Ever felt like your favorite small YouTube channel deserves way more viewers? Or perhaps you are a creator struggling to break through the tough competition in your niche?
If yes, there’s good news for you. YouTube recently introduced a new feature called Hype. It’s a fan-powered turbo boost designed specifically to help emerging creators get noticed. The new feature pushes your videos onto special, country-specific leaderboards, right where new audiences look for fresh content.
In this blog, we’ll break down exactly how Hype works, why it matters, and how you can use it to your advantage.
In this article, we’ll cover…
- What Are YouTube Hype Points & Why They Matter for Growth
- Who Can Use the YouTube Hype Feature? (Eligibility Explained Simply)
- YouTube Hype: How Viewers Use It to Support Creators
- How to Hype a YouTube Video Step-by-Step
- YouTube Hype Leaderboard Explained: How Rankings Really Work
- Top Benefits of the YouTube Hype Feature for Creators
- 5 Proven Tips to Get More Hypes on Your YouTube Videos
- YouTube Hype Features 2026: New Updates & What’s Coming Next
What are Hype Points On YouTube?
YouTube Hype Points are a new feature made to help smaller channels get noticed faster. If a creator has between 500 and 500,000 subscribers, their new videos can be “hyped” by viewers. Each hype acts like a boost or a vote that pushes the video higher on a special discovery page. The more hype a video gets, the more people can find it.
Eligibility Criteria for Creators: Who Can Use the YouTube Hype Feature?
YouTube Hype tool is actually meant for upcoming creators. Here is the simple checklist to see if you have access:
- You must have between 500 and 500,000 subscribers.
- You need to be in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
- Hype feature YouTube is only for fresh content. Fans can only Hype videos published in the last 7 days.
- This feature does not work on YouTube Shorts. It is strictly for your main long-form videos.
- The Hype button shows only on eligible videos. If the button isn’t there, the video doesn’t qualify.
- If your content is set as ‘Made for Kids’, Hype is disabled.
- Videos with active copyright claims, strikes, or age restrictions are disqualified.
- The feature may not be available in every country yet, so the release date and rollout can differ by region. As of now, it’s available in many countries Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, US, UK, and so on. Check out the full list here.
YouTube Hype Explained From a Viewer’s Perspective
As a viewer, Hype is super simple. In fact, it’s just a new form of engagement.
When you watch a new video from an eligible creator, you’ll see a Hype button. Tap it, and you instantly give that video points. You get three free hypes every week to support the videos you genuinely enjoy. The videos with the most hype show up on a “most-hyped” page.
To reward your dedication, YouTube will notify you if a video you supported is close to hitting the top rankings in the leaderboard. The most dedicated fans can even earn a Hype Star Badge each month for being a top advocate.
How To Hype A YouTube Video?
Check out how to use the YouTube hype feature, explained in simple words:
- Watch a recently uploaded video from a creator who has 500 to 500k subscribers.
- Under the video, you’ll see a Hype button (near like/share).
- Simply tap it once. You can see how many points the video earns from your click.
How the YouTube Hype Leaderboard Works
When you hype a YouTube video, it straightly lands on the leaderboard. Here is the simple breakdown of how the YouTube Hype leaderboard system works:
- Every time a viewer hits the Hype button on a video, that video earns points
- On top of that, YouTube adds extra bonus points based on the channel’s size. Smaller channels (closer to 500 subs) get bigger bonus points than bigger ones (closer to 500k).
- YouTube collects all the hype points each week and shows the top hyped videos on a leaderboard that viewers can see under the Explore tab.
- The leaderboard isn’t based on personal watch history. Everyone in the same country sees the same list of top hyped videos.
- YouTube can show up to 50 top hyped videos and even lets you filter by category like gaming or music to find what’s trending in different topics.
- Videos on the leaderboard often get a special badge showing their rank.
Benefits of YouTube Hype Feature For Creators
Are you a content creator? Have a look at the biggest benefits of YouTube hype function for creators like you:
Levels the Playing Field
Big creators already have massive audiences. Small creators don’t. This feature balances things a bit. Since bonus points are higher for smaller channels, creators closer to 500 subscribers can still compete with creators near 500k. That’s a huge motivational push for new YouTubers.
Get a Shortcut to the Explore Page & Get More Views
Usually, getting on the Trending or Explore tab feels impossible for small channels because the giants dominate everything. But this feature changes the rules.
You can land a spot on the Hype leaderboard, which is specifically reserved for creators with under 500k subscribers. It puts your content directly in front of thousands of strangers who are looking for something new, giving you the visibility usually reserved for viral stars.
Gives Your Fans a Real Purpose
Before this feature, viewers could only like, comment, or share. Subscribers often ask: “How can I support the channel besides these?”
Now, the Hype button lets fans give an extra boost. Each hype has meaning because they give extra points to help the video compete on the leaderboard. When they see your video climb the ranks, they feel a sense of ownership and pride because they helped put you there.
Rewards Building A Community
YouTube Hype strengthens your community. When viewers actively hype your content, they feel more connected to your journey and invested in your growth. Over time, this creates loyal supporters who engage consistently, promote your videos organically, and stick with your channel long-term instead of watching passively.
A New Way to Make Money (Coming Soon)
Right now, Hype is just about exposure. But YouTube has explained that it will soon be about money, too. They are already testing a feature that lets fans pay a small fee to buy YouTube Hypes for your video. Just like Super Thanks, you will get a share of this money.
Quality Content Gets Rewarded
Since hype works best on new videos and within a short date window, creators are encouraged to upload fresh, high-quality content. They plan great thumbnails, titles, and topics so viewers feel like pressing the Hype button. Overall, it improves content quality on the platform.
5 Tips To Get More Hypes For YouTube Videos
Have a look at some specific ways to get more hypes for your YouTube videos:
1. Use a Visual Arrow Overlay at the 1-Minute Mark
Most viewers are blind to new interface changes. They might be enjoying your content, but have no idea the Hype feature even exists or what is hype this video on YouTube.
You need to physically show them. In your video editing software, add a distinct, animated arrow pointing to the area below the video title where the Hype button lives. Time this overlay to appear right when you mention it in your script.
Want more animated buttons like this to show in your video? Download free YouTube animations here.
2. Warm Your Audience on the Community Tab
The date you publish matters because the Hype leaderboard refreshes weekly. To get maximum velocity in the first few hours, you need your Super Fans prepared to go the moment the video drops. So, post on your Community Tab 2-3 hours before your upload goes live to alert them.
This ensures that when the video is public, you get an immediate influx of points, which signals to the YouTube algorithm that this content is hot.
3. Pin A Hype Comment
Even though people are listening to your intro, they are often scrolling down to read the comments. That’s a prime spot to capture attention. You can pin a comment that explains exactly what you need them to do to support the channel, like this:
Mission: Let’s get this to the Top 10!
1. Watch the full video.
2. Click the Hype Button.
3. Comment ‘Hyped!’ below.
This creates a bandwagon effect. When new viewers see a stream of comments saying “Hyped!”, they will feel the urge to join in and click the button too.
4. Incentivize Action with a Reward
Since the Hype feature relies heavily on momentum, you need to create immediate urgency. The best way to do that is to create a contest by rewarding the fastest actors. The reward could be something as simple as featuring in the next video, brand mentioning, consultation, etc.
This strategy works because it adds personal meaning to the interaction. It doesn’t cost them any money, but the potential reward (internet fame or something else) is high.
5. Publish When Your Core Audience Is Most Active
Hype is strongest when points arrive quickly after upload. So, always try to schedule your videos for the best time to post on YouTube.
The best time to post varies depending on your audience. You can find it from your YouTube Studio analytics:
✔ Open YouTube Studio
✔ Select Analytics from the left-side menu
✔ Click on the Audience section
✔ Scroll down to see when your audience is most active
6. Mobilize Your Inner Circle
Don’t just rely on strangers on the internet. Your biggest and most reliable supporters are often the people you know in real life. Send a quick message to your friends, family, or WhatsApp group chats as soon as you upload, asking them to do you a favor.
Since YouTube gives smaller channels a points multiplier, you don’t need thousands of people to make a dent. Even just 10 close friends hitting that Hype button in the first hour can create enough initial velocity to trigger the algorithm and get the ball rolling.
7. Create Content That Actually Deserves the Hype
All the tactics, arrows, and contests in the world won’t save a boring video. At the end of the day, the Hype button is a ‘Super Like’. Viewers usually only press it if they feel a genuine connection or if the video provided massive value.
So, focus on making something special, be it helpful, emotional, or just really entertaining. When your content truly connects with your audience, you won’t even have to beg. They will naturally want to Hype it just to see you succeed.
2026 YouTube Hype Feature News: What’s Next
The YouTube Hype feature is still new, and 2026 could bring some big changes. Here’s what may be coming next:
Paid Hype is Coming
Right now, Hype is free, but limited to 3 clicks a week. YouTube is currently testing a Paid Hype feature in select countries like Brazil and Turkey, and it is expected to go global soon.
And yes, content creators will also earn a part of the money. So, this is a good opportunity to increase your income graph.
Hype Star Badges
YouTube knows that fans love status. To encourage more people to click that button, they are rolling out special recognition badges for top hypers.
If a subscriber consistently Hypes your videos, they will earn a Hype Star badge next to their name in the comments. This gamifies the process, and your fans will compete with each other to prove they are your #1 supporter.
Global YouTube Hype Rollout
Currently, the feature is not available everywhere. In 2026, YouTube is expected to expand global availability, letting more creators with under 500k subscribers join the leaderboard system. So, prepare for more competition.
Better Hype Analytics
Creators may soon get detailed Hype analytics inside YouTube Studio. This could include how many points each video earned, which date brought the most hype, and how many views you got from the leadership board.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ❓
1. What are hype points on YouTube?
Hype Points are a new YouTube feature that lets viewers support emerging creators by ‘hyping’ their videos. When a video gets more hype, it can appear on the Hype leaderboard for more reach and visibility.
2. When was the YouTube Hype feature released?
YouTube officially unveiled the Hype feature in September 2024 at the ‘Made On YouTube’ event. It initially rolled out in beta to markets like Brazil, Turkey, and Taiwan.
3. How to activate hype on YouTube?
You do not need to manually activate it. If you have between 500 and 500,000 subscribers and are in the YouTube Partner Program (YPP), the Hype button automatically appears on your long-form videos.
4. How to optimize videos for YouTube Hype feature?
To optimize for Hype, add a clear visual or verbal CTA in the first 60 seconds of your video, asking fans to click the button. Additionally, post on your Community Tab immediately after upload to rally your Super Fans while the video is still fresh and eligible.
5. Does YouTube Hype feature affect SEO?
Indirectly, yes. Even though Hype doesn’t change your title or tags, a high Hype score pushes your video to the Leaderboard in the Explore tab. This surge in traffic creates positive user signals that tell the algorithm your content is valuable. This could improve your overall ranking.
6. What all countries is YouTube Hype available in?
YouTube Hype is currently available in these countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States. For more details, visit this link.
7. Can you buy YouTube Hype?
No. You cannot currently pay to boost your video (unless you are in Brazil or Turkey where they are testing a paid version). Instead of buying bots (which don’t work), ask your real network. Get your friends, family, or Discord community to Hype your video within the first hour of upload to grow naturally.
8. Where can I find the Hype Leaderboard?
It is located in the Explore tab on the mobile app.
✔ Open YouTube on your phone.
✔ Tap the Compass icon (Explore) in the top-left corner.
✔ Tap the ‘Hype’ tile to see the Top 100 videos in your country.
9. Does Hype work on Desktop/PC?
No. The Hype button is a mobile-only feature. Viewers must use the Android or iPhone app to Hype your video. However, creators can still view their Hype stats in YouTube Studio on desktop.
Conclusion
Small channels have had it rough for years. You make great videos, but the algorithm ignores you for the big guys. It feels unfair because it is unfair.
YouTube Hype finally changes that. For the first time ever, the platform explicitly gives bonuses for small creators.
And right now, Hype is new, it is free, and it works. But we all know how these platforms operate. Eventually, it gets crowded, and they put a price tag on it.
So, don’t wait for the ‘perfect time’ anymore. On your very next upload, look into the camera and talk to your viewers. Tell them about the Hype button. Ask them to help you break through.
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