How Many Subscribers Do You Need to Get Paid on YouTube? (2026)
YouTube does not pay per subscriber. It pays you a share of the ad revenue from your views once you are in the YouTube Partner Program, and subscribers are one of the things you need to get in. Here is exactly how many, and what else YouTube checks.
Subscriber requirements on YouTube in 2026
| What you unlock | Subscribers | Also needed |
|---|---|---|
| Fan funding (memberships, Super Chat, Super Thanks, Shopping) | 500 | 3 public uploads in 90 days, plus 3,000 watch hours in 12 months or 3M Shorts views in 90 days |
| Ad revenue (full Partner Program) | 1,000 | 4,000 public watch hours in 12 months or 10M Shorts views in 90 days |
| Ad revenue for new channels from Feb 1, 2027 | 1,000 | 8,000 watch hours in 12 months or 20M Shorts views in 90 days |
Every channel is also reviewed against YouTube's monetization policies, needs 2-Step Verification, an AdSense account and no active Community Guidelines strikes. Reaching the numbers does not guarantee approval.
Why subscribers alone won't get you paid
Many channels pass 1,000 subscribers and then get stuck on watch hours. Subscribers are a one-time count, but watch hours have to come from the last 12 months of public long-form videos. Shorts views in the Shorts feed do not count toward the 4,000 hours, only toward the separate Shorts path.
How much does YouTube pay per subscriber?
Zero, directly. YouTube pays for views, not subscribers. A channel with 1,000 loyal subscribers who watch every video can earn more than a channel with 100,000 inactive ones. What you earn depends on your RPM, which is what you get per 1,000 views after YouTube's share, and RPM changes a lot by country and niche.
Example maths: at an RPM of $2, 100,000 views earn about $200. At an RPM of $8, the same views earn about $800. Your subscriber count is the same in both cases.
Ways to earn before 1,000 subscribers
- Affiliate links in your descriptions: no subscriber minimum.
- Sponsorships and brand deals: no minimum, but a clear niche helps.
- Selling your own products or services.
- Fan funding at 500 subscribers, once you also meet the upload and watch-hour rules.
How long does it take to get 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours?
There is no standard timeline. Some channels do it in a few months, many take years, and plenty never get there. Consistent uploads in one niche, longer videos that hold attention and good titles and thumbnails help. The watch-hour target also doubles for new applicants on February 1, 2027.
If you want to earn from ads now, another route is to start with a channel that is already in the Partner Program. Every monetized channel we sell is approved when you buy it, ownership moves to your own Gmail within 12 to 24 hours, and you get a 30-day replacement or refund.
How many subscribers do you need to get paid on YouTube?
1,000 subscribers for ad revenue, together with 4,000 public watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days. 500 subscribers unlocks fan funding but not ads.
Can you get paid on YouTube with 500 subscribers?
Yes, through fan funding such as channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Thanks and YouTube Shopping, if you also have 3 uploads in 90 days and 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views. Ad revenue still needs 1,000 subscribers.
Does YouTube pay per subscriber?
No. YouTube pays a share of ad revenue from your views. Subscribers only matter for getting into the Partner Program and for bringing back viewers.
How much does YouTube pay for 1,000 subscribers?
Nothing for the subscribers themselves. Earnings depend on views and RPM. At a $2 RPM, 100,000 views earn about $200.
How much does a YouTuber with 1 million subscribers make?
It varies hugely, because pay depends on monthly views, niche and audience country, not the subscriber count. Two channels with 1 million subscribers can earn very different amounts.
Are the requirements changing in 2027?
Yes. From February 1, 2027, new channels need 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views. The 1,000-subscriber requirement stays the same.