Super Chat
Boost engagement and revenue with YouTube's premium chat features
Super Chat is more than a donation button — it's a tool to reward loyal fans, build community interaction, and boost stream revenue in real time.
If you're a monetized YouTube channel (Partner Program approved), it's time to unlock the full potential of Super Chat.
📌 What is Super Chat?
Super Chat is a paid feature that lets viewers highlight their messages in the live chat during a YouTube stream.
The higher the payment, the more visibility the message gets (color-coded, pinned, longer duration on screen).
| Super Chat Example | Result |
|---|---|
| Viewer donates $10 | Message appears in blue and stays visible for ~1 minute |
🧾 Requirements to Use Super Chat
- You must be in the YouTube Partner Program
- You must be 18+ years old
- Channel must be monetized
- You must be in a country where Super Chat is supported
- You must enable Super Chat in monetization settings
⚙️ How to Enable Super Chat
- Go to YouTube Studio
- Click Monetization → Supers
- Enable Super Chat and Super Stickers
- Customize optional chat moderation and blocked terms
🎯 Advanced Super Chat Strategy
🔥 1. Incentivize Super Chats
| Method | Example |
|---|---|
| Q&A Priority | "I'll answer Super Chat questions first" |
| On-Screen Alert Integration | Use OBS or StreamElements to show dynamic donation alerts |
| Game Actions / Challenges | "$10 = I drop all loot and start over!" |
| Shout-Outs | Custom thank-you + channel mention |
🔧 2. Use OBS Alerts for Super Chats
- Use tools like StreamElements, Streamlabs, or OBS.Live
- Add a browser source with a Super Chat alert widget
- Customize animations, sounds, and overlays per donation tier
💬 3. Pin Important Viewer Messages
- YouTube automatically pins high-tier Super Chats
- You can manually pin standout messages to drive more interactions
📈 How Super Chat Affects Revenue
| Super Chat Amount | YouTube Cut | Streamer Receives |
|---|---|---|
| $5.00 | ~30% | ~$3.50 |
| $20.00 | ~30% | ~$14.00 |
| $100.00 | ~30% | ~$70.00 |
🧠 Tip: Encourage lower but frequent donations to maintain chat flow while still monetizing.
📊 Super Chat Analytics (Post-Stream)
Go to: YouTube Studio → Analytics → Revenue → Super Chat
Metrics to track:
- Total earned per stream
- Most active donors
- Peak engagement moments
- Conversion % from viewers to donors
🧠 Use this data to tailor future call-to-actions or segments that inspire giving.
💡 Pro Tips for Advanced Streamers
- Create a loyalty board or on-stream overlay showing top Super Chatters
- Offer exclusive Discord roles or perks for donors
- Use Super Thanks on VODs as a follow-up monetization funnel
- Consider reading Super Chats in character or voice changer for fun