Membership Alerts for Streamlabs & StreamElements: The Complete Guide (2025)
Show recurring membership alerts from Patreon, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee on your Twitch, YouTube, or Kick stream.
Memberships are the holy grail of streamer income. Unlike one-time donations, memberships provide predictable recurring revenue that you can count on month after month. Platforms like Patreon, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee make it easy for fans to support you with monthly subscriptions.
But here's the problem: none of these membership platforms natively integrate with Streamlabs or StreamElements. When someone joins your Patreon or becomes a Ko-fi member, there's no automatic alert on your stream to celebrate and thank them.
In this guide, we'll show you how Stream Alert bridges this gap, enabling automatic membership alerts for all major platforms on your stream.
New Feature: Membership Alerts
Stream Alert now supports membership alerts from three major platforms:
- Patreon - New patrons, pledge changes, and monthly renewals
- Ko-fi - Monthly membership subscriptions and renewals
- Buy Me a Coffee - Membership subscriptions and supporter alerts
All membership events are automatically forwarded to Streamlabs or StreamElements, triggering your custom alerts instantly.
Why Membership Alerts Matter
Celebrating new members on stream creates a powerful feedback loop:
Social Proof
When viewers see others joining memberships, it normalizes the behavior and encourages more sign-ups.
Immediate Recognition
Members feel valued when their support is acknowledged live on stream, increasing retention.
Content Moments
Membership alerts create natural content moments - celebrations, thank yous, and interactions.
Retention
Monthly renewal alerts remind you to acknowledge long-term supporters, keeping them engaged.
The Stats
Streamers who acknowledge supporters on-stream see up to 40% higher retention rates compared to those who don't. Membership alerts make this acknowledgment automatic.
Supported Membership Platforms
Patreon
The original creator membership platform. Stream Alert supports all Patreon membership events:
- New Patron - Someone pledges to your Patreon for the first time
- Pledge Upgrade - An existing patron increases their pledge tier
- Monthly Renewal - A patron's monthly payment processes successfully
Ko-fi
Zero platform fees on donations, with a growing membership feature. Stream Alert supports:
- New Member - Someone joins your Ko-fi membership
- Tier Change - A member upgrades or changes their tier
- Monthly Renewal - A member's subscription renews
Buy Me a Coffee
Simple and creator-friendly membership platform. Stream Alert supports:
- New Member - Someone becomes a monthly supporter
- Membership Renewal - A supporter's monthly payment processes
How Membership Alerts Work
The flow is simple:
- Fan joins your membership - They subscribe on Patreon, Ko-fi, or Buy Me a Coffee
- Platform sends webhook to Stream Alert - Instant notification (within seconds)
- Stream Alert forwards to Streamlabs/StreamElements - Membership data is formatted as a donation
- Alert appears on your stream - Your custom alert plays with member name, tier, and message
Smart Formatting
Stream Alert intelligently formats membership alerts so they display beautifully. New members show "[Platform] Member: [Name] joined [Tier]!" Renewals show "[Platform] Member: [Name] renewed for month [X]!"
Quick Setup Overview
Setting up membership alerts takes about 5 minutes per platform. Here's the general process:
Step 1: Create a Stream Alert Account
Sign up at streamalert.gg/register and connect your Twitch or YouTube account.
Step 2: Connect Streamlabs or StreamElements
In your Stream Alert dashboard, go to Apps and connect your preferred alert service.
Step 3: Connect Your Membership Platform
Connect Patreon, Ko-fi, or Buy Me a Coffee and copy your unique webhook URL.
Step 4: Configure the Webhook
Paste your webhook URL in your membership platform's settings.
Step 5: Test It!
Use the test button in your membership platform to verify alerts are working.
For detailed platform-specific instructions, check out our individual guides:
Membership Platform Comparison
Here's how the three platforms compare:
| Feature | Patreon | Ko-fi | Buy Me a Coffee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Fee | 5-12% | 0%* | 5% |
| Custom Tiers | Unlimited | Up to 5 | Up to 5 |
| One-Time Donations | Yes | Yes (0% fee) | Yes |
| Payout Speed | Monthly | Instant | Weekly |
| Creator Tools | Extensive | Basic | Moderate |
| Stream Alert Support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
*Ko-fi has 0% platform fees but payment processor fees (PayPal/Stripe) still apply.
Best Practices for Membership Alerts
1. Create Compelling Tier Names
Don't just use "Tier 1, Tier 2" - create names that reflect your brand and make members feel special:
- "Inner Circle" instead of "Tier 3"
- "VIP Squad" instead of "Premium"
- "Founding Member" for early supporters
2. Acknowledge Every New Member
When a membership alert appears:
- Say their name
- Welcome them to the community
- Mention what tier they joined
- Give a genuine thank you
3. Celebrate Renewals Too
Long-term members are your most valuable supporters. When you see a renewal alert:
- "[Name] just renewed for month 6! Thank you for your continued support!"
- Consider special shoutouts for anniversary milestones (3, 6, 12 months)
4. Offer Exclusive Perks
Give members real value for their subscription:
- Discord access with exclusive channels
- Custom emotes
- Early access to content
- Monthly member-only streams
- Game queue priority
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use multiple membership platforms at once?
Yes! Stream Alert supports connecting Patreon, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee simultaneously. Alerts from all platforms will appear on your stream.
Do renewal alerts show every month?
Yes, each successful renewal triggers an alert. You can configure your alerts in Stream Alert to distinguish between new members and renewals.
What if someone cancels their membership?
Cancellation events are logged in your Stream Alert dashboard but do not trigger on-stream alerts (that would be awkward!).
Can I customize the alert message format?
Stream Alert formats membership alerts intelligently, but the actual alert appearance is controlled by your Streamlabs or StreamElements settings. You can customize colors, sounds, and animations there.
Are there any extra fees?
Stream Alert's subscription includes all membership alert features. There are no per-alert fees. You only pay your membership platform's standard fees.
Start Showing Membership Alerts Today
Membership alerts transform passive subscriptions into interactive stream moments. When new members see their names celebrated on screen, it creates a positive cycle that encourages more sign-ups and improves retention.
With Stream Alert, you can finally show Patreon, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee memberships on Streamlabs and StreamElements - something that's impossible natively.