How to Make Money on YouTube in 2025: 17 Proven Ways for Every Creator

Youtube July 12, 2025 By Pulzzy Team
How to Make Money on YouTube in 2025

Table of Contents

1. What’s New About Making Money on YouTube in 2025?

In 2025, YouTube has over 2.5 billion monthly active users, making it one of the world's largest video platforms. With Google injecting server-side ads and expanding ad formats, recent advertising revenues reached $10.47 billion in Q4 2024. Moreover, in response to the surge of AI-generated and templated content, YouTube's July 15, 2025 policy update sharpens enforcement, targeting "mass-produced, repetitive, or inauthentic" material.

Key Updates:

  • Tighter scrutiny on low-effort AI or reused content from July 15.

  • Clarifications state reaction and commentary content still eligible—provided it's original.

  • Creators are urged to focus on authentic, value-driven videos over templated formats

These shifts underscore YouTube’s focus on rewarding originality—presenting ample opportunity for creators with quality content.

2. How Has YouTube’s Monetization Policy Changed?

Previously, creator earnings depended mainly on view counts and ad placements. Now, YouTube demands "significantly transformed" content, with repetitive or AI-voiceover content no longer qualifying for ads.

Policy Comparison:

Aspect Pre-July 2025 Post-July 2025
Ad Eligibility Simpler view thresholds, less scrutiny Requires transformation; generic AI/spam ineligible
Content Types Affected All long & Shorts videos Focus on AI slop, duplicates, templated formats
Enforcement Human + algorithm reviews Enhanced automated detection, ad review delays
Reaction/Clip Videos Accepted if fair use Allowed if content is original & analytic

3. Can You Make Money on YouTube Without Subscribers?

Yes—and small creators have unique paths to revenue:

  • Since 2023, eligibility for monetization includes 500 subscribers + either 3,000 watch hours or 3 million Shorts views within 90 days.

  • YouTube Shorts boasts 2 billion monthly users and 70 billion daily views, with creators earning $0.01–$0.06 per 1,000 views.

  • Shorts monetization now includes a 45% ad-revenue share for creators (previously a separate bonus model).

Shorts Earnings Snapshot:

Views Estimated Earnings
1K views $0.01–$0.30
100K views $1–$30
1 million views $10–$300

This makes Shorts a viable income source for creators with small or nascent audiences.

4. What Niche Channels Are Growing Fastest?

Certain niches thrive in 2025:

  • Short-form entertainment dominates Shorts, with over 70% of content exceeding 15 seconds.

  • Educational content still leads in long-form video performance, though Shorts flourish in entertainment formats .

  • Faceless AI-powered channels—automating scripts, voiceover, and editing—are on the rise due to streamlined production with AI tools.

This data signals that creators can monetize both long-form and Shorts content by picking niches that align with platform trends.

5. Is YouTube Still Worth It for Beginners in 2025?

Absolutely—but strategy is key:

  1. Start with Shorts: Use trending challenges to grow quickly via 45% ad revenue share .

  2. Expand to long-form: Once monetization thresholds are met, leverage ad RPMs—typically ~$3 per 1,000 views for long-form videos Analyzify.

  3. Diversify income: Utilize channel memberships, Super Thanks, affiliate marketing, and sponsored content.

A recent study highlights that alternative monetization (e.g. off-platform income streams) features in 18% of videos, and activating multiple streams boosts creator sustainability .

6. What New Tools & Bonuses Are Creators Using?

To stay ahead, creators leverage a growing toolset:

  • AI-driven scripting & voiceovers—as long as content remains original, AI helps streamline production .

  • Analytics and tracking platforms: Info from StackInfluence and others helps optimize growth strategies.

  • Super Chat, Super Thanks, Memberships: Fan funding is increasingly lucrative, especially for niche audiences.

Creator Quote (Reddit):

“With just 1K subs, my Shorts are earning $50–$200/month via ad share alone. My first Super Chat donation was $20—I’m hooked!” – u/SmallCreator2025

This community insight shows that multiple strategies, even early on, create solid revenue foundations.

7. YouTube AdSense and Revenue Share

Joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP) remains the primary monetization route:

  • Creators earn a 55% share of ad revenue, while YouTube retains 45%.

  • In 2024, YouTube earned $36.1 billion from advertising, marking a 14.6% increase year-over-year, pushing four‑quarter total revenues past $50 billion.

  • Long-form videos typically generate around $3 RPM (revenue per thousand views), though rates vary by niche—financial content can reach $15+ CPM, while lifestyle content sits nearer $2–4 CPM nearstream.us.

Ad Revenue Snapshot:

Content Type Revenue Share Avg RPM
Long-form videos 55% ~$3/1000 views
Shorts (YPP) 45% $0.01–$0.06/1000 views

Community voices confirm this:

“With just 1K subs, my Shorts are earning $50–$200/month via ad share alone.” – u/SmallCreator2025

8. Shorts Monetization & Creator Funds

YouTube Shorts has become a lucrative channel:

  • Shorts monetization funnel now pays creators 45% of ad revenue earned under the program wikipedia.

  • The platform's $100 million Shorts fund incentivizes creators, making Shorts a major income source .

  • With Shorts getting 70 billion daily views, creators earn approximately $0.01–$0.06 per 1K views .

Creators report earning:

Views in 1000s Potential Earnings
10K $0.10–$0.60
100K $1–$6
1M $10–$60

For rising creators, Shorts represent a quick way to hit earnings milestones, even without large subscriber counts.

9. Channel Memberships, Super Thanks, and Live Features

YouTube's direct fan funding has grown substantially:

  • Channel Memberships allow recurring revenue via perks (badges, exclusive content).

  • Super Thanks, Super Chat, and Stickers offer audience-funded income during live streams.

  • Over the last 3 years (2022–2024), YouTube paid $70 billion to creators via ads, subscriptions, memberships, and more.

A college creator noted:

“We earned up to $5,000 per video from AdSense and sponsorships—balancing school with content paid off.”.

10. Affiliate Marketing on YouTube

Affiliate links are a powerful revenue stream:

  • Commissions usually range from 5% to 20%, with potential for up to 50%.

  • Successful channels blend product reviews, tutorials, and unboxings with affiliate links.

  • One YouTuber reports $40–$60/mo in affiliate earnings from software reviews, later scaling into three digits monthly wpadvancedads.com.

Affiliate Summary:

  • YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program (US, India, SE Asia) allows creators to tag products on videos and earn commission on purchases.

  • Transparency is crucial: only 10% of creators properly disclose affiliate links per FTC research WIRED.

11. Sponsored Content & Brand Deals

Sponsored videos and product integrations earn creators high payouts:

  • Mid-size channels can earn $500–$5,000+ per sponsored video, depending on niche and audience engagement.

  • Multiple income streams are key: brand deals, uninterrupted sponsorship segments, and affiliate links all combine for stronger revenue.

  • A study of college-age creators showed some earning up to $5,000 per video through sponsorships in addition to AdSense .

12. Faceless & AI-Assisted YouTube Channels

Faceless automation channels driven by AI are on the rise:

  • Creators are using AI tools for scripting, editing, voiceovers—while ensuring content meets "transformation" rules.

  • A surge in faceless channels indicates potential scalability: lower costs and automated workflows.

  • Still, creators must ensure originality—templates alone won’t qualify for ad revenue after policy changes .

13. Selling Your Own Products or Courses

Launching your own products opens high-margin revenue pipelines:

  • Creators offering online courses in niches like coding or photography typically command $99–$299 per course, with top funnels reaching $5K+ monthly.

  • Merchandise through YouTube’s Merch Shelf can add $2–$4 per item sold with proper design and targeting.

  • A creator selling Lightroom presets made over $20K in less than six months, highlighting ROI potential.

Benefits Comparison

Monetization Type Control Profit Margin Scalability
Digital Course High 70%–95% High
Physical Merchandise Medium 30%–50% Medium
Affiliate Links (in-video) Low 5%–50% Dependent on volume

14. Patreon, Crowdfunding & Consulting

Diversify revenue with external platforms:

  • Patreon creators often generate $500–$2K/month through tiered memberships offering early access, shoutouts, and exclusive content.

  • Crowdfunding platforms like Ko-fi and Buy Me a Coffee serve over 2 million creators, often from niche or hobbyist communities.

  • Consulting or coaching can elevate earnings: one travel vlogger detailed $5K in revenue in ten days by offering bespoke editing services.

Community highlight:

"CameraCoffeePatreon now supports my full-time gear budget. Starting with small tiers was key!" – u/TravelerCoach

15. Licensing & Repurposing Viral Videos

Going viral has new rewards:

  • Successful clips are licensed to media outlets like Insider or Daily Mail—compensation ranges from $100–$1,000+ per clip.

  • Some YouTubers establish revenue by packaging and auto-publishing niche viral compilations, supplemented by ads, affiliate links, and licensing deals.

16. AI Tools to Scale Production

Smarter, faster video production is now accessible:

  • Descript offers AI voiceover editing and overdub tools for quick revisions.

  • Pictory.ai turns long scripts into captions and storyboards.

  • TubeBuddy’s AI tools assist with SEO, thumbnails, and keyword research.

Creators report production efficiency gains of 50–70%, enabling more videos and higher revenue potential.

17. Building an Email List & Off-Platform Funnels

Traffic control is power:

  • YouTube-to-email conversions ($5–$25 per lead) allow creators to funnel subscribers to high-margin products.

  • A creator leveraged their list to launch an ebook, making $8K in pre-sales in two weeks.

⚠️ Mistakes to Avoid When Monetizing YouTube

  • Buying views destroys trust and violates platform policies—can lead to demonetization.

  • Over-relying on ad revenue leaves creators vulnerable to fluctuating RPMs and policy updates.

  • Not diversifying: successful creators mix ad revenue, affiliate sales, products, and funding.

  • Ignoring analytics: metrics like audience retention and click-through-rates (CTR) directly impact monetization.

📚 Real Creator Case Studies

  1. Faceless Finance Channel (150K subs)

    • $5K monthly via affiliate links and shorts ads

    • AI-powered content minus personal face—success through high-value info and script quality

  2. Tech Gadget Reviewer (60K subs)

    • $3K/month: $1.5K from AdSense, $1K sponsorships, $500 affiliate

    • Balances scripted reviews, hands-on unboxings, and fan engagement

❓ FAQs About Making Money on YouTube in 2025

Q1: Can I monetize with zero subs?
Yes — if you meet 3K watch hours or 3M Shorts views, plus 500 subs, you can join YPP and profit from Shorts ad share.

Q2: Are faceless channels allowed?
Yes — as long as the content is original, transformed, and meets policy requirements (no repetitive AI output).

Q3: Which platform tools are best for growth?
TubeBuddy and VidIQ for SEO and thumbnails; Descript and Pictory for editing; CooperTools for scripts.

Q4: How do I disclose affiliate links?
Use clear disclaimers in your video description and verbally during videos; follow FTC and platform guidelines.

Q5: What RPM is realistic?
A long-form RPM of $3–$6 is common; niches like finance or business can see $10–$15 RPM.

Q6: Is YouTube still worth the effort?
Yes — with 2.5B monthly users and diverse revenue options, consistent, strategic creators can build sustainable income.

✅ Final Thoughts: Is YouTube Still Worth It in 2025?

Absolutely—YouTube remains one of the most powerful platforms for creators to build and monetize audiences. Successful creators in 2025 combine:

  1. YPP ad revenue + Shorts monetization

  2. Affiliate marketing + sponsorships

  3. Own products + digital courses

  4. Direct funding + consulting

  5. AI tools + audience funnels

The secret to longevity? Originality, data-driven decisions, diverse income, and authentic engagement. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned creator, strategy and consistency on YouTube can unlock lasting earnings in 2025 and beyond.

For a visual walkthrough on it, check out the following tutorial:

source: https://www.youtube.com/@PrimalVideo