{
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  "@type": "Dataset",
  "name": "What are YouTube's monetization requirements in 2026?",
  "description": "YouTube has three monetization tiers as of 2026: the Lite tier (500 subs + 3,000 valid public watch hours OR 3M Shorts views in 90 days) unlocks fan funding but not ads; the full Partner Program (1,000 subs + 4,000 watch hours OR 10M Shorts views) unlocks ads; and expanded YPP eligibility opens brand connect features. Most creators skip the Lite tier and go straight to full YPP.",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/answers/youtube-monetization-requirements-2026",
  "dateModified": "2026-07-10",
  "creator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "RevenueLab",
    "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi"
  },
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "keywords": [
    "YPP Eligibility Calculator"
  ],
  "distribution": {
    "@type": "DataDownload",
    "contentUrl": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/page.json?path=answers%2Fyoutube-monetization-requirements-2026",
    "encodingFormat": "application/json"
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  "json": {
    "type": "answer",
    "question": "What are YouTube's monetization requirements in 2026?",
    "shortAnswer": "YouTube has three monetization tiers as of 2026: the Lite tier (500 subs + 3,000 valid public watch hours OR 3M Shorts views in 90 days) unlocks fan funding but not ads; the full Partner Program (1,000 subs + 4,000 watch hours OR 10M Shorts views) unlocks ads; and expanded YPP eligibility opens brand connect features. Most creators skip the Lite tier and go straight to full YPP.",
    "tableTitle": "YouTube monetization thresholds (2026)",
    "columns": [
      "Tier",
      "Long-form path",
      "Shorts path"
    ],
    "rows": [
      {
        "label": "YPP Lite (fan funding only)",
        "value": "500 subs + 3,000 WH",
        "note": "500 subs + 3M Shorts views/90d"
      },
      {
        "label": "Full YPP (ads unlocked)",
        "value": "1,000 subs + 4,000 WH",
        "note": "1,000 subs + 10M Shorts views/90d"
      },
      {
        "label": "YouTube Brand Connect",
        "value": "≥ 10,000 subs",
        "note": "Plus advertiser-friendly content"
      }
    ],
    "context": "'Watch hours' means valid public long-form watch hours in the last 365 days. Shorts views and unlisted/private content don't count. The Lite tier was added in 2024 to help smaller creators start earning from Super Chat / Super Thanks / channel memberships before hitting the ads threshold.",
    "methodology": "Direct from YouTube Partner Program docs (2026), cross-checked against creator onboarding disclosures.",
    "dateModified": "2026-07-10",
    "relatedCalculators": [
      {
        "label": "YPP Eligibility Calculator",
        "to": "/ypp-eligibility-calculator"
      }
    ],
    "relatedReading": [
      {
        "label": "YouTube monetization requirements 2026",
        "to": "/blog/youtube-monetization-requirements-2026"
      },
      {
        "label": "YouTube monetization requirements — Shorts",
        "to": "/blog/youtube-monetization-requirements-shorts-2026"
      }
    ]
  }
}