People always ask me how much I earn on YouTube, and the answer is much more complex than it seems. There is no single number — it all depends on the size of the channel, the niche you choose, audience engagement, and mainly which country your audience watches your videos from.

Let me break down the real numbers circulating around in 2025 and 2026.

Small channels, those with up to 10,000 subscribers, usually earn between R$ 100 and R$ 500 per month. Yes, it’s really little. But then comes creativity — affiliates, product sales, occasional partnerships can significantly increase this initial amount.

For those with between 50,000 and 500,000 subscribers, they are in a different league. These creators earn somewhere between R$ 2,000 and R$ 5,000 monthly, combining AdSense with SuperChat, Channel Memberships, and paid collaborations. That’s when YouTube starts to become financially interesting.

Large channels, with 1 million or more followers, easily surpass R$ 20,000 per month. Many reach R$ 100,000 when advertising contracts and sponsored videos come into play.

And top creators? Those with tens of millions of subscribers? We’re talking about R$ 200,000 to R$ 3 million monthly, depending on the niche and the campaigns they close.

Now, how much does a beginner earn on YouTube? Honestly, little. Less than R$ 500 per month when they start mixing AdSense with sales like affiliate marketing, SuperChat during live streams, and initial sponsored videos. AdSense alone pays a pittance at the beginning. What really makes a difference is engagement, not just the number of subscribers.

The platform offers several monetization options. There’s AdSense, which is the most well-known — YouTube passes on 55% of ad revenue. There’s YouTube Shopping to sell products. Affiliate marketing, which is one of the most profitable for small channels, with commissions reaching up to 80%. SuperChat and Super Stickers during live streams. Channel Memberships with subscriptions where the creator receives 70%. And there’s YouTube Premium, where part of the users’ subscription is distributed among creators.

To start earning money, you need to join the Partner Program. The requirements are: be 18 or older, have 1,000 subscribers, 4,000 watch hours on long videos or 10 million views on Shorts, and the channel must be in good standing. Payment is released when you reach US$ 100 or more.

View count numbers fluctuate a lot. Globally, the average is around US$ 0.018 per view. Per thousand views, you see CPM between US$ 0.25 and US$ 4.50. So, 20,000 views generate somewhere between US$ 36 and US$ 60.

But let me be honest — how much you earn on YouTube really depends on how strategic you are. It’s not enough to post videos randomly. You need to think like a professional, keep an editorial calendar, ensure technical quality, and explore all monetization sources you can find.

For those just starting out, the initial number doesn’t matter as much as the growth curve. With dedication and content that truly connects with people, it’s entirely possible to turn a small channel into a solid income source. And yes, even a millionaire one if you do it right.