Yes, YouTubers get paid when YouTube Premium members watch their videos. Premium viewers don’t see ads, but YouTube shares part of every Premium subscription with the creators those members watch. YouTube now publishes the split, and says that on average a Premium signup earns creators more than the same person watching ads. Here’s how the money is worked out, what changes in 2027 and how to see it in your own analytics.
Last updated: 24 October 2026 · By Alan Spicer, YouTube Certified Expert
The short version: Premium replaces ad revenue on that view with subscription revenue. It doesn’t replace it with nothing.
The more useful questions are how the money is shared, whether Premium views are worth more than ad views, and how Premium fits into a wider YouTube income plan. That’s what this guide covers.
Why listen to me? I’m Alan Spicer, a YouTube Certified Expert since 2017 (including Content Ownership & Monetisation). I’ve coached 500+ creators, run 500+ channel audits and earned six YouTube Silver Play Buttons. When I audit a channel, RPM is the first number I check, and Premium revenue is part of that number.
For the wider picture, read what percentage of YouTubers make money. To apply it to your channel, book a free discovery call.
Jump to a section:
⚡ QUICK ANSWER: Do YouTubers get paid if you have YouTube Premium?
Yes. When a YouTube Premium member watches your video, you earn a share of their subscription instead of ad money. YouTube pools Premium revenue and shares it by member watch time and views, and says that on average creators earn more from a Premium signup than from that person watching ads.
How does YouTube Premium pay creators?
YouTube Premium pays creators by sharing subscription revenue according to how much members watch their content. YouTube’s help page says Premium membership fees are distributed to creators based on member watch time, the majority goes to partners, and payments arrive at the start of each month alongside ad revenue (YouTube Help).
- A viewer pays for YouTube Premium. They get ad-free, background and offline viewing across YouTube.
- They watch your videos. Their views and watch time are recorded, including background play and downloads.
- YouTube builds a revenue pool. A share of net subscription revenue goes into a creator pool: 30% for Premium and 60% for Premium Lite.
- The pool is split by watch behaviour. The pool is shared out by member watch time and views across all eligible creators.
- You receive your share. Your share is paid at 55% for long-form and 45% for Shorts, in the same monthly payment as ad revenue.
| Viewer type | What they see | How the creator earns |
|---|---|---|
| Free viewer | Ads may show | Ad revenue, plus memberships, Super Thanks and other features if turned on |
| YouTube Premium member | No ads | Share of the Premium revenue pool, plus the same other features |
| YouTube Premium Lite member | No ads on most content | Share of the Premium Lite revenue pool, plus the same other features |
Premium doesn’t cancel creator earnings. It changes where the money comes from.
VIDEO
My video on exactly this question, if you’d rather watch than read.
How much of YouTube Premium goes to creators in 2027?
YouTube puts 30% of net Premium subscription revenue and 60% of net Premium Lite revenue into dedicated creator pools, then pays creators 55% of their share for long-form and 45% for Shorts. YouTube published these figures on 10 August 2026 as part of its 2027 Partner Programme update.
| Item | Figure | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Premium creator pool | 30% of net subscription revenue | Net of costs including music partner payments |
| Premium Lite creator pool | 60% of net subscription revenue | Lite has no music benefits, so more goes to creators |
| How each pool is split | By member watch time and views | More Premium viewing of your content means a bigger share |
| Creator share: long-form | 55% | Same headline share as long-form ads |
| Creator share: Shorts | 45% | Same headline share as Shorts ads |
| Premium Lite availability | All countries where Premium is offered | Expanding as part of the 2027 changes |
Source: YouTube Official Blog, 10 August 2026. YouTube says the pool percentages factor in the cost of running and promoting each service.
30%
Of net Premium revenue goes into the creator pool
60%
Of net Premium Lite revenue goes into the creator pool
55% / 45%
Creator share for long-form / Shorts
Monthly
Premium paid with ad revenue at the start of each month
Sources: YouTube Official Blog (10 August 2026); YouTube Help, Your content and YouTube Premium, checked 24 October 2026.
Premium Lite is the cheaper ad-free tier without YouTube Music benefits. I explain what the expansion means for your income in YouTube Premium Lite for creators, and what viewers pay in how much YouTube Premium costs.
Does YouTube Premium replace ad revenue?
Yes, for that view. A Premium member doesn’t see ads, so their view earns you Premium revenue instead of ad revenue. Every free viewer on the same video still earns you ad revenue as normal.
In plain English: ads are replaced by subscription revenue, not by nothing. That’s why the right answer to the main question is “yes, through a different revenue stream”.
Viewers who block ads without paying for Premium are a different case, because neither ads nor Premium money reaches the creator. I cover that in do YouTubers get paid if you use AdBlock.
Are Premium views worth more than ad-supported views?
On average, yes. YouTube says partners, on average, earn more from a Premium signup than from that same user watching ads, based on 2026 performance (YouTube Official Blog). That’s a change from the old advice that Premium views were roughly equal to ad views.
It isn’t guaranteed for every view. A Premium member who watches hundreds of hours across many channels spreads their share thinly, and in a high-CPM niche like finance, ad views can pay very well. The value depends on how much Premium members watch you, where they are, and what ads would have paid in your niche. My CPM by niche guide shows how big that ad gap can be.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do Premium viewers help creators earn? | Yes |
| Do Premium views count as ad views? | No, they use Premium revenue sharing instead |
| Is a Premium signup worth more than an ad viewer on average? | Yes, according to YouTube’s 2026 figures |
| Is every single Premium view worth more? | No, it varies by audience, niche and watch time |
For how view value changes across revenue types, also read do YouTubers get paid more if you watch the whole ad, do YouTubers get paid if you skip ads and how much 1 million YouTube views make.
What still counts when someone watches with Premium?
Almost everything still counts when someone watches with Premium. A Premium view counts as a view, adds watch time and retention data, and feeds recommendations exactly like a free view.
- Public view count and watch time
- Audience retention and recommendation signals
- Progress towards YouTube Partner Programme thresholds
- Your share of Premium revenue
- Memberships, Super Thanks, products and other income
YouTube also confirms that background play counts towards your watch time, and that downloaded videos are recorded and added the next time the member goes online (YouTube Help). Since 24 August 2026, YouTube counts a view as soon as playback starts, while earnings are based on engaged views and engaged watch hours (YouTube Help). Downloads are a separate case from ripping videos with third-party tools, which earns creators nothing (see do YouTubers get paid if you download their video).
Why this matters for strategy: you don’t need to make “Premium-friendly” content. You need content people watch to the end. Premium revenue follows watch behaviour, so audience retention is the lever.
Who can earn from YouTube Premium views?
Creators in the YouTube Partner Programme who have accepted the right monetisation modules can earn from Premium views. For long-form videos that means the Watch Page Monetisation Module with watch page ads turned on, and for Shorts the Shorts Feed Monetisation Module (YouTube Help).
| Requirement | What you need |
|---|---|
| Join YPP with revenue sharing | 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days (YouTube Help) |
| From 1 February 2027 (new applicants) | 1,000 subscribers plus 8,000 qualified watch hours in 365 days or 20 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days (YouTube Official Blog) |
| Long-form Premium revenue | Watch Page Monetisation Module accepted and watch page ads on |
| Shorts Premium revenue | Shorts Feed Monetisation Module accepted |
| Content | Must follow YouTube’s channel monetisation policies |
The 500-subscriber tier opens up fan funding and Shopping but not ad or Premium revenue. If you’re working towards the full threshold, read YouTube monetisation requirements 2027, how to get 1,000 subscribers and 8,000 watch hours and how to get monetised on YouTube in 2027.
Earning from YouTube but not sure where the money comes from?
On a free discovery call we’ll read your revenue sources together, from ads to Premium to memberships, and find the quickest way to raise your RPM.
- Your RPM has dropped and you don’t know why
- You’re close to YPP and want to qualify before 1 February 2027
- You want income beyond ads
How do you see your YouTube Premium earnings?
You see YouTube Premium earnings in YouTube Studio under Analytics, then Revenue, where YouTube Premium appears as its own revenue source. You can also review Premium watch time and views by video.
Premium revenue is included in your RPM. YouTube defines RPM as total revenue per 1,000 views after YouTube’s share, covering ads, channel memberships, YouTube Premium, Super Chat and Super Stickers (YouTube Help). CPM covers only ad and Premium revenue on monetised views, before YouTube’s share. If you want to lift the number, my guide to increasing your YouTube RPM has nine practical steps, and what YouTube RPM is explains the basics.
How does Premium fit into a wider YouTube income strategy?
YouTube Premium is one part of your income mix, not something to build a strategy around directly. The best way to earn more from Premium is the same as earning more from ads: better topics, stronger thumbnails and intros, and more watch time.
A healthy YouTube income stack can include:
- Ad revenue
- YouTube Premium and Premium Lite revenue
- Memberships
- Super Chat, Super Stickers and Super Thanks
- Affiliate links and sponsorships
- Your own products, services or coaching
Premium is worth understanding but not worth obsessing over on its own. It rewards good content; it doesn’t replace it. To widen your income, read 9 YouTube revenue streams beyond AdSense, channel memberships, Super Chat and Super Thanks and my pillar guide on how to make money on social media.
Which tools help you build a monetisable channel?
The tools that help you build a monetisable channel are the ones that improve what people click and how long they watch, because that drives both ad and Premium revenue.
| Tool | Best for | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Studio | Revenue sources, RPM and viewer behaviour | YouTube Analytics explained |
| vidIQ | Topic research and search-led growth | Try vidIQ · vidIQ review |
| TubeBuddy | Workflow, bulk edits and publishing | Try TubeBuddy · TubeBuddy review |
| StreamYard | Live streams, interviews and webinars | Try StreamYard · StreamYard review |
| Syllaby | Content planning and ideas | Try Syllaby · Syllaby review |
People also ask
Does YouTube Premium Lite pay creators?
Yes. YouTube Premium Lite has its own revenue pool, set at 60% of net Lite subscription revenue, shared by member watch time and views. I cover it in detail in YouTube Premium Lite for creators.
Do Premium views count towards monetisation?
Yes. Premium views from public videos count towards watch hours and views like any other, so they help you reach YPP thresholds. See what qualified watch hours and views are.
Is it better to watch with Premium or ads to support a creator?
Either works, but YouTube’s own figures say Premium signups earn creators more on average. Adding a membership, Super Thanks or using their affiliate links supports them most directly.
What I would do to earn more from YouTube
- Stop thinking only in terms of ads.
- Make content that holds attention for longer.
- Use analytics to understand viewer behaviour, not vanity numbers.
- Build a revenue mix with more than one stream.
- Treat Premium as part of the system, not the whole plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do YouTubers get paid if I have YouTube Premium?
Yes. Premium members don’t see ads, but creators in the YouTube Partner Programme earn a share of Premium subscription revenue based on how much members watch their content. The money arrives in the same monthly payment as ad revenue.
Do Premium views count as ad views?
No. A Premium view doesn’t serve an ad, so it isn’t an ad view. It still counts as a normal view for your public view count, watch time and analytics, and it earns you money through Premium revenue sharing rather than ad revenue.
Are YouTube Premium views worth more?
On average, yes. YouTube says partners earned more on average from a Premium signup than from that user watching ads, based on 2026 performance. Individual results still vary with your audience’s location, how much they watch and how much ads would have paid in your niche.
Do YouTubers lose money if I watch with Premium?
No. Premium swaps the ad revenue from your watch for a share of your subscription. Because YouTube says creators earn more on average from Premium signups than from ad viewers, watching with Premium usually supports the creator at least as well as watching ads.
Can small YouTubers earn from Premium?
Yes, once they qualify for ad and Premium revenue sharing. That needs 1,000 subscribers plus 4,000 qualified watch hours in 12 months or 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days, rising to 8,000 hours or 20 million Shorts views for new applicants from 1 February 2027.
Does YouTube Premium affect memberships or Super Thanks?
No. Premium only changes the ad experience. Channel memberships, Super Chat, Super Stickers and Super Thanks are separate revenue streams, so a Premium member can still support a creator through any of them.
Does background play or downloaded Premium viewing count for creators?
Yes. YouTube says background play counts towards your watch time, and downloaded videos are recorded and added to your watch time the next time the member goes online. Both feed into how Premium revenue is shared.
How do I see my YouTube Premium earnings?
Open YouTube Studio, go to Analytics, then the Revenue tab. YouTube Premium appears as its own line in your revenue sources, and you can view Premium watch time and views by video. Your RPM also includes Premium revenue alongside ads, memberships and Super Chat.
Final thoughts
Yes, YouTubers get paid if you have YouTube Premium. They don’t earn from ads on your view; they earn from a share of your subscription, split by watch time, and YouTube’s own 2026 figures say that share is worth more on average than an ad viewer.
Premium is still only one stream. The bigger goal is content people want to watch, because watch behaviour drives almost everything else. If you want help building that kind of channel, read how I work with creators or book a free discovery call.
About the author
Alan Spicer is a YouTube Certified Expert (since 2017) and independent YouTube consultant with 20 years of self-employment. He has coached 500+ creators, run 500+ channel audits, worked on the vidIQ customer success team from 2020 to 2021, and helped channels such as Coin Bureau Trading grow from 15k to 100k+ subscribers in eight months. He has six YouTube Silver Play Buttons and a combined audience of 100K+.
Want more from every view, Premium or not?
Work with a YouTube Certified Expert with six Silver Play Buttons, 500+ creators coached and 500+ channel audits behind him.
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p style=”font-size:0.85em;font-style:italic;color:#6c757d;margin:24px 0″>Sources: YouTube Help, Your content and YouTube Premium, Understand ad revenue analytics, Overview of the expanded YouTube Partner Programme and How engagement metrics are counted; YouTube Official Blog, YouTube Partner Program updates for 2027 (10 August 2026). All checked 24 October 2026. Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links (marked rel=”sponsored”). If you sign up through them I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Programme terms change, so check current terms on each provider’s site.
