The only YouTube monetization checker that tells you the truth is free and already in your account: open YouTube Studio and go to Earn. It shows your subscribers, watch hours and Shorts views against the YouTube Partner Program targets, and it shows your application status once you've applied. Outside sites can only guess from public numbers.
Right now the full ad revenue tier needs 1,000 subscribers plus either 4,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days, according to YouTube Help. There's also a lower tier at 500 subscribers that opens fan funding and Shopping, but not ad money. I'll walk you through both, show you exactly where to look, and explain why the third-party checkers give you numbers that don't match.
The catch most people miss: a checker website can see your subscriber count, but it can't see your qualified watch hours. Hours from private, unlisted or deleted videos don't count, hours from ad campaigns don't count, and Shorts don't count toward the 4,000 hours. Only YouTube knows which hours qualify, so only YouTube Studio can tell you how close you are.
Where YouTube's own checker lives
It takes under a minute to find. Here's the path on a computer or in the YouTube Studio app:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio with the Google account that owns the channel.
- In the left menu, click Earn. In the Studio app, tap the Earn tab at the bottom.
- If you're not eligible yet, you'll see progress bars for subscribers, watch hours and Shorts views.
- Click Get notified. YouTube says it'll email you once you meet either threshold, so you don't have to keep checking.
- Once you're eligible, the same page shows an Apply button and, after that, your application status.
If a menu name looks different on your screen, search YouTube Studio's help for the word Earn. YouTube moves things around now and then, but this is the screen that matters.
The two tiers, side by side
YouTube splits the Partner Program into a lower tier for fan money and the main tier for ad revenue. Here's how they compare, using the figures on YouTube's own Help pages:
| Lower tier (fan funding) | Main tier (ad revenue) | |
|---|---|---|
| Subscribers | 500 | 1,000 |
| Uploads | 3 valid public uploads in the last 90 days | Not listed as a separate target |
| Long-form path | 3,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months | 4,000 qualified watch hours in the last 12 months |
| Shorts path | 3 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days | 10 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days |
| What it opens | Channel memberships, Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks, Jewels and gifts, Shopping | Ad revenue sharing, plus the fan funding features |
| Where it's offered | Only in countries on YouTube's expanded list | Countries where the Partner Program is available |
Each fan funding feature also has its own rules, such as age and country, so meeting the tier doesn't switch every feature on at once.
What else YouTube checks before it says yes
Hitting the numbers gets you to the Apply button. It doesn't get you approved. YouTube Help lists these extra requirements:
- You follow the YouTube channel monetization policies.
- You live in a country or region where the Partner Program is available.
- There are no active Community Guidelines strikes on your channel.
- 2-Step Verification is on for your Google Account.
- You have advanced features access on YouTube.
- You have one active AdSense for YouTube account linked to the channel, or you're ready to set one up in YouTube Studio.
Then a person reviews your channel. YouTube says this typically takes about a month. YouTube Help says reviewers look at your channel as a whole to make sure it follows all the policies and guidelines. In plain terms, they want to see work that's yours. A channel built on reused clips with little of your own input is the kind that struggles.
If you get rejected
It isn't the end. YouTube Help gives you two routes:
- Appeal within 21 days if you think the reviewer got it wrong.
- Or keep uploading original videos and apply again after 30 days.
- If it's not your first rejection, or you've already reapplied, the wait becomes 90 days.
Use the wait. Look at your most viewed videos with a reviewer's eyes and ask whether they show your own voice, your own footage or your own commentary.
Pakistan, India and the US: the country check
This matters more than most people think. YouTube's expanded Partner Program page lists India and the US, but Pakistan isn't on that list right now. Pakistan is on YouTube's main Partner Program availability list, though. That means a Pakistani channel can't use the 500 subscriber tier yet, and the target to aim for is the main tier. For the full local picture, including AdSense and payments, read my guide to YouTube monetization in Pakistan.
The 2027 change you should plan for
YouTube's official blog, in a post dated 10 August 2026, says that from 1 February 2027 new applicants will need 8,000 qualified watch hours in the last 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in the last 90 days. Channels already in the program aren't affected by the new entry bar, and the fan funding thresholds stay the same.
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YouTube Help also says existing partners should review and accept the updated terms in YouTube Studio by 31 January 2027 to keep full monetization. If you're close to the current targets, it's worth pushing to get in before February 2027. For every rule in one place, see YouTube monetization requirements.
Why I'd ignore the checker websites
Search for a YouTube monetization checker and you'll find sites that ask for your channel link and give you a verdict. Some are harmless. Many are thin pages built for ad clicks, and a few are worse. Here's the problem with all of them:
- They can't see qualified watch hours, strikes, your AdSense status or your country settings.
- They can't see whether YouTube's reviewer will judge your content as original.
- Some ask you to sign in with Google. Never give a third-party site access to the account that owns your channel.
- Some promise to get you monetized faster for a payment. Nobody outside YouTube can approve you.
A plain scam warning: apps and sites that promise to pay you for watching YouTube videos, liking videos or doing small tasks aren't connected to YouTube. The usual pattern is a small first reward, then a request to pay a deposit or recruit friends before you can withdraw. Don't pay, and don't share your Google login.
If you want to check whether someone else's channel is monetized, that's a different question with a different answer. I cover it in how to check if a YouTube channel is monetized.
My verdict
Bookmark YouTube Studio's Earn page, tap Get notified, and forget every other checker. Put your energy into the gap the progress bars show you: if hours are slow, make longer videos people finish; if Shorts are flying, ride that path. And if you're near the line, aim to apply before the February 2027 change lands.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free YouTube monetization checker?
Yes. It's the Earn section of YouTube Studio. It's free, it uses YouTube's own data, and it shows your progress toward each Partner Program tier.
Why don't checker websites match YouTube Studio?
Outside sites only see public numbers like subscribers and total views. They can't see qualified watch hours, which exclude private, unlisted and deleted videos, so their figures are guesses.
How long does YouTube take to review a channel?
YouTube Help says the review typically takes about a month. You can check the status any time in the Earn section of YouTube Studio.
Can I use the 500 subscriber tier in Pakistan?
Not right now. Pakistan isn't on YouTube's list of countries for the expanded Partner Program, so Pakistani channels aim for the main tier.
What happens after a rejection?
You can appeal within 21 days, or keep uploading original content and reapply after 30 days. After a repeat rejection, the wait is 90 days.
