📘 Subathon guide

What is a subathon?

A subathon is a live stream that keeps going as long as a countdown timer is running — and every subscription, cheer or donation adds time to that clock. Here is how it works, how much time to give per event, and how to run one on your own channel.

Free — no subscription, no commission on your subs or donations.

How a subathon works

The principle is simple: you start with a countdown — 24 hours, for example — and you stay live until it reaches zero. Each time a viewer subscribes, gifts a sub, cheers with bits or sends a donation, the timer gets longer. The stream lasts exactly as long as your community decides.

The name comes from "subscription marathon". The format took off on Twitch, then spread to YouTube and Kick, because it turns support into something everyone can see in real time: one sub, and the whole chat watches the clock jump.

How much time per sub, bit or donation?

That is your rate card, and it is the single most important setting of a subathon. Too generous and the stream never ends; too strict and the community loses interest. A widely used starting point looks like this:

Tier 1 sub — 5 minutes
Tier 2 sub — 10 minutes
Tier 3 sub — 25 minutes
100 bits — 1 minute
1 € / $1 donated — 1 minute

Adjust to the size of your channel: 30 viewers and 3,000 viewers cannot use the same numbers. The safest method is to start low — you can always raise the rate mid-stream, whereas lowering it feels like a punishment.

The rules to set before you go live

Decide in advance how far the timer can grow. Many streamers set a cap — 100 hours maximum, for instance — so the subathon does not become impossible to finish. Announce it clearly: a cap that appears halfway through is always badly received.

Plan your sleep too. Some streamers pause the timer while they sleep, others keep it running with a sleeping camera; both are accepted as long as the rule is announced from the start. Finally, prepare goals — "100 subs = new emote" — to keep momentum when the timer slows down.

Capped or uncapped subathon?

An uncapped subathon has no limit: as long as the community keeps adding time, the stream goes on. It makes for the most memorable runs, and for the ones that get out of hand. A capped subathon sets a ceiling before it starts, for example 72 hours or one week, after which support no longer adds time.

Most streamers choose a cap, at least for their first one. Another common option is a final countdown: in the last hours, new subs and donations stop adding time, so everyone knows when the finale will happen.

How to start your own subathon

Connect your platforms

Sign in with Twitch in one click, then link YouTube, Kick, Streamlabs, TipeeeStream, StreamElements or Ko-fi. Every sub, cheer and donation is detected automatically.
Set your rate card

Choose how much time each sub tier, cheer and donation adds, and a maximum duration if you want one. Everything can still be changed live during the subathon.
Add the overlay to OBS

Copy your overlay link, drop it into an OBS browser source, and the countdown appears on your stream — updated in real time, with no refresh.

Subathon timer, platform by platform

⏱️

Subathon countdown timer

Countdown timer for streams

💶

Donation timer

💜

Twitch subathon timer

Set up your countdown on Twitch: connection, events counted and OBS overlay.

▶️

YouTube subathon timer

Set up your countdown on YouTube: connection, events counted and OBS overlay.

🟩

Kick subathon timer

Set up your countdown on Kick: connection, events counted and OBS overlay.

💧

Streamlabs subathon timer

Set up your countdown on Streamlabs: connection, events counted and OBS overlay.

🧩

StreamElements subathon timer

Set up your countdown on StreamElements: connection, events counted and OBS overlay.

Subathon FAQ

What is a subathon, exactly?

A subathon is a streaming marathon driven by a countdown timer: as long as the timer is running the stream stays live, and every subscription, gift sub, cheer or donation adds time to it. It ends when the clock reaches zero.

How long does a subathon last?

There is no fixed duration — that is the whole point. Most subathons run between one day and one week, and a few have lasted for months. The length depends on your rate card, the size of your community and whether you set a maximum duration.

How much time should a sub add?

A common baseline is 5 minutes for a Tier 1 sub, 10 for Tier 2 and 25 for Tier 3, plus about 1 minute per 100 bits or per euro donated. Small channels can afford to be more generous; large channels usually need to be much stricter.

Should I cap my subathon?

It is strongly recommended. A maximum duration — or a maximum amount of time added per event — protects your health and keeps the finish line reachable. Announce the cap before you start, never in the middle.

What do I need to run a subathon?

A countdown timer connected to your platforms and displayed as an OBS overlay. Marathon-Timer does exactly that, for free: it detects subs, cheers and donations on Twitch, YouTube and Kick, adds the time automatically and updates your overlay in real time.

Does a subathon work on YouTube and Kick?

Yes. The format was born on Twitch but works the same way anywhere subscriptions or memberships exist. Marathon-Timer counts Twitch subs and bits, YouTube memberships and Super Chats, and Kick subscriptions on a single clock.

Do streamers sleep during a subathon?

Yes. Most streamers sleep on stream with the camera on, or pause the timer for the night, and announce which rule applies before the start. Both are accepted by viewers as long as the rule does not change along the way.

What is the point of a subathon?

A subathon turns support into something the whole community can see and act on. Viewers decide together how long the stream lasts, which makes each sub feel meaningful and often brings a channel its best weeks of growth.

What is the difference between a capped and an uncapped subathon?

A capped subathon has a maximum duration set in advance, after which support no longer adds time. An uncapped subathon has no ceiling and lasts as long as the community keeps the timer alive.

How does a subathon work on Twitch?

On Twitch, a subathon timer listens to your channel through Twitch's official notifications: every sub, gifted sub, re-sub, cheer and raid adds the time set in your rate card, and the countdown on your overlay updates instantly. Many streamers also let the timer start and pause with their stream.

Ready to start your subathon?

Free, in a few minutes, with no commission on your subs or donations.