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YouTube Monetization Checker

A free YouTube monetization checker that tells you whether your channel qualifies for the YouTube Partner Program (ad revenue) and the early-access fan-funding tier, based on your subscribers, watch hours, and Shorts views.

Updated June 2026

Next Step

YouTube Subscriber Projector

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YouTube Money Calculator

Estimate how much YouTubers earn based on views, CPM, and niche.

YouTube Shorts Money Calculator

Estimate how much YouTube Shorts pay per 1,000 views. See projected Shorts revenue with real RPM data.

How It Works

Our YouTube Monetization Checker tells you exactly which tier of the YouTube Partner Program your channel qualifies for right now, and what is left between you and ad revenue.

  1. Enter your channel stats— subscribers, public watch hours from the last 12 months, public Shorts views from the last 90 days, recent uploads, and a few account-status questions.
  2. See instant results— the checker grades you against both the full Partner Program (ad revenue) and the early-access fan-funding tier.
  3. Track the gaps— progress bars show exactly how close you are on each unmet requirement, like “2,500 of 4,000 watch hours.”
  4. Follow the action plan— a prioritized list of what to fix first, with the baseline blockers (country, strikes, verification) called out before the numbers.

The two tiers, explained

YouTube runs monetization in two stages. The early-access tier needs 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 public watch hours (last 12 months) or 3 million public Shorts views (last 90 days). It unlocks fan funding only: Super Thanks, Super Chat, channel memberships, and Shopping. It does not turn on ad revenue.

The full Partner Program needs 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 public watch hours (last 12 months) or 10 million public Shorts views (last 90 days). This is the one most creators are chasing: it adds your share of ad revenue on long-form and Shorts, plus YouTube Premium revenue.

Watch hours or Shorts views: pick your lane

The hours requirement has two paths and you only need one. For most channels, 4,000 long-form watch hours is the realistic route. The 10-million-Shorts-views path only makes sense if Shorts are already most of what you publish, because 10 million views in 90 days is a high bar. One important catch: the two do not combine. Shorts views are not converted into watch hours, and watch time on your Shorts does not count toward the 4,000-hour figure. They are parallel routes to the same gate.

The baseline requirements people forget

Hitting the numbers is not the whole story. Your channel also has to be in a country where the program is offered, carry no active Community Guidelines strikes, follow the channel monetization policies, and have 2-Step Verification switched on for the Google Account. When you apply, YouTube reviews your channel for original, policy-compliant content. Reused or mass-produced content is the most common reason a channel with qualifying numbers still gets turned down.

Where to find your numbers

Subscribers are on your channel page and in YouTube Studio. Watch hours and Shorts viewslive in YouTube Studio > Analytics; the Monetization or Overview tab tracks your progress toward the thresholds automatically once you are close. Account standingis under Settings > Channel > Status and features.

Once you qualify, what will it pay?

Eligibility is only step one. What you actually earn depends on your niche, audience country, and format. Estimate your long-form income with the YouTube Money Calculator and your Shorts income with the YouTube Shorts Money Calculator. To forecast when you will hit 1,000 subscribers, use the Subscriber Growth Projector. For a deeper read on the money side, our guides on how many subscribers you need to make money and how much YouTubers actually make go further than the calculators alone.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the requirements to get monetized on YouTube in 2026?
To earn ad revenue through the full YouTube Partner Program you need 1,000 subscribers AND either 4,000 public watch hours in the past 12 months OR 10 million public Shorts views in the past 90 days. You also need to live in a country where the program is available, have no active Community Guidelines strikes, follow the channel monetization policies, and have 2-Step Verification enabled. There is also a lower early-access tier (500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in 90 days, and 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views) that unlocks fan funding but not ad revenue.
How many subscribers do you need to make money on YouTube?
You need 1,000 subscribers for the full Partner Program that turns on ad revenue. You can start earning sooner at 500 subscribers through the early-access tier, which unlocks fan-funding features like Super Thanks and channel memberships but not ad revenue. Subscribers alone are never enough on their own; you also have to clear the watch-hours or Shorts-views threshold.
Is it 1,000 subscribers AND 4,000 watch hours, or one or the other?
Both. The subscriber count and the watch-hours requirement are separate gates and you have to clear both. The only "or" is inside the second requirement: you can satisfy it with either 4,000 public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million public Shorts views in 90 days. So the full rule is: 1,000 subscribers, plus (4,000 watch hours OR 10M Shorts views).
Do YouTube Shorts views count toward monetization?
Yes, as a separate path. Instead of 4,000 long-form watch hours, you can qualify with 10 million public Shorts views in the past 90 days (3 million for the early-access tier). You only need one of the two. Note that Shorts views do not get added to your long-form watch hours; they are an alternative route, not a top-up.
Do watch hours from Shorts count toward the 4,000 hours?
No. The 4,000-hour requirement is long-form (and live stream) public watch time only. Time spent watching your Shorts does not roll into that number. Shorts get their own separate qualifying threshold measured in views, not hours.
Can you make money on YouTube without 1,000 subscribers?
Yes, through the early-access tier. At 500 subscribers, with 3 public uploads in the last 90 days and either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views, you can turn on fan-funding features: Super Thanks, Super Chat, Super Stickers, channel memberships, and Shopping. This tier does not include ad revenue, which still requires the full 1,000-subscriber program.
How long does it take to get monetized on YouTube?
Reaching the thresholds is the slow part and depends entirely on your growth. Once you meet them and apply, YouTube reviews your channel against its monetization policies, which typically takes up to about a month, sometimes much less. If you are rejected, you can reapply after 21 days. The review checks that your content is original and policy-compliant, not just that your numbers are high enough.
What is the difference between the early-access tier and the full Partner Program?
The early-access tier is a lower bar (500 subscribers) that unlocks fan funding only: Super Thanks, channel memberships, Shopping, and similar features where your audience pays you directly. The full Partner Program (1,000 subscribers) adds ad revenue, which is the share of ad money on your long-form videos and Shorts, plus YouTube Premium revenue. Most people mean the full program when they say "getting monetized."
What disqualifies you from YouTube monetization?
Common blockers include an active Community Guidelines strike, content that is not original or is mass-produced or repetitive (reused content), living in a country where the program is not offered, and not following the channel monetization policies. These can stop monetization even when your subscriber and watch-hour numbers qualify, which is why the review step exists.
Does the 4,000 watch hours have to be in the last 12 months?
Yes. The watch-hours requirement is a rolling 12-month window, so only public watch time from the past 365 days counts. If your views slow down, older watch hours drop off the back of the window. The Shorts-views alternative uses a rolling 90-day window in the same way.
How much does YouTube pay once you are monetized?
It varies enormously by niche and audience country. Long-form RPM (what you actually keep per 1,000 views) ranges from roughly $1 in gaming and entertainment to $15 or more in finance and business. Shorts pay far less per view, roughly $0.01 to $0.07 per 1,000 views, from a separate pooled-revenue model. Use our YouTube Money Calculator and Shorts Money Calculator to estimate your specific numbers.
How are your eligibility checks calculated?
This checker uses the official YouTube Partner Program requirements for both the full tier and the early-access tier, evaluated against the stats you enter. We update the thresholds whenever YouTube changes them. For our full data sources and methodology, see our Methodology page.

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