Canonical: https://tikrift.com/en/guides/tiktok-subathon-timer/ **Notice:** TikRift is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by TikTok or ByteDance. "TikTok" and "TikTok LIVE Studio" are trademarks of their respective owners and are mentioned only to describe compatibility. # TikTok Subathon Timer: How to Run a Subathon on TikTok LIVE By [Matías González (MattsinLife)](https://tikrift.com/en/author/matias-gonzalez/) · Live streaming content creator · Updated Oct 26, 2026 A **subathon** is a long stream with a countdown on screen: Gifts add time, and the stream keeps going as long as the community keeps the clock alive. It started on Twitch with subscriptions; on TikTok LIVE it runs on Gifts. Here's how to plan one and how to add the timer to your overlay. ## What a subathon is (and why it works) - **A shared goal:** viewers see their Gift do something right away (more time on the clock). - **Tension:** as the clock runs down, people jump in to keep it going. - **It's an event:** you can announce it ahead of time and build hype in a way a regular stream can't. The downside is burnout. A poorly planned subathon ends with an exhausted creator at 3 a.m. So the most important work happens before you go LIVE. ## Plan your subathon before you go LIVE 1. **Starting time:** begin with a length that's realistic for one of your normal streams. 2. **Your personal limit:** decide from the start how far you'll go and say it out loud. It protects your sleep and health, and viewers get it. It's your call: when you reach it, pause the timer. 3. **What adds time:** decide how much time Gifts and likes add and explain it in one simple line on screen (for example, "every 100 coins = +60 seconds"). The simpler it is, the more people join in. 4. **Breaks:** for long runs, plan breaks or shifts (say, a guest host while you eat). 5. **Rules:** a long stream is still subject to TikTok's Community Guidelines. No dangerous dares, and don't leave the stream unattended. ## Ideas to keep viewers engaged - **Milestones:** when the clock passes a certain point, unlock something (switch games, a community match, a challenge). - **Fixed moments:** something special on the hour, every hour. It gives people a reason to come back. - **Recognize supporters:** a top gifters leaderboard or recent Gifts on screen gives visibility to the people keeping you LIVE. - **Battles during the subathon:** a [TikTok LIVE battle](/en/guides/tiktok-live-battle-overlay/) brings in a lot of Gifts and extends the clock naturally. > **TikRift for Windows** · Download it or leave us your email and we’ll let you know when it’s ready. [Download TikRift](https://tikrift.com/en/download/) ## Adding the subathon timer to your overlay TikRift has a **Timer** widget: a countdown that Gifts extend. ### What you can set up - **Starting time:** 0 to 100 hours and 0 to 59 minutes. - **Likes:** every X likes adds or subtracts Y seconds. - **Coins:** every X coins adds or subtracts Y seconds. It counts blocks of coins, not one specific Gift. - **Controls:** Start, Pause and Reset. - **Title:** editable (up to 60 characters), can be shown or hidden, size from 10 to 48 px. - **Font:** 6 options. - **Styles:** Classic, Glacier, Inferno, Shadow, Battle (titled "BATTLE IN"), Arcade, Emerald, Lightning and Alarm. - **Settings save automatically.** Since time can also be subtracted, you can run a reverse subathon: for example, likes bring the end closer and Gifts push it back. ### How to add it in LIVE Studio or OBS 1. Open the Timer widget in TikRift and click **Copy URL** (fictional example: `https://overlay.tikrift.com/t/d7Kq2mVx9LpR4sNw`). 2. In TikTok LIVE Studio, add a **Link** source (the exact name can vary by version) and paste the URL. Alternatively, in OBS add a **Browser source**, paste the URL (500 × 400 as a reference size) and click OK. 3. Hit **Start** when the subathon begins and **Pause** during breaks. TikRift needs to stay open while you stream. **Placement:** near the top, to one side, below your profile. It's the most-watched element in a subathon, but it shouldn't sit under TikTok's interface. See the details in our guide on [TikTok LIVE overlay size and safe zones](/en/guides/tiktok-live-overlay-size/). **Pair it with:** a gift goal for the day's target and [gift alerts](/en/guides/tiktok-live-gift-alerts/) so every contribution gets noticed. ## Common subathon mistakes - **No agreed limit.** The clock keeps going and you can't. Set your limit before you start and pause the timer when you reach it. - **Confusing rules.** If nobody understands what adds time, nobody joins in. - **Hidden timer.** On phones, comments cover the bottom. Put it at the top. - **Disappearing for hours.** If you take a break, say so and leave a break scene up. - **Skipping the test run.** Do a short test stream with everything set up. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is a subathon on TikTok? It's a long stream with an on-screen countdown that gets longer when viewers send Gifts. The stream lasts as long as the community keeps the clock going, usually up to a limit the creator decides. ### How do I add a subathon timer to LIVE Studio or OBS? In TikRift, copy the Timer widget URL with Copy URL and add it in TikTok LIVE Studio as a Link source or in OBS as a Browser source. Place it near the top, away from the comments, and hit Start when the subathon begins. ### What adds time to TikRift's timer? Coins and likes. You choose how many coins or likes add (or subtract) how many seconds. It counts blocks of coins, not one specific Gift. ### How long should a subathon last? There's no right number. Start with a length you can sustain and set your limit from the beginning. A short, well-run subathon beats a long one that leaves you exhausted. ### Can I run a subathon when streaming from a PC? Yes. Stream with TikTok LIVE Studio or OBS and add TikRift's timer as a Link or Browser source. If you don't stream from a computer yet, see [how to go LIVE on TikTok from PC](/en/guides/go-live-on-tiktok-from-pc/). > **TikRift for Windows** · Download it or leave us your email and we’ll let you know when it’s ready. [Download TikRift](https://tikrift.com/en/download/)