How much does each platform pay creators? (2026)
Last updated June 2026 · ~6 min read
Every platform takes a different cut — and "how much do they pay?" has a different answer for video, music, streaming and memberships. Here's an honest 2026 comparison of what each takes and what you actually keep, with a free calculator for every one.
What each platform takes (and what you keep)
| Platform | The cut / your share | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|
| Kick | 5% (you keep 95% of subs) | ~$4.74 per $4.99 sub |
| Apple Music | Pro-rata pool | ~$0.01 / stream |
| YouTube | 45% (you keep 55% of ads) | RPM ~$1–$5 (Shorts ~$0.05) |
| Patreon | ~10% + processing | Keep ~85–88% |
| Substack | 10% + Stripe | Keep ~83–86% |
| Twitch | 50% standard (up to 70% on Plus) | ~$2.50 per $4.99 sub; bits $0.01 |
| Spotify | Pro-rata pool | ~$0.004 / stream |
| TikTok | Creator Rewards pool | ~$0.40–$1.00 / 1k qualified views |
Rates as of June 2026 and subject to change; verify in each platform's dashboard. "Payout" figures are typical mid-points — your audience's country and niche move them a lot.
The four ways platforms pay — and who wins each
🎬 Video (ads): YouTube beats TikTok per view
YouTube keeps 45% of ad revenue but its long-form RPMs ($1–$5, much more in finance/tech) dwarf TikTok's Creator Rewards (~$0.50 per 1,000 qualified views) and YouTube's own Shorts. For ad money, long-form YouTube is the heavyweight.
🎵 Music (streams): Apple Music pays ~2–3× Spotify
Both use a pro-rata pool, but Apple Music has no free tier, so every stream is from a paying subscriber — about $0.01 vs Spotify's $0.004. You'll usually have more Spotify listeners, though, so run both.
🟣 Live streaming: Kick's 95/5 vs Twitch's 50/50
On subs, Kick is dramatically more generous — you keep 95% (~$4.74 per Tier 1 sub) versus Twitch's ~$2.50. Twitch counters with a far bigger audience and bits/ads. The split matters most once you have a loyal sub base.
💌 Memberships: Patreon ≈ Substack (~10% + processing)
Both take about 10% plus payment processing, leaving you ~83–88%. The choice is about the product (memberships & perks vs email newsletters), not the fee.
Compare your own numbers
Plug your views, streams or subs into the matching calculator to see your real take-home:
Frequently asked questions
Which platform pays creators the most?
It depends on format: Apple Music for per-stream music, Kick for live-stream subs, long-form YouTube for ad revenue, and Patreon/Substack (about even) for memberships. There's no universal winner.
Why don't I keep 100% anywhere?
Every platform takes a cut to run the service and process payments — from Kick's lean 5% to YouTube's 45%. The trade-off is reach: bigger platforms take more but put you in front of more people.
Do these numbers include sponsorships?
No — these are platform payouts (ads, streams, subs, memberships). Brand deals, affiliate links and merch are separate, and for many creators they're the biggest earner of all.