So, you want to make money on YouTube? Go for it — but know that it takes more than just hitting "upload" and waiting for a check.
The most talked-about method is earning ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program. It's real money, and it works — but it comes with requirements that can feel out of reach when you're just starting out. You need a solid subscriber count and thousands of watch hours before YouTube even lets you apply.
The good news? Ad revenue isn't the only path. There are ways to start earning on YouTube before you hit those thresholds — and some that don't depend on YouTube's rules at all. Here's what you need to know.
How to Make Money on YouTube
1. Earn ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program
Ad revenue is the most well-known way to monetize on YouTube, but you'll need to build an audience first before you qualify.
To join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and earn a cut of ad revenue, you need to meet these minimums:
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 hours of watch time in the last 12 months — OR — 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days
Once you're in, you link a Google AdSense account and start earning a share of the revenue from ads that run on your videos. You'll also get a cut of YouTube Premium revenue when Premium subscribers watch your content.
You can track your eligibility progress directly in YouTube Studio under the "Earn" tab. When you hit the thresholds, you apply from there.
💡 Unlock monetization features sooner: You don't have to wait for the full YPP to start earning on platform. With just 500 subscribers, 3 uploads in the last 90 days, and 3,000 watch hours in the past year (or 3 million Shorts views), you can access channel memberships, YouTube Shopping, and live chat features like Super Thanks and Super Stickers.
2. Make money with affiliate marketing
Affiliate marketing lets you earn commissions on products you recommend — and you can start on day one, with zero subscribers.
Here's how it works: you join an affiliate program, get a custom tracking link, drop it in your video description, and earn a commission every time someone clicks and buys.
Steps to get started:
- Sign up for an affiliate program — Amazon Associates is the easiest starting point, especially for product review or unboxing channels
- Browse platforms like Awin, ClickBank, or Impact to find programs that match your niche
- Check your favorite brands' websites directly — many run their own affiliate programs
- Add your custom links to every relevant video description
- Mention the link naturally in the video itself ("link in the description")
Commission rates vary widely — Amazon pays 1–10% depending on the category, while software and digital products on platforms like ClickBank can pay 30–50%. If your channel covers tech, finance, or software, affiliate marketing can outpace ad revenue significantly.
3. Land brand deals and create sponsored content
Brand deals are one of the highest-earning opportunities on YouTube, but they typically come once you have an engaged audience — even a small one.
A brand deal usually means a company pays you to mention, review, or feature their product in a video. The payment can come as a flat fee, a per-sale commission, or free product. Some creators do all three.
You don't need a massive channel to land your first deal. Brands increasingly work with micro-influencers — creators with 5,000 to 50,000 subscribers — because their audiences tend to be more focused and engaged.
How to find brand deals:
- Reach out directly to brands whose products you already use and genuinely like
- Join creator marketplaces like Grapevine, Influencer.co, or YouTube's own BrandConnect platform
- Use your media kit (a one-page overview of your channel stats and audience) when pitching
One important rule: if you include paid promotions or product placements in a video, you must check the "paid promotion" box in YouTube's video details. Skipping this can get your channel penalized.
4. Sell your own products or services
If you've built an audience around a topic, you already have the hardest part of selling — you have people who trust you.
Selling your own stuff means you keep 100% of the profit (minus platform fees). That's a very different math than ad revenue or affiliate commissions.
What you can sell:
- Physical merch — T-shirts, mugs, accessories. Tools like Printful or Printify handle print-on-demand so you don't carry inventory.
- Digital products — e-books, Lightroom presets, Excel templates, printables, music samples
- Online courses or workshops — platforms like Gumroad, Teachable, or Kajabi make this straightforward
- Services — coaching, consulting, freelance work in whatever your channel is about
Creator Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) includes a link to his merch store in every single video description. You don't need his audience to use the same habit — drop your product link consistently and let it compound.
Once you hit 500 subscribers, you can also use YouTube Shopping to tag products directly in your videos and connect a storefront inside the platform.
5. Charge for memberships and exclusive access
A membership model turns your most loyal viewers into paying supporters — and even a small group of paying members can add up fast.
Two solid options here:
YouTube Channel Memberships (available at 500 subscribers) let you charge a monthly fee — typically between $1.99 and $99.99 — in exchange for perks like members-only posts, badges, exclusive livestreams, or early video access. You set the tiers and the benefits.
Patreon works outside of YouTube but pairs with it naturally. Many creators use Patreon to offer ad-free videos, behind-the-scenes content, or direct access like Discord communities. Creators like CGP Grey and Kurzgesagt have built significant recurring revenue this way.
The key to memberships working is making the perks feel genuinely valuable. A members-only Q&A, early access to your best content, or a private community where you actually show up — those convert. A badge alone usually doesn't.
How many views do you need to make real money?
The metric YouTube uses is RPM (Revenue Per Mille) — what you earn per 1,000 views across all monetized sources including ads, memberships, and Premium revenue.
A conservative range for most channels is $1 to $5 RPM, but it varies a lot based on your niche, audience location, and how many of your views are monetized. Finance, tech, and business channels can see RPMs of $10–$30 or more because advertisers pay more to reach those audiences. Entertainment and vlogging channels often land at the lower end.
That means to earn $500/month from ads alone, you'd need somewhere between 100,000 and 500,000 monthly views — depending on your niche.
For new creators, don't optimize for views first. Optimize for niche. A smaller, highly targeted audience in a high-value niche will out-earn a large general audience almost every time. Tools like TubeBuddy and VidIQ can help you research which topics and keywords attract higher-paying advertisers in your space.
How long does it take to make money on YouTube?
Straight answer: it depends on how much you put in, but it's not fast for most people. Think months to years, not weeks.
That said, there are things you can control right now:
- Upload consistently. The more videos you have, the faster you accumulate watch hours and the more chances the algorithm has to surface your content. Even one solid video per week compounds quickly over a year.
- Pick a specific niche and stick to it. Channels focused on a clear topic attract subscribers who actually want more of what you make. That's what drives the watch hours and loyalty you need.
- Put effort into your titles and thumbnails. They're the first thing anyone sees. A great video with a weak thumbnail gets skipped. Study what works in your niche before you publish.
- Diversify your income early. Don't wait for ad revenue. Set up affiliate links from your first video. Build your email list. Start a Gumroad page. These don't require YouTube's approval.
- Treat it like a business, not a hobby. Review your analytics. Double down on what works. Drop what doesn't. Creators who grow fastest are the ones who stay curious about their own data.
YouTube isn't a lottery — it rewards consistency and specificity more than luck. Start now, stay focused, and the revenue will follow.
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