Douyin Live Streaming Guide: Diamonds, Gifts, Fan Clubs and Payments
How Douyin Live Streaming Works
Douyin's live streaming ecosystem revolves around Diamonds → Gifts → Creator Earnings (音浪). Here's the flow:
You recharge Diamonds into your Douyin wallet
During a livestream, you send gifts (paid with Diamonds) to creators
The creator receives 音浪 (Yinlang) — a revenue unit derived from gift value
The creator withdraws 音浪 as cash after Douyin's platform cut
Understanding each step helps you spend Diamonds wisely and support creators effectively.
Diamonds: The Currency Behind Every Gift
For full pricing and recharge methods, see our Douyin Diamonds Recharge Guide 2026.
Douyin Gift Price Tiers
Gifts range from 1 Diamond (a small heart emoji) to 66,666 Diamonds (exclusive high-tier gifts). Here are the main categories:
Entry-level gifts (1–19 Diamonds)
Mid-level gifts (99–588 Diamonds)
Premium gifts (1,000–10,000 Diamonds)
Top-tier gifts (10,000+ Diamonds)
Number culture behind Chinese gift values
Some gift prices carry symbolic meaning in Chinese culture:
Fan Clubs (粉丝团): How to Join and What You Get
What is a fan club?
A fan club is a creator-specific community within Douyin. Joining shows your dedication and unlocks special perks in their livestream.
Cost to join
How to join
Enter a creator's livestream
Tap the yellow heart icon near the creator's name (top-left)
Tap "加入粉丝团" (Join Fan Club)
Confirm payment (60 Diamonds)
Your fan badge (灯牌) appears next to your name in that creator's stream
Fan badge levels
Fan badges have levels that increase through interaction (sending gifts, attending streams, liking content):
Higher badge levels give you:
Special chat colors and icons
Priority in creator's attention
Exclusive fan club content
Higher ranking on the fan leaderboard
How to Send Gifts During a Livestream
Step-by-step
Enter a livestream — tap any live stream from the Recommended or Following feed
Tap the gift box icon — located at the bottom-right of the stream
Select a gift — browse categories or search by name
Confirm and send — tap (Send). The gift animation plays on screen
Your name appears in the chat — the creator and all viewers see your gift and username
Batch sending
For some gifts, you can select quantity (1x, 10x, 66x, 99x, 188x, 520x, 999x, 1314x). Batch sending creates a more dramatic visual effect and increases your fan badge level faster.
Recharge mid-stream
If your Diamonds run out during a stream:
Tap the gift icon → the system prompts you to recharge
In-app recharge requires Alipay/WeChat/Chinese bank card
Better option: use Topuplist to recharge instantly with Visa, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or PayPal
Creator Earnings: How 音浪 (Yinlang) Works
The revenue chain
Viewer spends Diamonds → Gift sent → Creator receives 音浪 → 音浪 converts to CNY → Creator withdraws
Platform revenue split
音浪 conversion rate
1 音浪 = 0.1 CNY
Example calculation:
Viewer sends 嘉年华 (Carnival) = 30,000 Diamonds = 3,000 CNY
After 50% platform cut: creator receives 15,000 音浪 = 1,500 CNY
If guild-affiliated with 10% guild cut: creator receives 1,350 CNY
Withdrawal requirements
Minimum withdrawal: 10 音浪 (1 CNY)
Withdrawal timeline: 1–7 business days
Tax obligations: creators are responsible for reporting earnings per local regulations
For more details on creator earnings, see our Douyin Live Gifts Price Guide.
Payment Methods for Recharging Diamonds
In-app (limited to Chinese payment infrastructure)
Topuplist (global access)
Pricing highlight: Topuplist offers up to 41% off on Douyin Diamonds. For example:
5,000 Diamonds: USD 82.59 (41% off official pricing)
3,000 Diamonds: USD 52.63 (37% off)
60 Diamonds: USD 1.28 (36% off, perfect for first-time test)
Full 14-tier pricing in our Douyin Diamonds Recharge Guide 2026.
Strategic Gifting Tips
For casual viewers
Start small: 60 Diamonds (USD 1.28) lets you send a few entry-level gifts and join one fan club
Use 小心心 (Little Heart) strategically: sending 10x Little Hearts (10 Diamonds) is more visible than one 棒棒糖 (9 Diamonds)
Join fan clubs during promotions: some creators offer 1-Diamond fan club entry during special events
For regular supporters
3,000 Diamonds (USD 52.63): enough for mid-level gifts across several streams, plus fan badge upgrades
Batch-send for visibility: 10x 墨镜 (990 Diamonds total) creates a more noticeable effect than one 私人飞机 (1,200 Diamonds) in some contexts
Focus on one creator: concentrated gifting raises your fan badge level faster than spreading Diamonds across many creators
For major supporters
5,000+ Diamonds: access to premium and top-tier gifts
嘉年华 (Carnival) at 30,000 Diamonds: the ultimate statement gift — triggers all-platform notification and the creator will almost certainly acknowledge you
Plan large gifts for special moments: creator birthdays, milestone follower counts, or competition events
FAQ
Do I need an account to watch livestreams?
No. You can browse livestreams without logging in. But to send gifts, comment, or join fan clubs, you need a registered Douyin account with Diamonds in your wallet.
Can I send a gift and then ask for a refund?
No. Once a gift is sent, it's final. The creator receives it immediately and converts it to earnings. Douyin does not reverse gift transactions.
What's the difference between Diamonds and 音浪?
Diamonds are the viewer's currency (purchased with real money). 音浪 is the creator's currency (earned from gifts). The conversion ratio includes Douyin's 50% platform cut.
How do I check my Diamonds balance?
Douyin → Me → Sidebar (≡) → Wallet (钱包) → Diamonds (钻石)
Can I transfer Diamonds to another Douyin account?
No. Diamonds are tied to the account that purchased them and cannot be transferred.
Can I use Douyin Diamonds on TikTok?
No. Douyin and TikTok are separate platforms with separate currencies. Douyin Diamonds only work on the Douyin app.
What happens if I send a gift while the stream ends?
If the stream ends mid-gift, the Diamonds are still deducted and the creator still receives the 音浪 value. The gift animation may not play fully, but the transaction is complete.
