feat:Expose official APIs for subscriptions and gift subscriptions, preferably for verified developers/approved partners

[codewithbayo]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

Yes.

Currently, developers can build integrations around the KICK ecosystem, but there does not appear to be a publicly available API that allows approved third-party applications to programmatically facilitate or fulfill native KICK channel subscriptions and gift subscriptions.

This creates limitations for developers building products that could help expand access to KICK subscriptions, especially in regions where users face payment challenges.

For example, many viewers in Nigeria and other emerging markets want to subscribe to or gift subscriptions to their favourite KICK streamers but may not have access to the international payment methods supported during checkout.

Developers and payment platforms could potentially provide localized payment solutions using local payment rails such as bank transfers, domestic cards, and mobile money. However, without an official Subscription API and Gift Subscription API, it is not possible to securely complete the native KICK subscription or gift subscription after successfully collecting payment.

Redirecting users to KICK's existing checkout does not solve this problem because users may still encounter the same payment limitations.

Describe the solution you'd like

I would like KICK to consider exposing official APIs for approved developers and partners that enable programmatic access to KICK's native subscription and gift subscription system.

Ideally, the API could support capabilities such as:

Subscription API

• Retrieve available subscription products and tiers for a channel
• Retrieve subscription pricing and supported products
• Create or initiate a subscription purchase for an authenticated KICK user
• Confirm or fulfill a subscription after an approved payment provider successfully processes payment
• Retrieve the status of a subscription
• Retrieve subscription expiration or renewal information
• Receive webhook events for subscription lifecycle changes

Gift Subscription API

• Retrieve available gift subscription products
• Initiate gift subscription purchases
• Specify the number of subscriptions being gifted
• Confirm or fulfill gift subscriptions after successful payment
• Retrieve gift subscription status
• Receive webhook events for successful or failed fulfillment

A conceptual API could look something like:

GET  /channels/{channel_id}/subscription-products

POST /subscriptions
GET  /subscriptions/{subscription_id}

POST /gift-subscriptions
GET  /gift-subscriptions/{gift_id}

For security and platform protection, these capabilities would not necessarily need to be available to every developer automatically. They could be restricted to:

• Verified developers
• Approved payment partners
• Authorized third-party applications

with appropriate OAuth scopes, API permissions, webhook verification, fraud controls, rate limits, and compliance requirements.

Describe alternatives you've considered

Redirecting users to KICK checkout

This is the most straightforward alternative, but it does not solve the underlying payment problem.

Users who cannot pay using the currently available payment methods will still be unable to complete their subscription or gift subscription.

Third-party tipping platforms

Third-party tipping platforms can allow viewers to send money directly to streamers.

However, this is different from purchasing a native KICK subscription. A viewer who sends a tip does not automatically receive KICK subscriber benefits, badges, or other platform-specific entitlements.

Unofficial automation or workarounds

Unofficial methods such as browser automation would be unreliable, insecure, difficult to scale, and potentially violate platform policies.

An official API would provide a safer and more sustainable solution for both KICK and developers.

Additional context

The goal of this feature is not to replace KICK's subscription system.

Instead, the goal is to allow KICK to maintain complete control over:

• Subscription products
• Subscription pricing
• Creator monetization
• Viewer entitlements
• Subscription status
• Platform policies

while approved developers or payment partners could help solve localized payment challenges.

This could enable developers to build localized payment experiences for markets where viewers have money available through local financial systems but face difficulties using international payment methods.

For example:

Viewer
   ↓
Third-party application
   ↓
Local payment method
(Bank transfer / Local card / Mobile money)
   ↓
Approved payment confirmation
   ↓
Official KICK Subscription API
   ↓
Native KICK subscription fulfilled

The same approach could also apply to gift subscriptions:

Viewer
   ↓
Third-party application
   ↓
Local payment method
   ↓
Official KICK Gift Subscription API
   ↓
Native KICK gift subscriptions fulfilled

A secure, partner-based Subscription and Gift Subscription API could help developers build innovative payment solutions, improve accessibility for viewers globally, reduce payment friction, and potentially enable more creators to monetize audiences in underserved markets.

I believe this would be particularly valuable as KICK continues expanding its global developer ecosystem.