How to Make Money on YouTube: 7 Strategies That Actually Work (2026)

How do YouTubers actually make money? We surveyed 100 creators across all niches and channel sizes to find out what works in 2026.

Key finding: Successful creators use an average of 3.2 income streams—and top earners get 60%+ of their income from sources OTHER than AdSense.

The 7 Proven Ways to Make Money on YouTube

Based on our survey of 100 monetized creators:

Let's break down each strategy with real data.

Strategy 1: AdSense Revenue (Foundation)

Who it's for: Every monetized creator Avg. RPM: $5.20 per 1,000 views Time to first payment: 3-4 months

How It Works:

• YouTube displays ads on your videos
• You earn 55% of ad revenue (YouTube keeps 45%)
• Paid monthly once you hit $100 threshold

Real Earnings by Views:

What 100 Creators Say:

• Pros: Passive, consistent, scales with views
• Cons: Low RPM, fluctuates seasonally, can't rely on it alone
• Verdict: Start here, but don't stop here

Strategy 2: Brand Sponsorships (High Income)

Who it's for: Channels with 10K+ subscribers Avg. rate: $270 per 10,000 views Avg. monthly income (those using it): $1,850

How It Works:

• Brands pay you to feature their products
• Rates based on views, not subscribers
• Dedicated videos or integrated segments

Real Rates by Channel Size:

Pro Tips from 100 Creators:

1. Create a "Work With Me" page—let brands come to you
2. Price by views, not subs—$200-350 per 10K views
3. Niche matters 2-3x—finance pays more than gaming
4. Get it in writing—clear contracts protect everyone

What 100 Creators Say:

• Pros: 4-5x better than AdSense, project-based
• Cons: Inconsistent, requires negotiation, brand fit matters
• Verdict: Highest single income source for most creators

Strategy 3: Affiliate Marketing (Passive Income)

Who it's for: All channels, especially product-focused niches Avg. monthly income: $418 Best niches: Tech, finance, gaming

How It Works:

• Recommend products with tracking links
• Earn commission on each sale
• Passive once links are in place

Top Affiliate Programs:

What Works Best:

• Product review videos (85% success rate)
• Tutorial integration (78% success rate)
• "Best X for Y" comparisons (72% success rate)

Pro Tips:

1. Only recommend what you use—trust is everything
2. Disclose affiliate links—FTC requirement
3. Combine placements—description + pinned comment + verbal

What 100 Creators Say:

• Pros: Passive income, scales without extra work
• Cons: Takes time to build, needs purchase intent
• Verdict: Best for long-term passive income

Strategy 4: Sell Your Own Products (High Margin)

Who it's for: Established channels with loyal audiences Avg. monthly income (those selling): $1,200 Profit margins: 50-80%

Product Types That Work:

What Sells Best:

• Education: Courses on what you teach
• Tech: Lightroom presets, video templates
• Business: E-books, guides, tools
• Lifestyle: Physical merch, accessories

Pro Tips:

1. Start digital—courses and guides have no inventory
2. Pre-sell before creating—validate demand first
3. Use your channel as marketing—don't hard-sell
4. Price based on value—not your subscriber count

What 100 Creators Say:

• Pros: Highest margins, you own the customer
• Cons: Upfront work, customer support, platform risk
• Verdict: Best for established channels with proven expertise

Strategy 5: Memberships & Recurring Revenue

Who it's for: Channels with strong, engaged communities Avg. monthly income (those using it): $380 Conversion rate: 0.5-2% of audience

Platforms:

What Offers Work:

Pro Tips:

1. Start with one tier—expand based on demand
2. Deliver consistent value—monthly updates minimum
3. Community > content—members pay for belonging, not just perks
4. Don't gate everything—keep main content free

What 100 Creators Say:

• Pros: Recurring income, predictable, superfans
• Cons: Pressure to deliver, requires ongoing work
• Verdict: Best for community-driven channels

Strategy 6: Merchandise (Brand Extension)

Who it's for: Channels with strong brand identity Avg. monthly income (those selling): $215 Profit margins: 10-70% (POD vs. bulk)

Most Profitable Items:

POD vs. Bulk:

• Start with POD (Printful/Printify)—no upfront cost
• Switch to bulk once selling 100+ units per design
• Premium quality for higher price points

What Works:

• Community phrases > generic logos
• Simple, wearable designs > over-branded
• Limited editions create urgency

What 100 Creators Say:

• Pros: Fans love it, brand building
• Cons: Low margins at POD scale, customer support
• Verdict: Launch when fans are asking, not before

Strategy 7: Licensing & Syndication

Who it's for: Channels with viral or evergreen content Avg. payout: $500-5,000+ per license % of creators using: 8%

How It Works:

• Media companies license your clips
• Appears on TV, social media, compilations
• Paid per use or flat fee

What Sells:

• News-worthy moments
• Viral clips
• Educational content
• Archival footage

Platforms:

• Jukin Media
• Newsflare
• Rumble
• Direct inquiries

What 100 Creators Say:

• Pros: Easy income from existing content
• Cons: Unpredictable, not for everyone
• Verdict: Nice bonus when it happens

Income Diversification: What Works Best

By Channel Size:

Small Channels (1K-10K subs):

• Start with: AdSense + Affiliate
• Add when ready: Memberships
• Goal: Build audience first

Medium Channels (10K-100K subs):

• Focus on: Sponsorships + Affiliate
• Add: Digital products
• Goal: Multiple income streams

Large Channels (100K+ subs):

• Maximize: Sponsorships + Products
• Add: Merch + Memberships
• Goal: Brand business

Real Income Breakdown (100 creators):

Top earners rely LESS on AdSense and MORE on business income.

Real Creator Income Examples

Example 1: Tech Review Channel (85K subs)

• Monthly views: 300K
• AdSense: $1,500 (30%)
• Sponsorships: $2,500 (50%)
• Affiliate: $1,000 (20%)
• Total: $5,000/month

Example 2: Education Channel (45K subs)

• Monthly views: 150K
• AdSense: $900 (40%)
• Course sales: $900 (40%)
• Affiliate: $270 (12%)
• Memberships: $225 (8%)
• Total: $2,295/month

Example 3: Gaming Channel (150K subs)

• Monthly views: 800K
• AdSense: $1,640 (35%)
• Sponsorships: $2,400 (50%)
• Memberships: $700 (15%)
• Total: $4,740/month

The Roadmap to YouTube Income

Phase 1: Foundation (0-1K subs)

• Focus on: Growing audience
• Income: $0-50/month (if any)
• Strategy: Build first, monetize later

Phase 2: Monetization Eligible (1K-10K subs)

• Focus on: AdSense + early affiliates
• Income: $50-500/month
• Strategy: Meet YPP requirements, start affiliate links

Phase 3: Diversification (10K-100K subs)

• Focus on: Sponsorships + products
• Income: $500-5,000/month
• Strategy: Multiple income streams

Phase 4: Scale (100K+ subs)

• Focus on: Brand business
• Income: $5,000-50,000+/month
• Strategy: Treat it as a business, not a channel

Key Takeaways

1. AdSense is just the beginning—average 40% of income, top earners 25%

2. Sponsorships pay best—$270 per 10K views, 4-5x AdSense

3. Affiliate marketing is passive gold—$418/month average once built

4. Products have highest margins—50-80% profit, but upfront work

5. Memberships = superfans—0.5-2% convert, recurring income

6. Merch = brand love—launch when fans ask, not before

7. Diversification wins—top earners use 3-5 income streams

Want to calculate your YouTube income potential? Use our free calculators:

• Earnings Calculator - Estimate ad revenue
• Sponsorship Calculator - Price brand deals
• Affiliate Calculator - Plan affiliate income

For complete monetization data, see our 100 YouTubers Survey Results.