Twitch subscriptions are monthly payments to Twitch partners and affiliates as a way for viewers to support their favorite channels.
Twitch Subscription Payment – How It Really Works!
Subscribers get a variety of premium perks, such as special emoticons to use in a stream’s chatroom. At the same time, the streamer gets a recurring source of income that can help pay for their streaming and living expenses. Subscriptions are one of the most popular ways to make money on Twitch.
Subscribing and following on Twitch are not the same thing.
When you follow a channel on Twitch, it will be added to your watchlist and will appear on the front page of the Twitch website and apps when it is live. It is similar to following accounts on social media and is completely free.