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What is Kick streaming, and how does it work?

Learn what Kick is, how it works, and why creators use it.

Alec Chillingworth

• 8 min read
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TL;DR: Kick is a “creator-led” streaming platform with more than 100 million active users. Often compared to Twitch, the platform lets creators stream, monetize, and archive content. Kick is famous for its 95/5 subscription split with creators.

We’ll cover:

What is Kick streaming?

Kick is a streaming platform similar to Twitch. Viewers can subscribe to a creator’s channel, send Gifts, watch archived content, and join HD-quality live streams.

What makes Kick different from Twitch?

Kick only takes 5% of subscription revenue from creators, which the platform describes as a processing fee. Twitch takes 50% of regular channel subscriptions, but drops the rate to 40% and 30% for streamers on the Plus Program.

Kick is also considered more lenient with content categories like gambling. As such, Kick positions itself as a “creator-led” streaming platform.

A runner getting ready to sprint on a race track

What can you stream on Kick?

Just like Twitch, Kick features a ton of categories to browse and stream. They include:

  • Just Chatting
  • IRL
  • Slots & Casino
  • Live Music
  • Politics
  • Reactions
  • Specific games, covering everything from Grand Theft Auto V and Call of Duty: Warzone to Minecraft and Rocket League

When did Kick start?

Kick started in October 2022, but officially launched in January 2023. Some people speculate that the quick release was linked to Twitch’s ban on unlicensed gambling in October 2022. One of Kick’s founders has said they “rushed to market.”

Who owns Kick?

Kick is owned by its co-founders, Bijan Tehrani and Ed Craven. Craven is also the company’s CEO. They started the company alongside Tyler “Trainwreck” Niknam, a high-stakes online gambler who made his name on Twitch.

Is Kick funded by gambling?

Kick is often described as “funded by gambling.” This is because Kick’s co-founders also started a crypto-gambling website called Stake. Both Kick and Stake are owned by the same parent company, Easygo.

What is Kick’s streaming quality?

The best stream quality for Kick is full HD. The platform supports a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels at frame rates up to 60fps, with bitrates capping at 8,000 kbps.

How many users are on Kick?

Kick reported more than 100 million users in April 2026. This number was verified by Kick as recently as August 2026. The split between creators and viewers isn’t specified.

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Who streams on Kick? 10 top creators

As of August 2026,* the 10 most-followed Kick streamers include WestCOL, Adin Ross, and Davoo Xeneize. WestCOL has more than 4 million followers. The full list is:

  1. WestCOL
  2. Adin Ross
  3. Davoo Xeneize
  4. LA COBRA
  5. SXB
  6. MrStiven Tc
  7. Spreen
  8. Drb7h
  9. RRaenee
  10. ElZeein

xQc, one of Twitch’s most-followed creators, just misses the top 10. He was one of the more notable names to join Kick in 2023, signing a two-year, non-exclusive contract worth around $100 million. Kick has also signed significant deals with companies like F1, Everton Football Club, and the UFC.

How much does Kick pay streamers?

Kick has paid out more than $90 million to streamers since it launched. Streamers receive 95% of all Kick subscription earnings, which is considered one of the platform’s biggest perks.

How do you make money on Kick?

You can make money on Kick with the Partner Program.

Kick Partner Program

The Kick Partner Program lets you activate paid subscriptions, paid streams, and multi-streaming. To qualify, you need to:

  • Have a verified Kick channel
  • Follow Kick’s Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, DMCA Policy, and KCIP Terms and Conditions
  • Fill in the “About” section and relevant social media slots on your Kick channel’s profile
  • Have 250 followers
  • Have 25 active subscriptions in the last 30 days (gifted subscriptions aren’t included)
  • Have an average of 75 concurrent viewers in the last 30 days
  • Have streamed 30 hours of content in the last 30 days
  • Have 250 unique chatters in the last 30 days
  • Record 3 VODs in the last 30 days

The cost of a Kick subscription is $4.99 per month. If you have 1,000 paying subscribers, that’s almost $4,750 per month after the 5% processing fee. Users can also buy gifted subscriptions for each other.

On top of the 95/5 subscription split, the Kick Partner Program lets streamers earn money for every stream, based on how many people watch. They can also multi-stream on other platforms and keep 50% of the Kick-made revenue.

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How to get verified on Kick

To get verified on Kick, you need at least:

  • 10 active subscriptions in the last 30 days (gifted subscriptions aren’t included)
  • An average of 50 viewers in the last 30 days
  • 15 hours of streamed content in the last 30 days
  • 100 unique chatters in the last 30 days

Kick verification helps you progress to the Kick Partner Program. Before you reach Kick verification, you first need to become a Kick Creator. Kick Creator status unlocks subscriptions and only requires 5 hours of streaming.

Verified Kick streamers can choose between weekly and monthly payouts.

Is there advertising on Kick?

Yes, Kick has ads. The platform has supported banner ads since 2023, while in-stream ads launched in August 2026.

Does Kick have an algorithm?

Kick has a discovery algorithm. In April 2026, co-founder Bijan Tehrani said that the platform was “actively rolling out [its] V1 algorithm (10% of users so far),” which “will make Kick the best long-form streaming platform for authentic engagement and discovery.”

Can you stream on Kick and Twitch at the same time?

Kick lets creators multi-stream across other platforms like Twitch. This initially gave Kick an advantage, as Twitch’s rules were tighter. However, Twitch now lets users multi-stream and combine chats across multiple platforms.

Does Kick allow NSFW content?

Kick updated its Community Guidelines in 2026, restricting nudity, violence, hate speech, and more. These guidelines apply to both human-made and AI-generated content. Users can block not-safe-for-work content categories in their “Content Preferences” settings.

How do you download the Kick app?

You can download the Kick app for your Apple or Android device, or head to Kick.com to access the browser version.

Is Kick available on Google Play?

The Kick mobile app is available for Android devices. Download it for free from Google Play.

Is Kick available on the App Store?

The Kick mobile app is also available for Apple devices. Grab it for free from the App Store.

The Kick app lets you watch live streams, enter the chat, subscribe to creators’ channels, send Gifts, and more.

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How to go live on Kick

You can live stream with Kick via desktop or mobile app. Here’s how to do both.

Go live on Kick via desktop

  1. Go to Kick.com and log in. If you don’t have an account, create one first.
  2. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner. Hit “Creator Dashboard,” then select “Stream URL and Stream Key” from the menu on the left.
  3. Click the “View” button next to your stream URL and stream key. This sends a one-time password via email, which you’ll need to confirm within 10 minutes.
  4. Open your streaming software of choice, then enter your Kick stream URL and stream key when prompted.
  5. Ensure all the output settings match your computer’s, then head back to Kick.
  6. Click “Edit stream info.” Name your new stream, categorize it, and select the primary language. You can label it as an 18+ broadcast if necessary. Once you’re done, press “Save.”
  7. Start streaming with your streaming software.

Go live on Kick via mobile streaming apps

  1. Download a mobile streaming app. For this walkthrough, we’ll choose Streamlabs.
  2. Give Streamlabs access to your phone’s microphone and camera. Then, click the three-line hamburger menu in the app’s top-right corner.
  3. Click “Account Settings.” Next to the “Custom RTMP” option, select “Setup.”
  4. Name your stream for reference, enter your Kick stream key, and paste the following into the URL field: rtmps://fa723fc1b171.global-contribute.live-video.net:443/app
  5. Edit your stream info. This needs to be done via browser. Repeat step 5 from the previous “Go live on Kick via desktop” walkthrough.
  6. Press “GO LIVE” at the bottom of your screen in Streamlabs.

Go live on Kick with the Kick – Go Live app

  1. Download the Kick – Go Live mobile app and log in. This app is different from the regular Kick mobile app and is available via Google Play and the App Store.
  2. Allow camera and microphone access. Without them, you won’t be able to start streaming.
  3. Set up your stream details, including the title, category, content labels, and stream quality.
  4. Click the green circle to start streaming.

Some Kick streamers prefer to broadcast from their phone and operate the chat from a second device. Try it out and see what works best for you.

Can you use music on Kick?

Yes, you can use music on Kick. The platform’s music rules are based on licensing. You need a valid license to use a track, otherwise you risk warnings, takedowns, and legal issues.

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Frequently asked questions about Kick streaming

Who uses Kick?

More than four in five Kick users (81.7%) are aged 18 to 34.

How many people use Kick?

As of August 2026, Kick has more than 100 million active users. A reported 39 million of those users joined in 2025, while 27 million joined in the first half of 2026.

How often do people watch Kick?

Kick reported more than 1.5 billion hours watched in Q2 2026. Previous company highs include 317 million hours of watch time in March 2025.

Is Kick streaming safe?

Kick is a legal, legitimate streaming platform, but it’s moderated more loosely than Twitch. It features more adult content, such as gambling streams. Kick tightened its Community Guidelines in 2026.

How much are Kick Gifts worth?

Kick Gifts and Kick’s in-platform tokens, KICKs, have no real-world value. According to Kick’s Usage Policy, they â€śdo not represent any balance, stored value, or property interest; and cannot be exchanged for cash or items/services of value.” Users buy Kick tokens to exchange for Kick Gifts, which they can send to their favorite streamers to show their support and appreciation.

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*Streaming statistics compared against StreamsCharts and updated on August 13, 2026.