YouTube vs TikTok vs Twitch:
Who Pays More?

We compared the direct platform payouts for 1.0M views across the three major platforms.

Jump to Creator Level:

Explore View Count

What's your estimated RPM?

$3.50 per 1,000 views

Average RPM

Your niche matters: Finance channels earn $12-$25 per 1K views, while gaming typically earns $1-$3. Slide to your niche range above.

The Viral Legend

At millions of views, you are a recognizable face in your niche. You have the leverage to cross-pollinate audiences between platforms effortlessly.

YouTube Payout

$3,500

Estimated AdSense Revenue

TikTok Payout

$700

Creator Rewards Program

Twitch Ad Payout

$3,500

Purely Ad Revenue (No Subs)

Next Steps for Creators

Platform Breakdown

Deep dive into the economics of each platform

YouTubeLong-form Video

$3.50

Avg RPM

✓ Why It Wins

● Highest payout per view
● Evergreen passive income
● Search-based discovery

✕ The Tradeoff

● Hardest to go viral
● Long production times
● Strict monetization rules

Open YouTube Calculator →

TikTokShort-form Video

$0.70

Avg RPM

✓ Why It Wins

● Easiest discovery
● Lower production barrier
● Huge brand deal potential

✕ The Tradeoff

● Lower ad pay
● Short content lifespan
● Highly volatile algorithm

Open TikTok Calculator →

TwitchLive Streaming

$3.50

Avg RPM

✓ Why It Wins

● Best fan support (Subs)
● Deep community bonds
● Easiest to monetize

✕ The Tradeoff

● No passive income
● Highest time commitment
● Poor native discovery

Open Twitch Calculator →

Verdict for 1.0 Million Views

On YouTube, you would earn approximately

$3,500

View YouTube Breakdown →

Explorer Tip: Diversify into merchandise and exclusive memberships immediately.

The Virality Gap

It is significantly easier to get 1,000,000 views on TikTok than it is on YouTube. TikTok's "For You" algorithm is designed to push content to new audiences constantly.

However, as you scale into the 50M-200M range, YouTube's infrastructure becomes the primary driver of wealth. A creator like MrBeast can generate millions of dollars from a single video because YouTube has the ad inventory depth to pay for that many impressions at a high rate.

Global Scale & Dubbing

At the highest levels (10M+ views), the "Explorer" strategy involves multi-language dubbing. By translating a YouTube video into Spanish, Portuguese, and Hindi, top creators can 3x their view count without filming new content.

This is why YouTube remains the "Global Elite" platform—it allows you to reach every corner of the planet and get paid premium rates for those views regardless of where they come from.

The Power of the Multi-Platform Ecosystem

Successful creators in 2026 don't just pick one. They use all three together to create a growth flywheel. Here is your blueprint:

Phase 1

TikTok: Discovery

Use TikTok as your top-of-funnel. The algorithm is unmatched for finding new fans. Post daily clips to drive traffic to your longer videos and live streams.

View TikTok Potential →

Phase 2

YouTube: Revenue

YouTube is your home base. This is where you build evergreen authority and collect the highest ad payouts. Long-form content here pays your bills for years.

View YouTube Potential →

Phase 3

Twitch: Community

Twitch is for your die-hard fans. Live interaction builds deep loyalty that leads to subs and bits. Turn casual viewers into a real community.

View Twitch Potential →

The "Flywheel" Strategy

Go viral on TikTok → Funnel them to YouTube for deep content → Invite them to Twitch to hang out live. This strategy maximizes your income by hitting every possible revenue stream simultaneously.

The Pro Creator Toolbox

Tools to help you scale from side hustle to empire

Sponsorship Rates →

Calculate how much to charge brands for a 60-second integration on YouTube.

Views to $1,000 →

See exactly how many views you need to earn your first $1,000 on YouTube.

RPM vs CPM Explained →

Master the math behind your earnings and understand the platform cut.

High-Paying Niches →

See which niches (like Finance and Tech) pay 10x more than others.

AdSense is Just the Start

A side-by-side look at every way to get paid

Feature	YouTube	TikTok	Twitch
Primary Ad Pay	AdSense ($2-$25 RPM) →	Rewards ($0.40-$1.10) →	Incentive ($2-$10) →
Direct Fan Support	Memberships, SuperChat	Live Gifts, Subscriptions	Subs →Bits →
Evergreen Value	High (Pays for years)	Low (Short lifespan)	None (Live only)
Brand Deal Potential	Highest ($$$) →	High ($$) →	Moderate ($)

Frequently Asked Questions

YouTube generally pays the most for 1 million views, averaging $3,000 to $5,000 depending on your niche. TikTok follows with the Creator Rewards Program ($700 to $1,000), while Twitch earnings are more dependent on streaming hours and ad density rather than flat view counts.

TikTok's ad model is built on high-volume, short-form content. Because users consume dozens of TikToks in the time it takes to watch one YouTube video, the 'value' of a single view is lower for advertisers. However, it is much easier to get 1 million views on TikTok than on YouTube.

No, these estimates only cover direct platform payouts (AdSense, Creator Rewards, and Twitch Ads). Brand deals often pay 5-10x more than platform ad revenue. Check out our YouTube Brand Deal Guide or use the Sponsorship Calculator to see what you should be charging.

Yes, but rarely from ads alone. Twitch's strength is in direct fan support (Subscribers and Bits). A Twitch streamer with 1,000 concurrent viewers can easily out-earn a YouTuber with 100,000 views if their community is highly engaged and supportive.

At an average of 150 million views per video and an estimated $4 RPM, MrBeast could be earning roughly $600,000 in AdSense alone for every single video he uploads. However, his total revenue including sponsorships and merchandise likely exceeds $5 million per video.