Twitch Prime is now called Prime Gaming, and it's a perk bundled into Amazon Prime membership

If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you already own a free Twitch subscription tier called Prime Gaming (formerly Twitch Prime). This subscription lets you sub to one channel per month at no additional cost, gives you a set of free games each month, and unlocks channel-specific perks like emotes and ad-free viewing on that channel.

You don't pay extra for Prime Gaming — it comes with your Amazon Prime membership, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. If you don't have Prime, you can link a Prime membership to your Twitch account to activate it. The subscription renews automatically each month as long as your Prime membership stays active.

Prime Gaming is different from the paid subscription tiers streamers offer. When you use your Prime sub on a channel, the streamer receives a smaller cut than they would from a paid $4.99 or $9.99 sub, but it still counts as a subscription on their channel.

Key Takeaways

  • Prime Gaming comes free with Amazon Prime membership and gives you one free channel subscription per month.
  • Your Prime sub renews automatically on the same date each month, and you can switch which channel receives it anytime.
  • Streamers earn less from Prime subs than from paid tiers, but the money still goes to them after Twitch takes its cut.
  • Prime Gaming also includes a rotating library of free games, channel emotes, and ad-free viewing on the channel you're subbed to.

How to activate and use your Prime Gaming subscription

Log into Twitch with the account you want to use. Go to your account settings, select "Connections," and link your Amazon account if you haven't already. Once linked, your Prime Gaming status appears on your Twitch profile.

To sub to a channel, go to the streamer's page and click the subscribe button. Select the Prime Gaming option (it will show as free), and confirm. Your sub is now active on that channel. You'll see a badge next to your name in chat, and the streamer will get a notification that a Prime sub joined their channel.

Each month on the same date your sub renews, you can choose to keep it on the same channel or switch to a different one. If you don't manually renew it, it will automatically renew on the channel you're currently subbed to. You can cancel anytime by going back to the subscribe button and selecting "Cancel Prime Gaming Subscription."

What Prime Gaming includes beyond the subscription

Every month, Prime Gaming offers a rotating selection of games you can download and keep permanently. These are usually indie titles or older games, though occasionally bigger releases appear. You claim them through the Prime Gaming website or the Amazon Games app, and they're yours to play as long as you keep your Prime membership.

When you sub to a channel with Prime Gaming, you unlock that channel's subscriber perks. Most streamers offer custom emotes, a sub-only chat mode option, and ad-free viewing. Some channels offer exclusive Discord roles, early access to streams, or other perks — it depends on what the streamer has set up.

You also get a Prime Gaming crown badge that appears next to your name in any chat, signaling to other viewers and the streamer that you're a Prime member.

How much streamers earn from Prime Gaming subs

Twitch takes a cut of all subscriptions before the streamer sees money. For Prime Gaming subs, streamers typically receive between $0.50 and $1.50 per sub, depending on their contract with Twitch and their region. This is significantly less than a paid $4.99 sub, where streamers might earn $2 to $2.50 after Twitch's cut.

Because of this lower payout, many streamers encourage viewers to use paid subs if they can afford them. However, Prime Gaming subs still count toward a streamer's total subscriber count, which affects their channel's visibility and their may be able to access for certain Twitch programs.

Streamers can see exactly how many Prime subs they have each month in their analytics dashboard. Some use this data to decide whether to push for more paid subscriptions or to accept Prime subs as part of their revenue mix.

Prime Gaming vs. paid subscription tiers

Twitch offers three paid subscription tiers: Tier 1 ($4.99), Tier 2 ($9.99), and Tier 3 ($24.99). Each tier gives the same perks — emotes, ad-free viewing, and channel-specific benefits — but higher tiers often come with more exclusive perks from the streamer. Streamers earn more from higher tiers, so many encourage viewers to sub at Tier 2 or 3 if they're able.

Prime Gaming is the entry point for viewers who don't want to spend money. It's a real subscription that counts on the channel, but it pays the streamer less. If you watch a channel regularly and want to support them more, upgrading to a paid tier is the most direct way to increase their earnings.

You can have both: use your Prime sub on one channel and pay for a sub on another. Some viewers use Prime on their favorite channel and paid subs on channels they want to support extra.

What happens if your Amazon Prime membership ends

If you cancel your Amazon Prime membership, your Prime Gaming subscription stops working immediately. Any channel you were subbed to with Prime Gaming will no longer show you as a subscriber, and you lose access to the free games library.

If you reactivate Prime later, your Prime Gaming status returns, but you'll need to manually resubscribe to channels. Your previous sub history remains on your account, but the active subscription ends when Prime ends.

If you let your Prime membership lapse but want to keep supporting a streamer, you can switch to a paid subscription tier on that channel. Paid subs don't depend on Prime membership and will continue as long as you keep paying.

Troubleshooting Prime Gaming issues

If you have Amazon Prime but don't see the Prime Gaming option when you try to subscribe, your accounts may not be linked. Go to your Twitch account settings, select "Connections," and make sure your Amazon account is linked. Sometimes it takes a few minutes for the connection to activate.

If your Prime sub isn't renewing, check that your Amazon Prime membership is still active. You can verify this on your Amazon account page. If Prime is active but the sub still isn't renewing, try unlinking and relinking your Amazon account in Twitch settings.

If you're seeing an error when trying to claim free games, make sure you're using the same Amazon account linked to your Twitch profile. Free games are claimed through the Prime Gaming website, not through Twitch directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Prime sub on multiple channels at once?

No. You get one free Prime sub per month, and it can only be active on one channel at a time. You can switch which channel receives it anytime, but only one channel gets the sub benefit each month.

Do I lose my Prime sub if I don't renew it manually?

No. Your Prime sub renews automatically each month on the same date, staying on the same channel unless you manually switch it. You only lose it if your Amazon Prime membership ends or if you actively cancel the subscription.

What if a streamer I'm subbed to gets banned or deletes their channel?

Your Prime sub ends immediately, and your monthly sub slot becomes available again. You can then use it to sub to a different channel. Any perks tied to that channel (emotes, roles, etc.) stop working.

Can I gift Prime subs to other people?

No. Prime Gaming subs are tied to your Amazon Prime membership and can't be gifted. Only paid subscription tiers can be gifted to other viewers.

Do I need Prime Gaming to watch streams or chat?

No. Prime Gaming is optional. You can watch and chat on any Twitch channel without it. Prime Gaming just gives you one free sub per month and access to the free games library.