YouTube Monetization Requirements in 2026, and What Changes in 2027
YouTube pays from 500 subscribers for fan funding and 1,000 for ads. From February 1, 2027, new creators need 8,000 watch hours or 20M Shorts views.
YouTube pays creators through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), and it has two doors. At 500 subscribers you can earn from fan funding and Shopping. At 1,000 subscribers with 4,000 qualified watch hours or 10 million qualified Shorts views, you also earn from ads. On February 1, 2027, the ad door gets harder for new creators: 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views. Creators already in YPP keep their status.
We read YouTube's own help pages and its August 10, 2026 announcement on October 22, 2026.
What are the YouTube monetization requirements?
| Tier | Today | From February 1, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Fan funding and Shopping | 500 subs, 3,000 hours or 3M Shorts views | No change |
| Ads and Premium | 1,000 subs, 4,000 hours or 10M Shorts views | 1,000 subs, 8,000 hours or 20M Shorts views |
YouTube Help, "YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility" and "Changes to the YouTube Partner Program," read October 22, 2026. Hours are qualified watch hours in the last 12 months; Shorts views are qualified views in the last 90 days.
The 500-subscriber tier also asks for "3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days." It's the tier that opens memberships, Supers, Shopping and brand deals through YouTube.
Every tier has the same basics. You'll need to "Have no active Community Guidelines strikes," turn on 2-Step Verification, live where YPP is available and link one active AdSense for YouTube account.
What changes on February 1, 2027?
YouTube calls it "the first significant changes since 2018." Its blog post of August 10, 2026 lists them, and its help page adds the detail:
- Higher entry for ads. "New creators applying for YPP will need 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days, or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days." You still need 1,000 subscribers.
- Existing partners are safe. "If you are already in YPP, your status is not impacted by this update."
- A bar for Shorts earnings. To earn from the Shorts Creator Pool each month, creators "will now need to maintain 10M qualified Shorts views over the last 90 days." Missing it doesn't remove you from YPP or touch long-form earnings.
- No change for fan funding. It stays at 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours or 3M Shorts views.
- New terms. Partners need to "review and accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio by January 31, 2027."
How does a channel stay active in YPP?
| Way to stay active | Amount |
|---|---|
| Watch hours | 1,000 in 365 days |
| Shorts views | 1 million in 90 days |
| Uploads | 2 long videos or 5 Shorts every 90 days |
YouTube Help, "Changes to the YouTube Partner Program," rules from February 1, 2027.
Any one of the three keeps a channel active. YouTube says most partners already meet them, and if you drop below, you'll get a 90-day window to recover.
What counts as a qualified watch hour or Shorts view?
Only public views. Qualified watch hours come from "long-form videos you've set public." YouTube lists what doesn't count: "Private videos Unlisted videos Deleted videos Ad campaigns YouTube Shorts." Shorts views count when they come from public Shorts in the Shorts Feed, and ad campaigns are excluded there too.
Watch hours from Shorts don't count toward the watch-hour threshold, because the two routes are separate.
Fake numbers don't help. YouTube's fake engagement policy says "subscribers that are identified as spam will not count toward your total number of subscribers or views." And when YouTube changed public view counts on August 24, 2026, it added that "YPP earnings will still be based on 'engaged views' and 'engaged watch hours.'"
How do you apply for the YouTube Partner Program?
- In YouTube Studio, open Earn and click Apply now.
- Review and accept the base terms.
- Set up or link an AdSense for YouTube account.
- Wait for review. You can't skip it.
Meeting a threshold doesn't let you in by itself. YouTube's own FAQ asks "If I meet the threshold, do I automatically get into YPP?" and answers "No." A review "typically" takes "about 1 month." If you're turned down, you can "appeal the decision within 21 days" or re-apply after 30 days.
How much does YouTube pay?
YouTube pays creators a share of revenue, and there's no published rate per view. On Premium, its post says creators share "30% of the net subscription revenue for Premium and 60% for Premium Lite," split 55% to long-form and 45% to Shorts. YouTube for Creators says it paid "$100 billion" to creators, artists and media companies from 2021 to 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What are the YouTube monetization requirements?
For ads today: 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months, or 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. For fan funding and Shopping: 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in 90 days, and 3,000 hours or 3 million Shorts views.
What changes on February 1, 2027?
New creators will need 8,000 qualified watch hours or 20 million qualified Shorts views for ads, plus 1,000 subscribers. Shorts earnings will need 10 million qualified Shorts views every 90 days. Creators already in YPP keep their status.
How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube?
500 for fan funding and Shopping, and 1,000 for ad and Premium revenue, along with the watch hours or Shorts views.
What are the YouTube Shorts monetization requirements?
1,000 subscribers and 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days today. From February 1, 2027, new creators need 20 million to join, and every Shorts earner needs 10 million every 90 days to keep earning from Shorts.
How long does YPP review take?
YouTube says about a month, with delays possible. You can appeal within 21 days or re-apply after 30.
Our guides to free YouTube subscribers and free YouTube views cover which free numbers count. The glossary has a short entry on the YouTube Partner Program.
Sources
- YouTube Blog, "New opportunities to earn and changes to the YouTube Partner Program," August 10, 2026
- YouTube Help, "Changes to the YouTube Partner Program," "YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility" and "Overview of the expanded YouTube Partner Program," read October 22, 2026
- YouTube for Creators, "Join the YouTube Partner Program," read October 22, 2026
- YouTube Help, "Fake engagement policy" and "How engagement metrics are counted," read October 22, 2026
- Google results for "youtube monetization requirements," US, October 22, 2026 (our read)
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