Video creators are today’s self-made celebrities—people who have made money on YouTube by creating videos that entertain, educate, inform, or generally remind us how awesome the internet can be.
Just look at the career of Jimmy Donaldson, also known as MrBeast. He began making videos at age 13 and spent years honing his viral content, from Let’s Plays to videos estimating the wealth of other YouTubers.
Jimmy now runs one of the most-subscribed YouTube channels in the world and has an estimated net worth of more than $1 billion, with his YouTube business netting $473 million in revenue last year alone.
The beauty of a YouTube channel is that you don’t need millions of subscribers to monetize your videos and social media following. In this guide, discover how to make money on YouTube, learn how much money successful YouTubers make, and try these eight strategies that can help you start earning even more.
How to make money on YouTube
- First: Join the YouTube Partner Program
- Turn on ads for your videos
- Monetize YouTube Shorts
- Let your audience support you with fan funding
- Sell products and merch
- Work with brands as an influencer
- License your content to the media
- Crowdfund your creative projects
- Use affiliate marketing
First: Join the YouTube Partner Program
The YouTube Partner Program lets creators tap into different ways to earn money from their shorts, livestreams, and long-form videos. YouTube reports it paid more than $70 billion to program members between 2021 and 2023 alone, so consider applying if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Creators who join the YouTube Partner Program program can get:
- Revenue sharing from ads during videos and between shorts
- Revenue sharing from more than 100 million YouTube Music and Premium subscribers
- Funds from Super Chat, Super Thanks, and channel membership features
- YouTube Shopping to offer products to your audience
- Access to YouTube’s creator support and Copyright Match tool, which helps protect your original content
Joining the Partner Program isn’t the only way to make money online through YouTube. Depending on your situation, it may not even be the most lucrative strategy for your channel. Other options include directing your viewers off-platform to your online store or affiliate partners, or creating sponsored videos—all of which are covered in the tips below.
That said, most YouTube monetization methods are easier—or only possible—as a member of the Partner Program.
How to join the partner program in 2025
To apply for the YouTube Partner Program, your channel needs to hit the following milestones:
- 500 subscribers
- Three valid uploads
- 3,000 watch hours in the past 12 months or three million Shorts views in the past 90 days
To unlock ad revenue and monetize your content, you’ll need at least 1,000 subscribers and slightly more views: either 4,000 watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days.
Your channel also needs to be in good standing with YouTube and follow all YouTube’s monetization policies. In addition, you must live in an eligible region.
When you’re ready to apply, head to your channel’s YouTube Studio and open the Earn tab to get started.
Turn on ads for your videos
Once you’re accepted into the YouTube Partner Program, the easiest way to start earning money on YouTube is to collect ad revenue from display and video ads that run on your channel.
When you make a long-form video and turn on ads, YouTube will show your viewers a combination of pre- and post-roll ads that may or may not be skippable. You can’t control which ads are displayed before or after your videos, but for videos eight minutes or longer, you can choose whether to place ads in the middle. Mid-roll ads can be added automatically or placed manually.
Select the Revenue tab in your YouTube Studio to see ad earnings reports, including your monthly estimated revenue for videos with monetization turned on.
Consider looking beyond ads for revenue
While YouTube ads are a simple, passive way to monetize your videos, you’ll likely need to combine ads with other earning strategies to make significant revenue.
YouTube’s demonetization policy is considered overly cautious by some creators, so there’s a chance some of your content won’t be advertiser-friendly. There’s a risk of being removed from the program and your earnings tanking overnight if it’s your only source of revenue.
Average YouTube ad revenue in 2025
YouTube’s ad revenue model works on a cost per mille (CPM) basis, which is the amount advertisers pay to reach 1,000 users on the platform.
The average YouTube CPM is $15.34, though this depends on a variety of factors, including your niche, ad placement, country, and content format.
However, YouTube also keeps 45% of ad revenue from standard videos and 55% from Shorts, meaning you won’t get the full amount that brands pay to place ads on your content. Plus, repeat views or those with a watch time of less than 30 seconds don’t count, so you may earn slightly less than a direct CPM-to-views calculation might suggest.
Here’s how to estimate how much you’ll earn through YouTube ads on standard videos:
Creator pay = [(total number of eligible ad views ÷ 1,000) x CPM] x .55
If you had 50,000 eligible views and a CPM of $15, for example, your estimated YouTube ad revenue earnings would be $412.50.
Monetize YouTube Shorts
YouTube launched its own short-form video format, known as Shorts, to rival TikTok and Instagram Reels. Despite clocking in at less than 60 seconds, YouTube Shorts have incredible earning potential for creators.
Shorts collectively have more than 70 billion daily views that advertisers pay to be included in, so it makes sense that YouTube extended its creator monetization opportunities to include Shorts. More than one quarter of channels in the YouTube Partner Program are now earning through this revenue stream.
How YouTube Shorts monetization works
The ad revenue sharing model for YouTube Shorts is more complex than traditional videos. How much you can earn depends on the music you’ve used in the clip and the portion of views you accumulated compared to other creators in your region.
Here’s a closer look at how the YouTube Shorts monetization model works:
- YouTube collates revenue from ads placed between videos in the Shorts feed.
- Ad revenue is split into two buckets: the Creator Pool (where revenue is assigned to creators based on engaged views and music usage across Shorts) and the Music Fund (to cover the cost of music licensing). This split depends on whether the creator used music in their Short.
- Creators earn their share of eligible revenue based on how many Shorts views they contributed in their region. For example, if a creator earned 2% of all Shorts views in their country, they’d receive 2% of the revenue in that region’s Creator Pool.
- YouTube applies its revenue share split and pays out 45% of eligible earnings to the creator.
Calculating potential Shorts earnings
Revenue per mille (RPM) helps estimate how much you’ll earn from YouTube Shorts. Creators report earning anywhere from 1¢ to 6¢ PM.
Here’s how to use this metric to calculate potential earnings:
Estimated Shorts earnings = (Total eligible views ÷ 1,000) x RPM
For example, if you had 800,000 total views and an RPM of 4¢, your estimated YouTube Shorts earnings would be $32.
Let your audience support you with fan funding
For creators who are part of the Partner Program, YouTube’s fan funding features provide ways for viewers to directly support your channel with tips and monthly payments.
Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks are colorful messages and alerts your viewers can buy to support your channel during live streams and video premieres. When purchased, these tip-jar features highlight a fan’s comments in the chat box.
Similarly, YouTube channel memberships offer paying fans a range of exclusive benefits you create.
Make up to six member levels with increasing benefits, such as:
- Channel badges and custom emojis, letting members stand out in live chat and comments
- Community posts, shorts, and videos only your members can see
- Exclusive first-viewing rights of your videos
- Members-only live chat and livestreams
- A member recognition shelf featuring member avatars at the top of your channel page
Other ways to fan-fund
You can also source donations for your channel outside the YouTube ecosystem.
While you may need to invest in additional content to reward donors, these platforms offer a familiar way for your audience to support you on an ongoing basis:
- Patreon, a well-known fan-funding platform where creators offer additional content, access, and perks in return for regular donations
- Tipeee, which allows you to seek both one-off and recurring donations
- Buy Me a Coffee, which allows creators and artists to accept donations, often with lower fees than Patreon
- Ko-fi, another low-fee platform for sourcing donations, subscriptions, and crowdfunding
Sell products and merch
YouTube offers more advanced tools to help creatives make money online, including YouTube Shopping. This feature lets fans shop directly from your YouTube content.
You can use YouTube Shopping to:
- Open a storefront on your channel
- Connect your online store to your channel to display your products around videos
- Tag your products or products from other brands in videos
Many creators choose to sell merch like tote bags, snapbacks, and t-shirts, or recommend products from brands they review or partner with. For example, Cassey Ho, Pilates instructor and founder of the Blogilates YouTube channel, launched a clothing line after fans said they wanted to represent the creator.
“Fans were like, ‘Well can we have a Blogilates shirt?’ And I was like, ‘Why in the world would you want to wear my screen name?’” says Cassey in aShopify Masters interview. “But that was also the moment I realized, ‘Oh my God, maybe Blogilates is not just a screen name.’”
Selling branded swag is easier than you think. Use print-on-demand services to design affordable products that are produced and shipped on a per-order basis.
How to set up YouTube Shopping
The easiest way to use YouTube Shopping is by connecting your Shopify store to your YouTube channel. That way, your product listings are automatically synced, and your customers can either check out on YouTube or visit your store for a more in-depth shopping experience.
Don’t have an online store yet? Start yours on Shopify with a free trial.
Work with brands as an influencer
Brands are increasingly investing in influencer marketing and sponsorships, spending their advertising budgets on influencers who’ve already won the loyalty of their audiences. This creates an opportunity for you as a creator if you can negotiate the right deal in return for exposing your audience to their products.
- Shopify Collabs makes it easy to find brands that match your content and values. Build affiliate relationships, get paid for what you sell, and track everything in one place.
- YouTube also has a built-in feature for connecting with brands, which uses data about your audience to match your channel with brand partners.
Brendan Gahan, a YouTube marketing expert and influencer, recommends establishing your baseline flat fee by looking at the number of views your videos typically get, then multiplying the amount by 5¢ to 15¢ per view.
Depending on your leverage—your target audience, content quality, and how unique and profitable your niche is—you might be able to negotiate a better deal if the brand is a good fit.
The key when partnering on brand-sponsored content is to be transparent, and only endorse products you actually like or believe in.
License your content to the media
If you happen to create a viral video with mass appeal—say, a funny clip featuring your dog—you can license your content in exchange for money. TV news outlets, morning shows, online news sites, and other creators might reach out about rights to use your videos if they happen to go viral.
You can also list your videos in a marketplace, such as Jukin Media, where your content will be easier for the right people to find and purchase.
When this video of a woman wearing a Chewbacca mask went viral, tons of media outlets wanted in.
Crowdfund your creative projects
When money is all that stands between an idea and its execution, crowdfunding is a good way to make your next viral video happen.
Whether you need help buying better equipment, hiring actors, or covering other production costs, you can call upon your audience and community to pitch in—if your idea is compelling enough.
Many crowdfunded creative projects draw funding by offering a sneak peek or trailer that gets people excited. Consider shooting a video explaining your project or offering a taste of what it will be like.
Popular crowdfunding sites with a history of being lucrative for YouTubers include:
- Kickstarter. One of the most well-known crowdfunding sites, great for funding cool products and creative projects. Be sure to set an attainable funding goal because you only get the funding if you meet the goal you set.
- Indiegogo. A Kickstarter alternative that offers more flexible funding options.
Use affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing is a content monetization strategy where you earn a commission by promoting products or services from other brands in your videos.
If you’re a YouTube creator, you can become an affiliate marketer by creating marketing content that promotes relevant products to your viewers. And since there’s no risk involved on the brand’s end (it only pays when they make sales), there’s usually a low bar to getting started. Just be sure to clearly disclose that you are affiliated with the products you’re reviewing.
How to become an affiliate
To start affiliate marketing, look for affiliate programs that align with your content and are likely to resonate with your audience. The more relevant the product or brand, the more likely you are to find success. Once you’re registered, you can add affiliate links to your video descriptions or end cards.
YouTube simplifies this process with its Shopping affiliate program, allowing you to quickly locate relevant products and view commission percentages. Once you’ve found a product you’d like to promote, it’s easy to tag it directly in your videos.
While any creator can post affiliate videos and links on YouTube, using the official YouTube Shopping affiliate program requires being part of the Partner Program and meeting YouTube’s eligibility requirements.
Find affiliates for your products
If you’re a creator with your own product line, consider recruiting affiliates to promote your own products on YouTube.
Eligible Shopify merchants can quickly add their products to the YouTube Shopping affiliate program for affiliates to find and promote in their videos. Sync your products through the Shopify YouTube app and set commission rates that you’re comfortable with.
Getting paid on YouTube: the numbers
Current YouTube revenue statistics
YouTube is a popular channel for brands to promote their products. Data shows that YouTube ad revenue exceeded $8.92 billion in the first quarter of 2025 alone. But for YouTube to run business ads, they need content to place it on. This creates plenty of opportunity for eligible creators to monetize their channel and claim a slice of ad revenue.
How many views do you need on YouTube to make money?
There is no set number, as it can depend on the creator. However, various sources agree that channels typically earn between $2 and $25 per 1,000 views.
The number of views you get doesn’t correlate to revenue earned. If your video gets thousands of views but no one watches or clicks on the ad, you won’t make any money. This is because of YouTube’s criteria for billing advertisers: a viewer must click an ad or watch the video ad in full (10, 15, or 30 seconds) for you to get paid.
How much money do YouTubers make per year?
Top YouTubers like MrBeast can earn tens of millions of dollars each year through their channels. While what they earn is enormous, smaller accounts can still earn a living on YouTube.
Take Justine Leconte’s YouTube channel, for example. She has one million channel subscribers and helps people dress better and understand fashion. Based on her total video views and just off ad revenue, her estimated annual earnings are around $259,304, earning $979 per video, on average, according to Influencer Marketing Hub’s YouTube Money Calculator.
Based on these estimated numbers, Justine could earn a living off her YouTube channel by posting one or two videos per week. But it’s important to note that these are only estimates. Justine could be earning more or less than the numbers above, depending on the YouTube monetization strategies she uses.
Top-earning YouTube channels in 2025
Creators who’ve mastered YouTube monetization make millions of dollars from their channels each month. Most blend several monetization strategies—including YouTube ads, product lines, and podcast deals—to boost their income.
Here are the current top-earners and how much they make from YouTube each year:
- MrBeast: $85 million
- Matt Rife: $50 million
- Dhar Mann: $45 million
- Rhett & Link: $36 million
- xQc: $36 million
- Ryan Kaji: $35 million
- Markiplier: $32 million
- Mark Rober: $25 million
- Alex Cooper: $22 million
- Stokes Twins: $20 million
How do YouTubers maximize their revenue?
YouTube channels can be monetized even if they don’t have millions of subscribers. Your earning potential is also determined by the level of engagement you generate, the niche you cater to, and the revenue channels you explore.
This list of top YouTube earners might give you the impression that millions of dollars are earned directly from YouTube ad revenue. In fact, each of these channels has its own line of merchandise. These channels found and built their audiences first, before launching other revenue streams.
If making money on YouTube is in your marketing plan, the first step is the same for everybody: have a clear understanding of your target audience. Once you understand more deeply who your target audience is and what they want, you’ll be better prepared to create content (and, eventually, merch) that’s both authentic to you and appealing to your fans.
Tips for selling on YouTube
Many YouTube monetization strategies involve promoting a product. But you’ll want to make sure your promotions don’t sabotage the integrity of your content.
“Selling out” is a real concern for lots of creators. On the other hand, if you never seek compensation, you’ll likely never receive it.
Follow these YouTube marketing tips to place promotional content in your videos without testing your audience’s patience—or trust.
Understand your audience on YouTube
Building your own audience puts you in a great position to monetize content in a variety of ways. But you can only make the most of your opportunities if you understand your audience.
For many YouTubers, having a niche channel can help you work with brands targeting specific audiences.
You’ll want to pay close attention to:
- The genders of your audience, to see if it skews toward one particular group
- The age range most of your audience falls into
- The geographic location—countries or cities—where your videos are being watched the most
- Your audience’s overall engagement (or “watch time”)
- Which keywords they use to find you in YouTube search
With this demographic information, you’ll understand your audience and work better with brands. Demographic insights can be pulled from your YouTube analytics.
Add info cards to your videos
Whether it’s part of your deal with a brand or you’re promoting your own products, info cards (formerly known as YouTube Cards) offer an eye-catching way to get the attention of engaged viewers.
Use free video editing software to add pop-ups at just the right moment—when they’re most relevant and least distracting—to increase their impact.
Add links in your video descriptions
You can send viewers to your store, Patreon page, Kickstarter campaign, or other revenue sources by adding links to your video descriptions.
Grace Beverley, for example, shares links to The Productivity Method journal in YouTube video descriptions to monetize her content:
Promote your offer on other platforms
Just because your content is hosted on YouTube doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be taking advantage of all the other content distribution channels out there. The more places your message lives, the greater the chance it’ll be seen.
Spread the word about new campaigns or discounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and any other profiles you own. You could also use AI tools like Descript or VEED to repurpose longer YouTube videos into shorter social media clips to drive followers back to your channel.
Turn views into revenue with YouTube monetization
With the right YouTube monetization strategy, content creators can turn their hobby into a lifelong career and get rewarded for the hours of hard work and experimentation needed to conquer the YouTube algorithm.
The hardest task for many creators isn’t building an audience—it’s choosing a sustainable monetization strategy that will serve them in the long term. Relying solely on YouTube’s monetization options can be risky, especially when it’s known to be overly cautious with its demonetization policy.
Selling merch, creating digital products, or becoming an affiliate for your favorite products isn’t just a way to supplement income—it’s a way to insulate yourself and build a creator business that’s less reliant on YouTube algorithms, and more driven by the relationships you have with your audience.
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How to make money on YouTube FAQ
How many views do you need to get money on YouTube?
The number of views your YouTube channel receives doesn’t correlate to revenue earned. If your video gets thousands of views but no one engages with ads shown before your videos, you won’t make any money. This is because of YouTube’s criteria for billing advertisers: A viewer must click an ad or watch the video ad in full (10, 15, or 30 seconds) for you to get paid.
How much does YouTube pay per 1,000 views?
The average YouTube channel receives around 1.8¢ per view, which equals $18 per 1,000 views, according to data from Influencer Marketing Hub.
Do you get paid for uploading videos on YouTube?
Content creators aren’t paid by YouTube for the videos they upload. For you to start making money on YouTube, you have to enable monetization in your YouTube account settings. From there, you have options to join the YouTube Partner Program or have your videos listed on YouTube Premium.
How do YouTubers make money on YouTube?
- Join YouTube’s Partner Program
- Sell products or merchandise
- Crowdfunding
- Fan funding
- License content to media
- Work with brands as an influencer
- Become an affiliate marketer
How can you make money on YouTube without making videos?
To make money from YouTube without producing videos, you can partner with popular creators to promote your products to their viewers. Eligible Shopify merchants can add their products to YouTube’s affiliate marketing program in a few clicks, allowing creators to tag products in their videos so viewers can shop as they watch.
How many YouTube subscribers do I need to make $2,000 a month?
There is no set number of subscribers you’ll need to make $2,000 per month through YouTube. If you’re relying solely on YouTube ads, assuming a CPM of $18, you’d need around 111,000 monthly views to earn $2,000.
Can a beginner make money on YouTube?
Beginners can make money on YouTube. Start by building an audience and apply for the YouTube Partner Program when you hit the 500 subscriber milestone. That way, when you reach 1,000 followers and have accumulated enough watch time, you can join the YouTube Partner Program and monetize your channel through ads.
