YouTube partner rewards: generating income as a YouTuber with the YouTube Partner Program.
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is the official gateway to monetisation on the platform. Once you meet the eligibility criteria and are accepted, YouTube unlocks a variety of tools that allow you to earn money directly through your content. These features are designed to support different types of creators – whether you’re running a business channel or growing a personal brand. You can choose one or combine several income streams to build a more sustainable and flexible revenue mode. The most important tools are:
- Ad revenue: Earn money from display, overlay and video ads.
- Channel memberships: Fans pay monthly for exclusive perks.
- Super Chat & Super Stickers: Viewers pay to highlight their messages during live chats.
- Super Thanks: Viewers pay to highlight their messages below on-demand videos.
- Shopping: Showcase and sell your branded products directly on YouTube.
- YouTube Premium revenue: Earn a share of the subscription fee when premium members watch your content.
Let’s explore each option in more detail.
Ad revenue.
Ad revenue is one of the most common ways to earn money on YouTube. You get paid when ads are shown in your videos – this includes display ads, overlay ads and skippable or non-skippable video ads. Revenue is typically calculated based on views and clicks, with CPM (cost per thousand impressions) varying by region and topic. The main downside: it can be unpredictable and depends heavily on your audience size and niche.
Channel memberships.
Channel memberships allow your viewers to support you with a monthly subscription. In exchange, they receive exclusive perks like badges, emojis, members-only content or early access to videos. This feature works well for creators with a loyal community and consistent output. However, you need to continually offer value to retain members.
Super Chat and Super Stickers.
These features are designed specifically for live streams and Premieres. Viewers can pay to have their messages highlighted in the live chat (Super Chat) or send animated stickers (Super Stickers) to show support. Think of it like a tip or donation from your audience. They’re ideal for creators who stream regularly and interact with their audience in real time. It’s spontaneous, but not a guaranteed income source – it depends on live engagement.
Super Thanks.
Unlike Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks is designed for on-demand videos. This feature allows viewers to support you by buying a highlighted “thank you” message they can post in the comment section below the video. It works with both new uploads and older content – giving evergreen videos a monetisation boost. Super Thanks is a great way to earn from viewers who want to show appreciation but don’t typically watch live streams. You can set custom response messages to thank supporters and build community loyalty.
If you sell branded products, YouTube’s shopping feature lets you promote them directly under your videos. It’s integrated with selected merchandising partners, making it easy to sync and display items. This feature is best suited for creators with a strong visual identity or community-driven branding. Additionally, you can include affiliate links in your video descriptions to earn commission from partner retailers – a great option if you don’t have your own products.
YouTube Premium revenue.
Even when viewers don’t see ads, you can still earn revenue through YouTube Premium. YouTube pays you a share of a Premium subscriber’s fee based on how much they watch your content. It’s passive, consistent and doesn’t require any action from your side. While the payout is usually smaller than ad revenue, it adds up over time and complements your earnings.
YouTube monetisation requirements.
Now that you know how the YPP can help you generate income, let’s talk about the fine print. Before you can join the programme and start monetising, your channel needs to meet specific eligibility requirements. These are designed to ensure quality content and active, engaged channels – and they differ depending on your channel size and audience behaviour. Overall, YouTube offers two main pathways to join the partner programme. Each one unlocks different monetisation features.
Option 1: 500 subscriber threshold.
This is the more accessible entry point for newer or smaller channels. To qualify, your channel must have:
- At least 500 subscribers
- 3 public uploads in the last 90 days
- 3,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months, or 3 million Shorts views in the past 90 days
With this threshold, you can access the following revenue-generating features:
- Channel memberships
- Super Chat & Super Stickers (for live streams and Premieres)
- Super Thanks (for on-demand videos)
- Shopping features (if eligible)
This tier allows creators to start building income streams even if they haven’t reached the full monetisation requirements yet.
Option 2: Full YPP access (1,000 subscribers).
To access the full suite of YouTube monetisation features, including ad revenue and YouTube Premium share, your channel must meet the following:
- 1,000 subscribers
- Either: 4,000 valid public watch hours in the last 12 months, or 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days
With this threshold, you gain access to:
- All features from the 500-subscriber tier, plus:
- Ad revenue (from ads shown on your videos)
- YouTube Premium revenue (based on watch time from Premium members)
Additional requirements.
Meeting the subscriber and watch hour thresholds is only part of the equation. YouTube also requires channels to fulfil a few platform-wide conditions to maintain trust and content quality:
- Two-step verification: This security measure helps protect your account from unauthorised access. It’s mandatory for all monetising channels and ensures that your login credentials are secured with an extra verification step.
- Channel standing: Your channel must have no active Community Guideline strikes. That means consistently following YouTube’s rules on content, behaviour and audience interaction. Violations – such as copyright infringement, harmful content or misleading metadata – can delay or block your application.
Taking care of these basics not only gets you into the YouTube Partner Program – it helps you stay there.
Once you meet the criteria, you can apply for the YouTube Partner Program directly in YouTube Studio. YouTube typically reviews applications within 30 days. For up-to-date details, visit the YouTube help page.
Getting started: step-by-step guide for joining the YouTube Partner Program.
Ready to start earning? Here’s how to apply for the YouTube Partner Program step by step:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio: Go to the “Earn” tab in the left-hand menu.
- Check your eligibility: You’ll see your subscriber and watch-hour progress. Once you hit the threshold, click “Apply now”.
- Review the terms: Read and accept the YouTube Partner Program terms.
- Connect an AdSense account: You’ll be prompted to set up AdSense for YouTube (more on that below).
- Get reviewed: YouTube will review your channel based on its monetisation policies (more on that below) and the requirements explained above.
- Start monetising: Once accepted, enable monetisation features per video or channel-wide.
Setting up AdSense for YouTube.
AdSense is YouTube’s payment partner – it’s how you actually get paid. Here’s how to set it up:
- If you already have an AdSense account, you can link it directly to your channel.
- If not, YouTube will guide you to create one during the YPP sign-up.
- Use the same email address as your YouTube channel for a smooth integration.
Make sure your AdSense details – like your name, bank account and address – are accurate to avoid payment issues. Once set up, you’ll receive monthly income when your balance exceeds the payment threshold.
