- \n
- How Many Subscribers Do You Need to Start Making Money on YouTube?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Why Views Matter More Than Subscribers for YouTube Earnings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 5 Simple Ways to Earn Money From YouTube Subscribers<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Monthly YouTube Earnings by Subscriber Count<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Real Examples: How Much YouTubers Earn With Subscribers<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to Get More YouTube Subscribers and Increase Your Income<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- FAQs About YouTube Earnings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How Many Subscribers Do You Need To Make Money on YouTube?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.lenostube.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/how-many-subscribers-to-make-money-on-youtube.png-2-scaled-e1766689539398-1030x790.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere are mainly two major milestones for making money on YouTube:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Non-Ad Revenue (500 Subs)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
At just 500 subscribers<\/strong>, you can start earning. On top of the subscriber count, you need to have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 3,000 watch hours in the last 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 3 public uploads in the last 90 days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- A linked AdSense account<\/a> to receive payments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can access some early monetization features like <\/strong>Super Chats, Super Stickers, and Channel Memberships. But practically speaking, you can\u2019t expect a very high income at this stage unless you\u2019re in a niche where memberships and fan support hold strong value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Ad Revenue (1,000 Subs)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
To fully join the YouTube Partner Program<\/a> (YPP) and earn from ads, you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- At least 1,000 subscribers<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 4,000 valid watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- No active Community Guidelines<\/a> strikes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- A linked AdSense account<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is where the real monetization begins<\/a>: ad revenue, YouTube Premium revenue share, and more advanced features become available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going through all these requirements and growth strategies on your own could be pretty challenging, especially as the competition is heavy nowadays. If you want to skip that effort and jump right into the earning part, you can get a professional monetized YouTube channel<\/a> from us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Views Are More Important Than Subscribers?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lenostube.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/why-youtube-views-are-more-important-than-subscribers.png-scaled-e1765650239459-1030x565.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEven though hitting at least 500 subscribers is a must to start earning, you shouldn\u2019t get obsessed with subscriber counts. Here are some reasons why you must focus more on increasing views:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Money is Paid Per View<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
YouTube gets money from advertisers for showing ads on videos, and it gives a part of that money to creators. To put it more clearly, you get paid for views, based on the number of ad impressions<\/strong> and ad clicks<\/strong>. Subscriber count is not even a direct factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Views Improve YouTube\u2019s Algorithm Reach<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The YouTube algorithm is built to show videos that get a lot of views and keep people watching them for a long time. And for that, it considers some main factors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Click-Through Rate (CTR):<\/strong> This measures how often people click on your video after seeing it on their homepage, in search results, or in the suggested videos sidebar. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Watch Time & Audience Retention:<\/strong> This is how long people actually watch your video. If a video retains viewers longer, its watch time goes up. The algorithm loves videos with high watch time because it means people are staying on YouTube longer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
So, videos that get more views are more likely to show up in suggested feeds, search results, and recommendations. This makes a loop: more quality views<\/a> bring more algorithm visibility, and more visibility brings even more views.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Subscribers just start this process, but views are what keep the growth (and revenue) going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Views Drive Other Income Streams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Apart from ads, now there are many revenue streams for YouTube content creators, like affiliate partnerships. But companies are far more interested in your video views and engagement rates<\/a> than your raw subscriber count. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A channel with 5,000 subscribers that gets 20,000 views per video is far more appealing to a brand than a channel with 50,000 subscribers that only gets 1,000 views per video. Why? Because the brand’s goal is to get its product in front of as many eyes as possible. Your views and engagement prove you can deliver on that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5 Ways to Earn From YouTube Subscribers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.lenostube.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/5-ways-to-earn-money-from-youtube-subscribers.png-1-1030x787.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nYouTube Partner Program might be the popular way to earn money from YouTube<\/a>. But, there are many other monetization ways as well. Check out some great ways you can make money directly from your subscribers and audience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Brand Deals And Sponsorships<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Brands love YouTube creators because they bring trust and attention. Companies might want to work with you even if your channel is small (like 500 to 1,000 subscribers) provided you have a good engagement rate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how to get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- You can start by creating a media kit <\/strong>that highlights your channel’s key stats: your niche, audience demographics (where they’re from, age, gender), average views per video, and engagement rates (likes, comments). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Once prepared, pitch yourself to brands that are a good fit for your content. For instance, if you\u2019re a content creator in the gaming niche, outreach to some game developer studios. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The payment is usually based on how you present the brand in your video. If it\u2019s just a short mention, the amount will be much lower. Dedicated long reviews often have the highest payment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
2. Affiliate Marketing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is one of the easiest ways to start making money. All you need to do is sign up for an affiliate program, such as Amazon Associates, Clickbank, Fiverr\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After that, you put affiliate links in the description of your video. You get paid a commission (usually 5% – 30%)<\/strong> when someone clicks on your link and buys something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Try to promote products that you genuinely use and believe in. Your subscribers trust your opinion, and that trust is what makes this a viable way to earn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Selling Your Own Products or Services<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Why sell someone else’s product when you can sell your own? This is one of the most direct and profitable ways to monetize your audience because you keep all the profits. You can sell something as simple as:
<\/p>\n\n\n\n- \n
- Digital products or courses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Custom t-shirts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Services like coaching, consulting, freelance work, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
There is no minimum number of subscribers needed for this path. Just link to your store in your video description.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But things get easier as your YouTube channel grows<\/a>. Once you meet the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) requirements, you can also utilise YouTube\u2019s integrated “Merch Shelf<\/strong>” feature to showcase the product directly below your video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Crowdfunding and Membership Platforms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is the most personal way to earn, as it comes directly from your biggest supporters. YouTube offers Super Cha<\/strong>t and Super Stickers<\/strong> features for crowdfunding but those are available only once you meet the first step of YPP requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead of waiting for that, you can start using platforms like Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. These platforms allow your viewers to make donations to support your work. In return, you can offer them exclusive perks like behind-the-scenes content, early access to videos, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Collaborations and Shoutouts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mutual collaborations are one of the most underrated ways to start earning on YouTube. If you have a small but active group of followers, other creators might pay you to give a shout-out. It\u2019s a win-win situation, where both sides can grow. And you can make money while adding more types of content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Monthly Earnings by Subscriber Count<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Even though views are the major factor in earnings, subscribers still matter. They show how big your channel and audience base is. Here\u2019s a rough idea of how monthly income might look by subscriber count:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Subscribers<\/strong><\/td> Estimated Monthly Earnings (USD)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> 100<\/td> $20 – $50 (from affiliate earnings, sponsorships, etc.)<\/td><\/tr> 1,000<\/td> $50 – $700<\/td><\/tr> 10,000<\/td> $500 – $2,000<\/td><\/tr> 100,000<\/td> $2,000 – $10,000+<\/td><\/tr> 200,000<\/td> $4,000 – $20,000<\/td><\/tr> 500,000<\/td> $10,000 – $30,000<\/td><\/tr> 1,000,000<\/td> $10,000 – $50,000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Please note that these figures are just a general estimate. Actual earnings depend on various factors, like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Niche:<\/strong> Advertisers in some niche are willing to pay more to reach a commercially valuable audience. That means if you\u2019re creating content on a high-value niche like real estate or finance, the earnings will be much higher compared to a generic niche like fun, vlogging, etc. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Video Length:<\/strong> Longer videos, particularly those over 8 minutes, are incredibly valuable because they allow you to place more ads throughout the content, not just at the beginning or end. This feature, known as mid-roll ads, lets you manually insert ad breaks at specific points in your video. More ads means more revenue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Audience Location: <\/strong>Just like niche, advertisers pay much higher rates for viewers in high-income countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom compared to other regions. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Real Example of How Much YouTubers Make With Subscribers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/www.lenostube.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/12\/Real-Example-of-How-Much-YouTubers-Make-With-Subscribers-2-1030x727.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLet\u2019s have a look at how much current YouTubers are earning, along with their subscriber counts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finance Creator With 1K Subscribers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Earnings in the finance niche are even tremendous. Mikhaxl, a finance creator, stated that he made about $666 monthly<\/a> from AdSense alone when he had just 1,000 subscribers. The RPM<\/a> is as high as $22.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Audience Location: <\/strong>Just like niche, advertisers pay much higher rates for viewers in high-income countries like the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom compared to other regions. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Video Length:<\/strong> Longer videos, particularly those over 8 minutes, are incredibly valuable because they allow you to place more ads throughout the content, not just at the beginning or end. This feature, known as mid-roll ads, lets you manually insert ad breaks at specific points in your video. More ads means more revenue.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Niche:<\/strong> Advertisers in some niche are willing to pay more to reach a commercially valuable audience. That means if you\u2019re creating content on a high-value niche like real estate or finance, the earnings will be much higher compared to a generic niche like fun, vlogging, etc. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Services like coaching, consulting, freelance work, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Custom t-shirts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Digital products or courses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- The payment is usually based on how you present the brand in your video. If it\u2019s just a short mention, the amount will be much lower. Dedicated long reviews often have the highest payment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Once prepared, pitch yourself to brands that are a good fit for your content. For instance, if you\u2019re a content creator in the gaming niche, outreach to some game developer studios. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- You can start by creating a media kit <\/strong>that highlights your channel’s key stats: your niche, audience demographics (where they’re from, age, gender), average views per video, and engagement rates (likes, comments). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Watch Time & Audience Retention:<\/strong> This is how long people actually watch your video. If a video retains viewers longer, its watch time goes up. The algorithm loves videos with high watch time because it means people are staying on YouTube longer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Click-Through Rate (CTR):<\/strong> This measures how often people click on your video after seeing it on their homepage, in search results, or in the suggested videos sidebar. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- A linked AdSense account<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- No active Community Guidelines<\/a> strikes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- 4,000 valid watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- At least 1,000 subscribers<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- A linked AdSense account<\/a> to receive payments<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- 3 public uploads in the last 90 days<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Why Views Matter More Than Subscribers for YouTube Earnings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n