Brolly Academy | YouTube
How to Earn Money from YouTube
12 Real Ways to Earn in 2026
Twelve real ways to earn money from YouTube in India in 2026, from ads and memberships to Shopping, brand deals and YouTube jobs, with the official requirements for each and the YouTube Partner Program changes coming on 1 February 2027.
How to earn money from YouTube in 2026: 12 real ways, from ads, memberships and Super Chat to Shopping, brand deals and YouTube jobs, with requirements.
By Brolly Academy Team · Brolly Academy · Updated 21 October 2026
Table of Contents
1. How does earning money on YouTube work?
2. Earn from YouTube ads (AdSense)
4. Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks and live gifts
6. YouTube Shorts: from the Shorts Fund to revenue sharing
7. YouTube Shopping and affiliate marketing
8. Brand sponsorships and paid promotions
9. Sell your own products, courses and services
11. Make YouTube your job: channel manager, editor and more
12. How to earn before monetisation (and without showing your face)
13. How YouTube pays you in India
14. How long does it take to start earning?
15. Policies that can stop your earnings
Quick answer
You earn money from YouTube in two ways: through YouTube's own features after you join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), and through your own deals such as sponsorships, affiliate links, products and services. YouTube shares ad, Premium and fan revenue with you. Brands, buyers and clients pay you directly for everything else.
- Fan funding (memberships, Supers): 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in 90 days, and 3,000 watch hours in 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days (YouTube Help, October 2026)
- Ad revenue: 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 watch hours in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days
- Your share: 55% of watch page ad revenue, 45% of Shorts revenue allocated to you, 70% of fan funding revenue
- Without YPP: sponsorships, your own products, services and freelance work still pay
- Big change: from 1 February 2027, new channels need 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views to unlock ad revenue
Key takeaways
- Ads are only one income stream. Fan funding, Shopping, brand deals and your own products often matter just as much.
- The lower YPP tier is your first goal. At 500 subscribers you can turn on memberships, Supers and Shopping if you meet the other conditions.
- The rules change on 1 February 2027. New channels will need more watch time for ad revenue, and Shorts earnings will need 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days.
- Original content is non-negotiable. Reused, mass-produced or template-made videos cannot be monetised, even if you use AI.
- YouTube skills are a career too. Channel managers, editors and YouTube SEO specialists earn by running other people's channels.
1. How does earning money on YouTube work?
Short answer: YouTube shares part of the money it collects from advertisers, YouTube Premium members and fans with creators in the YouTube Partner Program. You can also earn from anyone who pays you because of your audience: brands, shoppers, students, clients and employers.
2. Earn from YouTube ads (AdSense)
Short answer: You need full YPP access: 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 qualified public watch hours in the last 12 months, or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. You keep 55% of net revenue from ads on the watch page (YouTube Help, October 2026).
According to YouTube's How to earn money on YouTube page (October 2026), you must also be 18 or older, or have a guardian over 18 who manages your AdSense payments, and follow the advertiser-friendly guidelines. YPP also requires 2-Step Verification, no active Community Guidelines strikes and a linked AdSense for YouTube account. Shorts feed watch hours do not count toward the 4,000 hours.
What changes on 1 February 2027
YouTube announced YPP updates on its Official Blog in August 2026. From 1 February 2027, new creators applying for ads and Premium revenue sharing need 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days, or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, plus 1,000 subscribers (YouTube Help, October 2026). Channels already in YPP are not affected by the new entry bar, but every creator must accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio by 31 January 2027. If you are close to today's threshold, apply before February 2027.
Applying
Go to the Earn section of YouTube Studio, accept the terms, link AdSense and wait for review. YouTube says review typically takes about one month and covers your whole channel. If you are rejected, you can appeal within 21 days or reapply after 30 days. Our guide to YouTube monetization rules covers review, rejection reasons and demonetisation in detail.
How much ads pay
Ad earnings depend on your niche, where your viewers live, the season, video length and the ad formats shown. Rates in India vary widely and are usually lower than in countries like the US. For RPM, CPM and a simple estimate, read our guide on YouTube income per 1000 views in India.
3. Channel memberships
Short answer: Viewers pay you a monthly fee for exclusive perks you choose, such as members-only videos, posts or live sessions. Memberships open at the lower YPP tier: 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and 3,000 watch hours in 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days. You must be 18 or older (YouTube Help, October 2026).
You also need to accept the Commerce Product Module, and your channel cannot be set as made for kids.
YouTube's partner earnings overview (October 2026) says creators receive 70% of net revenue from memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers and Super Thanks. If you are part of a multi-channel network (MCN), your share can be lower.
Memberships work best for loyal audiences such as teachers, coaches and gamers. Always deliver the perks you promise.
4. Super Chat, Super Stickers, Super Thanks and live gifts
Short answer: These are one-time payments from fans. You must be 18 or older, accept the Commerce Product Module and live where the feature is available. You receive 70% of the revenue Google confirms, after local sales tax and iOS App Store fees (YouTube Help, October 2026).
All of these unlock at the lower (expanded) YPP tier, which YouTube lists as available in India. Gaming streams, live classes, doubt sessions and cricket watch-alongs benefit most.
5. YouTube Premium revenue
Short answer: When YouTube Premium members watch your videos, you earn a share of their subscription money instead of ad money. You need to be in YPP and accept the relevant module. It appears automatically in YouTube Analytics.
YouTube's August 2026 blog post explains the model from 1 February 2027. Premium and Premium Lite get separate revenue pools: 30% of net subscription revenue for Premium and 60% for Premium Lite. The pools are shared by member watch time and views, and creators receive 55% for long-form content and 45% for Shorts. The best way to grow this income is to make videos people watch for a long time.
6. YouTube Shorts: from the Shorts Fund to revenue sharing
Short answer: Shorts first paid through a temporary $100 million Shorts Fund in 2021–2022. Since early 2023, YPP creators earn a share of Shorts feed ad revenue and keep 45% of the revenue allocated to them. From 1 February 2027, you need 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days to earn Shorts revenue for a month (YouTube Help, October 2026).
A short history
- May 2021: YouTube announced a $100 million Shorts Fund for 2021 and 2022. YPP membership was not required (YouTube Official Blog, May 2021).
- August 2021: YouTube said eligible creators could claim $100 to $10,000 based on Shorts viewership and engagement (YouTube Official Blog, August 2021).
- Early 2023: The fund ended and Shorts revenue sharing began for YPP creators.
- 1 February 2027: Shorts revenue needs 10 million qualified Shorts views over 90 days. Channels below that stay in YPP and keep long-form earnings.
How Shorts revenue sharing works
Shorts feed ad revenue is pooled monthly, part of it covers music licensing, and the Creator Pool is split by engaged views. You keep 45% of your allocation, music or not.
Should beginners still make Shorts? Yes, but for reach rather than income. Use Shorts to get discovered and push viewers to long-form videos, memberships and products.
7. YouTube Shopping and affiliate marketing
Short answer: YouTube Shopping lets you tag products in videos, Shorts and live streams. You can sell your own products, or join the YouTube Shopping affiliate program and earn commission on other brands' products. Both need YPP and its subscriber threshold, and India is an eligible country for the affiliate program (YouTube Help, October 2026).
Your own products: Connect your store and tag products. Viewers buy from your channel store, description, product shelf or Shopping button. Your store handles payment, delivery and returns. You need YPP, the YPP subscriber threshold, no made-for-kids setting and no Hate Speech strikes.
The affiliate program: You must be in YPP, meet its subscriber threshold, be based in an eligible country such as India, not be a music channel, and have no active strikes. Commissions are paid through AdSense for YouTube 60 to 120 days after purchase, because returns are deducted first.
Affiliate links before YPP: Join retailer or brand affiliate programmes, add links in your description, and disclose every link.
8. Brand sponsorships and paid promotions
Short answer: Brands pay you to feature their product. You can pitch brands, work through agencies, or use YouTube Creator Partnerships, which in India needs you to be 18+, in YPP and without active strikes. You must also turn on YouTube's paid promotion setting and follow ASCI's disclosure rules.
Brands value trust and audience fit over raw subscriber counts, so a small channel with a clear niche can land deals. Creator Partnerships in YouTube Studio gives eligible creators a media kit and a place to set rates; you negotiate with the brand, and the brand pays you directly (YouTube Help, October 2026). You can also pitch brands you already use, work with agencies, or partner with local businesses such as coaching centres and clinics.
Disclosure rules: On YouTube, tick the paid promotion option in video details so a label appears at the start of the video. In India, the Advertising Standards Council of India's influencer guidelines (checked October 2026) say:
- Disclose any "material connection", including free products, discounts and perks, not just cash.
- Make the label upfront and prominent, not hidden in your bio, at the end, or behind "more".
- Use an approved label such as Ad, Sponsored, Collaboration, Partnership, Affiliate or Free gift. YouTube's "Includes paid promotion" label also counts.
- In live streams, announce the disclosure at the start and end.
- Finance and health influencers must hold relevant qualifications, such as SEBI registration, and state them upfront.
9. Sell your own products, courses and services
Short answer: Sell what your audience needs: courses, ebooks, templates, coaching, merchandise or physical products. There is no YouTube threshold, so it works before YPP, and you keep most of the money.
Find what viewers keep asking in comments and build a small version first. Your channel is also a public portfolio, so services like editing, tutoring, design or consulting can bring clients. Add a clear "Work with me" link.
10. License your videos
Short answer: If you shoot original, eye-catching footage, news channels, TV shows, agencies and brands may pay to use it. You negotiate the licence directly. YouTube does not pay you for licensing.
When you upload, you can choose the Standard YouTube License (the default) or a Creative Commons Attribution licence, which lets others reuse your work if they credit you (YouTube Help, October 2026). To sell rights, keep the standard licence and your original files, and agree on usage and fee in writing.
11. Make YouTube your job: channel manager, editor and more
Short answer: You do not need your own big channel to earn from YouTube. Brands, agencies and busy creators hire YouTube channel managers, video editors, thumbnail designers, scriptwriters, YouTube SEO specialists and YouTube ads executives.
Work full-time or freelance, and build a portfolio by managing your own, a friend's or a local business's channel. See our guide to digital marketing jobs for wider hiring trends.
12. How to earn before monetisation (and without showing your face)
Short answer: Before YPP, you can earn through sponsorships, external affiliate links, your own products and courses, freelance services and licensing. YouTube's own payouts (ads, memberships, Supers, Shopping) start only after you join YPP.
Faceless channels can use all of these. Screen recordings, voice-overs, animation and tutorials can be monetised like any other channel, as long as the content is original. Read our guide to YouTube automation for an honest look at faceless and outsourced channels and their policy risks.
One warning: YouTube does not pay viewers for watching videos or ads. "Earn by watching YouTube" apps are not run by YouTube, and many are scams.
13. How YouTube pays you in India
Short answer: YouTube pays through AdSense for YouTube to your bank account. Earnings for the previous month are finalised between the 7th and 12th. If your balance has reached the payment threshold by the 20th, payment is issued between the 21st and 26th. If not, it rolls over (YouTube Help, October 2026).
YouTube Help lists a $100 threshold for USD accounts; thresholds vary by currency.
US tax: Once you submit tax info, Google withholds US tax only on earnings from US viewers. YouTube Help gives an illustrative example where the India–US treaty reduces the rate to 15% of US viewer earnings, versus 30% without a treaty claim. If an individual submits no tax info, Google may withhold up to 24% of total worldwide earnings. Submit your tax info early and ask a tax professional about Indian income tax.
14. How long does it take to start earning?
Short answer: There is no fixed timeline, and YouTube does not publish an average. Some channels reach the lower YPP tier in months, and many take a year or longer. Niche, quality, consistency and audience retention matter most.
Ignore anyone who promises guaranteed monetisation in 30 days. Also note that YouTube Help says channels with no uploads or posts for 6 months or more may lose monetisation (October 2026).
15. Policies that can stop your earnings
Short answer: YouTube can refuse or remove monetisation for reused content (other people's content without meaningful changes) and inauthentic content (repetitive or mass-produced videos). Both apply to AI-made videos too.
YouTube's channel monetization policies (October 2026) give reused content examples: movie clips with little narrative, compilations from other social sites, reactions with no spoken commentary, and songs with only the pitch changed. This applies even with the creator's permission.
Inauthentic content (renamed from "repetitious content" on 15 July 2025) covers template-style videos that feel interchangeable, slideshows or scrolling text with little value, and AI content made with generic templates.
AI: You can use AI as a tool, for example to edit scripts or create backgrounds, when the final video shows your creative vision and adds value. Channels where AI personas pose as human experts giving health, legal, financial or political advice cannot be monetised.
16. Step-by-step plan to start earning
Short answer: Pick a niche you can sustain, publish original videos on a schedule, add one outside income stream early, reach the lower YPP tier, then unlock ads and diversify.
- Choose a niche with buyers: a topic you know, that people search for, with brands around it.
- Make videos that solve problems, such as tutorials, reviews and comparisons.
- Add one outside income stream, such as a service or an affiliate link.
- Track watch time and retention in YouTube Analytics.
- Apply for the lower YPP tier as soon as you qualify, then the full tier, ideally before 1 February 2027.
- Disclose every sponsorship and keep diversifying.
Avoid: buying views, copy-paste Shorts and relying only on ads.
Learn to grow and monetise a YouTube channel the right way
Our YouTube Training in Hyderabad covers channel setup, video creation and editing, YouTube SEO, analytics, copyright safety, AdSense and YPP approval in a one-month programme with six hands-on projects. Book a free demo class to see the syllabus and batch timings.
17. How Brolly Academy helps
- Our YouTube Training in Hyderabad is a one-month programme with a 4-week roadmap and 27 modules, from channel creation and branding to YouTube SEO, analytics, copyright, AdSense monetisation and YPP approval.
- You build six projects, including channel setup and branding, your first published video, an SEO and analytics optimisation, a monetisation and compliance plan, and a YouTube Ads campaign.
- You practise on YouTube Studio and Analytics, TubeBuddy, vidIQ, Google Trends, Canva, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, CapCut, OBS Studio, ChatGPT and Gemini.
- Your trainer, Mr. Vijay, has 15+ years of experience in YouTube marketing, SEO and digital media.
- Fees listed on the course page: ₹14,999 for the video recording plan, ₹35,000 for the live online course and ₹40,000 for classroom training, with EMI on the online and classroom plans.
- Classroom training in Hyderabad and live online batches, a free demo class, placement assistance, resume building, mock interviews and a course completion certificate.
Frequently asked questions
How can I earn money from YouTube?
You can earn from ads, Shorts revenue sharing, YouTube Premium revenue, channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers and Super Thanks once you join the YouTube Partner Program. You can also earn from brand sponsorships, affiliate links, YouTube Shopping, your own products and courses, licensing your footage, services and YouTube jobs. Most successful creators combine several streams.
How many subscribers do I need to earn money on YouTube?
You need 500 subscribers for the lower tier of the YouTube Partner Program, which unlocks memberships, Supers and Shopping, and 1,000 subscribers for ad revenue. Both tiers also need watch hours or Shorts views. For sponsorships or selling your own products, there is no subscriber minimum at all.
What are the requirements for YouTube monetisation in 2026?
For ad revenue, you need 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. For fan funding, you need 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in 90 days, and 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views. You also need AdSense, 2-Step Verification and no active strikes.
What is changing in the YouTube Partner Program in February 2027?
From 1 February 2027, new creators applying for ad and Premium revenue need 8,000 qualified watch hours in 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. Shorts revenue will need 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. Existing members keep their entry status, but everyone must accept the new terms by 31 January 2027.
How much of the ad revenue does YouTube give creators?
YouTube pays creators 55% of net revenue from ads on the watch page for long-form videos. For Shorts, creators keep 45% of the revenue allocated to them from the Creator Pool. For memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers and Super Thanks, creators receive 70% of net revenue.
How do I earn money from YouTube Shorts?
Join the YouTube Partner Program and accept the Shorts Monetization Module. You then earn 45% of the Shorts feed ad revenue allocated to you based on engaged views. From 1 February 2027, you need 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days to earn Shorts revenue in a month, so use Shorts mainly to grow.
What happened to the YouTube Shorts Fund?
The Shorts Fund was a temporary $100 million fund that YouTube announced in May 2021 and paid out over 2021 and 2022. Eligible creators could claim between $100 and $10,000 based on viewership and engagement. It ended when Shorts revenue sharing began for Partner Program creators in early 2023.
How much does YouTube pay for 1,000 views in India?
There is no fixed rate. Earnings per 1,000 views depend on your niche, where your viewers live, the season, video length and the ad formats shown. Rates in India vary widely and are usually lower than in countries like the US. Our guide on YouTube income per 1000 views explains RPM in detail.
Can I earn money from YouTube without monetisation?
Yes. Before joining the YouTube Partner Program, you can earn through brand sponsorships, external affiliate links, your own products and courses, freelance services and licensing your footage. YouTube's own payouts, such as ads, memberships, Supers and Shopping, start only after you join the programme and meet each feature's requirements.
Can I earn money from YouTube without showing my face?
Yes. Screen recordings, voice-overs, animation and tutorials can be monetised like any other channel. The key is originality. YouTube does not monetise reused content or mass-produced, template-style videos, so faceless channels must add their own commentary, research, editing or storytelling to qualify.
Can I earn money from YouTube by watching videos?
No. YouTube does not pay viewers for watching videos or ads. Apps that promise money for watching YouTube are not run by YouTube, and many are scams. Creators earn by making original videos, and others earn by working on channels as editors, managers or designers.
How long does it take to earn money from YouTube?
There is no fixed timeline, and YouTube does not publish an average. Some channels reach the lower Partner Program tier within months, and many take a year or longer. Your niche, video quality, consistency and audience retention matter most. Ignore anyone who promises guaranteed monetisation in 30 days.
How does YouTube pay creators in India?
YouTube pays through AdSense for YouTube to your bank account. Earnings for the previous month are finalised between the 7th and 12th. If your balance has reached the payment threshold by the 20th, payment is issued between the 21st and 26th. Otherwise, it rolls over to the next month.
Do Indian YouTubers pay US tax on YouTube earnings?
Google withholds US tax only on earnings from US viewers once you submit valid tax information. YouTube Help gives an example where the India–US treaty reduces the rate to 15% of US viewer earnings, versus 30% without a treaty claim. Without any tax info, an individual may face up to 24% withholding on worldwide earnings.
Can I earn money from YouTube if I am under 18?
Partly. For ad revenue, creators under 18 need a parent or legal guardian over 18 to manage the AdSense payments. Channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers and Super Thanks need the creator to be at least 18, and so does Creator Partnerships, YouTube's brand deal tool.
What is the YouTube Shopping affiliate program?
It lets you tag products from other brands in your videos, Shorts and live streams and earn commission when viewers buy. You need to be in the Partner Program, meet its subscriber threshold, and be based in an eligible country such as India. Commissions are paid through AdSense 60 to 120 days after purchase.
How do YouTubers get brand sponsorships in India?
YouTubers get sponsorships by pitching brands directly, through agencies, from local businesses and through Creator Partnerships in YouTube Studio. Creator Partnerships needs you to be at least 18, in the Partner Program and free of active strikes. Brands value a clear niche and a trusted audience more than raw subscriber numbers.
Do I need to disclose paid promotions on YouTube?
Yes. Turn on the paid promotion setting so YouTube shows a disclosure label. In India, ASCI's influencer guidelines also require an upfront label such as Ad, Sponsored, Collaboration or Affiliate whenever you have any material connection with a brand, including free products or discounts, not only cash.
Can I monetise AI-generated videos on YouTube?
You can use AI as a tool, for example to edit scripts or create backgrounds, if the final video shows your creative vision and adds value. YouTube does not monetise AI content made with generic templates that looks mass-produced, or channels where AI personas pose as human experts giving health, legal, financial or political advice.
Why was my YouTube monetisation application rejected?
Rejections usually come from reused content, inauthentic or mass-produced videos, or other policy problems, because YouTube reviews your whole channel, not just your numbers. You can appeal within 21 days or reapply after 30 days. Review usually takes about one month, so fix the issues before trying again.
Can I earn money from YouTube live streams?
Yes. During live streams and Premieres, viewers can buy Super Chat and Super Stickers to highlight their messages, and they can send Jewels and gifts during streams. These features unlock at the lower Partner Program tier. Gaming streams, live classes, doubt sessions and cricket watch-alongs tend to benefit most.
Can I earn from YouTube without making my own videos?
Yes. Brands, agencies and creators hire channel managers, video editors, thumbnail designers, scriptwriters, YouTube SEO specialists and YouTube ads executives. You can work full-time or freelance. Build a portfolio by managing your own channel, a friend's channel or a local business's channel to show real results.
Is a YouTube course worth it for earning money?
A good course helps if it gives hands-on practice with YouTube Studio, SEO, editing, analytics and monetisation rules. Brolly Academy's one-month YouTube Training in Hyderabad covers these in 27 modules with six projects, and offers a free demo class, classroom and live online batches, and placement assistance for YouTube roles.
Which Brolly Academy plan is best for learning YouTube?
It depends on how you learn. Brolly Academy lists a video recording plan at ₹14,999, a live online course at ₹35,000 and classroom training in Hyderabad at ₹40,000, with EMI on the online and classroom plans. You can attend a free demo class before choosing.
What is the easiest way to start earning from YouTube?
For most beginners, the easiest start is a focused niche channel plus one outside income stream, such as a freelance service, an affiliate link or a small digital product. These need no YouTube threshold. As the channel grows, unlock memberships and Supers at 500 subscribers, then ads at 1,000 subscribers.
Learn with Brolly Academy
Review the syllabus, practical projects and batch timings, and book a free demo before you enrol.
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