Whatnot Tips: How Do They Work for Buyers and Sellers?

Have you noticed the “Send a Tip” button on Whatnot and wondered what it is for? Can you tip a seller? Can sellers receive tips? Are there any fees or limits?

This feature allows buyers to directly support their favorite sellers without purchasing an additional item.

Sellers can earn some extra income from tips. Whatnot does not charge sellers any commission on the amount received.

In this guide, I explain how Whatnot tips work, how to send one, and which rules you need to follow.

 

What Is a Tip on Whatnot?

A Whatnot tip is an amount of money voluntarily sent to a seller.

A buyer can use it to thank a seller for their livestream, advice, friendly welcome, or the quality of their work.

Unlike a regular order, sending a tip does not entitle you to any product.

It is simply a way to show your support. The concept is similar to donations on Twitch, TikTok Live, or YouTube.

How Do You Tip on Whatnot?

You can send a tip during a livestream or directly from a seller's profile.

This feature is only available through the Whatnot mobile app.

Sending a Tip During a Livestream

To send a tip during a live sale:

1. Open the Whatnot app.
2. Join the seller's livestream.
3. Tap their profile icon.
4. Select “Tip or Boost”.
5. Tap “Send a Tip”.
6. Choose the amount you want to send.
7. Add a message if you wish.
8. Check your payment method.
9. Confirm the tip.

If the seller has enabled alerts, your tip may appear in the livestream chat.

Sending a Tip From the Seller's Profile

You do not need to wait for the seller to start a livestream.

You can also leave a tip directly from their profile:

1. Open the seller's profile in the app.
2. Tap “Tip Me”.
3. Select an amount.
4. Add a message if you wish.
5. Check your payment method.
6. Confirm the payment.

The seller will then receive a notification. Your message may also appear in their private messages.

How Much Can You Tip on Whatnot?

A tip can range from €1 to €100.

Whatnot provides several preset amounts. You cannot freely enter any amount you want.

Therefore, carefully check the selected amount before confirming.

What Are the Limits on Whatnot Tips?

Whatnot applies several limits to reduce mistakes and prevent abuse.

A buyer can send a maximum of:

• 10 tips per seller per livestream;
• €200 per seller per livestream;
• €500 in tips per day in total.

Once you reach one of these limits, you will no longer be able to send additional tips.

Are Whatnot Tips Available in France?

Yes. Buyers and sellers located in France can use this feature.

However, the buyer and seller must be located in the same supported country.

This means that a French user may not be able to send a tip to a seller located in another country.

In addition, tips can only be sent through the Whatnot app for iOS and Android.

Are Whatnot Tips Refundable?

No. Whatnot tips are non-refundable.

Once the payment has been confirmed, you normally cannot cancel it.

This rule applies even if you accidentally select the wrong seller or amount.

Take a few seconds to check all the details before confirming.

Are There Any Fees for Sending a Tip?

The buyer may have to pay payment processing fees.

Whatnot displays these fees before you finally confirm the tip.

The total amount charged may therefore be slightly higher than the amount received by the seller.

For example, a €10 tip may result in a charge of more than €10 if payment processing fees are added.

Do Sellers Receive 100% of the Tip?

Yes. The seller receives 100% of the tip amount.

Whatnot does not charge the seller a commission on this amount.

If a buyer sends €20, the seller receives €20 in their balance after the processing period.

This makes tips different from regular sales, where the platform charges various fees.

You can read my guide about Whatnot commission and seller fees to understand the difference.

When Can Sellers Withdraw Their Tips?

Tips are not always available immediately.

For sellers located in France, they generally become available four days after they are sent.

However, sellers eligible for Early Payout may receive the amount immediately in their available balance.

Once the funds become available, the seller can request a payout to their bank account.

According to Whatnot, this transfer generally arrives within one to two business days.

How Can Sellers Receive Tips?

You normally do not need to enable any special option.

If your account is located in an eligible country, tips are automatically enabled.

Buyers can support you:

• during a livestream;
• from your shop;
• from your profile;
• even when you are not live.

You receive a notification whenever someone sends you money.

Are you new to selling? You can also read my guide explaining how to sell on Whatnot and organize your first livestreams.

How Can You View Your Tip History?

Whatnot keeps a history of the tips sent from your account.

To view it:

1. Open the Whatnot app.
2. Tap “Activity”.
3. Go to the purchases section.
4. Select the “Tips” filter.

You can find:

• the seller's name;
• the amount sent;
• the payment date;
• the relevant livestream, if applicable.

Whatnot also sends a confirmation email after each tip.

How Can Sellers View the Tips They Have Received?

Sellers can view the amounts they have received through the Seller Hub.

From the Mobile App

1. Open the Seller Hub.
2. Tap the menu.
3. Select “Tips”.

From the Whatnot Website

Log in to your Seller Hub, then open the section dedicated to tips.

You can filter payments based on the relevant livestream.

To check whether an amount is available for withdrawal, go to:

• Payouts, then Transactions in the app;
• the Ledger on the website.

The “Processing” status means the funds are still temporarily unavailable.

The “Completed” status means the tip can be paid out to your bank account.

Can Sellers Customize the Tip Button?

Yes. Sellers can customize the message displayed to buyers during a livestream.

To change this text:

1. Open the Seller Hub in the app.
2. Select your scheduled livestream.
3. Tap “More”.
4. Open the tip settings.
5. Enter your custom message.
6. Save your changes.

The custom text can contain up to 24 characters.

You can also choose whether buyers' messages appear in the chat.

Can You Use a Tip to Buy a Product?

No. This is strictly prohibited.

A seller should never ask a buyer to pay for a product using a tip.

The tipping system must not be used to:

• buy an item;
• pay shipping costs;
• reserve a product;
• avoid Whatnot fees;
• complete a sale outside the official system.

Doing this removes the protections normally associated with an order.

It may also result in penalties for both the seller and the buyer.

To purchase an item, always use auctions, flash sales, or the seller's official shop.

Can a Seller Ask for a Tip?

A seller can display the tip button or remind viewers that the option is available.

However, tipping must remain voluntary and optional.

It should never become a requirement for joining a livestream, receiving a product, or accessing a service.

Be cautious of sellers who request a tip in exchange for a commercial benefit.

What Should You Do About an Inappropriate Message?

A buyer can include a short message with their tip.

This message must comply with Whatnot's Community Guidelines.

You can report a user if their message contains:

• an insult;
• a threat;
• harassment;
• discriminatory content;
• an offer involving a prohibited sale.

To report the user, open their profile and use Whatnot's reporting tool.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Whatnot Tips

Advantages	Disadvantages
The seller receives 100% of the amount	Tips are non-refundable
Tips can be sent outside a livestream	Payment processing fees may apply
No purchase is required	The feature is only available through the mobile app
Sellers do not need to enable anything	You cannot freely choose a custom amount
The system is integrated into Whatnot	Funds may take four days to become available in France

FAQ About Whatnot Tips

Are Whatnot tips mandatory?

No. Tipping is completely optional. You can watch a livestream or buy an item without leaving any extra money.

Can you tip from a computer?

No. Tips can only be sent through the Whatnot mobile app.

What is the minimum tip amount?

The minimum amount is €1.

What is the maximum tip amount?

A single tip cannot exceed €100.

Does Whatnot charge a commission on tips?

No. Whatnot states that sellers receive 100% of the amount sent.

Do sellers receive the money immediately?

Not always. In France, the standard processing time is generally four days. Sellers with Early Payout may receive the funds immediately.

Can you cancel a tip sent by mistake?

No. Tips are considered final and non-refundable.

Can you pay for an item with a tip?

No. Tips must never replace Whatnot's official ordering system.

Can you send a tip when the seller is offline?

Yes. You can support a seller directly from their profile, even when they are not livestreaming.

My Opinion on Whatnot Tips

In my opinion, Whatnot tips are a good way to support sellers who provide entertaining or useful livestreams.

The fact that sellers receive the full tip amount is a real advantage.

However, this feature should always remain voluntary. It should never replace an order or be used to avoid the platform's fees.

I also recommend keeping your spending reasonable. During an exciting livestream, it can sometimes be easy to make multiple purchases and send several tips without realizing how much you are spending.

Finally, always check the amount before confirming. A tip sent by mistake normally cannot be recovered.