How to Show Buy Me a Coffee Donations on Twitch (2026)
The complete guide to displaying Buy Me a Coffee donation alerts on your Twitch stream in real time — 5% platform fee, webhook-powered alerts, and setup in under 5 minutes.
To show Buy Me a Coffee (BMAC) donations on your Twitch stream, connect BMAC to Stream Alert via webhook and add the alert overlay as a browser source in OBS. BMAC charges a 5% platform fee and supports one-time “coffees,” recurring memberships, and extras — all triggering automatic on-screen alerts within seconds of payment.
Whether you're just starting out on Twitch or you've been streaming for years, Buy Me a Coffee offers one of the simplest and most recognizable ways for viewers to support you. The platform's friendly branding — “buy me a coffee” instead of “donate” — lowers the psychological barrier for viewers, and its built-in membership and extras features give you multiple revenue streams from a single page. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to get BMAC donations showing up on your Twitch stream automatically.
TL;DR — Buy Me a Coffee Donations on Twitch
- BMAC charges a 5% platform fee — lower than many alternatives that take 8-12%
- Webhook-powered alerts appear on stream within 2-5 seconds of payment
- Supports coffees (one-time), memberships (recurring), and extras (digital products)
- Available internationally with support for multiple currencies
- No Twitch Affiliate required — accept BMAC donations from day one
- Stream Alert handles BMAC + CashApp + Venmo + PayPal alerts in one overlay
Why Use Buy Me a Coffee for Twitch
Buy Me a Coffee has grown into one of the most popular creator-support platforms on the internet, with hundreds of thousands of active creators and millions of supporters worldwide. For Twitch streamers specifically, BMAC offers several compelling advantages over traditional donation methods.
Simple, Friendly Tip Page
BMAC's core product is a simple, customizable page where supporters can “buy you a coffee” for a set price (typically $3-$5). The casual framing makes viewers far more likely to contribute than a stark “donate” button. Supporters don't need to create an account — they can pay with a credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay in under 30 seconds. That frictionless experience translates directly into more donations for you as a streamer.
Memberships for Recurring Revenue
One-time tips are great, but recurring income is what makes streaming sustainable. BMAC's membership feature lets you offer monthly support tiers with exclusive perks — Discord access, behind-the-scenes content, custom emotes, or anything else you can dream up. Each membership renewal triggers a webhook, meaning every monthly payment shows up as an alert on your stream automatically when connected through Stream Alert.
Extras (Digital Products)
BMAC's “Extras” feature lets you sell digital products directly from your page — custom overlays, emote packs, wallpapers, presets, tutorials, or personalized shoutout videos. It's a built-in storefront that requires no additional setup, and each purchase triggers alerts just like a regular donation.
5% Platform Fee
BMAC takes a flat 5% platform fee on all transactions. While platforms like Ko-fi offer 0% on one-time donations, BMAC's fee covers its payment processing, page hosting, membership management, and extras marketplace. For many streamers, the all-in-one convenience is worth the 5% — especially compared to platforms that charge 8-12% or require expensive monthly subscriptions.
International Support
Unlike CashApp and Venmo (which are US-only), Buy Me a Coffee is available internationally. Supporters from Europe, Asia, South America, Africa — anywhere with a credit card or mobile payment method — can send you a coffee. If your audience spans multiple countries, BMAC eliminates the geographic limitations that restrict peer-to-peer payment apps.
Trusted, Recognizable Brand
The “Buy Me a Coffee” brand is widely recognized across the creator economy. Many viewers have already used it to support YouTubers, podcasters, and artists — so they trust it and know how it works. That familiarity reduces hesitation and increases the likelihood that a viewer will actually follow through on a donation.
Revenue Stack Example
A streamer with 50 active BMAC members at $5/month earns $237.50/month (after 5% fee) in predictable recurring revenue — before a single one-time coffee or extra is purchased. Add one-time coffees and extras on top of that, and BMAC alone can become a significant income source.
Setting Up BMAC Alerts on Twitch
Buy Me a Coffee doesn't natively integrate with OBS or Twitch — there's no built-in alert system. To get BMAC donations to appear on your stream automatically, you need Stream Alert, which connects to BMAC via webhook and renders alerts as a browser source overlay in OBS.
Here's the complete setup process:
Step 1: Create Your Buy Me a Coffee Account
If you don't already have one, go to buymeacoffee.com and sign up. Choose a page name that matches your Twitch username for consistency. Customize your page with your profile picture, a description of your stream, and set your coffee price (most streamers use $3 or $5). Connect your payout method — BMAC supports Stripe, PayPal, and direct bank transfers depending on your country.
Step 2: Sign Up for Stream Alert
Visit streamalert.gg/register and create your account. Stream Alert offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required. Enter your name, email, and password, then click “Start Free Trial.”
Step 3: Connect Buy Me a Coffee in Stream Alert
In your Stream Alert dashboard, navigate to Apps and find Buy Me a Coffee. Click Connect and you'll receive a unique Webhook URL. Copy this URL to your clipboard — you'll need it in the next step.
Step 4: Add the Webhook in BMAC Settings
Log in to your Buy Me a Coffee account and navigate to Developers → Webhooks (or go directly to studio.buymeacoffee.com/webhooks). Click “Add Webhook,” paste the Stream Alert webhook URL you copied in Step 3, and select the events you want to trigger alerts — typically Support Created (for one-time coffees) and Membership Started (for new members). Click Save.
Webhook Events Explained
Support Created fires when someone buys you a coffee (one-time). Membership Started fires when someone becomes a monthly member. Extra Purchased fires when someone buys a digital product. Enable all three to capture every type of BMAC transaction as an on-screen alert.
Step 5: Add the Overlay URL to OBS
Back in your Stream Alert dashboard, go to the Overlay section and copy your unique overlay URL. Open OBS Studio (or StreamLabs Desktop), click the “+” button under Sources, select “Browser,” and paste the overlay URL. Set the resolution to 1920x1080 and position the source above your game capture so alerts render on top of everything.
OBS Settings: Width: 1920 | Height: 1080 | FPS: 30 | Custom CSS: leave blank | Shutdown source when not visible: unchecked | Refresh browser when scene becomes active: checked
Step 6: Test Your Setup
In your Buy Me a Coffee webhook settings, use the “Send Test” button to fire a test event. Watch your OBS preview — within 2-5 seconds you should see a donation alert appear with a test supporter name, amount, and message. If it shows up, you're all set. If not, double-check that the webhook URL is pasted correctly and that all event types are selected.
Setup Complete!
Total time: 5 minutes
Every Buy Me a Coffee donation — coffees, memberships, and extras — will now trigger a real-time alert on your Twitch stream automatically. Webhook delivery is near-instant, so your viewers get acknowledged within seconds of their support.
Buy Me a Coffee vs Twitch Bits
Twitch Bits are the platform's native virtual currency, but they come with significant costs for viewers. Here's how Buy Me a Coffee donations (via Stream Alert) compare to Twitch Bits side by side:
| Feature | BMAC (via Stream Alert) | Twitch Bits |
|---|---|---|
| Fee to Streamer | 5% | 0% (Twitch pays) |
| Fee to Viewer | Standard payment processing | ~29% markup |
| $10 Donation: You Receive | $9.50 | $10.00 |
| $10 Donation: Viewer Pays | ~$10.30 | ~$14.00 |
| Payout Speed | Weekly | Net 15-45 days |
| Affiliate Required | No | Yes |
| Recurring Support | Yes (Memberships) | No |
| International | Yes (worldwide) | Yes (worldwide) |
The key difference is viewer cost. When a viewer wants to give you $10 worth of support through Bits, they have to spend roughly $14 to purchase those Bits first — Twitch keeps the ~29% markup. With BMAC, your viewer pays approximately $10.30 (the donation plus standard card processing), and you receive $9.50 after BMAC's 5% fee. The total friction and overhead for BMAC is dramatically lower, which means viewers can support you more often or more generously.
BMAC also wins on recurring support. Bits are one-time only — there's no way for a viewer to set up automatic monthly Bit donations. BMAC memberships, on the other hand, provide predictable monthly income with automatic renewal and alert triggers for every payment.
BMAC Features for Twitch Streamers
Buy Me a Coffee is more than just a tip jar. Here's a breakdown of each feature and how it benefits Twitch streamers specifically:
Coffees (One-Time Tips)
The core BMAC experience. Viewers click your page, choose how many “coffees” to buy (each at your set price), optionally add a message, and pay. Simple, fast, and familiar to anyone who's used the platform before.
Memberships (Recurring)
Create monthly support tiers with custom perks. Memberships provide predictable income and build a loyal community around your stream. Each monthly payment triggers a webhook alert automatically.
Extras (Digital Downloads)
Sell digital products like custom emote packs, wallpapers, stream overlays, or exclusive content. Extras are delivered automatically after purchase and each sale triggers an on-screen alert.
Custom Page
Customize your BMAC page with your branding, colors, profile photo, and bio. The page doubles as a mini landing page for your stream — a single link you can share everywhere.
Supporter Messages
Supporters can include a message with every coffee, membership, or extra purchase. Stream Alert captures these messages and displays them in your on-screen alert — perfect for shoutouts and viewer interaction.
Analytics Dashboard
BMAC provides built-in analytics showing your earnings, supporter count, and trends over time. Combine this with Stream Alert's dashboard for a complete picture of your donation revenue across all sources.
Maximizing BMAC on Twitch
Setting up alerts is the foundation, but these strategies will help you get significantly more out of Buy Me a Coffee as a Twitch streamer:
1. Add a BMAC Panel Link to Your Twitch Profile
Create a dedicated Twitch panel below your stream with a link to your Buy Me a Coffee page. Use an eye-catching panel image with the BMAC logo and a clear call to action like “Buy Me a Coffee!” Place this panel near the top of your panel section — ideally right after your “About Me” panel. Include a brief note explaining what BMAC is for viewers who haven't encountered it before: “Support the stream by buying me a coffee — every donation shows up live on screen!”
2. Create a !coffee Chat Command
Set up a !coffee command (or !bmac, !support) using Nightbot, StreamElements bot, or any chat bot. When a viewer types the command, the bot responds with your BMAC link and a short message: “Support the stream at buymeacoffee.com/yourname — coffees, memberships & extras available! Every purchase triggers an on-screen alert.” This makes your donation link accessible without viewers needing to scroll to your panels.
3. Highlight Memberships During Stream
Verbally mention your BMAC memberships during natural breaks — between matches, during loading screens, or when wrapping up for the night. Explain the perks briefly: “If you want to support the stream monthly and get access to our Discord, check out my Buy Me a Coffee memberships — link in the panels!” Recurring memberships are your most valuable revenue source, so they deserve regular (but not excessive) promotion.
4. Pair with CashApp & Venmo for US Viewers
BMAC is excellent for international audiences, but many US-based viewers prefer CashApp or Venmo because they already have those apps installed. Stream Alert supports CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, and Buy Me a Coffee simultaneously — all from a single overlay. By offering multiple payment options, you eliminate the “I don't have that app” barrier and capture donations from every viewer, regardless of their preferred payment method.
5. Promote Extras as Viewer Rewards
If you create digital products (emote packs, wallpapers, overlays), list them as BMAC Extras and promote them during your stream. When viewers see other people purchasing extras and getting on-screen alerts, it creates social proof and encourages more purchases. Extras are also great for milestone celebrations — “Hit 1,000 followers? Here's a limited-edition wallpaper pack on my BMAC!”
Multi-Platform Strategy
The most successful streamers don't rely on a single donation method. Use BMAC for international viewers & recurring memberships, CashApp for US viewers who want 0% fees, Venmo as an alternative US option, and PayPal as a universal fallback. Stream Alert unifies all of these into one alert overlay.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Buy Me a Coffee compare to Ko-fi?
Both are popular creator-support platforms, but they differ in key ways. Ko-fi charges 0% platform fees on one-time donations (BMAC charges 5%), but Ko-fi's membership and shop features require a paid Ko-fi Gold subscription ($6/month). BMAC includes memberships and extras for free — you only pay the 5% transaction fee. If you primarily receive one-time donations, Ko-fi may be cheaper. If you plan to use memberships or sell digital products, BMAC's all-inclusive 5% fee often works out better. Both platforms integrate with Stream Alert for on-screen alerts.
Do BMAC memberships trigger on-screen alerts?
Yes! When you configure your BMAC webhook with the Membership Started event type, every new membership sign-up triggers an alert on your Twitch stream via Stream Alert. Monthly renewal payments also trigger alerts if you enable the appropriate webhook event. This means your members get recognized on stream every single month, which reinforces their decision to support you and encourages others to join. See our BMAC membership alerts guide for a detailed walkthrough.
Can I use Buy Me a Coffee alongside CashApp and Venmo?
Absolutely. Stream Alert is designed to handle multiple payment sources simultaneously. You can accept Buy Me a Coffee donations (via webhook), CashApp and Venmo payments (via Gmail monitoring), and PayPal donations — all triggering alerts through a single browser source in OBS. There's no conflict between any of these services. Many streamers use BMAC for international viewers and memberships while offering CashApp & Venmo as fee-free options for US-based supporters.
Does Buy Me a Coffee work for international streamers and viewers?
Yes — this is one of BMAC's biggest strengths. Buy Me a Coffee is available in over 190 countries and supports multiple currencies. Viewers anywhere in the world can send you a coffee as long as they have a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay. Payouts are processed via Stripe, PayPal, or direct bank transfer depending on your country. This makes BMAC ideal for streamers with international audiences who can't use US-only services like CashApp or Venmo.
Is the BMAC webhook connection secure?
Yes. Your Stream Alert webhook URL is unique to your account and acts as a secure authentication key. BMAC sends donation data directly to this URL over HTTPS, and Stream Alert validates every incoming payload to ensure it's a legitimate BMAC event. No passwords or API keys are shared between the services. You should treat your webhook URL like a password — don't share it publicly or post it in chat. If you ever suspect it's been compromised, you can regenerate a new URL from your Stream Alert dashboard.
Start Showing Buy Me a Coffee Donations on Twitch Today
Join thousands of streamers who use Stream Alert to automatically display Buy Me a Coffee donations, memberships, and extras on their Twitch streams. Webhook-powered alerts in 2-5 seconds, 5-minute setup, and a 30-day free trial — no credit card required.
Start Free 30-day Trial →Works with OBS Studio, StreamLabs Desktop, and any streaming software that supports browser sources.