YouTube Shorts has taken the world by storm, becoming a major competitor to TikTok and Instagram Reels. But in 2025, Shorts is no longer just about creativity—it’s a massive opportunity to earn money. With expanded monetization options, creators now have multiple ways to turn their short videos into a sustainable income stream.
If you’re wondering how to monetize YouTube Shorts, this guide will walk you through all the revenue opportunities, including ad revenue sharing, YouTube Partner Program (YPP), Super Thanks, affiliate marketing, YouTube Shopping, and more.
Let’s dive into the best strategies to make money with Shorts this year!
How to Monetize YouTube Shorts in 2025: All the Ways to Earn Money
YouTube has introduced several revenue streams for Shorts creators, allowing them to earn through ads, tips, sponsorships, and product promotions. Unlike before, where Shorts lacked ad revenue sharing, the new model makes monetization more accessible than ever.
Key Ways to Monetize YouTube Shorts in 2025
- YouTube Partner Program (YPP) for Shorts (Ad Revenue Sharing)
- Super Thanks & Fan Funding
- YouTube Shopping & Affiliate Links
- Brand Sponsorships & Collaborations
- YouTube Premium Revenue Sharing
Each of these methods provides a unique way to make money, and in the next sections, we’ll explore how you can maximize your earnings.
1. YouTube Partner Program (YPP) for Shorts: Earn from Ads
What’s New in 2025?
Previously, Shorts creators struggled to earn money since ads were not placed directly on Shorts videos. However, YouTube has now introduced ad revenue sharing for Shorts creators, allowing them to earn a percentage of revenue from ads shown between Shorts in the feed.
How It Works:
- YouTube collects revenue from ads played between Shorts on the Shorts feed.
- The revenue is pooled together and shared among eligible Shorts creators based on views and engagement.
- Creators receive a portion of the revenue, similar to long-form YouTube videos.
Eligibility Requirements for YPP in 2025:
To qualify for ad revenue sharing on Shorts, you must meet at least one of these two requirements:
- 1,000 subscribers & 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days
- OR 1,000 subscribers & 4,000 watch hours from long-form videos in the past 12 months
Once eligible, you can apply to the YouTube Partner Program and start earning from Shorts ad revenue.
Pro Tip:
Focus on creating viral Shorts that attract millions of views to maximize your ad revenue potential.
2. Super Thanks & Fan Funding: Direct Support from Viewers
Super Thanks is one of the easiest ways to earn money directly from your audience. This feature allows viewers to send financial tips to their favorite creators as a token of appreciation.
How to Enable Super Thanks for Shorts:
- Join the YouTube Partner Program.
- Go to YouTube Studio → Monetization and enable Super Thanks.
- Viewers can now donate money to your Shorts videos via the Super Thanks button.
How Much Can You Earn?
Viewers can tip between $2 to $50 per Super Thanks, and YouTube takes a small percentage as a service fee. If you have a dedicated fanbase, this can become a steady source of income.
Other Fan Funding Options:
- Super Stickers & Super Chats: Earn tips during live Shorts premieres.
- YouTube Channel Memberships: Offer exclusive Shorts content for paid subscribers.
Pro Tip:
Encourage viewers to support you with Super Thanks by reminding them in your video captions or pinned comments.
3. YouTube Shopping & Affiliate Links: Earn from Product Sales
YouTube has now fully integrated e-commerce into Shorts, allowing creators to sell products directly through their videos.
How to Earn with YouTube Shopping:
- Tag products in your Shorts videos using YouTube’s product tagging feature.
- Viewers can buy directly from your Shorts without leaving YouTube.
- Earn commissions or direct sales revenue from the products you promote.
Affiliate Marketing on YouTube Shorts
Another easy way to earn money is through affiliate marketing, where you promote products and earn a commission for every sale.
How to Add Affiliate Links to Shorts:
- Join an affiliate program (Amazon Associates, Shopify, ClickBank, etc.).
- Get a unique tracking link for the product you want to promote.
- Place the link in your video description or pinned comment.
- Earn a commission for every sale made through your link.
Pro Tip:
Review trending products or demonstrate how to use them in your Shorts to boost conversions.
4. Brand Sponsorships & Collaborations: Partner with Companies
Many brands are shifting their marketing focus to Shorts due to its high engagement rates. This has created huge sponsorship opportunities for creators.
How to Get Brand Deals for YouTube Shorts:
- Join influencer marketing platforms like Upfluence, Aspire, or FameBit.
- Pitch brands directly via email or Instagram.
- Showcase your audience engagement stats to attract sponsorships.
How Much Can You Earn?
Sponsorship rates vary based on your niche, audience size, and engagement. A small Shorts creator with 50,000+ subscribers can earn $500–$1,500 per sponsored video, while larger creators can charge $5,000+ per Shorts campaign.
Pro Tip:
Negotiate long-term deals instead of one-time sponsorships to ensure consistent income.
5. YouTube Premium Revenue Sharing
If YouTube Premium subscribers watch your Shorts, you earn a share of YouTube’s subscription revenue. While this is a smaller income stream, it can add up over time.
How to Earn from YouTube Premium:
- If Premium users watch your Shorts, a portion of their subscription fee is distributed among creators.
- YouTube automatically calculates your share based on watch time.
- The more Premium users watch your Shorts, the more you earn.
Pro Tip:
Create engaging content that appeals to YouTube Premium audiences, as they tend to watch more high-quality, educational, and entertaining content.
Final Thoughts: Monetizing YouTube Shorts in 2025
Monetizing YouTube Shorts has never been easier. With multiple revenue streams—including ad revenue sharing, Super Thanks, YouTube Shopping, affiliate links, and sponsorships—creators can now earn a full-time income from short-form videos.
By staying consistent, engaging with your audience, and leveraging new monetization features, you can build a profitable Shorts channel in 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the best way to monetize YouTube Shorts in 2025?
The best way to monetize YouTube Shorts depends on your audience and content strategy. The most effective methods include:
- Ad revenue sharing through the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
- Super Thanks & fan funding for direct viewer support.
- Affiliate marketing by adding product links in descriptions.
- YouTube Shopping to tag and sell products in your Shorts.
- Brand sponsorships with companies looking for Shorts promotions.
Using multiple revenue streams is the best way to maximize earnings.
2. How much money can you make from YouTube Shorts?
Earnings from YouTube Shorts vary based on views, engagement, and monetization methods. Here’s a breakdown:
- Ad revenue sharing: $0.01 to $0.05 per 1,000 views (varies based on ad rates).
- Super Thanks & tips: $2–$50 per donation (higher if you have a loyal audience).
- Affiliate marketing: 5%–30% commission per sale.
- Sponsorships: $500–$5,000+ per sponsored Shorts video.
Creators who combine these methods can earn thousands per month.
3. How do I qualify for YouTube Shorts monetization?
To earn from ad revenue on Shorts, you must meet one of these YouTube Partner Program (YPP) requirements:
- 1,000 subscribers & 10 million Shorts views in the last 90 days, OR
- 1,000 subscribers & 4,000 public watch hours from long-form videos in the past 12 months.
For Super Thanks, affiliate links, and brand sponsorships, you don’t need to be in YPP—you can start earning immediately.
5. Can you add affiliate links to YouTube Shorts?
Yes! You can add affiliate links in:
- The video description (best for conversions).
- Pinned comments (to keep them visible).
- YouTube Shopping feature (to tag products directly in the video).
Affiliate marketing is a great passive income source, especially for tech reviews, beauty, and product demos.
6. How can small creators make money from Shorts?
Even if you haven’t hit 10 million views, you can still monetize YouTube Shorts by:
- Using Super Thanks & fan donations.
- Selling products via YouTube Shopping & affiliate links.
- Finding sponsorships on influencer marketing platforms.
- Driving traffic to long-form videos to qualify for YPP faster.
Many small creators earn by focusing on niche content and engaged communities rather than chasing viral views.
7. Does YouTube Shorts pay more than TikTok?
Yes, in 2025, YouTube Shorts pays more than TikTok for creators because:
- Ad revenue sharing is more structured and profitable.
- There are multiple ways to earn (Super Thanks, Shopping, affiliate marketing, etc.).
- YouTube’s audience spends more time watching videos compared to TikTok’s fast-scrolling nature.
Creators who use both platforms often find YouTube Shorts more profitable in the long run.
8. How do I maximize my earnings from YouTube Shorts?
To increase your YouTube Shorts revenue, follow these strategies:
- Post consistently (at least 3–5 Shorts per week).
- Encourage Super Thanks by engaging with your audience.
- Use trending topics & hashtags to increase discoverability.
- Leverage YouTube Shopping & affiliate links for passive income.
- Partner with brands for sponsored Shorts.
The more revenue streams you activate, the more money you can make from Shorts.
YouTube Shorts is no longer just about views—it’s a powerful monetization tool for creators. Whether you earn through ads, tips, affiliate links, or sponsorships, there are more ways than ever to make money.
By staying consistent, experimenting with monetization options, and engaging with your audience, you can turn Shorts into a profitable income stream in 2025.
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