The Reality of VTuber Earnings (Income)

VTubers are on the verge of being established as a recognized profession in the near future.

While VTubers captivate many viewers, you might be curious about how they actually earn their income.

In this article, we will introduce how VTubers monetize their content and share tips on how they generate revenue.

Six Main Revenue Streams for VTubers

Japanese VTubers primarily generate income through the following six methods:

• Revenue from streaming activities
• Revenue from donations
• Revenue from memberships
• Revenue from promotional projects
• Revenue from event appearances
• Revenue from selling original merchandise

We will now explain these six methods in detail.

Revenue from Streaming Activities on Platforms like YouTube

This is one of the major sources of income for VTubers. By inserting advertisements into videos posted on YouTube, they can earn revenue based on the number of times and the duration the ads are viewed.

On YouTube, the conditions for generating ad revenue require having more than 1,000 subscribers and a total watch time of over 4,000 hours. Although the number of ads inserted in videos or archives can cause variations, the general unit price for ad revenue is said to be approximately 0.05 to 0.7 Japanese yen per view.

Revenue from Super Chats and Other Tipping

Super Chats are a feature that allows viewers to send tips along with comments during live streams, and they are an important source of income for VTubers.

YouTube deducts 30% as a fee, so VTubers can earn up to 70% of the amount as profit.

However, since Super Chat income depends on the popularity of the stream and the mood of the viewers, it cannot be considered a stable source of income.

As of August 2023, the conditions for receiving Super Chats are set at “having over 500 channel subscribers and a total video watch time of over 3,000 hours.” These conditions are lower than those for advertising revenue, making it more realistic to earn through this method.

Revenue from Memberships

Memberships refer to a monthly subscription-based paid service, which can be simply described as a fan club.

They can be launched under the same conditions as the Japanese Super Chat feature. By using this function, creators can offer videos exclusively viewable by subscribed members and provide perks such as special emojis.

The monthly fee is generally set between 500 to 3,000 Japanese yen, making it a significant source of income for popular VTubers.

Revenue from PR Projects

PR projects are not opportunities that just anyone can undertake.

As a VTuber gains popularity, they start receiving collaboration requests from companies and opportunities to promote products.

The compensation for corporate projects varies significantly based on popularity and the scale of the project, typically ranging from several hundred thousand yen to several million yen.

Therefore, VTubers who wish to earn through these projects need to focus on building their influence as talents and attracting a large number of listeners and fans.

Revenue from Event Appearances

When a VTuber receives a request to appear at an event, they can earn a fee from the requester as compensation for their appearance.

Events can range from talk events to live events, and the appearance fee varies depending on the event.

However, unlike YouTubers who appear in person, it is quite challenging for VTubers to participate in real-world events. Therefore, similar to PR projects, not everyone can take on this type of work.

Revenue from Original Merchandise Sales

Many VTubers sell merchandise featuring their own personalitys.

Since VTubers have avatars, it is relatively easy to create merchandise using illustrations. Items such as T-shirts, acrylic stands, and smartphone cases are particularly popular.

However, creating such physical merchandise requires an initial investment, so it is generally pursued after gaining a certain level of popularity.

In contrast, selling voice merchandise (digital goods), such as recordings tailored to specific situations or themed around different seasons, can be done with relatively low production costs and time.

Merchandise from popular VTubers sells well even at high prices, becoming a significant source of income.

Tips for Earning Revenue as a VTuber

In recent years, the number of VTubers has increased, raising the bar for earning revenue in this field.

To earn revenue seriously as a VTuber, it is essential to keep the following tips in mind.

Engage as a V-Liver

The first tip for earning revenue as a VTuber is to engage on streaming platforms other than YouTube.

While it may sound contradictory, the term VTuber is an abbreviation for Virtual YouTuber, referring to YouTubers who use avatars.

Therefore, the activities of VTubers and V-Livers are essentially the same, with the only difference being whether the streaming platform is YouTube or not.

VTubers who want to generate revenue quickly might start on platforms like Twitch or streaming apps, which have more lenient monetization conditions than YouTube, and then transition to YouTube once they gain popularity to expedite monetization.

Increase Visibility on Social Media

In today’s smartphone-driven world, marketing through social media is essential for VTubers.

By creating accounts on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, and Blue Sky, and engaging in branding-focused posts, as well as announcing the start and end of streams and interacting with followers, VTubers can significantly increase the number of fans who come to watch their streams.

While it is crucial to put all your effort into video uploads and live streaming, no matter how good the content is, it is meaningless if no one watches it.

When you feel you have delivered an outstanding stream, make sure to leverage social media to reach a wider audience.

Increase Streaming Frequency

It goes without saying that increasing the frequency and duration of streams is necessary for monetization.

Fewer streams mean fewer opportunities to catch the attention of listeners.

If you aim for monetization, it is recommended to stream at least twice a week, with each session lasting at least two hours.

Some VTubers affiliated with agencies stream 7 to 10 hours daily or stream three times a day—morning, afternoon, and evening.

Even VTubers who have already gained popularity stream this much, so those looking to grow their fan base further need to focus on increasing their streaming frequency.

Summary: The Reality of VTuber Activities, the Monetization Barrier, and the Path to a Stable Income

The more popular you become, the more opportunities you have to earn income, and you can make a significant amount in one go. However, when starting out, it is quite challenging for VTubers to generate revenue.

Additionally, it is difficult to gain a certain number of supportive fans, and even after gaining fans, you must continuously deliver videos that capture people’s interest and remain sensitive to the needs of your audience.

As mentioned above, stabilizing income is by no means easy, so it is essential to have clear goals and persistently continue your activities.