All about the KICKs currency, how to buy Kick gifts for streamers
Streaming platform Kick has a new virtual currency called KICKs, and it makes for a great way to support both streamers and the broader Kick community.
One of the best parts about watching any streamer live is taking part in the enthusiasm of the audience. Common streaming features including live chat and custom emojis enable viewers to interact with each other and with streamers, and and that direct connection with content creators is a major part of livestreaming. Some fans like to contribute in ways just interacting with a stream to show their support, whether it’s through channel subscriptions or other means.
KICKs are a relatively new feature to the streaming platform, though not one unfamiliar to users of other streaming sites. Here’s how KICKs and related gifts work, and how they compare with currencies on other streaming platforms.
What is the KICKs currency on Kick?
KICKs are an online currency offered exclusively by streaming platform Kick that enables viewers to buy special gifts and support their favorite streamers.
KICKs are ultimately a tool that facilitates the purchasing of gifts on the streaming platform. Gifts can be used to show appreciation for a streamer, celebrate particularly big moments, and otherwise enhance both the content creator’s and the community’s experiences. These gifts often come in the form of emotes with custom messages, and they vary in size, impact, and cost. The more eye-catching the gift, the more KICKs it is likely to cost.
Spend KICKs on gifts for your favorite streamer. Image credit: Kick
KICKs do get cheaper when purchased in larger quantity. For instance, a batch of 100 KICKs costs $1.09, or $0.0109 per unit. 10,000 KICKs cost $105.79, which translates to only 0.105 per unit. While the difference may seem small, it can really add up for fans wanting to send lots of gifts.
There are currently two ways to buy the KICKs currency: directly through a bright green button seen in the top-right site-wide that says “GET KICKS,” or through the Gift Shop on an eligible stream. Both can be done on desktop as well as through mobile. Importantly, a streamer must have “Creator” status as well as a connected Stripe account in order to receive the gifts that can be purchased with KICKs. Viewers will want to check on the streamer’s status before spending their money on KICKs, as all such transactions are considered final.
Comparing KICKs to Twitch Bits
KICKs and Twitch bits are very similar, though bits are a bit more restricted in their potential use and are more expensive.
Bits on Twitch are also a virtual currency that’s used to cheer on streamers or for use in extensions like polls. When spending bits, Twitch users can usually choose from a narrower range of images and effects in the form of gems to display on the chosen stream. Bits do also cost a little more than KICKs, with 100 bits costing $1.40 compared to the $1.09 required to buy 100 KICKs.
On Twitch, viewers can use bits to buy emotes for a channel’s chat. Image credit: Twitch.
Where KICKs and their associated gifts really differ from and bits is in the confirmed payout. For every bit a Twitch streamer receives, they are paid $0.01. That’s a small amount, but it can add up quickly for a popular content creator.
Kick has clarified that gifts specifically trigger “non-monetary features” on their usage policy page. Streamer Adin Ross originally said that KICKs would offer a payout for the creator receiving them. Given that gifts require a streamer to have a payment account connected, there’s certainly a financial reward to be had for Kick streamers who receive for receive these gifts. But the exact amount is yet to be officially announced by the platform.
Fortunately for streamers, there are plenty of other means content creators can pursue on the platform to make money on Kick. From sponsorships and affiliate partnerships to direct donations from viewers and channel subscriptions with advantageous revenue splits, becoming a popular streamer on the platform can certainly pay off. The use of KICKs and gifts is just another potential contributor to that.
Featured image credit: Kick
There are few things that writer M Alzamora loves more in life than Pokemon. And there are even fewer things that she loves more than her favorite Pokemon, Eevee. But M’s appreciation for gaming isn’t just limited to Nintendo’s famous pocket monsters. She’s interested in every type of game across every genre of gaming, and she has the credentials to prove it. M’s work has also been seen on Working Classicists and gaming sites.
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