How to run a subathon on TikTok LIVE
A subathon is a LIVE that lasts as long as your viewers keep it going: a countdown runs on screen, and gifts, follows and likes add time to it. When it hits zero, the stream ends. On TikTok you run one with a timer overlay that reads your LIVE, such as the Subathon Timer in ScrollPlay Studio.
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How a TikTok LIVE subathon works
The name comes from Twitch, where subscriptions add time to the clock. On TikTok, gifts do that job, and follows and likes can add a little too, so viewers who aren't gifting can still help keep the clock alive.
It works because the whole room shares one goal and one deadline. Every gift visibly buys more stream, and the last minutes before zero (will someone save it?) are often the most exciting of the night.
Set up the Subathon Timer
- 1
Add the timer to your scene
In ScrollPlay Studio, open your overlay and add the Subathon Timer from the widget library. It shows a flip-clock countdown.
- 2
Set the starting time
Choose how long the stream runs if nobody adds anything. The default is ten minutes; for a planned long stream, start with an hour or two.
- 3
Price the time
Set the seconds added per diamond, per follow and per 100 likes. The defaults are 2 seconds per diamond, 15 per follow and 5 per 100 likes.
- 4
Set a cap
"Most time left at once" stops one huge gift from banking a whole day. Leave it at 0 for no cap.
- 5
Decide what happens at zero
Write the text that shows when time runs out, and if you like, fire an in-game action at that moment: a final explosion beats a silent stop.
- 6
Put it on stream
Capture it in TikTok LIVE Studio or OBS with the capture window or the browser-source link, like any other ScrollPlay scene (see the Studio Mode setup guide). By default the clock keeps its time through a reload.
Picking the numbers
Start short, add generously
A short starting time with generous add-ons makes every gift matter from the first minute. A huge starting time makes early gifts feel pointless.
Know your gift sizes
The timer counts each gift by its price, so at the default 2 seconds a 100-coin gift adds 3 minutes 20 seconds, and a Lion adds more than 16 hours. That's what the cap is for. The gift list has every price.
Let free viewers help
A few seconds per follow and per 100 likes lets everyone keep the clock alive without paying.
Choose an end you can live with
Decide the longest you're willing to stream before you start, and say it on stream. "8 hours at most" is a promise viewers can trust, and it keeps the last stretch exciting.
Ideas for a subathon night
01Pair it with a Hype Meter
Gifts, likes and follows fill a Hype Meter that drains over time; at HYPE MAX it can fire an in-game action.
02Run a game underneath
A game keeps the screen moving between gifts. A hands-free game that plays itself leaves you free to talk for hours.
03Announce milestones
Let every extra hour unlock something: a new game, a challenge, a guest. Put the next milestone on screen with a Goal bar.
04Credit the people keeping it alive
A Gift Leaderboard on screen, and your voice saying the names. In a subathon every gifter has literally bought you time.
TikTok LIVE subathons: FAQ
What is a subathon on TikTok LIVE?
A stream with a countdown on screen that viewers extend with gifts, and often with follows and likes. The LIVE lasts until the timer runs out.
How do I add a subathon timer to TikTok LIVE?
Add a timer overlay that reads your LIVE, then capture it in TikTok LIVE Studio or OBS. ScrollPlay Studio's Subathon Timer adds time for diamonds, follows and likes.
How much time should a gift add?
Enough that a common gift buys a noticeable chunk. The Subathon Timer's defaults are 2 seconds per diamond, 15 seconds per follow and 5 seconds per 100 likes; adjust them to your room.
Can I stop a subathon from going on forever?
Yes. A cap limits how much time can be banked at once, and it's your stream, so you can always end it. Announce your longest stream before you start.
Is the Subathon Timer free?
Yes. It's one of ScrollPlay Studio's widgets, and the free tier includes up to five widgets per scene.
