How to Show Donation Alerts on X Live (Twitter) (2025)
Complete guide to displaying donation and tip alerts on X (Twitter) Live streams. Accept CashApp, Venmo, PayPal with StreamAlert.
X (formerly Twitter) has quietly become one of the most exciting platforms for live streaming. With millions of active users, built-in discoverability through the algorithm, and a creator-first mentality under its new direction, X Live is attracting streamers who want to reach audiences beyond Twitch and YouTube.
X does have a built-in tipping feature called X Tips, but it's limited — no on-stream visual alerts, restricted payment options, and it requires X Premium. For streamers who want real-time donation alerts that display directly on their broadcast, external tools are the way to go.
This guide covers every method for showing donation alerts on X Live, from the recommended Stream Alert + OBS workflow to alternatives like StreamLabs and X's built-in tips. Whether you're a seasoned streamer expanding to X or a creator going live for the first time, you'll have donation alerts running in under 10 minutes.
Why X Live Is Growing
X Live streams appear directly in followers' timelines and the Explore tab. Unlike Twitch where discoverability is a challenge, X's algorithm actively pushes live content to new viewers — making it one of the best platforms for organic growth.
X Tips vs External Donations: Full Comparison
| Method | Fees | Requirements | You Keep | Alert Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X Tips (Built-in) | Varies by processor | X Premium account | Varies | No on-stream alerts |
| CashApp | 0% | CashApp account | 100% | Yes (via Stream Alert) |
| Venmo | 0% | Venmo account | 100% | Yes (via Stream Alert) |
| PayPal | 2.9% + $0.30 | PayPal account | ~95% | Yes (via Stream Alert or StreamLabs) |
| Ko-fi | 0% (free tier) | Ko-fi account | 100% (free tier) | Yes (via Stream Alert webhook) |
| Buy Me a Coffee | 5% | BMAC account | 95% | Yes (via Stream Alert webhook) |
The Bottom Line
X Tips has no on-stream alert support and limited payment options. CashApp and Venmo let you keep 100% of every dollar with real-time visual alerts through Stream Alert — making them the clear winner for X Live streamers.
Method 1: Stream Alert + OBS (Recommended)
The best way to show donation alerts on X Live is to stream through OBS using X's RTMP stream key. This gives you full control over scenes, overlays, and browser sources — including Stream Alert.
- Create a Stream Alert account
streamalert.gg/register → start your 30-day free trial
- Connect your Gmail
Stream Alert reads payment notification emails to detect donations in real time. Connect the Gmail linked to your CashApp, Venmo, or PayPal.
- Get your X Live stream key
Go to X → Media Studio → Producer (or X's live streaming dashboard). Copy your RTMP URL and stream key.
- Configure OBS for X Live
In OBS, go to Settings → Stream → Custom. Paste the RTMP URL as the server and your stream key in the stream key field.
- Add Stream Alert browser source
In your OBS scene, add a Browser Source. Paste your Stream Alert overlay URL. Set dimensions to 1920x1080.
- Go live and test
Click "Start Streaming" in OBS. Use Stream Alert's test alert feature to confirm everything works before going live to your audience.
Why This Is the Best Method
Streaming through OBS gives you full scene control, custom overlays, camera switching, and browser source support. Your donation alerts appear directly on the video that X broadcasts — every viewer sees them, whether on desktop or mobile.
Method 2: StreamLabs
StreamLabs is a popular alternative for donation alerts, but with a significant limitation for X Live streamers: it only supports PayPal for direct donations.
How It Works
- Create a StreamLabs account and connect PayPal
- Copy your StreamLabs alert widget URL
- Add it as a browser source in OBS
- Stream to X using RTMP (same as Method 1)
- Share your StreamLabs donation page link with viewers
Limitation: PayPal Only
StreamLabs does not support CashApp or Venmo donations natively. If your audience prefers CashApp or Venmo (which is increasingly common, especially with younger viewers), you'll need Stream Alert to detect those payments and trigger on-screen alerts.
Many streamers use StreamLabs and Stream Alert together — StreamLabs handles PayPal donations while Stream Alert covers CashApp, Venmo, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee. Stream Alert can also forward alerts to StreamLabs and StreamElements for a unified experience.
Method 3: X Tips (Built-in)
X has a built-in tipping feature that lets viewers send money directly through your profile. Here's how to enable it and what to expect.
How to Enable X Tips
- Subscribe to X Premium (required)
- Go to Profile → Edit Profile → Tips
- Toggle on "Allow tips"
- Connect a payment processor (Stripe, CashApp via X, or others depending on your region)
- A small money icon appears on your profile for viewers to tip
X Tips Limitations
No on-stream alerts — tips are silent. Viewers and the streamer get no visual notification during the broadcast.
Limited payment options — restricted to X's supported processors, which vary by region.
Requires X Premium — you need a paid subscription to enable tips.
No custom branding — you can't customize the tipping experience or add custom alert animations.
Our Recommendation
Enable X Tips as a secondary option (some viewers prefer it), but use Stream Alert + OBS as your primary donation alert system. You get on-stream alerts, more payment options, and keep more of every dollar.
X-Specific Setup Guide
Getting Your Stream Key from X
To stream to X Live with OBS, you need an RTMP stream key. Here's how to find it:
- Go to studio.x.com (X Media Studio) or access Producer from the X sidebar
- Click "Create New" or "New Source"
- Select "Create RTMP source"
- Copy the RTMP URL (server) and Stream Key
- Paste both into OBS under Settings → Stream → Custom
X Spaces vs X Live Video
| Feature | X Spaces (Audio) | X Live Video |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Audio only | Full video + audio |
| OBS Support | No | Yes (RTMP) |
| Visual Overlays | Not possible | Yes (browser sources) |
| Donation Alerts | Verbal only | Full visual + audio alerts |
| Best For | Conversations, Q&As | Gaming, IRL, creative streams |
Important: X Spaces Does NOT Support Visual Alerts
If you host X Spaces (audio rooms), you cannot add visual donation overlays. For donation alerts on Spaces, your only option is to monitor your Stream Alert dashboard and verbally thank tippers. For full visual alerts, use X Live Video with OBS.
Promoting Your Stream via Tweets
Tweet Before Going Live
Post a tweet 30-60 minutes before your stream with your schedule, topic, and payment links. Use relevant hashtags like #XLive, #LiveStream, or niche-specific tags.
Pin a Donation Link Tweet
Create a dedicated tweet with all your payment links (CashApp $cashtag, Venmo @username, PayPal.me, Ko-fi link) and pin it to your profile. When viewers visit your profile during a live stream, it's the first thing they see.
Quote Tweet Your Live
Once you're live, quote-tweet your own live stream link with a message encouraging viewers to join. This extends your reach beyond your immediate followers.
Growing Your X Live Audience
More viewers means more potential donations. Here's how to build your X Live audience over time:
1. Schedule Tweets Before Going Live
Consistency is key. Tweet your schedule at the same time every week so followers know when to tune in. Use X's built-in scheduling feature or a tool like TweetDeck to pre-schedule "Going live in 1 hour!" reminders.
2. Use Hashtags Strategically
Include 2-3 relevant hashtags per tweet. Try #XLive, #LiveStreaming, #SupportSmallStreamers, and hashtags related to your content niche. Don't overdo it — X's algorithm penalizes hashtag stuffing.
3. Engage with Quote Tweets and Replies
When viewers quote-tweet your stream or leave replies, engage with them. This creates conversation threads that X's algorithm boosts, bringing more visibility to your live stream.
4. Post Clips After Your Stream
Record highlights from your live stream and post them as short video clips on your timeline. Tag yourself, add context, and include "Catch me live every [day] at [time]" to drive viewers to your next broadcast.
5. Collaborate with Other X Creators
Co-stream or host joint X Live sessions with creators in your niche. Their audience discovers you, and yours discovers them — a win-win for growth.
Growth Tip
X's algorithm heavily favors accounts that post consistently. Streaming regularly at the same time and tweeting daily (not just when live) builds the engagement signals that X uses to recommend your content to new users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need X Premium to show donation alerts on my stream?
No. X Premium is only required for X's built-in Tips feature. External donation alerts through Stream Alert + OBS work with any X account that has access to live streaming via RTMP.
Can I accept CashApp donations on X Live?
Yes. Share your CashApp $cashtag with viewers (in your bio, pinned tweet, or verbally on stream). When someone sends money, Stream Alert detects the CashApp payment notification in your Gmail and triggers an on-screen alert automatically.
Does X Live support OBS browser sources?
X Live itself doesn't have browser source support built in. However, when you stream to X via OBS using RTMP, your OBS scenes (including browser sources like Stream Alert) are part of the video output. Viewers on X see everything in your OBS scene.
Can I use the same Stream Alert account on X and other platforms?
Yes. Stream Alert works through OBS, not through the streaming platform. One account and one overlay URL works across X Live, Twitch, YouTube, Kick, TikTok, and any platform that supports RTMP streaming.
How do I get viewers to donate during an X Live stream?
Pin a tweet with your payment links before going live, add links to your X bio, mention payment options naturally during the stream, and most importantly — acknowledge every donation with a shoutout. Viewers are more likely to tip when they see others being thanked on screen.
Is it better to use X Spaces or X Live Video for donations?
X Live Video is far better for donations. You get full visual overlays, custom alert animations, and the production quality that encourages viewers to support you. X Spaces is audio-only with no overlay support, so donation alerts are limited to verbal acknowledgment.