YouTube Tightens 2027 Monetization Rules: Creator Guide

The new entry criteria, announced this week, require new applicants to either log 8,000 qualified watch hours in the past year or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. That replaces the current bar of 4,000 watch hours or 1,000 subscribers, which has stood since 2018.

Existing Partner Program members keep their long-form monetization, but those earning from Shorts must now hit 10 million qualified Shorts views every 90 days. Falling short does not revoke membership; creators still earn from long-form videos, and Shorts revenue resumes once they cross the threshold again.

YouTube said the changes aim to reward active creators and open more earning avenues. It also noted that creators already generating substantial Shorts revenue are unlikely to feel much impact.

For those who dip below the Shorts view threshold, YouTube plans milestone-based rewards, including bonuses tied to Shopping, brand partnership incentives, and extra pay for helping launch trends. Fan-funding and shopping features keep their current eligibility rules.

Separately, YouTube is rolling out Premium Lite to all markets where Premium exists. The cheaper tier offers ad-free viewing on most videos, offline downloads, and background playback. Creators get 55% of allocated revenue from long-form and 45% from Shorts, based on member watch time and views.