Making money on YouTube without creating original videos is possible through methods like affiliate marketing, faceless "automation" channels using stock footage, or selling digital products. Key strategies include leveraging AI tools for content, hiring freelancers to create videos, or repurposing existing content (with, e.g., commentary/editing) to build a following.
The only way to make money from YouTube without creating videos is to re-use other people's content. Not many people know this, but YouTube has a library of videos that fall under the ``Creative Commons license.''
At 1,000 subscribers, Partners are able to unlock ad revenue and start earning money from the ads shown on their videos.
YouTube doesn't allow content that encourages dangerous or illegal activities that risk serious physical harm or death. In some cases, we may make exceptions for content with educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic context, including content that is in the public's interest.
Yes, 500 subscribers can make money, not usually from YouTube ads (which need 1,000 subs), but through other methods like affiliate marketing, selling merchandise, getting brand deals, fan support (Patreon, Super Thanks), and leveraging new, lower thresholds in the expanded YouTube Partner Program for features like memberships and Shopping. Success depends more on niche, audience engagement, and diversified income streams than just subscriber count.
With this list of YouTube channel equipment, you're ready to get started on your journey in the creator economy:
Yes, YouTube absolutely pays for faceless videos, provided the content meets YouTube Partner Program (YPP) guidelines by offering original value, commentary, or educational substance, rather than being repetitive, low-effort compilations or AI-generated spam, with successful channels earning significant income through ads, affiliate marketing, and product offers. While many struggle, high-earning faceless channels focus on specific strategies like high-RPM niches, good viewer retention, and unique formats to build real businesses.
YouTube has over 2.5 billion active users, out of which 69 million are creators. Here's a taste of how much YouTube can make you. An average small YouTuber earns $50 to $100 per month, which makes it up to $1200 per year. But this figure is highly dependent on multiple other factors.
Skippable Video Ads
Advertisers only pay if a viewer watches the entire ad or at least 30 seconds of it (whichever comes first). The length of skippable ads can range from a few seconds to several minutes, and they can either be in-display or in-stream ads.
YouTube will not automatically remove your channel's access to monetization if it drops below the threshold. However, YouTube does reserve the right, at its discretion, to remove monetization from channels if a channel is inactive and not uploading or making posts for 6 months or more.
Anyone and everyone can technically make money on YouTube. That said, making money on YouTube is not a given. Simply creating a YouTube channel or account does not automatically monetize your content. As with most things, you need to meet specific criteria; creating income through YouTube takes effort and work.
How much does a Youtube Channel make? As of Jan 18, 2026, the average annual pay for a Youtube Channel in the United States is $68,714 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $33.04 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,321/week or $5,726/month.
Want to know when you'll get paid? Creators in the YouTube Partner Program are paid through AdSense for YouTube, which follows a monthly cycle.
While creators will still need to hit 4,000 watch time hours and 1,000 subscribers to earn ad revenue on YouTube, they only have to hit 3,000 hours of YouTube watch time and 500 subscribers to access the early route to the program.
How to make money fast
Be careful of Phishers
YouTubers are often an easy target for potential scammers, their email is out in the open and they are constantly hoping to find the next brand to work with, or perhaps another YouTuber who would like to partner with them.
The number one YouTuber is MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson), holding the title for the most subscribers for an individual creator, with over 450 million subscribers as of late 2025/early 2026, significantly ahead of other creators like the Stokes Twins and PewDiePie. While T-Series (an Indian music label) often leads overall for total channel subscribers, MrBeast is the top individual creator, known for massive giveaways, stunts, and philanthropy.