You can make money on YouTube through ads, YouTube Premium, memberships, viewer payments such as Super Chat, and Shopping—but each option has separate eligibility and policy rules. For ad and Premium revenue sharing, the main route is joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) at 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. Reaching a threshold lets you apply; YouTube reviews the channel and does not promise a particular payout.
Ways to earn money on YouTube
YouTube monetization is a set of distinct revenue routes, not a single payment rate for views. Some depend on advertising or Premium members watching; others depend on viewers choosing to pay or shop. Access varies by feature, channel and country.
| Route | What it pays for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Watch Page ads | Ads shown or streamed on eligible public videos on the Watch Page | Requires the higher YPP threshold and acceptance of the applicable module. YouTube describes a 55% share of net Watch Page ad revenue. |
| Shorts Feed ads | Advertising revenue allocated to creators from the Shorts Creator Pool | Requires the higher YPP threshold. YouTube describes 45% of the revenue allocated to a creator from the Creator Pool; this is not a fixed amount per view. |
| YouTube Premium | A share of subscription revenue when Premium members watch eligible content | Depends on applicable program terms and eligible viewing; it is not a fixed payment per view. |
| Channel memberships | Recurring monthly payments for member perks | Requires feature eligibility and the relevant commerce terms. |
| Super Chat and Super Stickers | Viewer payments that highlight messages or add stickers in eligible live chats | Feature availability and channel conditions apply. |
| Super Thanks | One-time viewer support on eligible videos or Shorts | Feature availability and channel conditions apply. |
| Shopping | Products from a creator’s own store or products from other brands | Availability, participating products or merchants, and channel eligibility vary. |
YouTube’s current earnings documentation describes a 70% share of net revenue from memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers and Super Thanks when the applicable Commerce Product Module is accepted. The specific terms are in a creator’s agreements in YouTube Studio. These revenue-share percentages describe how revenue is divided under particular terms; none tells you what a view, subscriber or channel will earn in total.
How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube?
There are two important YPP thresholds. The lower, expanded-YPP tier offers earlier access to certain fan-funding and Shopping features in eligible countries and regions. The higher tier is the threshold for ad and Premium revenue sharing. Meeting either set of numbers is not automatic admission: YouTube reviews the channel against its policies.
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| YPP route | Subscriber and activity requirements | What it can unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Expanded YPP, where available | 500 subscribers, three valid public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million qualified public Shorts views in the last 90 days | Earlier access to certain fan-funding and Shopping features, subject to feature eligibility and terms |
| Ad and Premium revenue sharing | 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified public Shorts views in the last 90 days | Eligibility to apply for ad and Premium revenue sharing, subject to review and applicable modules |
These are YouTube’s stated requirements in its official help material accessed on October 3, 2026. Eligible regions and feature terms can change, so check YouTube Studio’s Earn area and YouTube’s current program pages before planning around the expanded tier. Shorts Feed watch time does not count toward the 4,000-hour long-form route. Views and watch time from paid advertising campaigns do not count toward these eligibility thresholds.
How to apply to the YouTube Partner Program
- Check the Earn area in YouTube Studio. Review the eligibility status and whether YPP or the expanded tier is available for your channel and region.
- Meet the requirements for the route you want. YouTube counts qualified public watch hours or Shorts views within the specified time windows; paid campaign activity does not qualify.
- Complete the application prerequisites. You need no active Community Guidelines strikes, 2-Step Verification enabled, access to advanced features, and an AdSense for YouTube account, as well as regional availability.
- Apply and wait for review. YouTube reviews the channel against its policies. A threshold is an application condition, not a promise of acceptance.
- Accept relevant monetization modules if approved. Features have their own terms and eligibility; an accepted partner does not necessarily receive every feature.
YouTube says it may remove monetization from a channel that has not uploaded a video or posted to the Posts tab for six months or more. This is a reservation stated in its current YPP help page, not a claim that every inactive channel will be demonetized.
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How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?
There is no universal YouTube payment per 1,000 views that can be responsibly promised. YouTube’s published revenue shares are not an RPM or a fixed rate for each view. Watch Page revenue depends on eligible ad revenue; Shorts revenue is allocated through the Creator Pool; Premium revenue depends on eligible Premium viewing. Audience, content, monetization status, format and other conditions affect what a particular channel receives, and YouTube’s partner agreement does not guarantee how much—or whether—a creator will be paid.
For context, YouTube’s help page describes 55% of net Watch Page ad revenue for creators who accept the Watch Page Monetization Module; 45% of a creator’s allocation from the Shorts Creator Pool; and 70% of net revenue from the listed fan-funding features under the Commerce Product Module. These percentages apply to the specified revenue bases and terms, not to a universal pool of money per thousand views. Your channel’s applicable terms are shown in YouTube Studio agreements.
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Yes, but the Shorts route is different from Watch Page ads. For ad and Premium revenue sharing, a channel can qualify through 1,000 subscribers and 10 million qualified public Shorts views in the last 90 days, or through the long-form watch-hour route. At the expanded-YPP tier in eligible regions, 500 subscribers plus three valid public uploads in 90 days and 3 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days can provide earlier access to certain fan-funding and Shopping features.
Shorts Feed watch time does not count toward the 4,000 qualified public watch-hour threshold. Shorts ad revenue is allocated through the Creator Pool, and YouTube describes the creator share as 45% of the amount allocated to that creator—not 45% of a fixed per-view rate.
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Rules that can affect monetization
- Follow YouTube’s channel and content monetization policies. Community Guidelines, copyright and rights-clearance rules apply to monetized channels and content.
- Meet advertiser-friendly requirements for ads. Being in YPP does not mean every video is eligible for advertising or receives the same ad treatment.
- Check each feature’s rules. Age, country availability, accepted modules, Made for Kids status and channel or content restrictions can affect access.
- Use Shopping only where eligible. YouTube Shopping may support a creator’s own products or products from other brands, depending on country, channel eligibility, participating merchants and current terms. The official program information does not establish a universal commission rate or external affiliate terms.
- Consider local tax obligations. YouTube advises creators that they may owe taxes on YouTube earnings and directs them to local tax authorities. The rules depend on your location and circumstances.
Can livestreams help you make money?
Eligible livestreams can support Super Chat and Super Stickers, while memberships and other eligible features may provide additional revenue routes. Access depends on the channel, location and feature-specific terms; livestreaming by itself does not guarantee income. If you use pre-recorded programming, make sure you have the necessary rights and that the material complies with YouTube’s policies.
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Common misunderstandings
- “I hit the numbers, so I’m in.” No. YouTube reviews every qualifying channel and may reject an application if the channel does not meet its policies.
- “A revenue-share percentage tells me my earnings per view.” It does not. The percentage applies to a specified revenue pool or net revenue, not to an established universal view rate.
- “Every YPP creator gets every feature.” Feature access can depend on location, age, module acceptance and other channel or content conditions.
- “Shorts views count toward the long-form watch-hour threshold.” Shorts Feed watch time does not count toward the 4,000-hour route.
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