YouTube Shorts Monetization Rules in 2025: The Complete Guide
If you’re creating YouTube Shorts in 2025, you’re probably asking the big question: “Can I actually earn money from these videos now?” The answer is yes but not without understanding how YouTube Shorts Monetization system works. A few key things have changed this year, and they directly affect how much you can earn, who qualifies, and what kind of content is eligible.
In this guide, I’ll walk through everything you need to know about the YouTube Shorts monetization rules for 2025. No complicated terms—just clear insights, updated requirements, and practical tips that actually help. Whether you’re aiming for your first payout or looking to scale up, this breakdown will save you time and confusion.
What Changed in YouTube Shorts Monetization in 2025?
If you’re planning to earn from short-form content, understanding the latest updates is crucial for you. The platform has introduced a cleaner and fairer way to reward creators by replacing the unpredictable Shorts Fund with a transparent revenue-sharing model. This shift marks a major turning point, especially for small and mid-size channels trying to build consistent income from Shorts.
Let’s break down what changed, why it happened, and how this year’s monetization rules are different from what creators saw in 2023 and 2024.
New Revenue Sharing Model Explained
The most significant update in 2025 is how revenue from Shorts is now calculated and distributed. YouTube Shorts monetization now follows a shared ad revenue model, similar to what long-form creators have used for years.
Here’s how it works:
- Ads run between Shorts in the Shorts feed—not directly on your video.
- The revenue from these ads is pooled together into a central Shorts ad fund.
- This fund is split among creators based on their proportion of total views across eligible Shorts.
- YouTube keeps a standard cut, and the rest goes to creators.
Creators who avoid using copyrighted music in their Shorts get a higher revenue share. If music from YouTube’s licensed library is used, the payout is slightly reduced since some of the revenue goes to music rights holders.
This new approach gives creators a more predictable way to earn, tying revenue directly to video performance instead of relying on a limited monthly bonus.
Why These Updates Were Introduced
YouTube made these changes to compete with platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In past years, the YouTube Shorts monetization model was often criticized for being unclear, because most of the creators were unsure how payments were calculated.
By introducing a transparent, scalable system, YouTube is now incentivizing creators to stay active and focus on high-quality short content. The Shorts Fund capped growth, but this new system rewards creators for consistency, not just one-off viral hits.
Advertisers also played a role in the shift. As brands increase spending on short-form video ads, YouTube wanted a structure that benefits both creators and advertisers long term.
Comparison with 2023–2024 Monetization Rules
The evolution from the Shorts Fund to performance-based revenue sharing is a game-changer. Here’s a quick look at how YouTube Shorts monetization in 2025 compares to previous years:
| Feature | 2023–2024 Model | 2025 Model |
| Monetization Method | Shorts Fund (fixed bonuses) | Shared ad revenue (performance-based) |
| Eligibility Transparency | Low | High |
| Payout Frequency | Irregular | Monthly, with accurate breakdown |
| Music Usage Effect | No direct impact | Impacts revenue split |
| Control for Creators | Limited | High — views directly influence income |
Eligibility Criteria for YouTube Shorts Monetization (2025)
Monetizing your Shorts isn’t just about racking up views — there are some boxes you need to tick before YouTube lets you into the earnings pool. And in 2025, these boxes are more specific than ever. If you’re aiming for long-term success with YouTube Shorts monetization, understanding the eligibility rules isn’t optional — it’s your starting point.
Here’s what actually matters this year.
Minimum Subscribers and Watch Hours/Views
So, how many subscribers do you really need in 2025?
You now have two clear pathways to qualify for Shorts monetization:
- 1,000 subscribers + 10 million public Shorts views in the last 90 days,
- or
- 1,000 subscribers + 4,000 valid public watch hours on long-form videos in the last 12 months
It’s up to you which route to take, but for most creators focused purely on Shorts, the 10 million views benchmark is the go-to. That number may sound big—but when one good Short can get you half a million views overnight, it’s more realistic than it looks.
YouTube only counts genuine, public views. Anything private, deleted, or re-uploaded from TikTok won’t help your case.
YouTube Partner Program Requirements
Getting monetized through Shorts still means joining the YouTube Partner Program (YPP). The rules here haven’t changed much, but enforcement has become a little stricter in 2025.
To qualify, you must:
- Accept YPP terms and conditions
- Set up and link a valid AdSense account
- Enable 2-step verification on your channel
- Agree to abide by all content and community guidelines
YouTube now reviews Shorts channels with more care, especially if they’re only posting 15-second clips. Low-effort uploads, meme re-posts, or mashups with no original value? They’ll get flagged fast — or worse, rejected outright.
Content Type and Policy Compliance
You can’t game the system with reposted content. YouTube’s 2025 monetization rules are crystal clear: only original, policy-compliant Shorts are eligible for monetization.
That means:
- No re-used TikTok or Instagram videos with watermarks
- No silent slideshows or low-effort compilations
- No copyrighted music unless it’s from YouTube’s approved audio library
Even if your video goes viral, if it breaks these rules, you won’t earn a cent from it. Shorts monetization is now tied closely to content authenticity. YouTube wants to pay real creators—not repackaged trends.
So if you’re building a Shorts channel in 2025, keep it clean, keep it original, and stay within the lines. The rewards are real—but so are the checks.
How Revenue Is Calculated from Shorts in 2025
If you’ve ever wondered how your Shorts translate into actual money, you’re not alone. The truth is, YouTube Shorts monetization isn’t based on views alone—there’s more happening under the hood. And in 2025, that system is clearer, though still not always intuitive for first-time earners.
Let’s unpack how YouTube does the math—and why two creators with similar views might earn very different payouts.
Understanding the YouTube Shorts Ad Pool
Unlike long-form videos, where ads are tied directly to your upload, Shorts rely on a shared ad pool. Here’s how it works in plain terms:
- Ads run between videos in the Shorts feed, not on your specific content.
- Every time a viewer watches a few Shorts in a row and sees an ad, that revenue goes into a common pool.
- At the end of each month, YouTube adds up the money in the pool and begins dividing it.
- A chunk goes to cover music licensing (if used), YouTube keeps its cut, and the rest is distributed among eligible creators.
Your share depends on your percentage of total views from monetized Shorts across the platform. So, if your videos pulled 1% of all monetized views in a given month, you’d receive 1% of the creator payout pool for that region.
Sounds fair? It is—if you’re putting out consistent, engaging content.
Regional Variations in Ad Revenue
One Shorts view in the U.S. isn’t worth the same as one in India, Brazil, or Egypt. Ad revenue rates vary heavily by country, and that plays a big role in how much creators earn—even with identical view counts.
A few factors that affect regional earnings:
- Advertiser demand: Countries with higher ad competition usually pay more.
- Viewer behavior: Longer watch time and engagement boost ad impressions.
- CPM/RPM rates: These fluctuate based on the season, niche, and geography.
If most of your Shorts audience is from Tier 1 countries like the U.S., UK, Canada, or Australia, you’ll likely see higher payouts. Creators targeting broader global audiences might get massive views but thinner earnings.
It’s not something you can always control—but knowing where your audience comes from can help you set realistic goals for YouTube Shorts monetization.
YouTube Shorts Fund vs Monetization Pool: Key Differences
If you’ve been around the YouTube scene for a while, you probably remember the old Shorts Fund. It was YouTube’s first attempt at rewarding short-form creators. While it sounded exciting at the time, it had more limits than benefits.
Fast forward to 2025, and we now have a completely different system in place—the Monetization Pool—and it’s a serious upgrade. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale your channel, understanding this shift is key to growing through YouTube Shorts monetization.
Why the Shorts Fund Was Discontinued
The Shorts Fund was YouTube’s initial solution to the monetization problem. Starting in 2021, it offered creators a monthly bonus based on how their Shorts performed. On paper, it seemed promising. In practice, it left a lot of creators guessing.
Here’s why it didn’t work:
- Payouts were inconsistent. One month you’d earn a bonus, and the next month—nothing.
- There was no clear formula for how rewards were calculated.
- Only a limited number of creators received bonuses, regardless of how well others performed.
- It wasn’t scalable. As the volume of Shorts exploded, the fund remained fixed.
Eventually, even top creators started to question the model. If you weren’t in that small pool of “bonus-worthy” channels, it didn’t matter how many views you got.
For a deeper look into how monetization works across formats, you might want to read our YouTube Monetization Requirements in 2025 (Complete Guide), where we break down the fundamentals across all content types.
How the New System Benefits Long-Term Creators
With the launch of the Monetization Pool, YouTube shifted from a limited reward system to a performance-based revenue model. Now, creators have something they didn’t have before: predictability.
Here’s what makes the new system better:
- Every eligible creator gets paid—not just a select few.
- Your earnings scale with your performance, which means the more quality Shorts you post, the more you can earn.
- It’s fully integrated into the YouTube Partner Program, giving you long-term monetization rights, not just a one-time bonus.
And the best part? You can track your earnings and grow with strategy. For example, creators who optimize both Shorts and long-form videos now have a higher chance of success. If you’re trying to speed up your approval process, don’t miss our guide on How to Get Monetized on YouTube Faster (New Creators Guide).
YouTube Shorts vs Long-Form Video Monetization
For creators chasing their first paycheck on YouTube, there’s one decision that keeps popping up: Should I stick to Shorts or go all in on long-form videos? The answer isn’t black and white—it depends on what you’re optimizing for: reach, revenue, or retention.
With YouTube Shorts monetization gaining traction in 2025, more creators are reconsidering the balance between fast-paced virality and deeper, lasting content.
Which One Pays More in 2025?
Let’s not sugarcoat it—long-form content still brings in more ad revenue per view. These videos allow for multiple ad placements, longer watch time, and more opportunities for YouTube to serve relevant ads. If your channel already meets monetization criteria, you’re likely to see higher RPMs from long-form content.
Shorts, by contrast, rely on a shared ad revenue pool, which means your payout depends on how your videos perform relative to everyone else’s. The structure is improving, but if you’re aiming for a stable monthly income, long-form still holds the upper hand—at least in terms of pure dollar value.
That said, YouTube Shorts monetization has one undeniable edge: exposure. Shorts are discoverable, fast-moving, and perfect for new channels trying to grow quickly. They may not pay more per view, but they can help you reach the 1,000 subscribers and view milestones needed for monetization.
Not sure if a channel is even monetized? You can check any public channel using our YouTube Monetization Checker—a free tool designed to give you a clear yes or no in seconds.
