How to Make Money on YouTube

Have you ever wondered how top YouTube earners make tons of money every year? YouTube legends Mr. Beast, Jake Paul, and Nastya earn between $20 to $80 million annually. That’s because their earnings come from not one but multiple income streams.

In 2025, there’s more than one way to earn money on YouTube. Earlier, most YouTubers made a share of their revenue from YouTube ads and partner programs. While they are still an integral part of getting paid on YouTube, they’re not the only ones.

Want to know how to make money on YouTube? We’ll show you the best and most effective ways to start earning on YouTube in 2025.

First Up: Sign Up for the YouTube Partner Program

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is your gateway to getting paid on YouTube. It opens up creators to several money-making possibilities—whether you want to make money from addictive YouTube Shorts or informative, long-form videos.

In the past three years alone, YouTube has paid its creators over $70 billion in revenue. You, too, can be one of them. Once you sign up for this program, there are a ton of revenue options to explore, such as:

• Displaying ads during YouTube videos or Shorts
• YouTube Premium subscribers who get access to your exclusive content
• YouTube Shopping to sell merch or other products to your viewers
• Channel membership features to earn money from Super Chat and Super Thanks

Apart from the above revenue streams, you can access several creator tools. We’re talking about YouTube’s creator support and Copyright Match tool, which lets you identify copied videos from your channel. This ensures that only you—and no one else—can make money from your content.

How Do I Join the YouTube Partner Program?

Is joining YPP as easy as they say? Well, yes, so long as you meet the eligibility criteria. First up, get ready for some number crunching and see if your channel hits these milestones:

• You need at least 1,000 subscribers on your channel.
• You need to have racked up at least 4,000 watch hours in the last year (12 months).
• Or, you need to have at least 10 million views on your Shorts in the past 90 days.

You must also live in an eligible region to qualify for the program.

Does your channel tick all the boxes? Great. Head over to YouTube Studio to apply for the program. This is also where you’ll see all your earnings at a glance. Once you apply, YouTube tells you whether they’ve accepted you into the program within a month.

In the meantime, check if you qualify for YouTube’s other monetization features. Yes, you got that right. Even without hitting the above milestones, you may be able to start earning on YouTube. Its channel memberships, chat, and shopping features are all open, even if you have 500 subscribers.

Additionally, you must have uploaded at least three pieces of content in the last 90 days. You must also have 3,000 watch hours in the last 12 months (or 3 million views on Shorts in the past 90 days). Here’s a table that breaks down all the elements of the YPP:

Still short on watch hours? Consider a practical solution to buy YouTube watch hours and quickly qualify for monetization.

Monetization Path	Subscriber Eligibility	Watch Hour Eligibility	Shorts Views Eligibility	Other Qualifications
YouTube Partner Program (YPP)	At least 1,000	4,000 hours in the last 12 months, OR ->	10 million views in the last 90 days	Must live in an eligible region/country
Alternate Monetization Features	At least 500	3,000 hours in the last 12 months OR ->	3 million in the last 90 days	Must live in an eligible region/countryMinimum three uploads in the past 90 days

Start Airing Ads on Your YouTube Videos

So, you’ve been welcomed into YouTube’s Partner Program—excellent! Now, you can start collecting revenue from your channel’s ads. To do this, you need to create a Google AdSense account from within YouTube Studio. Next, link your account to your YouTube channel and wait for AdSense to approve your application.

Once approved, you can turn on ads on YouTube and start running them. For example, when you make a long-form video, YouTube will display a mix of ads to your viewers. While you can’t control the ads you display, you can decide where to place them—at least for videos eight minutes or longer.

The more content you post, the more ads YouTube will display—maximizing your revenue greatly. Some videos may not generate as much revenue as others, but don’t worry. This is your chance to experiment and see what works best with your audience. You can see your share of earnings in your YouTube Studio under the Revenue tab.

If you’re struggling to meet YouTube’s Partner Program criteria quickly, a proven strategy is to buy YouTube views—kickstarting your channel’s growth and increasing your potential earnings faster

Collaborate With Brands and Earn Money From Sponsored Videos

In 2022, tech channel Unbox Therapy became the leading collab creator in the U.S. and Canada with 45 brand collabs. So, if you thought brand collaborations were only for TikTokers and Instagram influencers, that’s not true.

A study shows that brands that collaborate with YouTube creators are 4X better at increasing brand familiarity than celeb collabs. And mind you, they pay big—especially when they realize your channel has a growing, niche audience worth tapping into. If you’re a fledgling channel, you may need to pitch brands to gain sponsorships. But once you gain enough traction, brands will come knocking!

As such, companies will sponsor your videos while you promote their products. Or, they may offer barter deals. For example, if you’re a tech channel, you may receive the latest gadget from a brand in exchange for a shoutout in one of your videos. The bottom line is that brand deals can get you anything from per-sale commissions to free products and hefty payouts. Of course, you must notify your audience about brand sponsorships by checking a box in your video caption.

Pitching a Brand for Collaboration

Now is the time to be bold and get that brand sponsorship! If you’re interested in working with a brand, get in touch with their marketing team. Send them a personalized pitch with the following details:

• Give them a glimpse of your channel’s impressions and metrics, even if it’s not yet big. Brands often work with nano-creators, too. Add details like your channel’s subscribers, number of views, and audience demographics.

• Outline why your channel and the brand would be a good fit. Highlight common interests and audience overlap, and explain why you’re the right channel for their brand or product.

• Shine a light on past successful collaborations—they act as social proof and can add weight to your pitch.

• Don’t just talk about your channel; show them how their brand can benefit from the collaboration, too!

• Share specific ideas for the collab—whether it’s a product giveaway or a contest. It shows brands that you’re proactive and mean business.

• Include a clear call to action and invite them to schedule a call to discuss further details.

Be ready for a few initial rejections, but don’t take them to heart. Keep working on your content and send those pitches as your audience grows. Remember, the worst they can say is no.

Earn Commissions Via Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a great way to earn passive income from your channel. If you follow MKBHD on YouTube, you know what we’re talking about. The prominent tech reviewer earns millions yearly, with a substantial portion of his earnings coming from affiliate tech links. The best part is that affiliate marketing benefits all involved—you, your audience, and the brand you’re recommending!

This is how it works—you recommend a product or service you’ve tried or know about. If it interests your viewers, they can buy the product through your affiliate link. As a result, you earn a commission from the sale. All you need to do is sign up for the brand’s affiliate program.

Once you’re accepted, you get a special affiliate link for each product. It’s up to you how you want to promote these products in your video—but include the affiliate link in its caption so your viewers can buy from it.

Here are some things to note about YouTube affiliate marketing:

• Brands have various commission structures for affiliate sales. Do your own research before you sign up for an affiliate program.

• Ensure that the products you’re promoting are relevant to your audience. For instance, if you have a YouTube cooking channel, you don’t want to promote car accessories or gaming consoles. Instead, cater to your audience’s interests. Sign up for brands selling kitchen gadgets or accessories your viewers would find useful and worth buying.

• If possible, try a product before recommending it. After all, you want your audience to trust and buy from your links. Accidentally pushing a poor product can dilute their trust and hurt your channel.

• Be sure to disclose that you may earn a commission from your affiliate products.

Make Money From Loyal Followers: Channel Subscriptions and Memberships

Your audience follows you for your unique content, but guess what? Some followers may be willing to pay a premium to access more exclusive content. That’s why a membership model is a great opportunity to grow your fan base and make more money while at it.

Fans of your channel can sign up for a monthly subscription—as one does with Netflix. In return, you can offer them a range of members-only perks, including:

• Members-first content that’s revealed to members days before the regular audience
• Product deals and discounts
• Q&A access
• Live stream access
• Behind-the-scenes footage
• Live chats

This is an indicative list, but you can do much more to build a relationship with your paid subscribers. The great thing is that such subscriptions help you generate a fixed monthly income.

How to Get Paid Subscribers or Memberships

Some YouTubers use third-party platforms like Patreon to garner subscriptions. However, YouTube also has an internal channel subscription model for those parts of its partner program. It also offers fan funding features that can get you tips and bonuses.

For example, when streaming live, your viewers can send you money through Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Super Thanks. In return, YouTube highlights these viewers’ comments in the chat box.

Besides Patreon and YouTube, you can get tips or donations from your fans through funding platforms such as:

• Tipeee
• Ko-Fi
• Buy Me a Coffee

A golden rule of fan funding: don’t ask, don’t get. So, don’t shy away from marketing yourself and explicitly asking for donations from viewers who want to support your content.

Promote and Sell Cool Merchandise

Swedish YouTuber PewDiePie makes a lion’s share of his income from selling branded merch. You’re probably thinking: Of course, people buy his merch; he’s a literal legend. Who’s going to buy mine? Well, lots of people, especially your followers.

You can sell merch even if you have a small yet engaged community of followers. Just find a product that resonates with your followers and market it in your videos every chance you get. For instance, if you have a yoga channel, you could promote merch such as:

• Yoga mats
• Eco-friendly water bottles
• Comfortable activewear
• Cork yoga blocks

If selling physical products is not feasible, you can easily sell downloadable merch or services such as:

• Short e-books with yoga exercises
• Virtual classes
• Yoga journals
• Digital pose guides

The sky’s the limit as long as you have the drive to sell.

But before you open up your channel to merch goods, here’s what you need to keep in mind:

• Set up a secure payment portal and make it easy for potential customers to pay. YouTube mandates using an approved merch platform such as YouTube Merch Self. You can sync it with on-demand print services such as Spreadshop and Printify.

• Connect a merchandise partner’s store with your channel through YouTube Studio. You can find this function under the “Earn” tab, and it is available to eligible creators.

• Launch an exclusive pre-sale on your merch store for your members. Doing so will generate FOMO among other subscribers that convert into more memberships.

Lesser-Known Ways to Earn Money From Your YouTube Channel

Being a YouTuber is now a legit profession—and a lucrative one at that. If you’re seeking more ways to earn money off your YouTube channel, we’ve got you.

License Your YouTube Content

It’s not just followers and regular viewers looking for viral YouTube content these days. News channels, online outlets, and even other creators may want to showcase your content, especially if it’s trending. And guess what? If they want to use it, they must legally license it from you in exchange for money.

Stay a step ahead and enlist your videos in licensing marketplaces like these:

• Storyful
• Jukin Media
• ViralHog
• Newsflare

Crowdfund Your YouTube Projects

Want to make your next viral video but don’t have the capital to fuel it? Crowdfund it! Many YouTubers crowdfund their creative projects, whether to cover production costs or start a YouTube series.

Of course, you must first have a concrete project in mind before you ask your audience to pitch in. Next, explain what you’re building and how you plan to go about it. You’d be surprised at how many viewers show interest and contribute to making it happen. Popular crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow you to set up funding options easily.

How Much Money Can I Make From My YouTube Channel?

It’s hard to put a number on YouTube revenue, as the figure varies widely. But some experts estimate that there’s a chance to earn anywhere between $30 to $300 monthly from AdSense.

The real deal? Making money on YouTube boils down to a combination of factors, from engagement to niche—and sheer luck. You may have heard stories of overnight success, but these are rare. One thing is non-negotiable, though—you need to put in the work, make smart moves, and stay consistent. While you may not be able to control your earnings directly, you can influence them. Here’s how.

Tips on How to Make Money on YouTube

• Choose a lucrative niche for your channel—one that also overlaps with your interests and talent. Love vlogging? Find out what people like to see. Love tech? See if there are any industry gaps that you can fill with your content. Tech, finance, beauty, health, and gaming are some of the most profitable niches right now.

• Focus on quickly increasing your viewers, watch hours, and subscriber count. Doing this will catapult you into the YPP program, and you can start making money sooner.

• Give audiences what they want. Use tools like YouTube Analytics and Google Trends to identify and plan your content around trending topics. This will also help you identify opportunities for affiliate marketing and brand merchandise.

• Make a brand wish list that outlines all the brands you wish to work with. Match your interests and audience data to see if they overlap. Send that collab pitch.

• Make full use of info cards on YouTube to drive sales. These interactive panels allow you to post clickable links to affiliate brands, merch websites, or other revenue sources.

• Don’t forget to cross-promote. Many YouTubers consistently post snippets of their videos on social media like Instagram or TikTok. This can help you diversify your audience and win more subscriptions.
• Looking for a quick engagement boost? You can easily buy YouTube likes to attract more organic interactions and elevate your videos’ credibility

Increase Your Chances of Earning on YouTube Today!

There’s no better time to start earning on YouTube. The platform rewards nascent creators with high payouts so long as they bring the views and audience. Thanks to YouTube’s versatile payment structure, you can also earn from multiple income streams. The earlier you launch your channel, the sooner you’ll start building a community that rewards your efforts. Become an independent creator and start making money from YouTube today!

FAQs

All FAQs General Support Payment Others

What is the number of views I need to get paid on YouTube?

If you want to earn from long-form videos on YouTube, you need at least 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months. To earn through Shorts, you need at least 10 million views in the last 90 days.

What are the basic requirements to start making money on YouTube?

You must be eligible for its partner program to start making money on YouTube. The program mandates you have at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public watch hours for long-form videos in the last 12 months. For Shorts, you need 10 million views in the last 90 days.

How do I know that my channel is eligible for YouTube earnings?

When you’re eligible for YouTube earnings, you can display ads on your channel and earn from them. You can track your ad revenue on YouTube Studio.

What is the easiest way to earn money on YouTube?

Ad revenue is one of the easiest and most popular ways to earn on YouTube. Once you’re eligible, you can display ads on your videos. The more viewers watch your videos (and the ads), the more money you earn.

How much do beginners make on YouTube?

Beginner YouTubers who meet the basic requirements of YouTube’s Partner Program can earn at least $50 per month. This amount may be higher depending on your channel’s view count. For example, beginner YouTubers with more views and watch hours can earn up to $300.

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