Games Done Quick just cleared $62 million lifetime for charity, mostly by people running speedruns from their bedrooms. Small streamers can do the same at a smaller scale, but only if the tooling on their phone can handle donations, alerts, and moderation without a laptop nearby. We looked at 7 apps for charity live streaming on Android that make it viable to run a fundraiser from the couch.
What to look for in a charity streaming app
- Direct integration with a fundraising platform (Tiltify, JustGiving, PayPal Giving Fund)
- Live donation alerts that overlay your stream, not buried in a notification bell
- Chat moderation good enough to catch scam links during a spike
- Multi-platform streaming (Twitch, YouTube, Kick, TikTok Live) from one Android app
- A dashboard tile view that fits a phone in landscape
- Free tier that doesn’t take a cut from the charity
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Platforms | Free plan | Starting price/mo | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Streamlabs | All-in-one mobile streaming | Android, iOS, Desktop | Yes | Around $19 for Ultra | 4.4 |
| Twitch | Native audience for gaming charity | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | Bits transaction fees | 4.5 |
| YouTube Studio | Multi-camera charity events | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | Super Chat cut varies | 4.5 |
| StreamElements | Overlays, tips, and merchandise | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | Free with paid extras | 4.3 |
| Tiltify | Fundraising campaign hub | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | Free to charities | 4.4 |
| Discord | Community fundraiser coordination | Android, iOS, Desktop | Yes | Nitro from ~$3 | 4.5 |
| Google Sheets | Live donation totals overlay | Android, iOS, Web | Yes | Free with Google account | 4.4 |
1. Streamlabs, best mobile-first streaming app
Streamlabs was built around donations from day one. The Android app supports RTMP output to Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook simultaneously, and the “Alert Box” pulls donation events from Tiltify, PayPal, or Streamlabs Charity and shows them on screen in real time. Chat moderation, cloudbot commands, and countdown widgets are all in the app.
Where it falls short: the free plan puts a Streamlabs watermark on your stream, which some fundraisers find off-brand; and Ultra is expensive at around $19 a month unless you stream frequently.
Pricing: free with watermark; Ultra around $19 a month removes the watermark and unlocks unlimited overlays.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Desktop.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the default if you plan to run a charity stream mostly from a phone.
2. Twitch, best for gamers
Twitch is the platform where most charity streams still happen, and the mobile app has caught up on broadcaster tools. You can start a stream from a phone camera, moderate chat with the Mod View panel, and enable Bits donations that route to a designated charity via Twitch’s charity tools.
Where it falls short: Twitch takes a cut of Bits, so a straight PayPal or Tiltify link is more efficient for pushing 100 percent to the charity; and the app has no built-in support for external donation platforms as overlays.
Pricing: free; Bits and subscription revenue splits apply.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the audience is here already; pair it with a Tiltify link in the bio to route donations properly.
3. YouTube Studio, best for multi-camera charity events
YouTube Studio on Android now supports live streaming from the phone and multi-scene events created on desktop, so a small production team can run camera switches from a couch. Super Chat and Super Stickers are natively supported, and channels enrolled in YouTube Giving get a donation button beside the stream.
Where it falls short: YouTube Giving is only available in a handful of countries; and Super Chat revenue passes through Google’s cut before reaching the streamer, who then donates.
Pricing: free; Super Chat and channel membership revenue splits apply.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the better choice for charity streams built around interviews and multi-scene programming.
4. StreamElements, best for overlays without a laptop
StreamElements competes head-to-head with Streamlabs and, on Android, offers a slightly leaner mobile experience. Chatbot moderation, tip pages, and overlay editing all run from the phone, and the Tipping page can be pointed at a Tiltify campaign so donations count toward the fundraiser.
Where it falls short: the Android app has been slower to receive new features than the web dashboard; and the tip page takes a small fee unless you configure a third-party processor.
Pricing: free for core features; StreamElements Prime available at premium tiers.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the strong second choice if you dislike the Streamlabs pricing model.
5. Tiltify, best campaign hub
Tiltify is the fundraising platform behind Games Done Quick, Extra Life events, and many independent charity streams. The mobile app is small but focused: create a campaign, share the link, monitor donations, and pull participants into a team. It integrates directly with OBS, Streamlabs, and StreamElements so alerts overlay your video.
Where it falls short: it is a fundraising tool, not a streaming tool, so you still need Streamlabs or Twitch on top; and the campaign page templates are limited compared to a full donation site.
Pricing: free for charities and streamers; a small processing fee is deducted from donations.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the fundraising backbone for almost every serious charity stream on Twitch or YouTube.
6. Discord, best for team coordination
Discord is where charity stream teams coordinate before, during, and after the event. The mobile app supports scheduled events, stage channels for panel discussions, and thread-based moderation notes so the community team can flag issues without cluttering main chat.
Where it falls short: Discord is a communication layer, not a broadcast layer, so donations still need to route through Tiltify or the streaming platform; and Nitro perks add up if the server relies on custom emoji or higher upload limits.
Pricing: free; Nitro from around $3 a month.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Desktop.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the coordination layer behind almost every multi-streamer charity event.
7. Google Sheets, best for a live donation total overlay
Google Sheets is not a streaming app, but it is quietly the fundraising overlay tool. Pull donation totals in via a Tiltify webhook or manual entry, publish a slice of the sheet as a public web view, and OBS or Streamlabs can overlay it as a browser source that updates live. The Android app handles quick edits between segments.
Where it falls short: it requires a one-time setup with a helper script or Zapier; and mobile editing of a running fundraiser sheet during a live stream is stressful.
Pricing: free with a Google account; Workspace tiers optional.
Platforms: Android, iOS, Web.
Download: Aptoide · Google Play
Bottom line: the underrated helper that keeps totals visible when your platform’s own widgets fall short.
How to pick the right one
Install Streamlabs if you want one Android app that does most of the work; add Tiltify as the fundraising backbone. Twitch is the correct place to build a gaming audience; YouTube Studio wins for interview-driven events. Use Discord to run the volunteer team and Google Sheets to keep a running total that shows up wherever you want it. StreamElements is the pick if you prefer their overlay editor.
FAQ
What percentage of donations goes to the charity? Tiltify and Streamlabs Charity route close to 100 percent, less a small payment processing fee. Twitch Bits, YouTube Super Chat, and any platform tips carry a larger platform cut.
Can I run a charity stream from just my phone? Yes. Streamlabs and Twitch let you go live, moderate chat, and show donation alerts entirely from an Android phone. A ring light and external mic help more than a laptop does.
Which app is best for a Twitch charity stream? Streamlabs on top of Twitch is the common combination. Point donations at Tiltify or Streamlabs Charity so the money reaches the nonprofit directly.
Do I need to register with the charity first? Yes. Legitimate charities require sign-off before a fundraiser goes live. Tiltify handles the paperwork for many partner charities automatically.
Is Games Done Quick recruiting new streamers? GDQ takes applications for its two annual marathons. Smaller charity marathons through Frame Fatales, ESA, and RPG Limit Break are more accessible for first-time fundraisers.
