Know your monetization gap. Know your next move.
Enter your YouTube channel to see a public-data estimate of your watch-hour gap, your biggest obstacle, and one focused next step.
Free estimate · No signup required · No YouTube account connection
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How it works
Enter your channel
We pull your public stats. No login needed.
See your gap
Estimated watch hours remaining and what’s holding you back.
Get your next move
One focused action based on what's holding you back.
The problem
YouTube is updating its Partner Program requirements for new applicants starting February 1, 2027 — raising the long-form watch-hour threshold from 4,000 to 8,000 hours. Most creators don’t know where they stand against the current requirements, let alone the upcoming ones. GapTrack estimates your current progress and shows you what’s holding you back.
YouTube monetization requirements in 2027: what changes?
Starting February 1, 2027, new applicants seeking YouTube ad and Premium revenue sharing need at least 1,000 subscribers plus either 8,000 qualified public watch hours in the previous 365 days or 20 million qualified public Shorts views in the previous 90 days. Before that change, the corresponding entry thresholds are 4,000 hours or 10 million Shorts views.
Do Shorts views count toward watch hours?
Watch time from the Shorts feed does not count toward the long-form watch-hour requirement. Shorts have their own qualified-views route to eligibility. Check your actual eligible totals in YouTube Studio → Earn.
What about existing monetized creators?
The higher YPP entry thresholds apply to new applicants, not channels already in YPP. There is also a separate 10 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days requirement for ongoing monthly Shorts ad and Premium revenue sharing from February 2027; this is not the same as the 20 million entry requirement.
Is fan funding changing?
The lower entry thresholds for eligible fan-funding features remain 500 subscribers and either 3,000 qualified watch hours in a year or 3 million qualified Shorts views in 90 days. Other eligibility conditions also apply.
GapTrack estimates progress from limited public channel data; it cannot verify qualified watch time, qualified Shorts views, or YPP acceptance. Only YouTube Studio provides your official eligibility progress.
Official sources: YouTube's 2027 changes and YPP eligibility guidance.
YouTube monetization guideWant a public-data estimate for your channel? Use the free calculator at the top of this page. No sign-in required.