Skip links
Free tool

YouTube Monetization Checker

Enter your channel numbers to see if you meet the YouTube Partner Program requirements – and exactly what’s still missing.

You’ll find these numbers in YouTube Studio → Earn.

Full YouTube Partner Program

Ad revenue, YouTube Premium revenue and all fan-funding features.

Lower tier (fan funding)

Memberships, Super Chat, Super Thanks and Shopping, in countries where it’s available.

Get more subscribers
Quick answer: To earn ad revenue on YouTube you need 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days. A lower tier with 500 subscribers unlocks fan funding such as memberships and Super Thanks in many countries.

YouTube Partner Program requirements

Full YPP (ad revenue) Lower tier (fan funding)
Subscribers 1,000 500
Watch hours (12 months) 4,000 public hours 3,000 public hours
… or Shorts views (90 days) 10 million 3 million
Public uploads (90 days) – 3
What you unlock Ad revenue, YouTube Premium revenue, all fan funding Memberships, Super Chat, Super Thanks, Shopping

You also need to follow YouTube’s monetization policies, live in a country where the program is available, have no active Community Guidelines strikes, turn on 2-Step Verification and link an AdSense account.

How to use the checker

Open YouTube Studio → Earn to see your current subscribers, public watch hours and Shorts views, then enter them above. The checker shows your progress towards both tiers and tells you exactly how many subscribers, hours or views you still need. Add your average new subscribers per month to get a rough time estimate.

How to reach the thresholds faster

  • Pick one path. Long videos build watch hours; Shorts build Shorts views. Mixing both is fine, but the two totals don’t combine.
  • Make videos people finish. Strong first 30 seconds, clear chapters and end screens that lead to another video.
  • Turn viewers into subscribers. Ask at the right moment and give people a reason to come back – a series, a schedule.
  • Get new uploads seen. Early views help YouTube test a video with more people. Read our 15 ways to get more YouTube views.

Once you’re in, use the YouTube Money Calculator to estimate what your views could earn.

Last updated: September 2026

FAQ

YouTube monetization questions

How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube?
You need 1,000 subscribers for full ad revenue through the YouTube Partner Program. In many countries a lower tier opens at 500 subscribers, which unlocks fan funding like channel memberships and Super Thanks, but not ad revenue.
Do Shorts watch hours count towards the 4,000 hours?
No. Watch time from Shorts doesn’t count towards the 4,000 public watch hours. Shorts have their own path: 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
Do unlisted, private or deleted videos count?
No. Only public watch hours count. Hours from videos you made private, unlisted or deleted drop out of the total.
How long does the YPP review take?
YouTube usually reviews applications within about a month, although it can take longer. You’ll get an email and a notice in YouTube Studio when a decision is made.
Can I apply again if I’m rejected?
Yes. If your application is rejected you can usually reapply after 30 days, or after 90 days if you’re rejected again. Use the time to fix the issues YouTube points out, such as reused content.
Are these requirements the same in every country?
The main thresholds are the same, but the program and the lower tier are only available in certain countries. Check YouTube Help for the current list for your country.
Free tools

More free creator tools

YouTube Money CalculatorEstimate what a channel earns from its views, niche and audience.Open the tool →YouTube Engagement Rate CalculatorWork out engagement, like and comment rates for any video.Open the tool →YouTube Thumbnail PreviewTest your thumbnail and title in a YouTube-style feed.Open the tool →YouTube Thumbnail DownloaderGet any video’s thumbnail in every available size.Open the tool →TikTok Money CalculatorEstimate Creator Rewards earnings and brand deal rates.Open the tool →Spotify Royalties CalculatorEstimate streaming royalties and the streams you need.Open the tool →

See all free tools →

Grow towards 1,000 subscribers

Real subscribers from real people, delivered gradually and tracked in your Customer Panel.

Start your campaignBuy YouTube subscribers