch has been continually evolving and growing, with consumer spending on its mobile apps exceeding the $1 billion mark across app stores as of January 2022. Q1 of 2021 alone witnessed around $103.65 million generated via in-app purchases.

When Amazon acquired Twitch, it sparked competition with other live-streaming services. By 2019, Twitch outperformed its close rival, YouTube Gaming, generating $1.54 billion in annual revenue, while YouTube Gaming generated $1.46 billion, according to Brian Dean of Backlinko.

The spotlight now falls on Twitch’s advertising revenue, another integral element of its economic success. Back in 2018, Twitch pulled in advertising revenue of $230 million, which jumped to an average of $300 million by 2019. The growth continued, and by 2020, the company set its sights on a goal of between $500 million and $600 million.

Revenue followed suit in line with an upsurge in daily downloads during May. Before the COVID-19 lockdowns, daily revenue averaged around $70,000. However, Twitch saw a single-day earning of $400,000 from the app stores in the United States alone in May. Such figures confirm the platform’s resilience and adaptability in a constantly changing digital landscape.

Summary

As you can see, Twitch has revolutionized the landscape of live-streaming platforms, embodying the merging streams of online entertainment and social media interaction. With millions of people streaming on Twitch daily, it’s clear that the platform’s influence extends far beyond the gaming market. This rich tapestry of active users, streamers, popular categories, and countless hours of content watched is shaping the future of internet engagement.

Moreover, Twitch’s diverse revenue streams, bolstered by the integration with Amazon Prime, have solidified its standing in the gaming and entertainment sectors. The platform’s impressive annual revenue of $1.54 billion in 2023 attests to this enduring appeal and financial robustness.

With millions of streamers actively publishing content monthly in 2023, it’s clear that Twitch’s vibrant community is consuming content and creating it, fostering a dynamic ecosystem of interaction and shared experiences.

As Twitch continues to evolve and attract new users, its growth trajectory underscores the potential of live-streaming platforms in shaping the future of online entertainment. Whether you’re a casual viewer, an avid gamer, or a dedicated streamer, Twitch offers a unique, engaging experience that is hard to replicate.