Twitch Turbo is a paid subscription that removes ads and adds a few extra features, but it does not give you channel points or support streamers directly

Twitch Turbo costs $8.99 per month and removes video ads from the streams you watch. It also gives you a custom chat badge, the ability to upload custom emotes, and ad-free VOD (video on demand) viewing. Turbo does not give you channel points, does not count as a subscription to any individual streamer's channel, and does not send money to the streamers whose content you watch — it is a platform-wide feature you buy from Twitch itself.

If you want to support a specific streamer, you need a separate channel subscription (Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3) to that channel. Those subscriptions do send money to the streamer. Turbo is separate from that system entirely.

Key Takeaways

  • Turbo removes ads across all streams you watch and costs $8.99 per month, paid to Twitch, not to individual streamers.
  • Turbo does not replace channel subscriptions — if you want to support a specific streamer, you still need to subscribe to their channel separately.
  • You get a custom chat badge and the ability to upload custom emotes with Turbo, but you do not earn channel points from watching ads-free.
  • If you cancel Turbo, ads return immediately and your custom emotes stop working, though your chat badge history remains visible.

What Turbo includes and what it does not

Turbo removes pre-roll ads (the ads that play before a stream starts) and mid-roll ads (ads that play during a stream). It also removes ads from VODs and clips. You will still see ads in the Twitch directory and on channel pages, but the video player itself stays ad-free.

The custom chat badge appears next to your username in chat on any channel. The custom emote upload means you can add emotes to your account that only you can use in chat — they do not appear for other viewers. These features are cosmetic and do not affect gameplay or viewing experience beyond appearance.

Turbo does not give you channel points, does not unlock exclusive streams, and does not give you priority in chat or moderation tools. It is purely an ad removal service with cosmetic additions.

How Turbo differs from channel subscriptions

A channel subscription is a separate purchase you make to a specific streamer's channel. Tier 1 subscriptions usually cost $4.99 per month, Tier 2 costs $9.99, and Tier 3 costs $24.99. Twitch takes a cut and the rest goes to the streamer. Channel subscriptions give you that channel's emotes, a channel-specific badge, and sometimes access to exclusive Discord servers or other perks the streamer sets up.

Turbo is not a channel subscription. Your Turbo payment goes to Twitch, not to any streamer. You can have Turbo and no channel subscriptions, or channel subscriptions and no Turbo, or both. Many viewers do both — they use Turbo for ad-free viewing across all channels and then subscribe to specific streamers they want to support.

Billing and cancellation

Turbo renews automatically each month on the date you purchased it. You can cancel at any time through your account settings under "Subscriptions." Cancellation takes effect immediately — you will see ads again on your next stream view. Your custom chat badge will still appear in chat history, but you will not be able to use it in new messages.

If you cancel and then resubscribe later, you start fresh — there is no discount for returning subscribers and no way to pause the subscription temporarily.

Regional pricing and payment methods

The $8.99 price applies in the United States. Pricing varies by country and currency. You can pay with a credit card, debit card, or PayPal account linked to your Twitch account. Twitch does not offer gift codes for Turbo the way it does for channel subscriptions.

If you are using a Twitch account in a region where Turbo is not available, the option will not appear in your account settings. Turbo availability varies by country.

What happens to your account features when you cancel

When your Turbo subscription ends, ads return to all streams and VODs. Your custom chat badge stops working in new messages but remains visible in your chat history. Any custom emotes you uploaded stay in your account, but you cannot use them in chat until you resubscribe to Turbo.

Cancelling Turbo does not affect any channel subscriptions you have. If you are subscribed to a streamer's channel, that subscription continues independently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Turbo give money to the streamers I watch?

No. Turbo is a Twitch platform subscription. The $8.99 goes to Twitch, not to individual streamers. If you want to send money to a specific streamer, you need to subscribe to their channel separately.

Can I use Turbo on multiple devices?

Yes. Your Turbo subscription is tied to your Twitch account, so you get ad-free viewing on any device where you are logged in. You do not need separate subscriptions for phone, tablet, or computer.

What if I already have a channel subscription — do I still need Turbo?

No. A channel subscription and Turbo serve different purposes. A channel subscription supports that specific streamer and gives you their emotes and badge. Turbo removes ads across all channels. You can have one, both, or neither depending on what you want.

Do I earn channel points while watching with Turbo?

No. Channel points are earned by watching streams and participating in chat, regardless of whether you have Turbo. Turbo does not change how channel points work.