How to Show Ko-fi Donations on X Live (2026)
Complete guide to displaying Ko-fi donation alerts on your X (Twitter) Live stream using OBS, webhooks & Stream Alert — with 0% platform fees and international payment support.
To show Ko-fi donations on X (Twitter) Live, stream through OBS using X's RTMP stream key and add Stream Alert (connected to Ko-fi via webhook) as a browser source for automatic donation detection. X's built-in tipping feature — X Tips — has limited payment options and provides no on-screen alerts, while Ko-fi via Stream Alert delivers real-time visual notifications with 0% platform fees, international payment support, and built-in membership & shop alert functionality that X Tips simply cannot match.
Ko-fi has become a go-to donation platform for creators worldwide. It charges zero platform fees on the free tier, lets donors pay through PayPal or credit card regardless of their country, and supports recurring memberships plus a digital shop — all of which can trigger live alerts on your X stream when connected through Stream Alert. Most X Live streamers either rely on X Tips (which most viewers ignore) or share their Ko-fi link without any alert system. When a viewer sends $15 through Ko-fi and nothing happens on screen, there's no social proof, no excitement for the donor, and no encouragement for other viewers to give.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the complete setup for displaying Ko-fi donation alerts on X Live, compare Ko-fi to X Tips in detail, and share strategies for maximizing your Ko-fi revenue on the platform.
TL;DR
- X Tips is limited — Ko-fi via Stream Alert provides full on-screen visual & audio donation alerts
- Ko-fi charges 0% platform fees on its free tier; donors pay via PayPal or credit/debit card
- Stream via OBS with X's RTMP key for full overlay and browser source support
- Ko-fi webhook delivers donation data to Stream Alert in 2–5 seconds
- Ko-fi supports international payments, memberships & shop orders — all triggerable as alerts
- No X Premium required to accept Ko-fi donations on your stream
Why Use Ko-fi for X Live Donations
X has a built-in monetization feature called X Tips, so you might wonder why you'd bother with Ko-fi at all. The short answer: X Tips is underpowered for serious streamers, and Ko-fi fills every gap it leaves behind. Here's why Ko-fi is the better choice for X Live donations in 2026.
0% Platform Fees
Ko-fi's free tier takes zero platform cut from donations. If a viewer sends you $20, you receive $20 minus only the standard PayPal or Stripe processing fee. Compare that to platforms like Buy Me a Coffee (5% platform fee) or StreamLabs' own donation pages. Over a year of consistent streaming, the savings are significant — especially for creators who receive dozens of donations per month.
Fee Savings Example
On $1,000 in monthly donations, Ko-fi's 0% platform fee saves you roughly $600 per year compared to a platform that charges 5%. The only costs are PayPal or Stripe processing fees, which you'd pay on any platform.
International Payment Support
Unlike CashApp (US & UK only) or Venmo (US only), Ko-fi accepts payments from anywhere in the world through PayPal and Stripe. If your X Live audience includes viewers from Europe, Asia, South America, or anywhere outside the US, Ko-fi is one of the only donation platforms that lets every viewer contribute without friction. This is a massive advantage on X, where the algorithm often pushes your live stream to international audiences.
Memberships & Shop
Ko-fi isn't just for one-time donations. Creators can set up monthly memberships with custom tiers (think: exclusive Discord access, priority chat, custom emotes) and a digital shop where you sell products like overlays, guides, or art commissions. Both memberships and shop orders trigger Ko-fi webhooks, which means Stream Alert can display alerts for all of them — not just one-time donations. X Tips offers nothing comparable.
Trusted Creator Brand
Ko-fi has built a reputation as the "friendly" donation platform. Viewers recognize the Ko-fi brand and feel comfortable using it because it doesn't require creating a new account — they can pay as guests with their credit card or existing PayPal account. This familiarity reduces friction and increases the likelihood of donations during your X Live stream.
No X Premium Required
X Tips requires an X Premium subscription just to enable tipping on your profile. Ko-fi donations through Stream Alert have no such requirement. You need a Ko-fi account (free), a Stream Alert account, and OBS to stream to X Live. That's it — no monthly subscription to X necessary.
Webhook-Powered Alerts
Ko-fi supports webhooks — a direct server-to-server notification system that delivers donation data to Stream Alert within 2–5 seconds of payment. Unlike email-based detection (which can have 15–60 second delays), webhooks are fast and reliable. When a viewer donates on Ko-fi, the alert appears on your X Live stream almost instantly.
Why Webhooks Are Better Than Email Detection
Some alert services rely on monitoring email notifications, which introduces variable delays depending on email provider speed. Ko-fi's webhooks bypass email entirely and send donation data directly to Stream Alert's servers. This makes Ko-fi alerts among the fastest of any payment platform.
Setting Up Ko-fi Alerts on X Live
The complete setup takes about 10 minutes. You'll need a Ko-fi account, OBS Studio, and a Stream Alert account. Here's the step-by-step walkthrough.
Step 1: Create Your Ko-fi Account
If you don't already have a Ko-fi account, visit ko-fi.com and sign up for free. Choose a memorable page name (this becomes your Ko-fi URL, e.g., ko-fi.com/yourname). Connect PayPal or Stripe to receive payouts. Make sure your Ko-fi page is set to accept donations.
Time: 2 minutes
Step 2: Create Your Stream Alert Account
- Go to streamalert.gg/register
- Enter your name, email, and create a password
- Click "Start Free Trial" — no credit card required for the 30-day trial
Time: 1 minute
Step 3: Connect Ko-fi in Stream Alert
- In your Stream Alert dashboard, navigate to Apps
- Find Ko-fi and click Connect
- Copy the unique Webhook URL that Stream Alert generates for your account
Keep Your Webhook URL Private
Your webhook URL acts as an authentication key. Anyone with this URL could send fake donation alerts to your stream. Never share it publicly — if it gets compromised, contact support for a new one.
Time: 30 seconds
Step 4: Configure the Ko-fi Webhook
- Open Ko-fi Webhook Settings (log in if needed)
- Paste your Stream Alert webhook URL into the Webhook URL field
- Click Update to save
Time: 1 minute
Step 5: Get Your X Live RTMP Stream Key
To stream to X Live with OBS (and display donation overlays), you need X's RTMP credentials:
- Open X (desktop or mobile app)
- Tap the Compose button (the "+" or feather icon)
- Select "Go Live"
- Choose "Streaming software" (not "Phone camera")
- Copy the Server URL (RTMP URL) and Stream Key
Time: 1 minute
Step 6: Configure OBS & Add the Browser Source
- Open OBS Studio
- Go to Settings → Stream → Custom
- Paste the X RTMP URL as the Server and the stream key in the Stream Key field
- In your OBS scene, click "+" → Browser Source
- Paste your Stream Alert overlay URL (found in your Stream Alert dashboard)
- Set the dimensions to 1920x1080
- Click OK
Time: 2 minutes
Step 7: Test Your Setup
Before going live, always verify that the entire pipeline works:
- In Ko-fi webhook settings, click Send Test — this sends a test donation from "Jo Example"
- Open your Stream Alert Live Alerts page and confirm the test event appears
- Check your OBS preview — the alert animation should play in your browser source
- Click "Start Streaming" in OBS to go live on X
Time: 2 minutes
Setup Complete!
Total time: approximately 10 minutes
Every time a viewer sends a Ko-fi donation, an animated alert with the donor's name, amount, and message will appear on your X Live stream within seconds. Membership payments and shop orders also trigger alerts automatically.
Ko-fi vs X Tips: Full Comparison
The table below puts Ko-fi donations (via Stream Alert) side by side with X's built-in Tips feature so you can see exactly where each option stands.
| Feature | Ko-fi (via Stream Alert) | X Tips (Built-in) |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Fee | 0% (free tier) | Varies by processor |
| On-Screen Alerts | Yes — real-time visual & audio | No alerts |
| X Premium Required | No | Yes |
| International Payments | Worldwide (PayPal & Stripe) | Limited by region |
| Donor Messages | Yes — displayed in alert | No message support |
| Memberships | Yes — monthly tiers with alerts | No |
| Shop / Digital Products | Yes — with order alerts | No |
| Custom Alert Design | Fully customizable | No customization |
| Alert Speed | 2–5 seconds (webhook) | N/A (no alerts) |
| Guest Checkout | Yes — no Ko-fi account needed to donate | X account required |
The Verdict
Ko-fi outperforms X Tips in every category that matters to X Live streamers. The combination of 0% platform fees, instant webhook-powered alerts, worldwide payment support, memberships, and a digital shop makes Ko-fi the clear winner for monetization on X Live. X Tips is fine as a secondary option for viewers who prefer it, but it should not be your primary donation method.
Promoting Your Ko-fi on X
Having Ko-fi alerts set up is only half the equation. You also need to make sure your viewers know they can donate through Ko-fi. Here are the most effective promotion strategies for X Live streamers.
Add Your Ko-fi Link to Your X Bio
Your X bio is prime real estate. Add your full Ko-fi URL (ko-fi.com/yourname) alongside a brief note about your streams. Viewers who discover your profile through the X algorithm, retweets, or during a live stream can see your donation link immediately without any scrolling.
Pin a Tweet with Your Ko-fi Link
Create a dedicated tweet that highlights your Ko-fi page — mention that donations appear live on stream, that memberships are available, and that it's completely free to support (no account required for donors). Pin this tweet so it's the first thing new viewers see when they visit your profile during an X Live broadcast.
Tweet Before Going Live
Post a tweet 30–60 minutes before your stream announcing the topic, time, and your Ko-fi link. Something like: "Going live in 30 min! Playing [game] — support the stream at ko-fi.com/yourname, every donation gets a shoutout on screen!" This primes your audience and gives them the payment info up front.
Verbal Mentions During Stream
Mention your Ko-fi naturally during the stream — especially after someone donates. Saying "Huge thanks to [name] for the $10 Ko-fi donation! If you want to support the stream, the link is in my bio" creates social proof. Viewers see the alert, hear the acknowledgment, and are more likely to contribute themselves.
Add a Ko-fi Panel to Your OBS Overlay
Include a small text element or Ko-fi logo in your OBS scene that permanently displays your Ko-fi link in a corner of the screen. Viewers who join mid-stream can see how to donate without checking your bio or pinned tweet. Ko-fi provides official branding assets you can use for this purpose.
Promote Memberships for Recurring Revenue
One-time donations are great, but monthly memberships provide predictable income. Create membership tiers on Ko-fi with perks like exclusive Discord roles, emote access, priority game queue, or monthly shoutouts. Mention these perks during your X Live stream and pin a tweet listing the tiers. Each monthly payment triggers an on-stream alert through Stream Alert.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need X Premium to show Ko-fi donations on X Live?
No. X Premium is only required for X's built-in Tips feature. Ko-fi donations through Stream Alert work completely independently of X Premium. You just need access to X Live streaming (via RTMP), which is available to eligible X accounts. Stream through OBS with your Stream Alert browser source, and your Ko-fi alerts will display regardless of your X subscription tier.
Can international viewers donate through Ko-fi on my X Live stream?
Yes — this is one of Ko-fi's biggest advantages. Ko-fi accepts payments through PayPal and Stripe, which work in most countries worldwide. Viewers from Europe, Asia, South America, Africa, and beyond can all donate to your stream. They don't even need a Ko-fi account — guest checkout with a credit or debit card is supported. This makes Ko-fi ideal for X Live streamers with international audiences.
Do Ko-fi memberships and shop orders also trigger alerts on X Live?
Yes. Ko-fi sends webhook notifications for one-time donations, recurring membership payments, and shop orders. Stream Alert receives all of these events and can trigger on-screen alerts for each type. You can customize how each alert looks and sounds in your Stream Alert dashboard — for example, using a special animation for new membership signups versus one-time donations.
Does this work with Ko-fi Gold?
Yes. Stream Alert works with both the free Ko-fi tier and Ko-fi Gold. The webhook feature that powers the Stream Alert integration is available on all Ko-fi plans. Ko-fi Gold adds extra features like removing Ko-fi branding from your page and accessing advanced analytics, but the webhook functionality is identical on both tiers.
Can I use Ko-fi and X Tips at the same time?
Absolutely. Many X Live streamers enable X Tips as a secondary option while using Ko-fi (via Stream Alert) as their primary donation method. Viewers who prefer X's built-in tipping can use that, while viewers who prefer Ko-fi — or who are international and can't use X Tips — can donate through your Ko-fi page. Only Ko-fi donations will trigger on-screen alerts through Stream Alert; X Tips remain silent on stream. This dual approach maximizes the number of viewers who can support you.
Start Showing Ko-fi Donations on X Live
Set up automated Ko-fi donation alerts for your X Live stream in under 10 minutes. Zero platform fees, international payments, membership & shop alerts, and no X Premium required.
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