How to Show Venmo Donations on Kick (2026)
The complete guide to displaying Venmo donation alerts on your Kick stream. Zero fees, 90M+ US users, and a 5-minute setup with Stream Alert.
To show Venmo donations on your Kick stream, use Stream Alert — the only alert platform that automatically detects Venmo payments through Gmail monitoring and triggers real-time OBS alerts. Kick lacks a native tipping system, which makes Venmo (with 0% person-to-person fees and 90M+ US users) an essential monetization tool for every Kick creator.
Whether you're brand new to Kick or migrating from Twitch, this guide walks you through everything — from connecting Venmo to customizing on-screen alerts and promoting your tip link to viewers. You'll be up and running in under five minutes.
TL;DR
- Kick has no built-in tipping: No Bits, no Super Chat, no native donation system
- Venmo = 0% fees: Person-to-person payments are completely free — you keep 100%
- 90M+ US users: Your viewers almost certainly already have Venmo on their phone
- Stream Alert auto-detects donations: Monitors your Gmail for Venmo payment emails and triggers OBS alerts in 5–10 seconds
- Pair with Kick's 95/5 split: Use Venmo tips for instant income alongside Kick subscriptions for recurring revenue
- 5-minute setup: Register, connect Gmail, add your @username, paste the overlay URL into OBS, done
Why Venmo Works Great for Kick Streamers
Kick is one of the fastest-growing streaming platforms in 2026, known for its 95/5 subscription revenue split and creator-first approach. But there's a glaring gap: Kick does not offer any native tipping or micro-donation feature. Unlike Twitch — which has Bits, Hype Trains, and channel point redemptions — Kick leaves direct viewer-to-streamer payments entirely to external tools.
That's where Venmo comes in. With more than 90 million active users in the United States, Venmo is the most widely used peer-to-peer payment app among the 18–34 age demographic — exactly the audience that dominates Kick's viewer base. Here's why Venmo is such a strong fit for Kick streamers:
Zero Fees
Venmo charges 0% for person-to-person payments funded from a bank account, debit card, or Venmo balance. A $10 tip means you receive $10 — not $9.41 like PayPal.
Massive User Base
90M+ US users means most of your American viewers already have the app installed. No friction, no account creation, no forms to fill out.
Social Payment Feed
Venmo's public social feed shows transactions to friends by default. When viewers see others tipping you, it creates social proof that encourages more donations.
Instant & Mobile-First
Viewers can send a tip in three taps without ever leaving the Kick app on their phone. Money appears in your Venmo balance immediately.
No Chargebacks
Unlike PayPal, Venmo person-to-person payments cannot be charged back by the sender. Once a viewer sends you a tip, it's yours. This eliminates the chargeback scam risk that has plagued streamers using PayPal for years.
Setting Up Venmo Alerts on Kick
The challenge with Venmo is that it has no public API and no official integration with any streaming software. StreamLabs doesn't support Venmo. StreamElements doesn't support Venmo. But Stream Alert solves this by monitoring your Gmail for Venmo payment notification emails and converting them into real-time OBS alerts.
Step-by-Step Setup
- Make sure Venmo email notifications are turned on
Open the Venmo app → Menu → Settings → Notifications → ensure “Payments to You” under Email is enabled. The email address on your Venmo account should be the same Gmail you'll connect in the next step.
- Register at streamalert.gg/register
Create your account in under 60 seconds. Stream Alert offers a 30-day free trial with no credit card required.
- Connect your Gmail account
In the Stream Alert dashboard, click “Connect Gmail” and authorize via secure OAuth 2.0. Stream Alert only reads payment notification emails from Venmo, CashApp, and PayPal — it never accesses personal emails, passwords, or other data.
- Add your Venmo @username
Go to Payment Settings and enter your Venmo handle (e.g., @YourUsername). This is the handle you'll share with viewers so they know where to send tips.
- Customize your alert overlay
Choose from pre-built alert templates or create a custom design. Configure alert duration, sounds, text-to-speech, animations, tip tiers, and minimum amounts to match your brand.
- Add the Browser Source to OBS
Copy your unique overlay URL from the Stream Alert dashboard. In OBS: Sources → Add (+) → Browser → paste the URL → set Width: 1920, Height: 1080 → OK.
- Configure OBS to stream to Kick
In OBS: Settings → Stream → Service: Custom → paste Kick's RTMP URL and your stream key from the Kick dashboard. Click “Start Streaming.”
- Test with a real Venmo payment
Ask a friend to send you a $1 Venmo payment. Within 5–10 seconds, the alert should appear on your OBS preview. Verify the donor name, amount, and message all display correctly.
Pro Tip: Use the Same Gmail
The single most common setup issue is connecting a different Gmail account than the one that receives your Venmo notifications. Double-check that the email on your Venmo account matches the Gmail you connect to Stream Alert. If you use a non-Gmail address for Venmo, update it to your Gmail first in Venmo → Settings → Email.
Venmo Tips vs Kick Subscriptions
Kick's 95/5 subscription split is the best in the industry — but subs and tips serve different purposes. Here's how they compare side by side:
| Feature | Venmo Tips | Kick Subscriptions |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 0% | 5% (Kick's cut) |
| You Keep (on $5) | $5.00 | $4.74 |
| Recurring Revenue | No (one-time) | Yes (monthly) |
| Requires Partnership | No | Yes |
| Viewer Needs Kick Account | No | Yes |
| Variable Amounts | Any amount | Fixed $4.99 |
| On-Screen Alerts | Stream Alert (auto) | Kick native |
| Available From Day 1 | Yes | No |
| Chargebacks | None | None |
Best Strategy: Run Both
Venmo tips and Kick subs are not competing revenue streams — they're complementary. Encourage subs for recurring monthly support and Venmo tips for one-time donations, hype moments, and tip goals. Viewers who aren't ready to commit to a monthly sub will often send a one-time Venmo tip instead. And since Venmo works for non-Kick-account viewers, you capture an audience that subs simply can't reach.
Promoting Venmo on Kick
Setting up the alert system is only half the equation. You also need to make sure your viewers know they can tip you via Venmo and how to do it. Here are four proven strategies:
1. Add Venmo to Your Kick Bio
Kick allows you to customize your channel's bio section (similar to Twitch panels). Add your Venmo @username prominently with a brief note like “Tips appear on stream with alerts! Send any amount to @YourVenmo.” Include your CashApp $cashtag and PayPal.me link too for maximum coverage.
2. Set Up Chat Commands
Use Botrix (Kick's most popular chatbot) to create commands like !venmo, !tip, and !donate that auto-reply with your payment info. When a viewer asks how to donate, you or a mod just types the command. Example response: “Send tips to @YourVenmo on Venmo — 0% fees and alerts appear on stream!”
3. Mention Venmo Verbally During Stream
The single most effective way to increase tips is to verbally mention it during natural moments — at the start of stream, during hype moments, or when someone asks. A quick “If you're enjoying the stream, my Venmo is at-YourUsername — every tip gets an on-screen alert!” goes a long way. Don't overdo it; once every 30–45 minutes is plenty.
4. Run Tip Goals & Challenges
Kick viewers respond well to interactive incentives. Set up tip goals like “$50 Venmo tip goal = 24-hour stream” or “Every $10 Venmo tip = a spin on the wheel.” Stream Alert supports real-time tip goal overlays that update automatically as donations come in, adding a visual progress bar to your stream.
Leverage Venmo's Social Feed
Venmo transactions are visible on the sender's social feed by default. When a viewer tips you, their friends may see it — creating organic exposure for your Kick channel. Encourage donors to add a fun message or emoji with their payment. However, always respect viewers who choose to keep their transactions private.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kick have a built-in way to accept Venmo donations?
No. Kick has no native tipping, donation, or virtual currency system. The only built-in monetization is subscriptions (which require partnership). To accept Venmo donations on Kick, you need an external tool like Stream Alert that detects payments and triggers OBS alerts.
Do StreamLabs or StreamElements support Venmo alerts on Kick?
No. Neither StreamLabs nor StreamElements supports Venmo in any capacity. Both platforms are limited to PayPal-based donations. Stream Alert is currently the only alert platform that automatically detects Venmo payments and converts them into on-screen alerts for your Kick stream.
Are there any fees when viewers tip me via Venmo?
Venmo charges 0% fees for person-to-person payments funded from a bank account, debit card, or Venmo balance. If a viewer pays with a credit card, Venmo charges them a 3% fee — but you still receive the full amount. There are no receiving fees, no platform cuts, and no hidden charges. A $10 tip means $10 in your Venmo balance.
How fast do Venmo alerts appear on my Kick stream?
Stream Alert detects Venmo payments within 5–10 seconds of the transaction. The process works like this: viewer sends payment → Venmo sends you an email → Stream Alert reads the email via Gmail API → alert fires on your OBS overlay. The entire chain typically completes in under 10 seconds.
Will my Venmo alert setup work if I switch from Kick to Twitch or YouTube?
Yes. Since the alerts run through an OBS Browser Source (not through Kick's platform), the same setup works identically on Kick, Twitch, YouTube, TikTok Live, Facebook Gaming, or any platform you stream to via OBS. You don't need to reconfigure anything — just change where OBS sends your stream.
Start Showing Venmo Donations on Kick Today
Kick doesn't have built-in tipping — but with Stream Alert and Venmo, you don't need it. Set up in 5 minutes, keep 100% of every tip, and give your viewers the payment method they already use every day.
Try Stream Alert free for 30 days →