A subathon timer for Twitch and Kick
Layrs’ subathon timer is a countdown that grows with every sub, gift, cheer, KICK and tip, on Twitch and Kick at once. Set how much each one adds, paste one link into OBS, and let your mods run it from Layrs or from chat.
Updated
How the timer works
A new timer starts at 60 minutes and waits until you press Start. Then it counts down, every real event adds its time with a “+5:00” popping up, and at zero it shows your end text (“Subathon complete!” until you change it).
| Event | Twitch | Kick | A new timer adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sub or resub | Prime, Tier 1, 2 and 3 each have their own time | The Tier 1 time (Kick has one tier) | 5 min for Prime and Tier 1, 10 min for Tier 2, 25 min for Tier 3 |
| Gifted subs | Each gift adds its tier’s time, or always the Tier 1 time | Each gift adds the Tier 1 time | The same as a sub |
| Bits and KICKs | Per 100 bits, in proportion: 250 bits add 2.5× | KICKs count as bits, or get their own rate per 100 KICKs | 1 min per 100 |
| Tips from your Layrs tip page | Per €1, $1 or 1 kr of a tip | The same | 30 s per €1, $1 or 1 kr |
| Follows | Per follow | Per follow | Off |
| Raids | Per raider | Kick has no raid event | Off |
Every number is yours to change under Time per event. Set a Maximum length in hours so the subathon can end: it counts the start time plus everything events added, and past it events add nothing. Your mods can still add time by hand.
Show rates puts a small line under the clock, like “Sub +5m · 100 bits +1m”, so chat knows what a sub is worth.
Set it up in OBS
Make a subathon timer
Sign in to Layrs with Twitch or Kick, click New source and pick Subathon timer.
Set the start and the rates
Set Starts with to your first hour or two, then the time per sub, bits, KICKs and tips under Time per event.
Copy the link
Click Add to OBS and copy the link.
Add it as a Browser source
In OBS, click + under Sources, pick Browser, paste the link into URL and set it to 640 × 240.
Start the clock
When you go live, open Controls on the right in Layrs and press Start.
Want a whole screen around it? New scene has a Subathon scene with the timer already on it.
Your mods run it from Layrs or from chat
Anyone with the Moderator role gets Start, Pause, Resume, +5 min, +1 hour, −5 min and Reset in Controls, in their own browser. Editors can change the rates too. Or mods type it in Twitch or Kick chat:
| Type in chat | What happens |
|---|---|
;subathon +10m | Adds 10 minutes. ;subathon +1h30m and ;subathon add 10 minutes work too, and a bare number is minutes |
;subathon -5m | Takes 5 minutes off |
;subathon pause | Pauses the clock |
;subathon resume | Starts it again |
;undo | Takes back your own last change |
The streamer and the channel’s mods can use them. One command adds at most 100 hours, a timer a manager locked doesn’t change from chat, and every change shows in History under the mod’s name. Chat commands reach timers on overlays that are open in OBS or the Layrs editor. Every chat command.
What happens when OBS closes
The time left is kept on Layrs’ server as an end time, not in OBS. Reopen OBS after a crash and the clock shows the right time.
While the subathon runs, real subs, gifts, bits, KICKs, follows, raids and tips still add time with OBS closed, or with the source shut down while its scene is hidden. That holds for up to 10 sources or scenes with a running subathon per Layrs channel. A paused clock just waits.
Test it without touching the clock
In Controls, under Test (never counts), send a Sub, Bits or a Tip (or KICKs, with Kick linked). The alerts play as usual, but tests never change the clock, your goals or your leaderboards, so try it as often as you like, even mid-subathon.
Subathon timers compared
Each column comes from the tool’s own page, checked on 2 November 2026: livecounts.nl, marathon-timer.com’s Kick page and Meld Studio. StreamElements’ help center didn’t open for us, so its column comes from StreamerGiveaway’s comparison, and StreamerGiveaway sells a timer too. Something out of date? Email support@layrs.tv.
| Feature | Layrs | StreamElements | livecounts.nl | marathon-timer.com | Meld Studio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twitch events that add time | Subs by tier, gifts, bits, tips, follows, raids | Subs, follows, cheers, tips | Subs, gifts, bits | Not checked | Subs |
| Kick events that add time | Subs, gifts, KICKs, follows | Kick not listed | Subs, gifts | Subs, resubs, gifts, follows | Subs |
| Where the time is kept | On Layrs’ server | In its widget in OBS | In the OBS browser source | Not stated | Not stated |
| Events while OBS is closed | Counted while the subathon runs | Can stall when the source closes | Not added | Counted: nothing has to stay open | Not stated |
| Add time from chat | Yes, mods type ;subathon +10m | Yes, with commands like !subaddtime | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated |
| What you need | A Browser source | A StreamElements widget in OBS | Nothing, no login | Sign in with Twitch, then link Kick | Meld Studio, or its Spark Plug plugin for OBS |
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free with Meld Studio |
FAQ
How does a subathon timer work?
It counts down, and every sub, gift, cheer, KICK or tip adds the time you set, so the stream lasts as long as chat keeps it going.
How much time should a sub add?
Layrs starts at 5 min per Tier 1 sub and 1 min per 100 bits. Set a maximum length too, so it can end.
Does it work on Kick?
Yes. Kick subs, gifted subs, KICKs and follows add time to the same clock as Twitch.
Can my mods add time or pause it?
Yes, from Controls in Layrs, or by typing ;subathon +10m or ;subathon pause in Twitch or Kick chat.
What if OBS crashes?
The clock is kept on Layrs’ server, so it’s right when OBS comes back. Subs, bits and tips that came in while OBS was closed still count, as long as the subathon was running.
Do test alerts add time?
No. Tests never change the clock.
Do I need StreamElements or Streamlabs?
No. It’s one Browser source in OBS.
Is it free?
Yes. Layrs is free; the one fee is 3% on tips paid through Stripe.