How to Show Donation Alerts on YouTube Live (2025)
Complete guide to displaying donation, tip, membership, and order alerts on YouTube Live. Accept CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, and more with StreamAlert.
YouTube Live is one of the fastest-growing platforms for livestream creators, but monetization works differently than Twitch. YouTube offers Super Chat and Super Stickers for monetized channels — but they take a 30% cut and require you to meet YouTube Partner Program thresholds (1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours).
External donation alerts solve both problems. You don't need Partner Program status, you keep 95–100% of every dollar, and you can accept payments through apps your viewers already use — CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee.
This guide covers every method for showing donation alerts on YouTube Live, from the fastest setup (Stream Alert) to manual alternatives, plus YouTube-specific tips you won't find anywhere else.
Super Chat vs External Donations
| Method | Fees | Requirements | Alert Speed | You Keep |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Super Chat | 30% YouTube cut | YouTube Partner Program | Instant (chat only) | ~70% |
| Super Stickers | 30% YouTube cut | YouTube Partner Program | Instant (chat only) | ~70% |
| CashApp tips | 0% (personal) | None | ~10 seconds | 100% |
| Venmo tips | 0% (personal) | None | ~10 seconds | 100% |
| PayPal tips | 2.9% + $0.30 | None | ~10 seconds | ~97% |
| Ko-fi | 0% (Ko-fi Gold: 5%) | None | ~5 seconds (webhook) | 95–100% |
| Buy Me a Coffee | 5% | None | ~5 seconds (webhook) | 95% |
Revenue Comparison
A viewer sends $10 via Super Chat → you get $7. That same $10 via CashApp through Stream Alert → you get $10. Over $1,000/month in donations, that's $300 more in your pocket every month.
Method 1: Stream Alert (Recommended)
Setup Time: 5 minutes — works with OBS, StreamYard, Restream, and more
- Create a Stream Alert account
streamalert.gg/register — 30-day free trial, no credit card required.
- Connect your Gmail
Stream Alert monitors your inbox for CashApp, Venmo, and PayPal payment confirmation emails. This is how it detects donations in real time — no API keys or developer setup needed.
- Add your payment accounts
Enter your CashApp $cashtag, Venmo @username, and PayPal email so Stream Alert knows which transactions are yours.
- Connect Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee webhooks
In Ko-fi → Settings → Webhooks, paste your Stream Alert webhook URL. Same process for Buy Me a Coffee. This triggers instant alerts for donations, memberships, and shop orders from both platforms.
- Customize your alerts
Choose animations, sounds, text-to-speech settings, colors, and fonts from the Stream Alert dashboard. Set different styles for different donation tiers or payment methods.
- Add browser source to OBS or StreamYard
Copy your overlay URL from Stream Alert. In OBS, add a Browser Source and paste the URL. In StreamYard, go to Overlays → Custom and paste it there. Stream to YouTube as usual — alerts appear in your video feed.
Why Stream Alert for YouTube?
Unlike StreamLabs and StreamElements, Stream Alert supports CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee all in one place. No need to pick just one payment method. Your viewers choose what's easiest for them, and every donation triggers an on-stream alert automatically.
Method 2: StreamLabs
StreamLabs offers a free donation page that works with YouTube. Here's how to set it up:
- Create an account at streamlabs.com and connect your YouTube channel
- Go to Donation Settings and link your PayPal account
- Customize your donation page (minimum amount, message length, currency)
- Copy the Alert Box widget URL from the dashboard
- Add the URL as a Browser Source in OBS (width: 800, height: 600)
- Share your donation page link in your YouTube video description
Limitation: StreamLabs only supports PayPal for direct donations on YouTube. No CashApp or Venmo support. PayPal charges 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, and some viewers avoid PayPal due to chargeback risks.
Method 3: StreamElements
StreamElements is completely free (no premium tier) and offers strong customization:
- Sign up at streamelements.com and connect your YouTube channel
- Navigate to Tipping settings and connect your PayPal
- Customize your tipping page with branding, minimum amounts, and messages
- Go to My Overlays → Alertbox and configure alert themes, sounds, and animations
- Copy the overlay URL and add it as a Browser Source in OBS
- Share your tipping page URL in video descriptions and chat
Limitation: PayPal only, same as StreamLabs. StreamElements offers better CSS/HTML customization for alerts, but still no CashApp or Venmo integration.
Quick Comparison
Stream Alert = CashApp + Venmo + PayPal + Ko-fi + BMAC (all-in-one). StreamLabs = PayPal only. StreamElements = PayPal only. If your audience uses mobile payment apps, Stream Alert is the only option that covers them all.
YouTube-Specific Setup Tips
YouTube doesn't have Twitch-style channel panels, so you need different strategies to share your donation links with viewers.
Add Donation Links to Your Stream Description
Every livestream on YouTube has a description field. List all your payment links there — CashApp $cashtag, Venmo @username, Ko-fi page, and Buy Me a Coffee page. Viewers can expand the description and click through.
Pin a Comment with Payment Info
As soon as you go live, post a comment with all your tip/donation links and pin it. Pinned comments stay at the top of YouTube Live chat, making it easy for viewers to find your payment details at any point during the stream.
Use a Community Tab Post
If you have access to the Community tab (500+ subscribers), create a pinned post listing all your donation/tip methods. This way, even viewers who find your channel outside of a livestream can discover how to support you.
Set Up YouTube Live Chat Commands
Use Nightbot (it works on YouTube) to create commands like !tip or !donate that automatically post your payment links in chat. Example response: "Support the stream! CashApp: $YourTag | Venmo: @YourName | Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/you"
Stream Description Template
--- SUPPORT THE STREAM --- CashApp: $YourCashTag Venmo: @YourVenmoUsername PayPal: paypal.me/YourUsername Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/yourchannel Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/yourchannel Donations show up LIVE on stream with alerts! Every tip is appreciated and 100% goes directly to me.
Using Donation Alerts with StreamYard & Restream
Not everyone streams with OBS. Many YouTube creators use cloud-based tools like StreamYard and Restream because they run entirely in the browser — no software to install.
How Browser Source Overlays Work
Donation alerts are delivered via a browser source URL. In desktop software like OBS, you add this URL as a Browser Source layer. In cloud tools, the process is slightly different:
StreamYard
- Go to your StreamYard broadcast studio
- Click Overlays in the bottom toolbar
- Select Custom Overlay and paste your Stream Alert overlay URL
- The overlay appears on your stream — alerts trigger when donations arrive
StreamYard supports custom overlays on paid plans (Basic and above).
Restream Studio
- Open Restream Studio for your broadcast
- Click Overlays → Add custom overlay
- Paste your Stream Alert overlay URL
- Position and resize the overlay as needed
Restream supports custom overlays on their Professional plan and above.
Cloud Streaming Tip
If you stream to YouTube using StreamYard or Restream, your donation alerts work exactly the same as OBS. Stream Alert's overlay URL is platform-agnostic — it works anywhere you can paste a URL as a browser source or custom overlay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the YouTube Partner Program to receive donations?
No. The YouTube Partner Program is only required for Super Chat, Super Stickers, memberships, and ad revenue. External donations through CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee work for any creator regardless of subscriber count or watch hours.
Will donation alerts actually show up on my YouTube livestream?
Yes. Donation alerts are rendered in your streaming software (OBS, StreamYard, Restream) as a browser source overlay. They become part of your video feed that gets sent to YouTube. Viewers see them as part of your stream, just like any other overlay graphic.
Can I use Super Chat AND external donation alerts at the same time?
Absolutely. If you're in the YouTube Partner Program, keep Super Chat enabled for viewers who prefer it while also offering external tip options. Some viewers find CashApp or Venmo easier, while others prefer the simplicity of Super Chat. Offering both maximizes your total donations.
Can I use the same Stream Alert account for YouTube, Twitch, and Kick?
Yes. Stream Alert integrates with your streaming software, not the platform itself. One account works across YouTube, Twitch, Kick, Facebook Gaming, TikTok Live, and any other platform you stream to.
How fast do alerts appear after someone sends a donation?
Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee webhooks trigger alerts in about 5 seconds. CashApp, Venmo, and PayPal alerts arrive in roughly 10–15 seconds (the time it takes for the payment confirmation email to reach Gmail and be processed by Stream Alert).
Are donations on YouTube taxable?
In the United States, tips and donations received as income are generally taxable. This applies to Super Chat revenue, CashApp tips, Venmo tips, PayPal donations, and platform payments alike. Consult a tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
Start Showing Donation Alerts on YouTube
Don't leave money on the table by relying solely on Super Chat. Set up Stream Alert in 5 minutes and start accepting CashApp, Venmo, PayPal, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee donations — all with real-time on-stream alerts your viewers will love.
No credit card required