Partner Program (YPP)

What is the YouTube Partner Program?

The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) is the program that lets creators earn money directly on the platform. Members keep a share of the ad revenue their videos generate and unlock features like channel memberships, Super Thanks, and Shopping. Joining requires meeting subscriber and watch-time thresholds and passing a channel review.

Why it matters

YPP is the gateway to YouTube monetization: outside the program, a channel earns nothing even when YouTube shows ads on its videos. Members keep 55% of ad revenue on long-form videos and 45% of the revenue allocated to their Shorts, and fan funding adds income that does not depend on ad rates.

Requirements in 2026

There are two entry tiers:

• Full monetization: 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.

• Expanded access (fan funding only): 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views.

In both cases the channel needs a linked AdSense account, 2-step verification, no active Community Guidelines strikes, and content that follows YouTube's monetization policies. Shorts watch time does not count toward the 4,000 hours — Shorts have their own views-based path.

How to apply

1. Open YouTube Studio and go to the Earn tab — it shows live progress toward the thresholds.

2. Once eligible, click Apply, accept the terms, and connect or create an AdSense account.

3. Wait for the review: YouTube checks whether the channel follows its monetization policies. Decisions usually arrive within a few days to a few weeks.

After you're accepted

Turn on the earning features you need in the Earn tab: ads, memberships, Super Thanks, and Shopping. From there, watch your RPM to see what a thousand views actually pays, and keep building watch time — it remains the main driver of both reach and revenue. Membership has to be maintained: channels inactive for six months or breaking monetization rules can be removed from the program.