Twitch badges are the little icons that carry big weight in Twitch communities to show who’s supporting a streamer, who’s moderating chat, or who’s earned recognition directly from Twitch itself.
These badges can represent loyalty, such as a subscriber badge that changes over time, or exclusivity, like the coveted Founders badge reserved for the very first supporters of a channel.
Some badges highlight authority, like moderator or broadcaster icons, while others celebrate contributions, such as artist or sub-gifter badges. Twitch even awards official recognition with badges like Verified, Partner, and Ambassador, which carry special weight across the entire platform.
For new viewers like me, understanding what each badge means makes Twitch chat less confusing and more fun. Here, I will about all the different Twitch badges, what they stand for, and how you can earn them.
What are Twitch Chat Badges?
Chat badges are small icons appearing alongside a user’s name in the Twitch to indicate things like role (e.g. moderator, staff), relationship to a channel (subscriber, VIP), or special achievements (bits donated, event participation).
Some badges are global (same everywhere), others are specific to a channel. Badges help with:
- Quickly identifying who’s who (mods vs regulars vs broadcaster)
- Recognizing support (subscription length, bits, gifting, etc.)
- Encouraging community engagement and loyalty
- Differentiating viewers (for fun, prestige, or rewards)
Main Categories of Twitch Badges
1. User-Role & Staff Badges
Some badges overlap categories; e.g. some event badges are also global, some support badges are channel-specific.
| Badge | Appearance / Icon | Meaning & How to Earn / Who Has It |
|---|---|---|
| Twitch Staff | Wrench icon (black/white depending on theme) | Official Twitch employees. These are staff who work for Twitch; not something users “earn.” |
| Twitch Admin / Global Moderator | Different icon (often yellow badge / admin mark) | Paid Twitch admin or global moderator. Their job includes reviewing reports, enforcing ToS. Not channel-level, but platform-level. |
| Broadcaster | A red broadcaster icon (camera or red badge) next to the channel owner / streamer themselves | The person who owns and runs the channel. Automatically granted when streaming / chatting in their own channel. |
| Moderator | Green sword / shield depending on theme | Appointed by broadcaster to moderate chat: deleting messages, timing out users, enforcing rules. Channel-specific. |
| Verified | Purple checkmark (octagon) icon | Given to channels / creators verified by Twitch (often Partners). A sign of legitimacy. You must qualify via Twitch’s criteria (e.g. partner status). |
| VIP | Diamond / different shape depending on theme | A special status granted by the broadcaster to loyal / regular / trusted community members. VIPs have privileges (e.g. bypass slow mode etc.) but no full moderation power. |
| Twitch Ambassador | A colorful globe-style icon (varies by year) | Twitch Ambassadors are selected by Twitch to represent the community’s diversity, positivity, and impact. They’re role models and are showcased during Twitch events. |
| DJ Badge | Headphones or turntable-styled icon | This badge is granted to DJs on Twitch who are recognized for their music-driven streams. It helps viewers identify official DJ content, especially as Twitch expanded its music streaming policies. |
| Chat Bot Badge | A robot-themed icon | Some automated bots (like Nightbot, Moobot, StreamElements bots) display a Chat Bot badge to clearly identify that the account is not a human but an automated moderator or helper in chat. |
| Artist Badge | Paintbrush / palette-styled icon | Streamers can grant this badge to users who have contributed original channel artwork (like emotes, badges, overlays). It’s a way to publicly recognize creative contributors. |
2. Subscription & Loyalty Badges
These badges show your financial or time commitment to a broadcaster or to Twitch via special services.
| Badge | How It Works / Appearance | Requirements / Details |
|---|---|---|
| Founders Badge | A special badge (often labeled “Founder”) | For the first ten paid or Prime subscribers of an Affiliate channel, or first 25 for a Partner channel. It’s permanent. |
| Twitch Turbo | A global badge (purple chat bubble / etc.) | For users who subscribe to Twitch Turbo (a now older premium service). Benefits include ad-free viewing, expanded chat options. Not all new users can subscribe to Turbo (depends on region). |
| Prime Gaming Badge | Crown icon or similar | Linked to Amazon Prime / Prime Gaming. Users who link Prime get extra perks, including a free monthly subscription, and display this badge. |
3. Support / Contribution Badges
These badges show how much you’ve supported a streamer via bits, gifts, or other contributions.
| Badge Type | What It Means | Typical Tiers / How Badges Grow |
|---|---|---|
| Cheer (Bits) Badges | Shows how many bits (Twitch’s currency for cheering) you’ve donated in a channel or globally. | There are numerous thresholds: 1 bit, 100 bits, 1,000 bits, 5,000, 10,000, 25,000, etc. The more you cheer, the higher tier you reach. |
| Sub Gifter Badges | For users who gift subscriptions to other viewers. | As you gift more subs (e.g. 1 gift, 5 gifts, 25, etc.), you’ll get higher tiers of sub-gifter badge. These badges are channel-specific and sometimes time-limited. |
| Top Gifter / Top Cheerer Leaderboard Badges | If you are among the top gifters or top cheerers in a channel within a timeframe, you may display special leaderboard badges. | Some channels enable leaderboards; being in top 3, etc., can give you visible distinction. These badges may change if you drop off the leaderboard. |
4. Global & Event Badges
These badges are related to Twitch-wide events, promotions, game launches, seasonal celebrations, etc. Many viewers do not realize how many of these badges exist or how transient some are.
| Badge Name | How to Get It / Use Case |
|---|---|
| Bits Leader Badges | Global recognition for being a top cheerer in a channel |
| Clips Leader Badges | Being one of the top creators of clips in a channel or event |
| Hype Train Conductor | If you contribute heavily during a Hype Train event, you may get “Current Hype Train Conductor” badge; there may also be “Former Hype Train Conductor.” |
| Global Event Badges | Twitch often issues badges for participating in events: game launches, TwitchCon, SUBtember, etc. |
| Watching Without Video / Without Audio | Badges that show you’re watching a stream but with the video or audio off |
How to Earn or Unlock Each Badge?
Here’s how to go about gaining various badges. For viewers, streamers, or community members, this helps clarify what to do.
- Becoming Partner or Affiliate: To get Verified, Affiliate, or Partner badges or status, you need to meet Twitch’s criteria (streaming hours, follower counts, average viewers, etc.).
- Becoming Founders: Be among the first subscribers (Prime or paid) when someone becomes Affiliate or Partner. Early support matters.
- Sub loyalty: Continue subscribing month after month to maintain and upgrade sub badges.
- Cheering / Bits: Purchase bits and use them in chat; higher total amounts unlock higher-tier bits badges.
- Gifting subs: Gift subscription(s) to others in the channel; accumulating gifts raises your sub-gifter badge.
- Leaderboards: Follow channel settings; being active in clip creation, cheering, gifting during special events helps.
- Event badges: Subscribe or participate during special Twitch events, game launch periods, or promotional timeframes. These are usually announced by Twitch.
Why Badges Matter (for Viewers & Streamers)
Badges may seem superficial, but they play important roles in the Twitch ecosystem.
- Event Participation Tracking: Event badges let you show off that you took part in certain moments – TwitchCon, launches, global events, seasonal promos.
- Recognition & Status: For viewers, badges are small prestige items. Having a rare or event badge shows early or special participation.
- Encouragement & Incentive: Streamers can motivate viewers to subscribe, gift subs, cheer, etc., by giving badges as rewards. Loyalty badges help retain viewers.
- Identity & Community: Badges help build sub-communities. Viewers with Founders badges, VIPs, etc., often feel more attached and more visible. Streamers can promote more cohesion.
- Moderation & Trust Signals: Role badges (mods, staff, broadcaster) help maintain trust, people know who has authority.
Common Misconceptions & Mistakes
Here are a few things people often get wrong about Twitch badges:
- Badges don’t always stay forever: Some event badges are temporary; sub-gifter badges might disappear after a while or if conditions change.
- Not everyone can access all badges: Some regions have restrictions; not all streamers are Affiliates/Partners so Founders badge might not be obtainable.
- Badges are channel- or global-dependent: A sub badge is specific to a channel, a global badge shows everywhere. Don’t confuse channel loyalty with platform achievements.
- Cheer / bits badges vs emotes: Bits are a separate system; badges for cheering are different from emote rewards.
- Event badges often need action: Just being present usually isn’t enough: you may need to stream, sub, cheer, gift, or share clips depending on the event.
Conclusion
Badges on Twitch are small, but they carry meaning. They tell stories, about who you are in a stream, how long you’ve supported someone, whether you took part in milestone events, or even simply whether you’re staff. For streamers, these’re tools to engage, reward, and build loyalty; for viewers, they’re tokens of identity and achievement.
If you’re a viewer, try to participate: cheer, gift, subscribe, take part in events. If you’re a streamer, use badges thoughtfully: custom designs, loyalty badges, and special event badges can deepen community bonds.
Twitch badges may not change your gameplay, but they shape the culture. Knowing what each badge means gives you a deeper understanding of Twitch and gives you the chance to collect worthy ones yourself.
People Also Ask About Twitch Badges
What’s the difference between channel badges and global badges?
Channel badges (like subscriber / sub loyalty badges, Founders, and sub-gifter badges) are specific to each channel. Global badges are visible everywhere on Twitch (e.g. staff, event badges, bits badges, watching without video/audio).
How often does Twitch add new event badges?
Quite often. Twitch runs seasonal promotions (like SUBtember), game launch events, special holiday or global events, or community initiatives. Many badges are introduced annually or tied to a specific campaign.
How many sub badges are there on Twitch?
Twitch allows streamers to set up to six subscription loyalty badge designs by default (1, 2, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months). Partners can unlock additional slots for longer-term subs.
How many founder badges are on Twitch?
Affiliate channels have 10 Founder badges, while Partner channels have 25 Founder badges. Once those slots are filled, no new Founder badges are created.
How to get badges on Twitch?
Badges can be earned in different ways: subscribing to channels, gifting subs, cheering with Bits, becoming a VIP, or being recognized by Twitch (e.g., Verified, Ambassador).
Are Twitch badges visible outside chat?
Yes. Some badges (like Verified, Partner, or Broadcaster) also appear on profile pages, whispers, and user lists. Others, like sub badges, are chat-only.
Do Twitch badges differ by region or language?
The core badge system is global, but event badges (like local esports tournaments or promotions) may vary by region, so some viewers will see badges unavailable elsewhere.
