If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s still worth starting a YouTube channel in 2025, here’s a stat for you: 65.1% of marketers plan to increase their YouTube budgets this year. That’s not just confidence — that’s a bet on the platform’s staying power in a wildly competitive digital landscape.
YouTube continues to offer something no other platform can: a full ecosystem for creators to grow, monetize, and build long-term businesses around their content. From Shorts to Shopping Collections, channel memberships to premium ad formats, YouTube has evolved into a monetization machine — if you know how to use it.
In this guide, we’ll break down every way to make money on YouTube today, what’s changed, and what it actually takes to turn your content into income in 2025.
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What Is YouTube Monetization, and How Does It Work?
YouTube monetization means earning revenue from your YouTube videos. The YouTube monetization model is relatively straightforward. To make money from YouTube, you must first become a YouTube Partner by joining the YouTube Partner Program. To join this program, your YouTube channel must:
- Follow the official YouTube channel monetization policies.
- Be based in a country where the program is available. You can view the full list of eligible countries here.
- Have no active Community Guideline strikes.
- Have 2-Step Verification turned on. This applies to the Google Account your YouTube channel is registered with.
- Have access to YouTube’s advanced features (including standard and intermediate features).
- Have active Google Adsense linked to your YouTube account. You can also set up new Adsense by following the official YouTube Help Guide.
Businesses that want to advertise on YouTube create these adverts through Google AdSense Network.
These advertisements can be displayed at any point throughout the video. Owners of these videos are compensated each time a viewer sees the complete advertisement.
YouTube Monetization Policies
When you're aiming to make money on YouTube, it's essential to follow YouTube's monetization policies. These rules are designed to ensure that your content is suitable for advertising and aligns with the platform's standards. They cover various aspects, including YouTube’s Community Guidelines, Terms of Service, Copyright, Rights Clearance Adjustment policies, and specific program policies.
Key Policies for Monetization
- Advertiser-Friendly Content: Your videos need to be suitable for advertisers. This means avoiding content that could be considered offensive or inappropriate. Ad-friendly guidelines are crucial for maintaining monetization through ads.
- Commerce Product Module (CPM): To use fan funding features like Super Chat or channel memberships, you must accept the Commerce Product Module (which replaced the older Commerce Product Addendum) and adhere to the associated policies.
- Reviewer Assessments: YouTube's reviewers regularly check channels to ensure compliance. They look at your channel’s main theme, most viewed videos, newest videos, biggest proportion of watch time, video metadata, and your channel’s "About" section. This comprehensive review helps maintain the quality of monetized content.
- Community Guidelines: Every video and the overall channel must comply with YouTube’s Community Guidelines. Violations can lead to demonetization or content removal.
- Program Policies: Being part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) requires compliance with all program policies and YouTube’s Terms of Service. This includes avoiding repetitious content that offers little variation or value.
- Content Quality for Kids and Families: If your channel is marked as "made for kids," it must meet specific quality principles to stay monetized. Low-quality content can lead to suspension from the YPP.
- Creator Responsibility and Integrity: Maintaining honest and respectful behavior is crucial. Deceptive practices or artificially inflating engagement metrics can result in penalties, including temporary or permanent demonetization.
- Policy Updates: YouTube routinely updates its policies to adapt to changes in the platform and regulatory environment. Stay informed by checking YouTube’s policy changelog regularly to ensure your content remains compliant.
How to Make Money on YouTube?
There’s no single path to making money on YouTube — and that’s a good thing. Whether you're a beginner just unlocking monetization features or a seasoned creator building multiple revenue streams, there are plenty of ways to turn your content into income.
From ad revenue and affiliate partnerships to fan funding and product sales, YouTube offers creators a full ecosystem to earn from their work. Below, we’ll walk through the most effective strategies you can use to monetize your channel — starting with the most accessible and scaling all the way to more advanced methods.
1. YouTube Partner Program
To monetize your YouTube videos through ads, memberships, or fan support, the first step is joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Once you're in, you’ll be able to turn on ads, earn from YouTube Premium views, and unlock features like Super Thanks, Super Chat, and channel memberships.
As of 2025, YouTube offers two pathways to join the YPP, depending on whether you want full ad monetization or just access to fan funding tools.
You can qualify by meeting either of the following:
- For fan funding access (Super Thanks, memberships, etc.):
– 500 subscribers
– 3 public uploads in the last 90 days
– Either 3,000 public watch hours in the past 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in the past 90 days - For full monetization with ads + fan funding:
– 1,000 subscribers
– Either 4,000 public watch hours in the past 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the past 90 days
Once you qualify, you can apply to the program in the YouTube Studio → Earn tab. You’ll also need to agree to YouTube’s Base Terms and accept the Commerce Product Module, which governs all fan-funding tools.
Beyond subscriber and view count, YouTube also checks a few key boxes:
- You must live in a country where the YPP is available
- Your channel needs no active Community Guidelines strikes
- 2-Step Verification must be enabled on your Google account
- You need a linked Google AdSense account to receive payments
YouTube reviews each channel manually during the application process. This includes your most popular videos, your overall channel theme, and whether your content meets the platform’s monetization and advertiser-friendly policies.
If your application is denied, you’ll get a general reason why — and you can reapply after 30 days. Once you’re approved, you can start monetizing right away.
Pro tip: If you get into the program through the 500-subscriber path, you don’t need to reapply later. As soon as you hit 1,000 subscribers and the higher view threshold, YouTube will automatically unlock the additional monetization features.
2. Affiliate Marketing
Another lucrative source of income for YouTubers is affiliate marketing. When you promote a product through affiliate marketing, you’ll get paid a commission. Signing up for an affiliate program is the first step to achieving this.
There are various options available depending on your location. Each affiliate is provided with a unique link that directs customers to the promoted product or service. You can promote your affiliate link by creating video marketing for that particular product and then include your affiliate link in the video description.
Any of the following might work as a suitable video:
- a review of the product
- an unboxing video
- a how-to video
Remember to put an affiliate disclaimer, telling your audience that you will get paid a commission if they purchase through your link. You can mention that in the video or include it in your video description as well.
For every sale completed through your unique link, you will gain commissions. Find affiliate programs for products in your niche or register with affiliate networks. The following are a few well-known networks for affiliate marketing:
- ClickBank
- Amazon Associates
- Walmart
3. Be a YouTube Influencer
Influencer marketing and sponsorships are becoming increasingly popular, and brands are spending their marketing budget on influencers who have already gained the trust of their target demographic.
If you can get the appropriate partnerships, this opens up many possibilities for you as a creator. Influencers on YouTube may earn a substantial amount by advertising products and services from businesses, just like in affiliate marketing.
Companies would be interested in working with you if you have a large and engaged following and your content is relevant to their target market. Getting brands to partner with you can be difficult, especially if you don't have a large following.
One way to overcome this barrier is to sign up with an influencer marketing agency like Viral Nation and Fanbytes by Brainlabs. As a rule of thumb, it's better to list yourself on as many platforms as possible to ensure maximum exposure and attract the right businesses.
Always remember to label advert videos as “paid promotion” if you're producing sponsored content. Google's ad policies should also be followed to avoid penalties on your account.
4. Channel Memberships
Source: youtube.com
Channel memberships allow viewers to support your channel by making monthly payments in return for exclusive benefits available only to members. You can now create up to six tiers of membership with specific bonuses added to each level as you go through them.
To create one, you must have a minimum of 1,000 subscribers and be over 18 to be eligible.If you want to use this feature, you must also be a member of the YouTube Partner Program and live in a country where memberships are available.
To receive bonus content or unique privileges, you'll be able to ask your subscribers to become members of your channel, who will then be required to pay a little monthly charge ranging between $0.99 and $100 in exchange.
If, for any reason, you violate the community standards or have your account canceled, your members will get a refund for the most recent month of their membership.
5. Content Licensing
Your content can be licensed for money if you ever manage to make a big-hit viral video. Most likely, you’ll have requests to utilize your YouTube video from different media sites requesting to use that particular video!
Since that video is licensed, they will have to pay to use it in their channel or publication. You can do this for some of your most popular videos.
To make it easier for others to get in touch if they want to use your viral video, you should include an email address in your “about page” on your YouTube channel. It's also an option to list your videos in a marketplace so that the right people can quickly locate and purchase your content.
6. Monetize YouTube Shorts
Short-form content isn’t just a discovery tool anymore — YouTube Shorts can now be a real source of income. Thanks to changes in the YouTube Partner Program, creators can earn ad revenue directly from their Shorts, along with fan support through features like Super Thanks and channel memberships.
To start earning from Shorts, you’ll need to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). There are now two ways to join the program: one designed for long-form creators, and one optimized for Shorts creators. If Shorts are your main focus, you can qualify with 1,000 subscribers and 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days. Alternatively, the long-form route still requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time in the past 12 months.
Once you're in, Shorts revenue is shared from a pool based on total viewership across all eligible creators. Your actual earnings depend on how many views your Shorts generate and whether they include music. If music is used, revenue is split between the creator pool and music rights holders. If not, you retain the full creator share.
Beyond ad revenue, Shorts can also be monetized through fan engagement. Features like Super Thanks, Super Chat, and channel memberships are all available to Shorts creators once the basic thresholds are met. Even if you don’t meet the full monetization requirements yet, you can still qualify for fan funding features with just 500 subscribers, three public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what you’ll need:
- To access full monetization (ads + fan funding):
1,000 subscribers + 10M Shorts views (90 days) or 4,000 watch hours (12 months)
- To access fan funding only:
500 subscribers + 3 recent uploads + 3M Shorts views (90 days) or 3,000 watch hours
Whether you're a Shorts-first creator or just testing the format, monetizing this content is more accessible than ever — and can be surprisingly lucrative with the right mix of consistency and engagement.
7. YouTube Premium Revenue
YouTube Premium gives users an ad-free viewing experience and access to exclusive features. But what does that mean for creators? Good news: you still earn money from YouTube Premium subscribers who watch your videos.
Instead of ad revenue, YouTube distributes a portion of the subscription fees to creators. The amount you earn is based on how much time Premium members spend watching your content compared to other videos on the platform. So, if a subscriber watches mostly your videos in a given month, you get a larger cut of their subscription fee.
This revenue stream is passive and reliable—you earn whether your videos are monetized through ads or not, as long as they’re eligible for monetization in general. And you don’t need to do anything extra to activate it. If you’re already in the YouTube Partner Program, your content is automatically eligible for Premium earnings.
And yes, that includes Shorts. As of 2024, Shorts now earn Premium revenue too. If a Premium subscriber spends time watching your Shorts, that time counts toward your share—just like long-form content. It’s a small but steady way to diversify your income on YouTube, especially as more viewers upgrade to ad-free experiences.
8. Sell Online Courses
Creating and selling online courses are fantastic methods to generate money on YouTube. Offering an online course is a great way to make your skills more marketable to your audience. As long as your course offers something of value to your subscribers, they'll be more than happy to invest their money and sign up.
An online course might be in the form of an e-book or a video. Remember that whichever format you use, be sure to provide high-quality content that impacts your audience and delivers value. It is easy for people to know if you underdeliver, which can make people start doubting your services or stop interacting with your channel. As a result, you can lose out on a lot of potential income.
9. Sell Merchandise
If you want to make money from your audience, you should consider selling merchandise to them. Buying shirts, caps, and notebooks is a great way for subscribers to demonstrate their support for your channel. This approach is the most effective for channels with larger audiences.
If you want to sell your designs, you can upload them to Printful or Printify's online platform, where consumers can purchase them and get them by mail straight from the platform. The good news is that you don't even need to be involved in the process.
In addition to boosting your channel's subscriber count, selling branded products is a terrific method to monetize your YouTube channel and earn visibility for your business online and offline.
It's easier to make money by selling merchandise than using AdSense. Rather than depending on the number of hours watched or views accrued, you're banking on a steadily expanding fan base to keep buying your merchandise. You must be 18 years old and have 1,000 subscribers or have an Official Artist Channel to use the merchandising feature.
10. Super Chat and Super Stickers
Another excellent technique to generate money on YouTube is via Super Chat and Super Stickers. This feature is accessible to you as a YouTube Partner when live streaming. Super Chat or Super Stickers may be activated in a live chat for a small fee to make your viewers’ messages stand out from the rest.
Super Chats appear in a highlighted color and may be pinned in the chat window depending on the amount paid. Super Stickers are animated images that viewers can purchase and send during a stream.To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old and reside in a country where Super Chat is available.
11. Crowdfund
Source: gofundme.com
Even though you already use channel memberships, there are additional ways for you to earn money from your viewers. Crowdfunding using YouTube can help you generate money as a creator. Be mindful though as this might be off-putting to some of your subscribers since it might come off as begging.
In truth, if you provide high-quality videos, people will be more than happy to give money to your channel. Also, your success is determined by your specialization and the benefits that you can provide your funders. To raise money for your project, check out crowdfunding websites like Kickstarter or GoFundMe.
12. Driving Traffic to Your Blog Using YouTube Videos
YouTube is an excellent tool for creators to advertise their brand, gain new customers, and improve their website or blog traffic. An ad-supported or monetized website or blog may entice users to explore more and gain further insight into the subject matter you're discussing. Most websites or blogs see an increase in revenue as their traffic increases.
The first step is to create a blog using the same name and logo you already have on your YouTube channel. Your blog and YouTube channel should appear and feel the same, so make sure they have a lot in common in terms of design.
Once it is set up, you can include the link to your blog or website in the video link description.
13. YouTube Shopping Collections
YouTube Shopping Collections is a feature that lets creators curate and showcase products directly within their channels, video descriptions, and product lists—turning your YouTube channel into a boutique shopping experience for your viewers.
When you create a Shopping Collection, you can select up to 30 products (your own or affiliate products if you’re part of YouTube's affiliate program), arrange them in the order you prefer, and feature them in a dedicated space on your channel. Viewers can easily browse your recommended items, making it effortless for them to shop directly from your content.
How it works:
- Create a collection through the YouTube Studio mobile app by selecting at least three products.
- Add your personalized title, description, and custom thumbnail to make your collection appealing.
- Your collections appear prominently in your channel store, video descriptions, and product lists, giving fans an easy path to purchase your recommended products.
- You earn revenue either by directly selling your own products or through affiliate commissions when viewers purchase products you've recommended.
Shopping Collections are a smart way to monetize your audience's trust and your own expertise, especially if you regularly feature or recommend products in your videos.
How to Increase Views on Your YouTube Videos
Getting a significant number of views on your videos is necessary to get consistent revenue from your YouTube channel. Here are eleven tips on how to boost your YouTube views.
Create Good Content
It doesn't matter how many strategies and advertising campaigns you employ for video creation. To achieve success on YouTube, you must create videos that people want to watch and watch all the way through.
In the end, it all boils down to the quality of your content. If you're unwilling to provide value to your audience, you won't make your content marketing effective. First, determine what information your potential customers want to know before creating videos that can solve their problems.
Improve Your Video's Search Ranking by Doing Research
Apart from being a social media platform, YouTube also serves as a search engine, like Google. YouTube SEO, or optimizing your videos for search, is a proven way to increase views on your videos.
YouTube SEO is a powerful way to rank your videos. It is important to research and use keywords related to your content when uploading or editing a video on YouTube.
Businesses, bloggers, and video marketers use this method to get their videos to rank higher in YouTube search results. This strategy involves understanding YouTube's algorithm and optimizing your video with those specific requirements.
YouTube SEO can be done by adding keywords and tags in the video description, title, and tags section. You should also include keywords in the video’s title, description, tags and thumbnail.
YouTube's algorithm considers several factors in determining which videos appear in search results. You can use tools like vidIQ or TubeBuddy for your SEO research.
Have Keyword-Rich Descriptions
The description of your video may convey your message more effectively to both search engines and your visitors. Having the ability to catch the attention of your viewers is essential for the ranking of long-tail keywords.
Use End Screens and Cards
The length of time spent watching a video is a good indicator of how interested viewers are in the subject. The greater the number of individuals who view your YouTube video, the greater their interest in what you have to say. Another advantage of having a solid relationship with the audience is that they are more inclined to view additional content from you in the future.
YouTube cards are banner-like alerts that appear in the top right corner of your video and direct your viewers to a piece of content. An end screen, similar to a card, is intended to direct your most engaged viewers to a related piece of content. When your video is ready to come to a close, an end screen appears.
Customize Your Thumbnails
One of the most effective techniques to get your YouTube channel recognized is to create your own YouTube thumbnails. A good title and thumbnail can work together to attract a viewer's interest. It is essential to create thumbnails for your videos since it makes them more appealing and helps to project a much more professional look.
No research is required for the creation of a compelling thumbnail. Using the same font and style across the template will make it more unified and consistent with the channel's branding. For example, you can see that the most popular YouTubers all have a unified style for their video thumbnails.
Source: MrBeast
You can also use basic graphic design tools like Canva to achieve this.
Transcribing Your Video Content
When it comes to YouTube videos, there has been a lot of debate over whether including subtitles or transcripts can help you rank higher in search engines. Closed captions can enhance YouTube views by making content more accessible to global audiences and viewers with hearing impairments. For SEO benefits, be sure to upload your own transcript or use manually edited captions, as YouTube’s auto-captions aren’t indexed the same way.
To receive the most number of views possible from YouTube's organic results, you must appear high in the search results on Google. Most YouTubers are tempted to go the quick route and buy views. But this is not a long-term solution because YouTube’s algorithm prioritizes behavioral signals like watch time, average view duration, click-through rate (CTR), and returning viewers — not just raw view counts.
Create a Blog Post for Each Video
Blogging is one way you can make money off YouTube through traffic. You can drive traffic from your blog to your YouTube channel. It takes a little more work to convert your videos to blogs, but with time, it yields results.
Posting videos is a tried-and-true method of improving the quality of the user experience of those prospects who like to watch rather than read. You can embed your YouTube video into your blog post and watch your views increase.
Create Playlists
The playlists you create should allow people to see your content in the order it was created. The remainder of your videos will begin to play whenever the first video ends, increasing the number of views for each one as the series progresses.
You may increase the number of people who view a playlist by publishing it on your channel, embedding it, or asking your subscribers to share it with their friends. Each one should be unique from the others, and the order in which they are played should add to the overall flow and relevance of the set. Below is an example of how these playlists look.
Source: Mark Rober
Work With Other Creators in Your Niche
Some of YouTube's most popular creators have benefited from cooperating with other users to reach a broader audience. With each video you collaborate on, you will get new subscribers. Furthermore, if you collaborate with a well-known and renowned content creator, their viewers are more likely to become subscribers.
To have a successful YouTube collaboration, finding the right partner is critical. You should collaborate with creators who share your industry's interests for your video to look more professional. Sticking on the subject of popular YouTubers, here's an example of two popular faces on the platform collaborating.
Source: Nick DiGiovanni
Build and Facilitate a Community
Apart from being a video-sharing platform, YouTube also allows engagement between creators and subscribers. So if you want to obtain more views on YouTube, you'll need to treat it like any other social media platform. Additionally, you need to actively engage your audience for them to keep coming back for more of your videos.
If someone asks a question, take time to give a helpful answer to encourage other viewers to leave comments. It will be easier for you to create your brand in a niche of devoted subscribers if you participate fully.
Be Consistent
Obtaining a large number of YouTube views takes time. The platform has its own set of regulations to guarantee that high-quality video content is delivered to its viewers consistently and frequently.
Try to establish many active subscribers using the tips mentioned above, and you'll find that they account for the vast majority of your views, which in turn generate more money for you when you monetize your YouTube channel.
Make Every YouTube View Count
Monetizing your YouTube channel doesn’t happen overnight—but with the right tools, strategy, and persistence, it’s absolutely within reach. Whether you’re uploading Shorts, starting a membership, or experimenting with affiliate links, every monetization method you try helps build a stronger, more sustainable income stream.
You don’t need millions of subscribers to start earning—just a clear focus, consistent content, and an audience that trusts what you create. Pick the strategies that make the most sense for your niche and audience, and don’t be afraid to evolve your approach as your channel grows.
Success on YouTube isn’t just for the biggest creators—it’s for the smartest ones. And now, you’ve got the roadmap.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you qualify for YouTube monetization in 2025?
To qualify for YouTube monetization in 2025, your channel needs at least 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours within the last 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days. Additionally, your channel must comply with YouTube’s Community Guidelines, have no active strikes, enable 2-step verification, and link a valid Google AdSense account.
How many views do you need to get paid by YouTube?
To get paid by YouTube, you need to meet YouTube's monetization policies, live in a region where the Partner Program is available, and meet specific criteria. You can qualify either with 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public watch hours within the past 12 months for long-form videos, or 1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views within the past 90 days if you're primarily making Shorts.
How do I get 4000 hours on YouTube?
Here are tips to get 4000 hours on YouTube:
- Create engaging content long enough to thoroughly address the viewer’s questions.
- Keep viewers interested by not signaling your video's conclusion too early.
- Study audience retention analytics to understand what keeps your audience watching longer.
- Consistently publish content and use Shorts strategically to drive viewers to your longer videos.
Can I monetize 1 minute video on YouTube?
You can monetize 1-minute videos on YouTube through YouTube Shorts, which now generate ad revenue directly and are eligible for YouTube Premium earnings. However, traditional long-form videos around 8 minutes remain ideal for maximizing revenue due to the ability to insert mid-roll ads.
Can you monetize YouTube Shorts?
Yes, YouTube Shorts can be monetized directly through ad revenue. Creators earn from a shared revenue pool based on the number of views their Shorts generate. You can also monetize Shorts through fan-funding options like Super Thanks and Channel Memberships once you meet the eligibility criteria.
What is YouTube Shopping Collections, and how does it help creators earn money?
YouTube Shopping Collections is a feature allowing creators to curate and display recommended products directly on their channel or within video descriptions. It helps creators earn by enabling direct product sales or earning affiliate commissions from product recommendations, turning content into a seamless shopping experience.
How much money can you earn from YouTube Premium views?
YouTube Premium revenue depends on the total watch time your content receives from Premium subscribers compared to other videos. The more Premium subscribers watch your content, the larger share of their subscription fees you'll receive. This revenue is passive, reliable, and applies to both standard videos and Shorts.
Are YouTube Super Chat and Super Stickers worth using for monetization?
Super Chat and Super Stickers are valuable monetization features, especially if you regularly host live streams. They allow viewers to highlight messages or send animated stickers during live sessions for a fee. This boosts viewer engagement and directly supports your channel, often leading to significant earnings during popular live events.
How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views in 2025?
On average, YouTube pays creators between $3 to $5 per 1,000 views in 2025, although actual earnings vary significantly based on niche, audience demographics, video length, and ad formats.
How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube in 2025?
In 2025, you need at least 500 subscribers for fan funding monetization features like Super Chat, or 1,000 subscribers for full ad monetization within the YouTube Partner Program.
How long does it take to get monetized on YouTube?
Getting monetized on YouTube typically takes between 3 to 12 months, depending on how quickly you can reach 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 hours of watch time in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days.
What types of YouTube videos make the most money?
Videos in niches such as finance, tech reviews, educational content, e-commerce (product reviews), and tutorials typically earn the most revenue due to higher advertiser demand and viewer engagement.
