What Twitch Prime Subscription Is
Twitch Prime is a subscription tier on Twitch that comes bundled with an Amazon Prime membership. If you pay for Amazon Prime, you get one free Tier 1 subscription to any Twitch channel each month, plus access to exclusive emotes, ad-free viewing on most channels, and a few other perks. You do not pay extra for it — it is included in your Amazon Prime fee.
The subscription itself works like any other Tier 1 sub: the channel you choose receives a cut of the subscription revenue (Twitch takes a portion), and your name appears in the channel's subscriber list. The main difference is that you are not paying out of pocket each month — Amazon Prime covers it.
Twitch Prime used to be called "Prime Gaming" in some regions and has gone through several name changes. Today it is straightforward called the Prime Gaming benefit on Twitch, but many people still refer to it as Twitch Prime.
Key Takeaways
- Twitch Prime gives you one free Tier 1 subscription per month to any channel you choose, as long as you have an active Amazon Prime membership.
- You can change which channel receives your subscription each month, or let it renew to the same channel automatically.
- The channel streamer receives revenue from your subscription, though Twitch takes a percentage before the payout.
- Prime Gaming also includes ad-free viewing on most channels, exclusive emotes, and occasional free games through the Prime Gaming catalog.
- If your Amazon Prime membership ends, your Twitch Prime subscription benefit stops, though any paid subscriptions you have will continue until they expire.
How to Use Your Twitch Prime Subscription Each Month
To use your free subscription, log into Twitch with the Amazon account linked to your Prime membership. Navigate to any channel and look for the subscribe button. You will see an option to subscribe with Prime Gaming at no cost. Click it, and your subscription is active when ready.
You can only hold one active Prime subscription at a time. If you want to switch to a different channel next month, you can do so after your current subscription renews or expires. Some streamers set up automatic renewal, so your subscription goes to the same channel each month unless you change it.
If you do not use your Prime subscription in a given month, it does not roll over. Each month you get a fresh subscription to use or lose.
What Comes With Twitch Prime Beyond the Subscription
The Prime Gaming benefit includes more than just the monthly subscription. You get ad-free viewing on most channels (though some channels may still show ads depending on their settings). You also receive exclusive emotes that only Prime members can use in chat, and your username appears with a special badge in channels where you are subscribed.
Prime Gaming also bundles free games and in-game content each month through the Prime Gaming catalog. These are games you can read and keep, separate from Twitch streaming. The specific titles change monthly, and you access them through your Prime Gaming account on the Amazon website or the Prime Gaming app.
Differences Between Twitch Prime and Paid Subscriptions
Twitch has three paid subscription tiers: Tier 1 ($4.99), Tier 2 ($9.99), and Tier 3 ($24.99). Twitch Prime gives you a Tier 1 subscription for free each month. If you want to subscribe to a channel at Tier 2 or Tier 3, or to multiple channels at once, you pay out of pocket.
Some people use their free Prime subscription on one channel and pay for additional subscriptions to other channels. Others use Prime on their favorite channel and skip paid subs altogether. The choice depends on how many channels you want to support and how much you want to spend.
Paid subscriptions do not expire the way Prime subscriptions do each month. Once you pay for a subscription, it renews automatically each month until you cancel it.
Linking Your Amazon Prime Account to Twitch
Your Twitch account must be connected to the Amazon account that holds your Prime membership. If you already use the same email for both, they may be linked automatically. If not, go to your Twitch account settings, find the "Connections" section, and select Amazon. Follow the prompts to authorize the link.
Once linked, your Prime status updates on Twitch within a few minutes. If you let your Amazon Prime membership lapse, your Twitch Prime benefit stops when ready, though any paid subscriptions you have will continue to renew until you cancel them.
What Happens to Your Prime Subscription If Your Membership Ends
If your Amazon Prime membership expires or you cancel it, you lose access to your free Twitch Prime subscription. Any active Prime subscription to a channel ends, and you can no longer use the ad-free viewing or exclusive emotes that come with Prime Gaming.
If you have paid subscriptions (Tier 1, 2, or 3) on top of your Prime subscription, those continue to renew and charge your payment method. Losing Prime does not affect them. You would need to cancel paid subscriptions separately if you no longer want them.
Prime Gaming Games and Other Perks
Beyond Twitch streaming benefits, Prime Gaming includes a rotating library of free games each month. These are full games you read and own permanently, not games you stream. You claim them through the Prime Gaming website or app, and they appear in your game library.
Prime Gaming also offers in-game loot for popular titles like League of Legends, Valorant, and Fortnite. These are cosmetics or battle pass progress that appear in your game account once you claim them. The specific games and loot change monthly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my Twitch Prime subscription on multiple channels at once?
No. You can only have one active Prime subscription at a time. You can change which channel receives it each month, but you cannot split it across multiple channels or hold multiple Prime subs simultaneously.
Do I lose my Prime subscription if I change my Amazon Prime plan?
As long as your Amazon account maintains an active Prime membership, your Twitch Prime benefit continues. If you downgrade to a plan that does not include Prime, you lose the benefit. Switching between different Prime membership tiers (monthly to annual, for example) does not interrupt your Twitch access.
What if I forget to use my Prime subscription one month?
Your monthly Prime subscription does not carry over. If you do not use it by the end of the month, it expires and you get a fresh one the next month. There is no way to bank unused subscriptions.
Does the streamer get the same amount of money from a Prime subscription as a paid one?
No. Streamers typically receive less revenue from Prime subscriptions than from paid Tier 1 subscriptions. The exact amount varies by region and streamer agreement, but most streamers earn more from a viewer who pays $4.99 than from a Prime sub. However, Prime subs still provide meaningful income, especially when a channel has many Prime subscribers.
Can I use Prime Gaming on multiple Twitch accounts?
Your Prime Gaming benefit is tied to one Twitch account at a time. You can link your Amazon Prime to a different Twitch account, but you can only use the benefit on one account per month. If you switch which Twitch account is linked, the benefit moves with it.