How to Show Ko-fi Donations on Kick (2026)
The complete guide to displaying Ko-fi donations, memberships, and shop orders as on-screen alerts on your Kick stream. Zero platform fees, international support, and 2–5 second webhook alerts.
To show Ko-fi donations on your Kick stream, connect Ko-fi to Stream Alert via webhook and add the alert overlay as a browser source in OBS. Kick lacks a native tipping or donation system, making Ko-fi — with its 0% platform fees and support for international payments — an essential monetization tool alongside Kick's industry-leading 95/5 subscription revenue split.
Ko-fi is uniquely suited for Kick streamers because it goes beyond simple tips. With Ko-fi, you can accept one-time donations, sell recurring memberships, and even process shop orders — all of which can trigger real-time on-screen alerts through Stream Alert. Whether you're a new Kick creator or an established streamer looking to diversify your income, this guide walks you through the entire setup from start to finish.
TL;DR
- Kick has no native tipping system — Ko-fi fills this gap with 0% platform fees
- Ko-fi supports international payments via PayPal & Stripe — accept donations from viewers worldwide
- Webhook-based alerts trigger in 2–5 seconds — faster than email-based detection
- Ko-fi memberships give you recurring monthly revenue alongside one-time tips
- Pair Ko-fi donations with Kick's 95/5 subscription split for maximum income
Why Ko-fi Is Perfect for Kick
Kick has shaken up the live streaming industry with its 95/5 subscription revenue split — vastly more generous than Twitch's 50/50 standard. But there's a notable gap in Kick's monetization toolkit: no built-in tipping, Bits equivalent, or Super Chat feature. If a viewer wants to send you money during a stream, Kick itself doesn't offer a mechanism for it.
That's where Ko-fi comes in. Here's why it's the ideal donation platform for Kick streamers specifically:
Zero Platform Fees
Ko-fi charges 0% platform fees on donations. When a viewer sends you $10 through Ko-fi, you receive the full $10 (minus only the standard PayPal or Stripe processing fee of roughly 2.9% + $0.30). Compare that to platforms like Buy Me a Coffee, which takes a 5% cut on top of processing fees. Over $1,000 in monthly donations, Ko-fi's zero-fee model saves you approximately $50 per month compared to BMAC — and that adds up to $600 per year.
International Payment Support
Unlike CashApp (US-only) and Venmo (US-only), Ko-fi accepts payments from viewers anywhere in the world through PayPal and Stripe. This is a major advantage for Kick streamers who attract international audiences. A viewer in Germany, Brazil, or Japan can donate to your Ko-fi page just as easily as someone in the United States. For streamers building a global community on Kick, Ko-fi eliminates geographic payment barriers entirely.
More Than Just Tips
Ko-fi isn't limited to one-time donations. The platform offers three distinct revenue streams, all of which can trigger on-screen alerts through Stream Alert:
- One-time donations — Viewers buy you a “coffee” (a tip in any amount)
- Monthly memberships — Recurring payments with customizable tiers and perks (similar to Patreon, but with 0% platform fees)
- Shop orders — Sell digital products, commissions, or merchandise directly through Ko-fi
This versatility means you can build a multi-layered monetization strategy on a single platform — something most standalone tipping tools can't offer.
Kick Subs Are Great — But Require Partnership
Kick's 95/5 subscription split is the best in the industry, earning you $4.74 per $4.99 sub. However, subscriptions are only available to partnered Kick streamers. New creators and growing channels can't rely on sub revenue. Ko-fi donations are available to every streamer from day one — no follower count requirement, no application, no waiting period. It's your first and most accessible revenue stream on Kick.
Trusted Brand with a Large User Base
Ko-fi has been around since 2012 and has processed millions of transactions for creators across the internet. Many viewers already have Ko-fi accounts from supporting artists, writers, and musicians — which reduces friction when they decide to donate to your stream. A familiar, trusted platform means higher conversion rates compared to obscure or unbranded donation pages.
Setting Up Ko-fi Alerts on Kick
The key challenge with Ko-fi on Kick is this: Kick has no built-in donation system, and Ko-fi doesn't natively integrate with streaming platforms. So how do you turn a Ko-fi donation into an on-screen alert during your Kick stream?
The answer is webhook-based detection. When someone donates on Ko-fi, Ko-fi sends a webhook (an instant data packet) to Stream Alert, which processes the donation and triggers an on-screen alert through OBS. This is faster than email-based detection — alerts typically appear within 2–5 seconds of the donation.
Step 1: Create Your Ko-fi Page
If you don't already have a Ko-fi account, go to ko-fi.com and sign up. Choose a page name that matches your Kick channel name for easy recognition. Connect your PayPal or Stripe account to receive payouts. Customize your page with your stream branding, a profile photo, and a short description inviting viewers to support you.
Time: 2–3 minutes
Step 2: Create a Stream Alert Account
Go to streamalert.gg/register and sign up. The 30-day free trial requires no credit card. Enter your name, email, and password — you'll be in the dashboard within 60 seconds.
Time: 1 minute
Step 3: Connect Ko-fi to Stream Alert via Webhook
In your Stream Alert dashboard, navigate to Apps and find Ko-fi. Click Connect to generate your unique webhook URL. Copy this URL to your clipboard — you'll paste it into Ko-fi in the next step.
Time: 30 seconds
Step 4: Paste the Webhook URL in Ko-fi
Log in to Ko-fi and go to Ko-fi Webhook Settings. Paste your Stream Alert webhook URL into the webhook field and click Update. Ko-fi will now send real-time data to Stream Alert every time you receive a donation, membership payment, or shop order.
Why Webhooks Are Better Than Email
Email-based donation detection can have 30–60 second delays. Ko-fi webhooks deliver donation data instantly — typically within 1–2 seconds. Stream Alert uses this direct connection for the fastest possible alerts on your Kick stream.
Time: 1 minute
Step 5: Customize Your Alert Design
Go to “Alert Customization” in your Stream Alert dashboard. Choose from pre-made templates or design a custom alert that matches your Kick channel branding. Set your alert duration (5–8 seconds is recommended), pick a sound effect, configure text-to-speech if desired, and preview everything before saving.
Time: 2–5 minutes (optional — defaults work great)
Step 6: Add the Browser Source in OBS
Copy your unique overlay URL from the Stream Alert dashboard. Open OBS Studio and navigate to your scene. Click the + button under Sources and select “Browser.” Paste your overlay URL. Set Width to 1920 and Height to 1080. Click OK. Your Ko-fi donation alerts are now embedded in your OBS scene.
Time: 1 minute
Step 7: Connect OBS to Kick
In OBS, go to Settings → Stream → select “Custom” as the Service. Paste Kick's RTMP URL and your stream key from the Kick dashboard. Since donation alerts run through OBS browser sources, they work the same on Kick as they do on any other platform.
Time: 1 minute
Step 8: Test Your Setup
Go back to your Ko-fi Webhook Settings and click Send Test. Open your Stream Alert Live Alerts page — you should see a test donation from “Jo Example.” Check your OBS preview to confirm the alert displays on screen. If everything works, you're ready to go live.
Time: 1 minute
Setup Complete!
Total time: 8–12 minutes
Every Ko-fi donation, membership payment, and shop order will now automatically trigger an on-screen alert during your Kick stream. The donor's name, amount, and message are all displayed in real time.
Ko-fi Tips vs Kick Subscriptions
Should you focus on Ko-fi donations or Kick subscriptions? The answer is both — they serve different purposes and complement each other. Here's a side-by-side comparison to help you understand the differences:
| Feature | Ko-fi Donations | Kick Subscriptions |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Fee | 0% | 5% |
| Processing Fee | ~2.9% + $0.30 (PayPal/Stripe) | Included in 5% cut |
| You Keep (per $5) | ~$4.56 | $4.74 |
| Payout Speed | Instant (PayPal) or 2–7 days (Stripe) | Monthly |
| Requirements | None — any streamer | Kick partnership |
| International Support | Yes — worldwide | Limited regions |
| One-Time Payments | Yes | No (recurring only) |
| Recurring Payments | Yes (memberships) | Yes (monthly subs) |
| On-Screen Alert | Yes (via Stream Alert) | Yes (Kick native) |
The biggest takeaway: Ko-fi donations are available to every Kick streamer from day one, while subscriptions require partnership approval. For new and growing creators, Ko-fi may be your primary revenue source. And for partnered streamers, Ko-fi's international reach means you can monetize viewers who can't subscribe through Kick's regional limitations.
The Revenue Stack
The most successful Kick streamers run multiple revenue streams: Kick subs for reliable recurring income, Ko-fi tips for spontaneous one-time donations, and Ko-fi memberships for recurring support outside of Kick's ecosystem. A viewer might subscribe on Kick and join your Ko-fi membership for exclusive perks. Don't make them choose — offer everything.
Ko-fi Features for Kick Streamers
Ko-fi is more than a simple tip jar. Here are the three core features and how each one benefits your Kick streaming career:
One-Time Donations (Tips)
The classic Ko-fi experience — viewers “buy you a coffee” by sending a one-time payment in any amount. This is the most common type of Ko-fi transaction and the easiest to set up. When a viewer donates, they can include an optional message that appears on your Kick stream as part of the alert.
- No minimum or maximum donation amount
- Supporters can donate without creating a Ko-fi account
- Messages are forwarded to Stream Alert and displayed on screen
- Alert triggers within 2–5 seconds via webhook
Monthly Memberships
Ko-fi memberships let you create recurring revenue with customizable tiers. Think of it as your own Patreon — but with 0% platform fees. Each monthly payment triggers an on-screen alert, so your Kick viewers see membership renewals celebrated just like one-time tips.
- Create multiple tiers with different pricing and perks
- Offer exclusive content, Discord roles, or early access
- Each renewal payment triggers an alert on your Kick stream
- Members can cancel anytime — no lock-in
Membership Tip
Position Ko-fi memberships as a way for your most dedicated fans to support you beyond what Kick subs offer. For example: a $3/month Ko-fi membership that includes a private Discord channel, while your $4.99 Kick sub focuses on chat badges and emotes. Different perks, different audiences, double the recurring revenue.
Shop Orders
Ko-fi's built-in shop lets you sell digital products, commissions, presets, guides, or any downloadable content. Each shop order triggers a webhook to Stream Alert, so purchases appear as on-screen alerts during your Kick stream — giving your buyers instant public recognition.
- Sell digital downloads (overlays, emotes, presets, wallpapers)
- Offer commissions or custom work with defined pricing
- Automatic file delivery after purchase
- Shop orders trigger on-screen alerts just like donations
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kick natively support Ko-fi donations?
No. Kick has no built-in tipping, donation, or tip jar system of any kind. There is no native Ko-fi integration on Kick. To display Ko-fi donations on your Kick stream, you need an external tool like Stream Alert connected via webhook, with the alert overlay added as a browser source in OBS.
Do I need Ko-fi Gold to use webhooks with Stream Alert?
No. Ko-fi's webhook feature is available on all Ko-fi plans, including the free tier. Ko-fi Gold ($6/month) gives you extra customization options for your Ko-fi page and removes Ko-fi branding, but it is not required for webhook-based donation alerts on Kick. The free plan works perfectly with Stream Alert.
Can viewers outside the US donate through Ko-fi on my Kick stream?
Yes — and this is one of Ko-fi's biggest advantages. Ko-fi accepts payments through PayPal and Stripe, both of which support international transactions in multiple currencies. Viewers from any country with PayPal or credit/debit card access can donate. This makes Ko-fi far more accessible than US-only options like CashApp or Venmo for Kick streamers with international audiences.
How fast do Ko-fi alerts appear on my Kick stream?
Ko-fi uses webhooks, which deliver donation data to Stream Alert within 1–2 seconds of the transaction. After processing, the alert appears on your Kick stream within another 1–3 seconds. Total time from donation to on-screen alert is typically 2–5 seconds — significantly faster than email-based detection methods that can take 30–60 seconds.
Will my Ko-fi alert setup work if I switch from Kick to Twitch or YouTube?
Yes. Since Ko-fi alerts run through OBS browser sources (not through Kick's platform directly), the same setup works identically on Kick, Twitch, YouTube, TikTok Live, or any platform you stream to via OBS. No reconfiguration needed when switching platforms — just change your stream key in OBS and everything else stays the same.
Start Showing Ko-fi Donations on Kick Today
Kick doesn't have built-in tipping — which makes Ko-fi + Stream Alert essential for every Kick streamer. Set up in under 10 minutes, accept donations from viewers worldwide with 0% platform fees, and turn every Ko-fi tip, membership, and shop order into a real-time on-screen alert.
Try Stream Alert free for 30 days →No credit card required