- Subscribers 820 / 500
- Uploads in 90 days 6 / 3
And one of these
- Watch hours in 12 monthsclosest 2,600 / 3,000
- or
- Shorts views in 90 days 1.2M / 3M
Free tool
Are you eligible for YouTube monetization?
Put in your numbers and see how close you are to each level of the YouTube Partner Program, today and after the February 2027 change.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
Already in the YouTube Partner Program, earning from ads?
Your real numbers are on the Earn page in YouTube Studio.
On February 1, 2027, YouTube raises the bar for new applicants. Switch to see it.
- Subscribers 820 / 1,000
And one of these
- Watch hours in 12 monthsclosest 2,600 / 4,000
- or
- Shorts views in 90 days 1.2M / 10M
The fastest path with Shorts
At 20K views a short, about 90 more shorts in the next 90 days (7 a week) gets you to level 1.
YouTube also checks
- 2-Step Verification is on for your Google account
- No active Community Guidelines strikes
- An AdSense account to get paid
- You live where the program is available
- Your videos follow the monetization policies (no reused content)
How to use it
- Open YouTube Studio The Earn page shows your subscribers, watch hours and Shorts views.
- Put in your numbers Watch hours for 12 months, Shorts views for 90 days.
- See your closest path Then switch to 2027 to see the new rules.
Two levels, two paths each
The YouTube Partner Program has two levels. The first opens fan funding and Shopping. The second adds a share of the ad money from your long videos and Shorts, and from YouTube Premium. Each level has two paths, watch hours on long videos or views on Shorts, and you only need one of them.
Your channel
- 500 subscribers
- 3 uploads in 90 days
3,000 watch hours in 12 months or 3M Shorts views in 90 days
- 1,000 subscribers
4,000 watch hours in 12 months or 10M Shorts views in 90 days
From Feb 1, 2027, new applicants: 8,000 hours or 20M Shorts views
| Level 1 | Level 2 today | Level 2 from Feb 1, 2027 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 500 | 1,000 | 1,000 |
| Public uploads in 90 days | 3 | not needed | not needed |
| Watch hours in 12 months | 3,000 | 4,000 | 8,000 |
| or Shorts views in 90 days | 3 million | 10 million | 20 million |
What changes on February 1, 2027
- New applicants need twice as much for level 2: 8,000 watch hours in 365 days, or 20 million Shorts views in 90 days.
- Channels already in keep their place, but must accept YouTube’s updated terms in YouTube Studio by January 31, 2027.
- Shorts ads get a floor: a channel earns from Shorts ads only in months when it has 10 million or more Shorts views in the last 90 days, however it joined.
- Level 1 stays the same.
The Shorts path, in numbers
Views over 90 days add up faster than they sound, and slower than people hope. Here is what each goal asks of a channel every single day:
33K Shorts views a day for 3 million in 90 days (level 1)
111K a day for 10 million in 90 days (level 2 today)
222K a day for 20 million (new applicants from 2027)
Two things trip people up. Watch time from the Shorts feed doesn’t count toward watch hours: Shorts have their own path. And not every view counts. Since March 31, 2025, a Short’s view count includes every start and replay, but the program still counts engaged views, the older measure of people who kept watching.
Free · Tool Shorts money calculator Curious what those views would pay? See Shorts earnings for any number of views.What else YouTube checks
- 2-Step Verification is on for your Google account
- No active Community Guidelines strikes
- An AdSense account, to get paid
- You live in a country where the program is available
- Your videos follow the monetization policies, so no reused content
Meeting the numbers starts a review, not an instant yes: YouTube looks at every channel that applies, including whether its videos are its own. Shorts cut from your own long videos are your own content. Clips from other people’s shows are not. For the full story, read YouTube monetization requirements in 2026.
Sources
- YouTube Help: YouTube Partner Program overview and eligibility
- YouTube Help: Overview of the expanded YouTube Partner Program
- YouTube Help: YouTube Shorts monetization policies
- YouTube Help: how Shorts views and engaged views are counted
- Tubefilter: YouTube’s stricter ad eligibility requirements (August 2026)
Questions people ask
How many subscribers do I need to make money on YouTube?
500 subscribers opens fan funding and Shopping, together with 3 public uploads in 90 days and either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views. Ad revenue takes 1,000 subscribers.
How many Shorts views do I need to get monetized?
3 million Shorts views in 90 days for the first level, and 10 million in 90 days for ad revenue. Channels that apply from February 1, 2027 need 20 million for ad revenue.
Do Shorts views count toward the 4,000 watch hours?
No. Watch time from the Shorts feed doesn’t count toward watch hours. Shorts have their own path: views over the last 90 days.
What changes in YouTube monetization in 2027?
From February 1, 2027, new applicants need 8,000 watch hours or 20 million Shorts views for ad revenue, and Shorts ads pay only in months with 10 million or more Shorts views in 90 days. Channels already in keep their place but must accept the updated terms by January 31, 2027.
Where do I see my real numbers?
In YouTube Studio, open the Earn page: it shows your progress toward each level. When you reach one, you can apply there, and YouTube reviews the channel.
Is this checker official?
No. It’s a free tool that follows YouTube’s published rules. YouTube Studio is the final word on your channel.
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