YouTube Monetization Requirements: What You Need to Get Paid

Want to earn money from YouTube? You need to join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Here is what it usually takes, in plain words. Always check YouTube's own help page for the latest rules, because they can change.

The main requirements

• 1,000 subscribers.
• 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months, or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
• A channel that follows YouTube monetization policies.
• 2-step verification turned on for your Google account.

YouTube also has an early access level with lower numbers. It unlocks fan features first, and ad revenue comes at the full level.

How to reach 4,000 watch hours faster

• Make longer videos that people actually finish. Watch time counts, not just clicks.
• Use a strong title and thumbnail so more people click.
• Build playlists so viewers move from one video to the next.
• Post on a steady schedule so your audience knows when to come back.
• Share your videos where your audience already hangs out.

Can views and watch time services help?

Many creators use growth services to give a new video a stronger start. A video with more views and subscribers looks more trusted to new visitors, and that can help real people click. Real content and real viewers are still what keep a channel growing, so use a service as a boost, not a replacement.