Super Thanks lets viewers pay a creator to show extra thanks on a long-form video or Short. The buyer sees a one-time animation over the video and gets a colourful, highlighted comment, and the creator earns from the purchase. It used to be called Viewer applause.
It's one of YouTube's fan funding features, alongside channel memberships and Super Chat. Unlike Super Chat, which works in live chat, Super Thanks works on uploaded videos and Shorts, so it can earn from a video long after it's published.
How Super Thanks works for viewers
- You buy a Super Thanks on a long-form video or a Short.
- A short animation plays over the video. Only you see it.
- You post a distinct, colourful comment that you can customise, and it stands out in the comments section.
- YouTube offers Super Thanks at a few different price points to choose from.
The animation is private to the buyer. The public part is the highlighted comment, which anyone reading the comments can see.
Who can turn on Super Thanks
YouTube says a channel must first meet the minimum requirements for fan funding features. Those are:
- The channel is in the YouTube Partner Program.
- You're at least 18 years old.
- You live in a country or region where Super Thanks is available.
On top of that, YouTube says the channel must accept and comply with its terms, including the Commerce Product Module, and mustn't be set as made for kids or have a significant number of made-for-kids or ineligible videos. Some music channels aren't eligible, such as channels under certain music label contracts. If you have access, a Supers tab appears in the Earn section of YouTube Studio.
How to turn on Super Thanks
- Apply to the YouTube Partner Program and get accepted.
- Agree to the terms that cover fan funding, including the Commerce Product Module.
- Check you meet the Super Thanks eligibility rules above.
- Turn on Super Thanks in YouTube Studio or the YouTube Studio mobile app.
Each fan funding feature is switched on separately, so turning on memberships doesn't turn on Super Thanks, or the other way round.
Videos where Super Thanks won't appear
Even on an eligible channel, YouTube says Super Thanks isn't available on these long-form videos and Shorts:
- Age-restricted, unlisted or private videos.
- Videos set as made for kids.
- Videos with copyright claims.
- Videos with YouTube Giving fundraisers.
- Live streams and Premieres while they're live. It becomes available on the archived video afterwards.
- Videos with comments turned off.
That comments rule catches people. If you've switched comments off on a video, Super Thanks disappears from it too, because the highlighted comment is part of the feature.
Where Super Thanks is available
YouTube's list, as of October 2026, includes the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico and most of Europe, among others.
Some large creator countries aren't on it. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal don't appear in YouTube's Super Thanks list, so creators there can't turn it on for now. If that's you, channel memberships and gifted memberships are worth checking against their own country list.
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Rules to know before you rely on it
YouTube says Super Thanks isn't a crowdfunding or donation tool, and that the earnings may be treated differently depending on the laws that apply to you. It also points creators to its separate fundraising options if raising funds for a cause is the aim. The channel monetisation policies and Community Guidelines apply in full.
How it compares with Super Chat
| Super Thanks | Super Chat and Super Stickers | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it appears | Uploaded long-form videos and Shorts | Live chat during live streams |
| What the fan gets | A private animation and a highlighted comment | A highlighted message or animated sticker in live chat |
| When it earns | Any time after the video is published | While the stream is live |
Many creators use both. My guide to YouTube Super Chat covers the live side.
My verdict
If your channel is in the Partner Program and your country is on the list, turn Super Thanks on. It takes minutes to switch on, it earns on old uploads as well as new ones, and the highlighted comments are a nice signal of who your keenest fans are. Just keep comments switched on, or it won't show.
Another fan funding option sits behind a membership, and I explain how it works in my guide to YouTube videos for channel members.
Frequently asked questions
What is Super Thanks on YouTube?
Super Thanks lets viewers pay to show extra thanks on a long-form video or Short. They see a one-time animation and post a highlighted comment.
Who can turn on Super Thanks?
YouTube says your channel must be in the YouTube Partner Program, you must be at least 18 and you must live in a country where Super Thanks is available.
Is Super Thanks available in Pakistan?
No. Pakistan doesn't appear in YouTube's list of Super Thanks locations as of October 2026.
Why can't viewers send Super Thanks on my video?
YouTube says Super Thanks isn't available on age-restricted, unlisted, private or made-for-kids videos, videos with copyright claims, or videos with comments turned off.
