How many followers on YouTube to get paid?
YouTube pays via YPP: typically 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 watch hours in 12 months, or 10M Shorts views in 90 days. Confirm in YouTube help. Subscriber counts from GET /v1/youtube/channel.
As of 2026-07-21 · Editorial YPP thresholds from publicly documented YouTube rules — verify in YouTube help. This snapshot is threshold-only (no live subscriber panel). Public APIs cannot certify YPP status.
What this snapshot shows
Long-form floor
1,000
subscribers
Watch hours
4,000
last 12 months
Shorts alternate
10M
views / 90 days
API knows YPP?
No
YPP paths (verify on YouTube)
| Path | Subscribers | Other requirements | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| YPP long-form | 1,000+ | 4,000 watch hours / 12 months | Apply in Studio; standing required |
| YPP Shorts | 1,000+ | 10M valid Shorts views / 90 days | Alternate to watch hours |
| Brand sponsorships | No YPP required | Audience fit + CPM negotiation | Often larger than ads early on |
YouTube also requires account standing, AdSense setup, and region availability. Subscriber count alone is never enough.
How we compute this
Threshold rows summarize publicly documented YPP rules (verify on YouTube — they change). Example subscriber counts come from channel lookup. Watch hours and Shorts validity are not fully visible from public endpoints.
- Endpoints
GET /v1/youtube/channel — subscribers + public channel fields
GET /v1/youtube/channels/shorts — public Shorts views for directional checks
- Formula
- Compare metrics.subscribers (or equivalent) to the 1,000-subscriber floor. Watch hours require Studio; public APIs cannot certify YPP eligibility.
- Sample
- Threshold table + example channels with subscriber counts from the last snapshot. Sample size: 3.
- Refresh
- Policy table reviewed when YouTube publishes changes; example counts refresh with snapshots. Methodology version 1.
Run this yourself
Same production API. Replace $SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY with your key (100 free credits on signup).
FAQ
Is it 1,000 subscribers to get paid?
That is the common subscriber floor for the long-form YPP path, paired with 4,000 watch hours in 12 months (or the Shorts views alternate). You still need to apply and be accepted.
Can I see watch hours from the API?
No. Public channel endpoints expose subscribers and public video/Shorts views. Watch hours live in YouTube Studio.
Do brand deals need YPP?
No. Sponsorships are private. Many creators earn from brands before ads revenue turns on.
How do I estimate money after YPP?
Use public views × planning RPM on the "how much do YouTubers make" page, or the Shorts / sponsorship calculators for narrower bands.