Streaming App Kick Warns of Imminent Change As It Lures Top Twitch Creators
The streaming wars between several of the biggest names on the internet have taken center stage of late. Not only popular services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV and Hulu are going toe to toe, though, as the popular streaming/livestreaming apps and platforms have also ramped up the competition. While the juggernaut Twitch, launched in 2011, boasts a massive user base that's estimated at roughly 140 million monthly users, the online live streaming site has been an industry leader for creators.
However, the competition has picked up steam, and it's the platform Kick, founded in 2022, that's applying pressure to Twitch. As Kick continues to grow and offers a lucrative deal to creators that's easily more appealing than the industry's top site, they've also issued a warning of the significant change that's on the horizon.
Inside Kick’s New Warning & Upcoming Change to Live Streams
The appeal of Kick to creators is easy to understand. Not only is it growing quickly, but it's also become a rival to Twitch, and it offers a highly streamer-friendly financial deal. While Twitch offers a 50/50 revenue split or a 70/30 split for top creators, Kick boasts an impressive 95/5 split and hourly payments.
However, Kick has also upped the stakes by awarding multi-million-dollar contracts to big names such as xQc and WestCOL. Everyone, from top creators to new streamers, has a chance to pull in consistent income, leading to several big names making the leap from Twitch.
While Kick has been ad-free for viewers since launching, CEO Eddie Craven warned that a change is coming on that front. As Dexerto highlighted, Craven joined Kick Talks recently and revealed the upcoming move, although he didn't offer a specific timeline.
"Kick will have ads at some point, so enjoy the ad-free experience while it lasts. At some point, Kick will have to add ads," Craven said.
Craven explained that Kick currently loses money while discussing the decision to incorporate ads during livestreams, but was clear about the fact that it won't be "overly intrusive" or "kill that viewer experience."
Eddie says ads will be coming to Kick
— yeet (@Awk20000) December 15, 2025
“Kick will have ads at some point so enjoy the ad free experience while it lasts..no release date for ads at the moment but they’re gonna come..goal is to add ads that isn’t overtly intrusive”
pic.twitter.com/ZydDQwsthY
"At the moment, Kick loses a little bit of money and, sure, that's whatever, right," he said. "But at some point it does aim to have ads. So, enjoy it while they’re off. There’s no release dates for ads at the moment, but they’re going to come."
"I think the goal for Kick is to add ads in a way that isn’t overtly intrusive and doesn’t kill that viewer experience. That’s a challenge to us, adding ads in a way which doesn’t completely destroy your ability to enjoy livestreaming. So, leave that with us. We’re very conscious that we can’t just throw 1000 ads at people and assume they’re going to stick around."
Although it doesn't sound as though advertisements on Kick livestreams will be included immediately, viewers should prepare for it sooner rather than later.
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The Twitch vs. Kick Debate: Why Stars Are Making the Move
While many big names in the streaming landscape remain at Twitch, the additions to Kick's platform who moved over have been noteworthy. Along with the 95/5 revenue share and hourly pay, Kick, owned by the Craven and Bijan Tehrani, who also founded the crypto gambling site Stake, has less strict content rules.
Twitch is owned by Amazon, which acquired the live-streaming platform in 2014. In turn, it's not surprising that the content rules are stricter. This swung the door open for Kick to capitalize on the gambling front, along with several other areas. These are just a few of the factors that have played a role in popular streamers joining the up-and-coming platform, including Adin Ross and Amouranth, who has accounts on both Twitch and Kick.
Here's a list of a few names who moved over to Kick, and their followers on the live streaming app:
- Adin Ross (1.9 million)
- WestCOL (3.5 million)
- xQc (1 million)
- Mizkif (just moved over from Twitch)
- Trainwreckstv (496,000)
- Ice Poseidon (215,500)
- Roshtein (350,300)
- Destiny (129,300)
According to WifiTalents, as of June 2025, Kick's monthly active users grew by 150 percent over last year. The company also increased its advertising revenue by 200 percent in the 12 months leading up to June.
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