Two levels of the programme
The YouTube Partner Program (YPP) has two entry points. The lower level unlocks fan funding such as channel memberships, Super Thanks and Shopping. The full level adds a share of advertising revenue, which is what most creators mean by monetization.
The thresholds
- Fan funding level: 500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in the last 90 days, and either 3,000 public watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
- Ad revenue level: 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.
Watch hours count only from public long-form videos and archived streams, and Shorts views count only when they are engaged views. The two paths are separate and do not add up. YouTube revises these figures from time to time, so confirm them in the YouTube Help Center before you plan around them.
What the review checks
Meeting the numbers starts a manual review. Reviewers look at your channel's main theme, most watched videos, newest uploads and metadata. The policies that most often cause rejections are reused content, where material from elsewhere is posted without meaningful commentary or editing, and inauthentic content, meaning mass-produced or repetitive videos. You also need two-step verification, no active Community Guidelines strikes, a linked AdSense account and residence in a country where YPP is available.
Where a network fits
A network does not replace YPP and cannot monetize a channel YouTube has not approved. Its role starts once you qualify: protecting your videos with Content ID, adding payout options, reporting across channels and supporting you when claims or strikes appear. If you are still working towards the thresholds, focus on original videos, steady uploads and titles that match what viewers actually get.
Related guides
- What Is YouTube CMS? How Networks Manage Partner Channels
- How Content ID Matching Works: References, Assets and Match Policies
- Disputing a Content ID Claim: Dispute, Appeal and What Happens Next
Sources: YouTube Help: YouTube Partner Program overview & eligibility