Guide 2026

How to make money on YouTube: thresholds and income sources

YouTube pays creators through its Partner Program, but you do not have to wait for ad revenue to start. Fan funding opens earlier, and a donation link works from your very first video. This guide explains the thresholds and what you keep.

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Start making money on YouTube

  1. Create a free donation page.
  2. Add the link to your channel and video descriptions.
  3. Pin the link in chat and add an OBS donation alert for your live streams.
  4. Track your progress towards the Partner Program in YouTube Studio.

Ads and the Partner Program

To share ad revenue, YouTube requires 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 public watch hours in 12 months, or 10 million valid Shorts views in 90 days. What you earn depends on your topic, your viewers' country and watch time.

Super Chat, Super Thanks and memberships

The expanded Partner Program opens fan funding from 500 subscribers, plus three public uploads in 90 days and 3,000 watch hours in 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days. With Super Chat, YouTube pays you 70% after taxes and app store fees. Availability depends on the country: check under Earn in YouTube Studio.

Direct donations through your link

A donation link works from your first video. Put it in your description and in a pinned message during your live stream. Your community can donate with Bizum when it is activated for your account. You can also offer cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay where available. DonoLink charges 3.5% per successful donation; Stripe charges its costs separately. Every donation can appear as an alert in OBS, next to Super Chats.

Sponsors, products and your net income

Sponsored integrations are often the main source for YouTubers; affiliate links and your own products add to it. Track gross and net for each source every month and set money aside for tax.

Frequently asked questions

Fan funding opens from 500 subscribers in the expanded Partner Program, ad revenue from 1,000. Both also have watch-time requirements. A donation link has no threshold.

YouTube pays creators 70% of Super Chat revenue after taxes and any app store fees.

Yes. Many creators keep Super Chat on YouTube and add a donation link in their description and pinned chat message.

Official sources

Related guides

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