The 5 Ways I Actually Make Money Clipping Streams (Real Numbers Inside)

Last month, I made $612 from posting stream clips.

That's not life-changing money. It won't replace a full-time job. But it's real money for doing something I was already doing for free—watching streams and sharing funny moments.

The best part? I spend maybe 10 hours a week on this. That's $15/hour for watching streams and posting clips. Not bad for a side hustle.

But here's the thing: when I started, I had no idea you could make money from this. I was just posting clips for fun. The money came later, almost by accident.

Now that I understand how it works, I want to share exactly how I make money from clips. Not vague advice or theoretical strategies—actual methods I use, with real numbers.

Method 1: Platform Monetization ($280/month)

This is the most straightforward way to make money: let the platforms pay you directly.

TikTok Creator Fund pays me about $180/month. The rate varies, but it's roughly $0.02-0.04 per 1,000 views. Last month I got 5.2 million views across all my clips, which translated to $180.

Is it a lot? No. But it's passive income. I post clips anyway. TikTok just pays me for it.

YouTube Shorts monetization pays about $100/month. YouTube's rates are slightly better than TikTok's, but I get fewer views there (about 1.8 million views last month).

The catch? You need to qualify for these programs first.

For TikTok Creator Fund, you need 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days. For YouTube Partner Program, you need 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views in 90 days.

Those numbers sound intimidating, but they're achievable if you post consistently. It took me about 6 weeks of daily posting to hit TikTok's threshold, and about 3 months for YouTube's.

Real talk: Platform monetization alone won't make you rich. But it's free money for content you're already creating. Take it.

Method 2: Affiliate Links ($120/month)

This one surprised me. I put affiliate links in my TikTok and YouTube bios, not expecting much. Turns out, people actually click them.

I promote three things:

Gaming gear - Headsets, mice, keyboards that streamers use. When viewers ask "what headset is that?" I link to it. Amazon Associates pays 3-4% commission. Last month: $45.

Streaming equipment - Microphones, cameras, capture cards. People watching stream clips are often interested in streaming themselves. Last month: $38.

The streamers' merch and links - Some streamers have affiliate programs. When I clip their content, I link to their store or their Amazon wishlist. They appreciate it, and I get a small commission. Last month: $37.

Total from affiliate links: $120.

The key is being genuine. I only link to products I actually think are good or that the streamer actually uses. People can tell when you're just spamming affiliate links for money.

Method 3: Direct Payments from Streamers ($150/month)

This one took me by surprise. After I posted several viral clips of a mid-tier streamer, he reached out and offered to pay me $50 per viral clip (defined as 500K+ views).

I thought he was joking. He wasn't.

His logic: my clips were bringing thousands of new viewers to his stream. That translated to more subs, more donations, more revenue for him. Paying me $50 per viral clip was a bargain compared to what he'd pay for traditional advertising.

I now have similar arrangements with three different streamers. The rates vary ($25-75 per viral clip), but it adds up.

Last month, I had six clips hit the viral threshold across these three streamers. That's $150 in direct payments.

Not every streamer will do this. Most won't. But if you're consistently posting clips of the same streamers and they're performing well, it's worth reaching out and asking if they'd be interested in a partnership.

Worst case, they say no. Best case, you have a new income stream.

Method 4: Sponsored Posts ($0-200/month)

This one is inconsistent, but when it hits, it's lucrative.

Occasionally, brands reach out and ask if I'll post a clip featuring their product or include their product in my bio for a week. The rates vary wildly—I've been offered anywhere from $50 to $300 for a single sponsored post.

Last month, I did two sponsored posts for a total of $62. One was for a gaming chair company ($50), one was for an energy drink ($12—yes, really).

I'm picky about sponsorships. I only accept offers for products I'd actually use or that make sense for my audience. I've turned down way more offers than I've accepted.

The key is having a decent following. Brands don't reach out until you have at least 15,000-20,000 followers. Before that, you're not on their radar.

Method 5: Selling Compilation Videos ($0-100/month)

This one is newer for me, and it's hit or miss.

Some streamers don't have time to create their own highlight reels or "best of" compilations. So I create them and offer to sell them.

I'll take all my clips of a specific streamer from the past month, edit them into a 5-10 minute compilation, and offer it to them for $50-100. They can use it for YouTube, for their Discord, for their social media—whatever they want.

Not every streamer is interested. But the ones who are will pay for it because it saves them hours of work.

Last month, I sold zero compilations. The month before, I sold two for $100 each. It's inconsistent, but when it works, it's easy money.

The Real Numbers

Let me break down last month's income:

TikTok Creator Fund: $180
YouTube Shorts: $100
Affiliate links: $120
Direct streamer payments: $150
Sponsored posts: $62
Compilation sales: $0

Total: $612

Is that a lot? Depends on your perspective.

For 10 hours of work per week (40 hours total for the month), that's $15.30/hour. Not bad for watching streams and posting clips.

But here's the thing: three months ago, I was making $0 from this. Six months ago, I didn't even know it was possible.

The income has grown every month as my following has grown. I expect to hit $800-1,000/month within the next few months.

Will it ever replace a full-time job? Probably not. But as a side hustle? It's pretty great.

What You Actually Need to Make Money

After doing this for six months, here's what I've learned you actually need:

Consistency matters more than quality. I post 3-5 clips per day, every day. Some are great, some are mediocre. But the algorithm rewards consistency. The more you post, the more chances you have for something to go viral.

You need volume to make platform monetization work. $180 from 5.2 million views means you need millions of views to make decent money. The only way to get millions of views is to post a lot of clips.

Relationships with streamers are valuable. The direct payments from streamers are my most reliable income source. Building those relationships takes time, but it's worth it.

Don't expect to make money immediately. It took me two months of daily posting before I made my first dollar. Most people quit before they get there.

The money follows the audience. Focus on growing your following first. The monetization opportunities come naturally once you have an audience.

The Uncomfortable Truth

Most people who try to make money from clips will make $0.

Not because it's impossible, but because they'll quit before they see results.

They'll post for two weeks, make no money, and give up. Or they'll get 50,000 views on a clip, see that it only paid them $2, and decide it's not worth it.

The people who make money are the ones who stick with it long enough to build an audience and qualify for monetization programs.

It's not a get-rich-quick scheme. It's a slow build. But if you're patient and consistent, it works.

Should You Try to Make Money From Clips?

Here's my advice: don't start clipping to make money. Start clipping because you enjoy it.

If you're only doing this for money, you'll burn out before you make a dollar. The first few months are a grind—lots of work, no money, slow growth.

But if you genuinely enjoy watching streams and sharing funny moments, the money becomes a nice bonus. You're doing it anyway. You might as well get paid for it.

That's how it worked for me. I was clipping streams for fun. The money came later, almost as an afterthought.

Now it's a legitimate side hustle that pays for my car insurance, groceries, and the occasional night out. Not life-changing, but definitely life-improving.

And it all started with just posting clips for fun.

If you're thinking about trying this, my advice is simple: start posting clips. Don't worry about money yet. Just focus on creating content and building an audience.

The money will come. But only if you stick with it long enough to see it through.