Monetisation & Revenue
Tipping
Also called: tips, tip jar, donations
On YouTube the built-in versions are Super Chat and Super Stickers during a live stream and Super Thanks on an ordinary video, all of which take a platform cut and need Partner Programme access at the fan-funding tier. Off platform, creators use Ko-fi, Buy Me a Coffee, PayPal and similar.
Memberships are the thing to distinguish it from. A tip is a single payment for something already given, so it spikes around a moment: a good stream, a hard story, a piece of advice that landed. A membership recurs and buys ongoing perks. Tipping income is real and can be substantial on a live channel, but it arrives in lumps, so treat it as thanks rather than a line you can forecast.