Kick vs Twitch Emotes: Complete Platform Comparison for Multi-Stream Creators (2026)

If you're streaming on both Kick and Twitch (or considering it), you've probably noticed that emote requirements aren't identical between platforms. The differences might seem small, but they matter when you're trying to maintain a consistent brand across both services.

I've helped hundreds of multi-platform streamers manage their emote libraries, and the same questions come up every time: Can I use the same emotes? What needs to change? How do I resize efficiently? Let's break it all down.

The Core Difference: Pixel Dimensions

Here's the fundamental difference that affects everything else:

Twitch Emote Sizes

• 28×28 pixels (small)
• 56×56 pixels (medium)
• 112×112 pixels (large)

Kick Emote Sizes

• 32×32 pixels (small)
• 64×64 pixels (medium)
• 128×128 pixels (large)

At first glance, you might think "close enough." And you'd be partially right—your emote design doesn't need to change. But the pixel-level difference means you can't just upload your Twitch emotes to Kick directly.

Why the Different Sizes?

The technical reason is interesting: Kick uses power-of-two dimensions (32, 64, 128), which is a standard in graphics processing. These sizes play nicely with GPU texture mapping and various image processing algorithms.

Twitch's 28/56/112 system appears to be a legacy decision, possibly related to their specific chat layout and display density considerations. It's not "wrong"—just different.

What This Means for You

Practically speaking, both size systems work fine for viewers. The 4-pixel difference between 28 and 32 at the smallest size is barely perceptible. What matters is that you provide the correct sizes for each platform.

File Format Comparison

Format Type	Twitch	Kick
Static Emotes	PNG	PNG
Animated Emotes	GIF	GIF
Transparency	Supported	Supported
Max File Size	1MB per size	1MB per size

Good news here: format requirements are identical. PNG for static, GIF for animated, 1MB limit per file. Transparency is supported and recommended on both platforms.

Animated Emote Differences

Both platforms support animated emotes in GIF format. The requirements are similar enough that an animated emote designed for one platform will work on the other—you just need to resize it appropriately.

One thing to watch: because Kick uses slightly larger sizes, your animated GIFs might be larger in file size when scaled up from Twitch versions. Keep your original high-resolution animation source so you can export fresh for each platform.

Emote Slot Availability

The number of emote slots you get varies significantly between platforms and based on your subscription status:

Twitch Emote Slots

• Affiliates: Start with 5 slots, can unlock up to 9 based on sub points
• Partners: Start with more slots, can unlock up to 60+ based on sub points
• Animated emotes: Require Partner status or specific achievements

Kick Emote Slots

• Kick's emote system is still evolving as the platform matures
• Requirements and slot limits may differ from Twitch
• Check Kick's current creator guidelines for the latest information

Kick is a newer platform, so their emote system may change more frequently than Twitch's. Stay updated with their creator announcements.

Approval Process

Twitch

Twitch reviews emotes for compliance with their content guidelines. Approval typically takes 1-2 days but can occasionally take longer. Emotes that look similar to existing protected emotes (like Kappa) may be rejected.

Kick

Kick also has an approval process for emotes. As a newer platform, their guidelines and review times may differ. Check their current creator resources for specifics.

Content Guidelines

Both platforms prohibit emotes containing:

• Explicit content or nudity
• Hate symbols or slurs
• Copyrighted characters without permission
• Harassment or targeted attacks
• Excessive violence or gore

The specifics of what's acceptable may vary slightly between platforms. When in doubt, err on the side of caution.

Strategy for Multi-Platform Emotes

Here's my recommended workflow for streamers who need emotes on both platforms:

Step 1: Design at High Resolution

Create your emote at 256×256 or larger. This gives you enough source material to scale down to any platform's requirements without quality loss.

Step 2: Test at the Smallest Sizes

Before finalizing, check your design at both 28×28 (Twitch) and 32×32 (Kick). Make sure it reads well at both. The 4-pixel difference shouldn't require design changes, but verify.

Step 3: Export for Each Platform

This is where StreamEmote saves you serious time. Upload your source image once, and we generate all sizes for both Twitch and Kick in organized folders. One upload, two platforms, done.

Step 4: Upload to Each Platform

Use the appropriately sized files for each platform. Don't try to use Twitch-sized emotes on Kick or vice versa—the platform will reject them or scale them poorly.

Maintaining Consistency Across Platforms

Your emotes are part of your brand. Here's how to keep them consistent:

Use the Same Source Files

Don't create different versions of emotes for different platforms. Create one master design and resize for each platform. This ensures your emotes look identical everywhere.

Identical Naming (When Possible)

If your Twitch emote is creatorHype, try to use the same name on Kick. Your community will appreciate the consistency.

Synchronized Updates

When you update an emote, update it on all platforms at once. Nothing confuses viewers more than different versions of the same emote on different platforms.

Discord Integration: A Third Consideration

Many streamers also use emotes in their Discord servers. Discord has its own requirements:

• Standard emoji: 32×32, 64×64, 128×128 (same as Kick!)
• Format: PNG for static, GIF for animated
• File size: 256KB for free servers, 512KB with boosts

Convenient coincidence: Kick's emote sizes are identical to Discord's standard emoji sizes. If you're exporting for Kick, you can use the same files for Discord (assuming they're under 256KB/512KB).

Common Questions

Can I just resize Twitch emotes for Kick?

Yes, but don't literally resize the Twitch files. Go back to your high-resolution source and export at Kick's sizes. Upscaling 28×28 to 32×32 will look blurry.

Do I need completely different emotes for each platform?

No. Your emote designs can be identical—just the file sizes need to match each platform's requirements.

What about animated emotes?

Same principle. Keep your source animation at high resolution, then export appropriate sizes for each platform. Watch your file sizes—Kick's larger dimensions may push your GIFs closer to the 1MB limit.

Which platform should I prioritize?

Create for your primary audience first. If you're mostly on Twitch, perfect your emotes at Twitch sizes. Then adapt for Kick. (Or vice versa.)

Using StreamEmote for Multi-Platform Export

We built StreamEmote specifically for creators who need emotes on multiple platforms. Here's what makes it useful for multi-platform streamers:

• Single upload, all platforms: Drop in your source image, get Twitch, Kick, and Discord sizes in one ZIP
• Organized folders: Each platform's sizes in its own folder—no sorting required
• High-quality resizing: We use proper resampling algorithms, not basic browser scaling
• Free and private: No uploads to our servers, no watermarks, no cost

Whether you're launching emotes on a new platform or maintaining your library across multiple services, having proper sizes for every platform shouldn't be a hassle.

Final Thoughts

The difference between Twitch and Kick emote requirements is minor in the grand scheme of things. The same design principles apply, the same file formats work, and the same basic workflow converts. You just need to export at the right sizes.

The key to success as a multi-platform streamer is consistency. Your community should feel at home whether they're watching on Twitch, Kick, or chatting in your Discord. Keeping your emotes consistent across platforms is a small but meaningful part of that experience.

Got questions about managing emotes across platforms? We're always happy to help in our Discord or on Twitter.