YouTube Shorts can quickly get millions of views and thousands of new followers. But as creators, you're probably wondering if you can monetize YouTube Shorts; and if yes, how much do YouTube Shorts make?

Let's answer all these questions clearly and help you find the best ways to turn your Shorts audience into income.

Are YouTube Shorts Monetized?

Yes, YouTube Shorts are monetized! Initially, YouTube paid creators through a Shorts Fund, which offered bonuses to creators with popular videos.

However, starting from 2023, YouTube Shorts monetization has become more reliable because Shorts are now part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).

Now creators earn money through ads that appear between Shorts videos. The revenue from these ads is shared with creators who meet the platform’s monetization requirements.

YouTube Shorts Monetization Requirements

To monetize your YouTube Shorts, you must first join the YouTube Partner Program. There are specific requirements you must meet:

  • Standard YPP Monetization: You need at least 1,000 subscribers and either 4,000 watch hours (in the past 12 months) or 10 million Shorts views (in the past 90 days). Once you hit this milestone, you can earn directly from ads on your Shorts videos.
  • Early Monetization Features: YouTube introduced a new, lower tier called Expanded YPP. With this, if you have 500 subscribers plus either 3,000 watch hours in the last year or 3 million Shorts views in the last 90 days, you can unlock fan-funding features such as Channel Memberships and Super Thanks—but you won't yet earn ad revenue.

In short, if you want to make money directly from ads, the higher tier (1,000 subscribers) is necessary. But at 500 subscribers, you can start monetizing your community through fan support.

How Much Do YouTube Shorts Make?

But, how much do YouTube Shorts really pay? The answer varies, but Shorts earnings are typically lower than traditional YouTube videos.

On average, creators earn around $10–$50 per million Shorts views, though it could go as high as $100 in some niches or regions with higher ad rates.

To put it simply:

  • 1 million Shorts views usually generate around $10–$50.
  • To earn substantial income (hundreds of dollars per month), you'd generally need tens of millions of views regularly.

Because of these modest ad earnings, it’s important to consider additional monetization methods to earn more effectively from your Shorts.

3 Easier (and More Profitable) Ways to Monetize Your YouTube Shorts

While ad revenue from Shorts can provide some income, the best approach to monetizing Shorts is to combine multiple strategies:

1. Monetize Your Community with Paid Subscriptions

One of the most stable ways to monetize your YouTube Shorts audience is through paid subscriptions. YouTube doesn't allow everyone to create subscription communities, but InviteMember on Telegram does. InviteMember lets you easily build a paid community in Telegram, turning your audience into loyal, paying community.

2. Sponsored Content and Affiliate Links

Brands pay creators to showcase products in Shorts. Creators can earn directly through sponsorships or affiliate marketing. You simply recommend products and earn commissions when viewers buy.

3. Merchandise and Direct Sales

Sell your own branded merchandise or products by mentioning your online store or linking directly from Shorts. This approach can significantly boost your earnings without depending on ads.

However, the most stable and effective monetization method is building a dedicated, paid community—this is where InviteMember can help you the most.

How InviteMember Helps You Monetize Shorts More Effectively

YouTube Shorts are excellent at quickly building an audience, but they don’t offer direct ways to deeply engage with viewers. To solve this, creators use InviteMember to create private, paid communities on Telegram, turning casual Shorts viewers into engaged, paying subscribers.

With InviteMember, you can:

  • Easily create subscription-based groups: Fans pay a monthly fee for exclusive content, such as longer videos, Q&A sessions, live workshops, or premium interactions.
  • Enjoy global monetization: YouTube Shorts monetization can sometimes be limited by country or eligibility rules. InviteMember, on the other hand, works worldwide, so creators from anywhere can easily earn directly from their audiences.
  • Stable and recurring income: Instead of relying only on unpredictable Shorts ad revenue, InviteMember helps you generate reliable monthly income from your most dedicated fans.
  • Fully control your content and income: Unlike relying only on YouTube ads or platform rules, InviteMember allows you complete control over what content you provide and how you price it.

InviteMember + YouTube Shorts: The Perfect Pair

Combining InviteMember with YouTube Shorts is ideal:

  • YouTube Shorts help you attract a large audience fast, thanks to their viral potential and ease of discovery.
  • InviteMember helps you turn this wide reach into direct earnings by providing fans premium value through private paid communities you can monetize from your first subscriber.

It’s a win-win approach: Shorts give you views and subscribers quickly, and InviteMember turns those subscribers into paying supporters from the start.

Final Thoughts

Yes, YouTube Shorts are monetized, and you can earn money directly from ad views if you meet YouTube's monetization requirements. But remember, relying only on ad earnings from Shorts might limit your income.

By using InviteMember, you build lasting, meaningful relationships with your audience and secure a more stable income. InviteMember perfectly complements your YouTube Shorts growth strategy, making it easy for you to generate steady income from fans around the globe.

Ready to turn your Shorts viewers into paying subscribers? Try InviteMember today and discover why it's the best way to monetize your YouTube Shorts community.