Twitch Partner Requirements 2021

While the path to partner can seem long, work toward improving your channel will make it easier to grow your audience and your channel’s monetization.

In order to unlock the path to partnership, you must first become a Twitch Affiliate. The minimum metrics needed for partnership are:

1. Concurrent viewership of 75 viewers within the last 30 days
2. Stream at least 12 different times within the last month
3. Stream for at least 25 hours over the last month

How to Get Partnered on Twitch

Many new Twitch streamers reach Affiliate status within the first two months on the platform, but it can take several months or years to become a Twitch partner. The metrics are much higher and Twitch holds their partners to a higher standard than they do their Affiliates. Here are a few things you can focus on to make things a bit better:

1. 1. Focus on Smaller Goals

   To keep yourself motivated, break your large Twitch goals down into smaller milestones. Trying to reach 10 or 20 concurrent followers seems far less difficult than 75. Give yourself small rewards as you reach each one and celebrate those milestones with your community. Your viewers will rally behind you and continue to propel you forward on your path to partnership.

2. 2. Improve Your Production Quality

   Put in the effort or increase your overall channel quality. This will include several things:

   • Make sure that you have high-quality audio and video quality
   • Invest in Twitch overlays and other quality graphics for your stream
   • Fill out your Twitch profile and decorate it with custom Twitch Panels designed for your stream
   • Add Twitch sound alerts to make your stream more engaging
   • Custom emotes that represent your brand and community

3. 3. Stream Entertaining Content

   Your content is what will attract new viewers and potentially build a community over time. Here are a few ways you can improve your content on Twitch:

   • Never stop talking on stream. Choose any of your VODs, scroll to a random place in the middle and see how long it takes for you to speak or engage with your community. Even if you have a very small community (or no viewers at all), people are unlikely to stay in your channel or try to engage with you if you seem distant and aren’t communicating.
   • Find ways to increase the value of your content. Try new skins, work at becoming a better gamer, or play games with your viewers. Find ways to teach new tips and techniques to your viewers
   • Try something new. Expanding your current content can help you find new viewers who would never search your original category.

4. 4. Build Your Twitch Community

   Actively engage in your community. Build a Discord server for your Twitch channel. Your community will be the backbone behind your Twitch partnership proposal. Keep things positive and growing. Find new ways to involve them in your channel activities to keep them hyped and returning for more.

Twitch Partnership Application

After you have met the minimum channel requirements to meet the Twitch partnership program, you can apply through the platform. You will not automatically be given partner status like you were given affiliate. Be professional and thorough in how you believe you have earned the status. Have a friend (or another streamer) proof-read your application before you submit it.

How Twitch Reviews a Partnership Application

Twitch will consider the following when deciding whether or not they will give you the partnership status on their platform:

1. 1. Concurrent Viewership

   While the minimum requirement is 75 concurrent viewers if the rest of your metrics aren’t as high, Twitch may not accept your application. Many partners are finally accepted when they average between 100-200 viewers.

2. 2. Chat Activity 

   People lurking in your channel isn’t enough, especially when there are ways that people can cheat to get around the system. Twitch will look at your engagement to see how active and genuine it is.

3. 3. Entertainment Value

   Twitch will look at your engagement, your audio and visual quality, your overall branding, and how unique your channel is.

4. 4. Stream Frequency

   Twitch will look at how often you stream and how long each stream is. You need to maintain the minimum number needed for partnership.

5. 5. Community

   Twitch will look at your community and see how active they are. If your community extends to other social media accounts and YouTube, make sure to let Twitch know.

What Do If Your Twitch Partnership Application is Denied?

If Twitch denies your request for partnership, take it in stride. If it isn’t clear why you were denied, reply and politely ask them what metrics they would like to see before giving you the status. When they reply, thank them for your time and start to work on their suggestions. When you reapply, make sure to show how you have improved in those metrics.

Twitch Affiliate vs Twitch Partner

Here is a breakdown of the benefit differences between Twitch Affiliates and Twitch Partners:

Can You Be Unpartnered on Twitch?

While rare, it is possible to be unpartnered on Twitch. This has happened when a streamer has crossed a line that could have resulted in a permanent ban. In the end, Twitch allowed them to stay on the platform but removed their partner status.

Conclusion

Becoming a partner shows that your channel is on the right track toward success. Your work isn’t done though, you need to continue to keep your viewers engaged and build your channel over time. Create new goals for yourself to keep motivated and pressing forward.