How to Make Money on YouTube: Every Option for a Ukrainian Creator

The question "how to make money on YouTube" is usually reduced to ads before videos. In reality, ads are just one of several ways, and for small channels often not the most profitable one. Here are all the sources of income on YouTube, which of them are available in Ukraine at the time of writing, and where to start.

Two types of income on YouTube

All ways of earning can be split into two groups:

• From YouTube itself: ads, Shorts, channel memberships, Super Thanks, Super Chat. These require the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
• Outside YouTube: sponsored integrations, affiliate links, your own products and services. Here YouTube is only a source of audience, and formally no subscriber threshold is required.

That is why you can earn even before monetization: if you have 2,000 engaged viewers in a narrow niche, advertisers and your own products can bring in more than ads on a channel with 50 thousand random views.

1. Ads on videos (the Partner Program)

The classic way: YouTube shows ads in your videos and shares part of the revenue with you. You also get a share from views by YouTube Premium subscribers.

At the time of writing, full access to the program requires:

• 1,000 subscribers;
• 4,000 watch hours of long-form videos in 12 months or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days;
• no active strikes, two-factor authentication, an AdSense account, and being 18 or older (or having a guardian with AdSense).

What about Ukraine. Ukrainian channels can join the Partner Program and earn ad revenue. However, the expanded tier with lower thresholds (500 subscribers and 3,000 hours) is not available in every country, and according to Ukrainian sources, Ukraine is not yet on that list. The exact status for your channel is shown in YouTube Studio → "Earn".

Details on the requirements and preparing your application are in the article on YouTube monetization.

How much you are paid for views depends on the topic, the viewers' country and the season, so there is no universal figure. Audiences from countries where advertising is more expensive and "expensive" niches (finance, technology, education) usually bring in more.

2. Shorts monetization

Partner Program members get a share of ad revenue from ads between Shorts. The mechanics differ from long videos: revenue is collected into a shared pool and distributed among creators according to their share of views.

The upside of Shorts is fast audience growth. The downside is that income per view is usually noticeably lower than for long videos. So Shorts are best used as a "shop window" that brings viewers to your main content.

3. Channel memberships

Viewers pay monthly for access to perks: badges and emoji in chat, exclusive videos, early access, members-only streams. You set the tiers and prices yourself from a list YouTube offers.

Memberships work well for channels with a loyal community: podcasts, education, gaming, personal blogs. Availability of the feature depends on the country and the program tier, so check the "Earn" section.

4. Super Thanks, Super Chat and Super Stickers

• Super Thanks: a viewer pays to thank you for a video, and their comment is highlighted in color.
• Super Chat and Super Stickers: paid messages during live streams and premieres that get pinned in the chat.

For this format, live streams and real interaction with your audience matter. The more often you reply to viewers, the more willing they are to support the channel.

5. Sponsored integrations and sponsored videos

Brands pay for a mention of their product in a video: a short segment, a review or a dedicated episode. For many Ukrainian creators, this is the main source of income.

What matters:

• Advertisers care not only about subscriber count but also about views on recent videos, retention and audience geography.
• Prepare a media kit: topic, statistics from YouTube Studio, viewer profile, formats and prices.
• Label paid promotion: YouTube has a "Contains paid promotion" checkbox in the video settings.
• Only take on products that suit your audience, otherwise you will lose their trust.

6. Affiliate links

You add a link to a product or service in the description and get a percentage of sales. Online stores, online schools, hosting providers, services and marketplaces have such programs.

YouTube's own affiliate program, YouTube Shopping, at the time of writing works only in a limited list of countries, and Ukraine is not among them (YouTube is gradually expanding this list, so check the "Earn" section). That is why it is more convenient for Ukrainian creators to use the affiliate programs of the stores and services themselves. Always tell viewers that a link is an affiliate link.

7. Your own products and services

The most stable way to earn, because it doesn't depend on algorithms or ad budgets:

• online courses, consultations, mentoring;
• merch: T-shirts, mugs, stickers;
• digital products: templates, presets, guides;
• services: design, renovation, photography, if the channel shows your expertise.

Here the channel works as free advertising, and the sales happen on your website, in Telegram or on Instagram.

8. Donations outside YouTube

Many Ukrainian creators collect support through third-party donation services and subscription platforms. This works best for those with a small but dedicated audience. You can add the link to your description and channel banner. Before connecting one, check whether the service accepts Ukrainian cards and how to withdraw funds.

Comparison of ways to earn

The most resilient model is a combination of several sources. If YouTube changes its rules or advertisers cut budgets, the other methods will keep bringing in income.

Taxes on YouTube income

YouTube income is taxed in Ukraine. Exactly how depends on whether you work as a sole proprietor (FOP) or as an individual. The rules change, so it's worth consulting an accountant before your first payouts.

Where a new channel should start

1. Choose a niche in which you are ready to film at least 30 videos.
2. Publish regularly: long videos plus Shorts cut from them.
3. Build a community: reply to comments, run live streams.
4. Launch income outside YouTube early: affiliate links and your own services can be added from your very first video.
5. Prepare for monetization: track watch hours and subscribers in YouTube Studio.

A step-by-step growth plan is in the article how to grow a YouTube channel.

Will promotion help

A channel with only a few subscribers is hard to "sell" to both viewers and advertisers. On InstaHub you can order subscribers, views and likes for YouTube without a password, using only a link, so that a new channel doesn't look empty.

But be careful: YouTube checks where activity comes from when reviewing a monetization application, and advertisers look at retention and comments. Artificial numbers won't replace a real audience and can be a reason for rejection from the Partner Program. Use promotion as a small initial push, and build the foundation with content.