[FAQ]

Hey everyone,

I’m trying to figure out the whole YouTube monetisation thing. I keep hearing that you need 1000 subscribers before you can start earning any real money through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).

Is that still the main rule in 2025, or have things changed? Are there other big requirements I should know about, like watch hours or something? Also, wondering if there’s any way to make a bit of coin from YouTube before you hit that 1k sub mark.

Any up-to-date info would be fantastic!

[Jeff Bullas]

G’day,

Good question – the rules around getting paid on YouTube can seem a bit like a moving target, but here’s the current score as of mid-2025.

You’re right, 1000 subscribers is a key number, but it’s part of a bigger picture for getting into the full YouTube Partner Program (YPP), which is how you earn a share of ad revenue.

For Full YPP (Ad Revenue, etc.):
You generally need to meet these:

1,000 subscribers
AND one of the following:
4,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months (for long-form videos).
10 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days.
Follow all YouTube’s monetisation policies and Community Guidelines.
Have an active AdSense account linked up.
No active Community Guidelines strikes on your channel.
Have 2-Step Verification turned on for your Google Account.
Earning Sooner (Access to Some Features with Lower Requirements):
YouTube has opened things up a bit so creators can start earning from some features earlier. For this tier, the general requirements are:

500 subscribers
3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days
AND one of the following:
3,000 valid public watch hours in the past 12 months.
3 million valid public Shorts views in the past 90 days. (Plus the usual policy adherence, AdSense, etc.)
If you meet this lower tier, you can typically access features like:

Channel Memberships (fans pay a monthly fee for perks).
Super Chat & Super Stickers (for live streams).
Super Thanks (viewers can tip on your videos).
YouTube Shopping (to promote your own merch or products).
You don’t get ad revenue sharing at this 500-subscriber tier. That unlocks when you hit the full 1,000 subscriber and higher watch hour/Shorts views criteria. The good news is, once you qualify for the lower tier and then meet the higher requirements, you usually get upgraded automatically to full YPP benefits without needing to reapply.

Other Ways to Earn (Regardless of YPP):
Don’t forget you can also explore things like:

Affiliate marketing (promoting products and getting a commission).
Brand deals/sponsorships (even smaller channels with an engaged niche audience can get these).
Selling your own merch or digital products directly.
So, while 1,000 subscribers (plus the watch time/Shorts views) is still the main gateway for sharing in ad revenue, you can start unlocking some other earning features a bit sooner. And there are always independent ways to make a quid with your content too.

Cheers,

Jeff

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