The short version
- The YouTube Partner Program has two levels. The first opens at 500 subscribers and unlocks fan funding and Shopping.
- Ad revenue opens at 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 watch hours in a year or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days.
- You also need 2-Step Verification, no active Community Guidelines strikes and to live where the program is available.
- Once you're in, YouTube's own brand deal and Shopping tools open up too.
"How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube?" has two answers now. YouTube splits its Partner Program into two levels, and the first one comes much sooner than most people think. Here are the YouTube monetization requirements for 2026, straight from YouTube's own pages.
Level 1: 500 subscribers (fan funding and Shopping)
You can apply once you have:
- 500 subscribers
- 3 public uploads in the last 90 days
- And either 3,000 public watch hours on long-form videos in the last 365 days, or 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days
This level unlocks ways for viewers to support you directly, like channel memberships, Supers and gifts, plus YouTube Shopping and YouTube Creator Partnerships.
Level 2: 1,000 subscribers (ad revenue)
Ad revenue and YouTube Premium revenue open up at:
- 1,000 subscribers
- And either 4,000 public watch hours on long-form videos in the last 365 days, or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days
Watch hours from Shorts in the Shorts feed don't count toward the 4,000 hours, so long-form and Shorts creators each have their own path.
What you can use once you're in
YouTube Creator Partnerships (formerly BrandConnect) lets you set your rates and share channel insights so brands can find you, right inside YouTube.
The Shopping affiliate program lets you tag products in videos, Shorts and lives and earn commission. It's open in the US and UK (and a list of other countries), but not yet in Canada or Australia.
How to reach the thresholds faster
- Pick one path. Shorts views and long-form watch hours are counted separately, so focus on the format you enjoy making.
- Use free, copyright-safe music. Copyright claims can take revenue away from your videos. YouTube's free Audio Library is safe to use in monetized videos.
- Learn from the source. YouTube's free creator site has official lessons on growing a channel, Shorts and earning.
Other ways to earn before you qualify
You don't have to wait for the Partner Program to start earning. UGC work pays per video regardless of your subscriber count; see how to become a UGC creator.
Frequently asked questions
How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube?
500 subscribers unlocks fan funding and Shopping, with 3 public uploads in the last 90 days and either 3,000 watch hours in a year or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days. Ad revenue needs 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views.
Do Shorts views count toward YouTube watch hours?
No. Watch hours from Shorts in the Shorts feed don't count toward the long-form watch hour threshold. Shorts creators qualify through the separate Shorts views threshold instead.
What else do you need to join the YouTube Partner Program?
You need to live where the program is available, follow YouTube's monetization policies, have no active Community Guidelines strikes, turn on 2-Step Verification and link an AdSense account. YouTube then reviews your channel.
How we research: we check every offer against the brand's or program's own website before publishing and when we update a guide. Programs change, so always confirm the details at the source before you sign up. Read our editorial standards, or tell us about a correction. Some links may be affiliate links; see our disclosure.