YouTube Gaming Creators Command 23% Higher Deal Rates Than Twitch Streamers, Data Shows

According to data from Collabstr, YouTube gaming creators command an average of 23% higher deal rates than Twitch streamers. Kyle Dulay, co-founder of Collabstr, noted that while live viewership often makes Twitch the reflex response for gaming marketers, viewership does not equal a rate card. By analyzing completed and paid transactions within the gaming category from 2023 through July 2026, researchers found that YouTube gaming creators transacted at an average of $203.35 per deal, compared to $165.70 for Twitch gaming creators.

The dataset also revealed differences in market stability and pricing trends. YouTube gaming demonstrated consistent benchmark pricing across multiple quarters, supported by a creator supply that outpaced Twitch by approximately 15.5 to 1 across all niches. In contrast, Twitch's smaller creator supply corresponded to greater price variations between quarters. Transacted prices per collaboration on Twitch fluctuated from an average of $87.50 in the fourth quarter of 2023 to a peak of $244.23 in the fourth quarter of 2025, before stabilizing at $215.50 in the first quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, YouTube gaming reached a deal ceiling of $304.17 per collaboration in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Market reports further illustrate shifting creator economics and platform metrics. According to Collabstr's 2026 Influencer Marketing Report, Twitch creators listed an average asking price of $398 and realized $127 (a 32% capture rate), whereas YouTube creators asked $311 and realized $255 (an 82% capture rate). Additionally, third-party findings from Stream Hatchet's 2025 annual report showed that Twitch's market share declined by 8.3% over the year, while YouTube Gaming reached a record 8.8 billion watch hours, representing a 12% increase. Brand demand is also adapting, with gaming campaigns increasingly incorporating short-form content alongside traditional integrations like mid-roll shoutouts and stream overlays.