Are you an avid Twitch user who is fed up with constant video ads interrupting your streams? You‘re not alone. Twitch serves over 20 billion minutes of ads per month to its over 30 million daily active users.
But don‘t despair – you have options to enjoy Twitch ad-free. This complete guide will teach you how to finally stop frustrating Twitch ads in their tracks.
Why So Many Ads on Twitch?
Before diving into specific ad blocking techniques, it helps to understand why Twitch relies so heavily on advertising revenue.
Twitch is the leading live streaming platform, especially for gaming content. According to Twitch Tracker, it averaged over 2.5 million concurrent streamers in 2022.
And users are spending serious time watching streams – over 95 minutes per day on average. That‘s a massive amount of ad inventory for Twitch to monetize.
In addition, Twitch streams are long form, lasting hours in many cases. This allows more opportunities over traditional short YouTube videos.
Research firm StreamElements estimates:
- Twitch generated $2.3 billion in ad revenue in 2021
- 70% of Twitch ad revenue comes from gaming content
No wonder Twitch wants to maximize ads – it‘s a huge revenue stream for them.
Ads also provide direct income for Twitch streamers themselves. Advertising dollars are shared with creators, giving Twitch incentive to serve more ads.
Top streamers can make over $100k/month largely from their cut of ad dollars. So Twitch has to balance ads between funding the platform and supporting creators.
Finally, since Amazon acquired Twitch for nearly $1 billion in 2014, ads have steadily increased as Amazon looks to leverage Twitch‘s large viewer base and turn a profit on its major acquisition.
Now let‘s look at the types of ads Twitch runs so you know exactly what to block.
Twitch‘s Main Ad Formats
Twitch utilizes a wide variety of ads to monetize its free platform. These include:
Pre-Roll Video Ads
- 15-30 second video ads before streams and VODs
- Generate $28 CPM (cost per 1000 impressions) on average
- Skippable after 5 seconds
Mid-Roll Video Ads
- 6-30 second video ads during streams
- Limited to 3 per hour for partners
- $24 CPM on average
Display Ads
- Sidebar, bottom banner, background ads
- Programmatic CPMs around $10-$20
Sponsor Banners
- Graphic banners during streams
- Custom ad integrations for sponsors
- Rates from $50K-$250K per campaign
Homepage Takeovers
- Fullscreen graphic/video ads on homepage
- Highly visible with cost up to $250K
As you can see, Twitch leverages video, display, and sponsored ad formats throughout the platform.
Their ad server called AdSolutions uses targeted ads based on viewer interests and watch history. So you‘ll see relevant gaming and brand ads.
Now let‘s explore your options for blocking different Twitch ad types.
6 Ways to Block Twitch Ads
Here are 6 methods you can use right now to remove or avoid seeing video, display and other ads on Twitch.
1. Browser Ad Blocking Extensions
One of the easiest and most effective ways to block Twitch ads is using a browser ad blocking extension.
These add a filter list to your browser that automatically blocks ads from loading on pages.
Some top options include:
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uBlock Origin – Open source blocker for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, etc.
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AdBlock – Easy to customize blocker for all major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
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AdGuard – Blocks ads across browsers and devices – Chrome, Android, etc.
I recommend testing different ad block extensions to find the one that best blocks both display and video ads on Twitch for your browser.
2. Video Blocking Browser Extensions
Along with general ad blockers, there are also dedicated Twitch video ad blocking extensions:
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TTV LOL – Blocks mid-roll and pre-roll ads on Twitch for Chrome and Firefox.
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Twitch Ad Block – Removes only video ads for Chrome and Firefox.
These work well in combination with a general ad blocker to get rid of pre-roll and mid-roll video ads.
3. Video Ad Blocking Browsers
Specialized ad blocking browsers like Brave and Opera stop Twitch ads by default.
Brave – Blocks ads and trackers on desktop and mobile. Download Brave for desktop and Android/iOS.
Opera – Includes built-in ad blocker for Opera desktop and Opera Mobile.
I suggest Brave as it completely blocks Twitch video and display ads automatically during normal use.
4. VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A VPN routes your traffic through an encrypted tunnel, hiding your IP address and location. This prevents advertisers from targeting you based on location.
VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark also include ad blocking features that can remove Twitch ads:
NordVPN – CyberSec feature blocks ads, trackers and malware. Apps available for Windows/Mac, iOS/Android, etc.
Surfshark – Includes ad blocking on all major platforms like Windows/Mac, Fire TV, etc.
I suggest using NordVPN or Surfshark to hide your location from ad trackers and block Twitch ads network-wide.
5. Twitch Channel Subscriptions
Subscribing to specific Twitch channels removes pre-roll ads when watching those streamers.
Channel subscriptions cost $4.99 – $24.99 per month. Along with blocking ads, subscriptions also support streamers directly.
This is great if you have 1-2 favorite streamers you watch regularly. Subscribe to remove ads and get custom emotes from them.
6. Twitch Turbo Ad-Free Viewing
For sitewide ad-free viewing, Twitch Turbo remains the best option. The Turbo service costs $8.99 per month.
Twitch Turbo removes all video and display ads across Twitch, including:
- No pre-roll or mid-roll ads
- 100% ad-free browsing
- Ad-free viewing on all channels
- Custom chat colors and emotes
For true ad-free viewing on mobile and desktop, Twitch Turbo is worth the monthly subscription cost. Sign up directly on Twitch‘s website.
Why Free Ad Blockers Aren‘t 100% Effective
You might wonder – if free ad block extensions exist, why would anyone pay for Turbo?
Here are some reasons the free ad blocking methods above don‘t always work perfectly:
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Ad blockers are in an arms race with Twitch – As ad blockers update filters to block new ad formats, Twitch finds technical workarounds to bypass blockers and continue serving ads.
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Mobile ad blocking is limited – Due to restrictions from Apple and Google, ad block extensions have limited functionality on iOS and Android apps.
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Regional ad insertion – Twitch serves some ads directly from local cable providers, which are harder for ad blockers to filter out.
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Blocking hurts stream revenue – Free blockers reduce ad income for creators, which has led Twitch to combat their effectiveness.
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Twitch fights blockers – Twitch actively tries to circumvent ad blockers to ensure its ad inventory still gets served to users.
That‘s why even with free blocker extensions, you may still experience occasional Twitch ads. For truly ad-free viewing, Twitch Turbo remains the most foolproof option.
Now let‘s address some common questions around removing Twitch ads.
FAQs About Blocking Twitch Ads
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about stopping ads on Twitch:
Is ad blocking on Twitch illegal?
No, using an ad blocker or other method to stop ads loading on Twitch is not illegal. Twitch doesn‘t directly prohibit ad blocking, though it is discouraged.
Can ad blockers get my Twitch account banned?
It is highly unlikely. Twitch has no way of detecting specific browser extensions or other ad blocking methods. Many users block ads without any account issues.
How do ad blockers affect Twitch streamers?
Streamers earn a portion of revenue from ads shown on their streams. Widespread ad blocking could hurt this income stream. But subscriptions and cheers provide creators more earnings than ads.
What‘s the best ad blocker for mobile Twitch?
Due to mobile platform restrictions, it‘s hard to find a perfect mobile Twitch ad blocker. Using a mobile browser with an extension like Brave or a mobile VPN app are your best options.
Do I still need Turbo if I subscribe to channels?
Channel subscriptions only remove ads when viewing those specific streamers. For full site ad blocking, Twitch Turbo is still recommended alongside subscribing to your favorite channels.
Can I get Twitch Turbo free with Amazon Prime?
Yes, Twitch Turbo is included free with Prime Gaming for Amazon Prime members. Link your Prime and Twitch accounts to enjoy ad-free viewing.
Why do I still see some ads with an ad blocker?
No ad blocker can prevent 100% of ads due to Twitch‘s workarounds. Using multiple ad block methods like extensions + VPN provides the best results.
Bottom Line
While Twitch relies heavily on advertising, you aren‘t forced to sit through constant video ads and disruptive display ads.
Simple browser extensions provide a free first line of defense against Twitch ads. For the best experience across devices, a combination of an ad block extension, video blocker, and VPN gives great protection.
For completely ad-free viewing, invest in Twitch Turbo or channel subscriptions to avoid all pre-roll and mid-roll ads.
The days of excessive annoying Twitch ads interrupting your gaming streams are over. Use these ad blocking methods to finally take control over your Twitch viewing experience.
