How to Determine if a YouTube Channel is Monetized (Updated Method)
You no longer need access to the YouTube API to check if a channel is monetized. Instead, you can use our channel monetization checker tool.
As of November 17, 2023, YouTube removed the “is_monetization_enabled” tag from the HTML of monetized channels. To see if a YouTube channel is monetized, visit the channel’s home page and look for these signs:
- Join Button: If there's a "Join" button for memberships, the channel is monetized. This feature is only available to channels in the YouTube Partner Program.
- Monetized Videos: A high number of monetized videos (excluding Shorts) indicates monetization.
Keep in mind, some channels opt out of the YouTube Partner Program, regardless of their size. For instance, Casey Neistat did not monetize his channel until after reaching 100 million views. Therefore, having more than 1,000 subscribers and ads on some videos does not always mean the channel is monetized, although it's likely.
How to Check if a YouTube Channel is Monetized (Old Method)
Note: This method was valid before November 17, 2023.
Previously, to check if a YouTube channel was monetized, you could go to the channel’s home page, view the source code, and search for the “is_monetization_enabled” tag. If true, the channel was monetized.
Instead of doing this for every channel, you could use our tool by pasting the channel’s URL and clicking the “Check Monetization” button to see if it’s monetized and get an estimate of its yearly earnings, public views, and creation date.
You needed to check the source code because:
- Some channels have monetized videos while the channel itself is not monetized.
- Some channels are monetized while individual videos are not.
Typically, a channel with fewer than 1,000 subscribers is not monetized, as 1,000 subscribers is a requirement for the YouTube Partner Program. Exceptions are rare and occur if a channel meets the requirements but then loses subscribers.
How to Check if a YouTube Video is Monetized
To determine if a video is monetized, visit the video’s page, view the source code, and search for the “yt_ad” string. If true, the video is monetized.
Alternatively, use our tool by pasting the video’s URL to check its monetization status, view count, and estimated revenue. Note that seeing ads or the “yt_ad” string doesn’t always mean the channel owner is monetizing the video, it could be monetized by YouTube or a third party since November 2020.
How to Check if a YouTube Short is Monetized
For YouTube Shorts, there is no clear HTML code to check monetization status. However, you can make an educated guess based on:
- YouTube Partner Program: Ensure the channel is part of the YouTube Partner Program.
- Content Nature: Family-friendly content adhering to YouTube’s policies is more likely to be monetized.
- Revenue Per Mille (RPM): Shorts generally have low RPM, around $0.05.
You can also use our Monetization Checker Tool by pasting the Short’s URL to get the view count and estimated revenue, though accuracy is not guaranteed as YouTube doesn’t disclose monetization status for Shorts.
Important Questions
Understanding YouTube Monetization: A Comprehensive Guide
Monetizing your YouTube channel is an exciting milestone, but it comes with specific requirements and guidelines that creators must follow. This article breaks down the essential aspects of YouTube monetization, including eligibility criteria, content quality, revenue estimation, and best practices for improving your chances of success.
Eligibility for Monetization
To join the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) and start earning revenue from your videos, your channel must meet certain eligibility requirements. These are designed to ensure that only serious and engaged creators can monetize their content. The key criteria include:
- Subscriber and Watch Hour Requirements:
- Your channel needs to have at least 1,000 subscribers.
- You must accumulate 4,000 valid public watch hours over the past 12 months.
- Alternatively, if you create YouTube Shorts, your channel can qualify with 1,000 subscribers and 10 million valid public Shorts views in the last 90 days.
- Geographical Availability:
- You must reside in a country where the YouTube Partner Program is available. YouTube continually expands its reach, so it's worth checking if your country is supported.
- Community Guidelines Compliance:
- Your channel should not have any active Community Guidelines strikes. These strikes indicate that your content has violated YouTube’s policies, and having active strikes can disqualify you from monetization.
Content Rejection for Monetization
Even if your channel meets the eligibility requirements, the content you produce must adhere to YouTube’s quality standards to be eligible for monetization. YouTube places a high emphasis on content quality and adherence to community guidelines. Here’s what you need to watch out for:
- Low-Quality Content:
- Videos that are poorly made, contain repetitive or misleading content, or are designed to deceive viewers can hurt your chances of monetization.
- Spammy Content:
- Avoid creating content that is overly promotional or spammy. YouTube values authentic, valuable content over content that appears to be made solely for advertising.
- Non-Family-Friendly Content:
- Content that is not suitable for all audiences, including videos with excessive violence, sexual content, or inappropriate language, can be a barrier to monetization.
- AI-Generated Content:
- While AI-generated videos are increasingly common, they should be used carefully. Ensure that they meet the same quality and originality standards as any other content.
Finding Monetization Start Date
Once you achieve monetization, you might want to keep track of your progress. However, YouTube does not provide a retrospective method to determine the exact date when your channel first became monetized. It’s a good practice to maintain personal records of your channel’s milestones, including monetization status updates, to keep track of your growth.
Estimating RPM (Revenue Per Mille)
Revenue Per Mille (RPM) is a metric that represents how much money you earn per 1,000 views. RPM can vary significantly based on the type of content you create. Here are some typical RPM estimates for different content categories:
- Typical Short: $0.05 - Shorts generally earn less due to their brief nature and the type of ads that can be displayed.
- Entertainment Videos: $1.00 - These videos are popular and attract a broad audience, resulting in moderate ad revenue.
- Regular Videos: $3.50 - Standard YouTube videos that are longer and more detailed tend to earn higher RPM.
- Digital Marketing/Finance Content: Up to $20.00 - Videos in these niches can earn significantly more due to the higher value of ads in these categories.
Improving Monetization Chances with Keywords
Keywords play a vital role in making your content discoverable, but they are not a magic bullet for monetization success. Here are some tips to improve your chances:
- Engaging Content - Focus on creating engaging and high-quality content that captures and retains viewer interest.
- Trending Topics - Tap into trending topics and current events to attract more viewers. However, ensure that your content adds value and offers a unique perspective.
- Compelling Titles - Craft titles that are click-worthy but not misleading. Avoid using clickbait tactics, as they can damage your channel’s reputation and viewer trust.
Ads on Non-Monetized Videos
Even if your channel is not yet monetized, you might still see ads on your videos. This is because YouTube reserves the right to place ads on all content hosted on its platform. In such cases, the revenue generated from these ads goes to YouTube or the rights holder of the content, not to the channel owner. This can be frustrating, but it underscores the importance of meeting the eligibility requirements to start earning from your own content. By following these guidelines, you can enhance your chances of successfully joining the YouTube Partner Program and start earning from your creative efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions