Think about how often you have bought something because a creator showed it in a video. A phone case. A skincare product. A kitchen gadget. A budget microphone recommended by a tech reviewer. That moment when a viewer thinks “I need that” is worth real money, and YouTube now lets creators earn a commission on it directly inside the platform.
The YouTube Shopping affiliate program has changed a lot in 2026. It used to be locked behind a 10,000-subscriber requirement. Now it opens far earlier, and it keeps expanding to new countries. This guide explains how the program works, who can join, which countries are included, how to sign up, how commissions and payouts work and how to create shopping content that viewers actually trust.
What Is the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program?
The YouTube Shopping affiliate program lets eligible creators tag products from participating brands and retailers in their videos, Shorts and live streams. When a viewer taps the product tag and buys the item on the retailer’s site, the creator earns a commission.
It works like traditional affiliate marketing, but with one big advantage: everything happens inside YouTube. There are no messy links to paste into descriptions and no separate dashboards for every store. You browse products in YouTube Studio, tag them in your content and track your sales in the same place.
How It Works, Step by Step
- Brands join. Retailers and merchants list products through Google Merchant Center and opt into the YouTube affiliate program, setting a commission rate.
- You browse products. In YouTube Studio, you explore affiliate offers and see each product’s commission percentage.
- You tag products. Add product tags to videos, Shorts or live streams where you genuinely feature or recommend them.
- Viewers shop. Viewers see a shopping button or product sticker and tap through to buy.
- You earn commission. Once the purchase is confirmed and not returned, you earn your share.
Where Product Tags Appear
| Format | How products show |
|---|---|
| Long-form videos | Product list below the video and timed product cards |
| Shorts | Shopping button or product sticker on screen |
| Live streams | Pinned products shown during the stream |
| Channel store | A shopping tab on your channel, where available |
Why Creators Like It
- Built into YouTube. Viewers can shop without leaving the platform experience.
- Transparent commissions. You see the rate before you tag a product.
- Works on Shorts. Short product videos can drive surprising sales.
- Custom deals. Some merchants offer higher exclusive commission rates to specific creators.
- Affiliate campaigns. Brands can run campaigns that pay extra incentives for featuring their products.
- No need for huge views. A focused audience of buyers can outperform a large audience of casual viewers.
Shopping Affiliate vs Ads
Ad revenue pays you based on views. Affiliate commission pays you based on purchases. A tech review video with 20,000 views can earn more from affiliate sales than a comedy video with 500,000 views earns from ads, because the viewers are ready to buy. For the right niches, shopping is one of the highest-earning features on YouTube.
YouTube Shopping Affiliate Eligibility in 2026
The Big Change: 500 Subscribers Is Now Enough
On March 27, 2026, YouTube linked Shopping affiliate eligibility directly to YouTube Partner Program membership. Before that change, creators needed more than 10,000 subscribers. Now, any creator in YPP who meets the program’s other rules can join, including creators who entered YPP through the expanded tier with as few as 500 subscribers.
Full Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| YPP membership | Your channel must be in the YouTube Partner Program (500-subscriber tier or full tier) |
| Country | Your channel must be based in an eligible country |
| Strikes | No active Community Guidelines strikes |
| Audience | Channel not set as made for kids, and not too many videos marked for kids |
| Channel type | Some music channels and official artist channels are not eligible |
| Content owner | If your channel is managed by a content owner (MCN), they may need to accept the affiliate terms for you |
| Policies | Follow YouTube Shopping and monetization policies |
Which Countries Are Included?
According to YouTube’s Help Center, the program covers eligible creators in Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam. The UK was added in August 2026 with a set of participating retailers. At Made on YouTube 2026, YouTube said it was targeting affiliate availability in 35 countries by the end of the year.
| Region | Countries currently included |
|---|---|
| North America | United States, Mexico |
| South America | Brazil, Argentina |
| Europe | United Kingdom |
| Asia | India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam |
| Africa | Not yet listed |
If you are in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana or another country not on this list, the program is not open to you yet. We cover alternatives later in this guide, and it is worth watching YouTube Studio as the rollout continues.
How to Join the YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program: Step by Step
Step 1: Get Into YPP
Reach at least the 500-subscriber tier (500 subscribers, 3 public uploads in 90 days and either 3,000 watch hours in 12 months or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days). Apply through YouTube Studio > Earn.
Step 2: Confirm Your Channel Settings
- Your channel country is set correctly under Settings > Channel > Basic info.
- Your channel is not set as made for kids.
- You have no active strikes.
Step 3: Open the Shopping Section
Go to YouTube Studio > Earn > Shopping. If you are eligible, you will see the affiliate program with a Join now or Get started button.
Step 4: Accept the Terms
Read and accept the YouTube Shopping affiliate program terms. If an MCN manages your channel, they may need to accept on your behalf.
Step 5: Explore Affiliate Offers
From the left menu, go to Earn > Shopping > Explore affiliate offers. Browse sellers and products, and check the commission rate for each one. The Affiliate Hub may also show free samples, custom deals and campaigns.
Step 6: Tag Products in Your Content
- New uploads: In the upload flow, open the Shopping section and add products.
- Existing videos: Edit the video in Studio and add products under Shopping.
- Shorts: Add products while uploading or editing the Short.
- Live streams: Select products before or during the stream and pin them.
Step 7: Add Timestamps for Long Videos
For long videos, set when each product appears so the product card shows at the right moment.
Step 8: Disclose Properly
YouTube adds shopping labels automatically, but you should also say clearly in the video that you may earn a commission. Honest disclosure builds trust and keeps you within advertising rules.
Step 9: Track Performance
Use the Shopping analytics in YouTube Studio to see clicks, orders, commission and which products perform best.
Commissions and Payouts
How Much Commission Can You Earn?
Each merchant sets its own commission rate, and you can see it before tagging a product. Rates vary widely by category. Creators and industry guides commonly report ranges such as:
| Category | Typical commission range |
|---|---|
| Beauty and skincare | 12% to 20% |
| Fashion and accessories | 8% to 15% |
| Home and kitchen | 5% to 12% |
| Electronics and gadgets | 3% to 8% |
| Books and education | 4% to 10% |
Some merchants offer custom, higher rates to specific creators, and YouTube has at times run launch incentives in new markets where 100% of the commission from affiliate merchants went to creators.
Example Earnings
| Product price | Commission rate | Sales per month | Monthly commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25 skincare item | 15% | 100 | $375 |
| $60 headphones | 6% | 80 | $288 |
| $15 kitchen tool | 10% | 250 | $375 |
| $300 phone | 4% | 20 | $240 |
When Commissions Are Paid
Commissions usually go through a validation period to account for returns and cancellations. Once confirmed, they are added to your YouTube earnings and paid through AdSense, together with your other YouTube income, once you pass the payment threshold. Payments typically go out between the 21st and 26th of the month. Timing from sale to payout can be two months or more, depending on the merchant and program.
How to Create Shopping Content That Sells
Recommend Only What You Believe In
Your audience trusts you. If you tag poor products just for commission, they notice, and your channel suffers. Test products yourself before recommending them.
Show the Product in Real Use
Viewers want to see how it works in real life: unboxing, first impressions, a week later, a month later. Honest demonstrations sell better than polished adverts.
Include Pros and Cons
Balanced reviews feel trustworthy. Mentioning a weakness makes your praise more believable.
Create Comparison Videos
“Budget vs premium” and “best three under $50” videos are popular because they help viewers decide. Tag every product you compare.
Use Shorts for Quick Discovery
A 30-second Short showing one clever product can drive fast sales. Use a strong hook, show the product in action and let the shopping sticker do the rest.
Go Live for Shopping Events
Live shopping streams during sales seasons, such as holidays or major sale days, can generate strong sales. Pin products and answer viewer questions live.
Plan Around Buying Seasons
| Season | Content idea |
|---|---|
| Back to school | Study gadgets, bags, stationery |
| Holiday season | Gift guides by budget |
| New year | Fitness gear, planners, productivity tools |
| Mid-year sales | Tech deals, home upgrades |
Keep Tags Relevant
Only tag products that appear in or are discussed in the video. Tagging unrelated products breaks trust and may break policies.
Why You Might Not See the Shopping Affiliate Option
- Channel not in YPP. Affiliate access requires Partner Program membership.
- Unsupported country. Your channel’s country is not yet in the program.
- Active strikes. Community Guidelines strikes block eligibility.
- Made for kids. Channels set for kids are excluded.
- Music or artist channel restrictions. Some music-focused channels are not eligible.
- Content owner has not accepted terms. If an MCN manages your channel, they must accept.
- Channel country set incorrectly. Check your channel’s basic info settings.
- Policy issues. Previous violations of Shopping or monetization policies.
Common Mistakes That Get Creators in Trouble
- Tagging products that never appear in the video
- Making false claims about a product’s results
- Not disclosing commissions or sponsorships
- Promoting restricted products, such as unapproved supplements or regulated items
- Buying views to inflate shopping content
Alternatives if the Program Is Not in Your Country Yet
Creators in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Bangladesh and many other countries cannot yet join the YouTube Shopping affiliate program. You still have options:
| Alternative | How it works |
|---|---|
| Amazon Associates or regional Amazon programs | Share affiliate links in descriptions where you are eligible |
| Local e-commerce affiliate programs | Many African and Asian online stores run their own affiliate programs |
| Your own merchandise or digital products | Sell guides, templates or courses through your own website |
| Brand sponsorships | Negotiate direct deals with brands in your niche |
| YouTube Creator Partnerships | Brand-deal tools in Studio, where available in your country |
Always follow YouTube’s policies on external links and disclose affiliate relationships clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many subscribers do I need for YouTube Shopping affiliate? Since March 27, 2026, any eligible YPP creator can join, including those who entered YPP at 500 subscribers.
Which countries can join? Argentina, Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam, with the UK added in August 2026. YouTube has said it aims to expand to more countries.
Is it available in Nigeria or South Africa? Not yet. Watch your YouTube Studio Earn tab for updates as the program expands.
Can I tag products in Shorts? Yes. You can tag products in Shorts, long-form videos and live streams.
How are commissions paid? Through your AdSense account, along with your other YouTube earnings, after a validation period for returns.
Can I use Amazon links and YouTube Shopping at the same time? Yes, as long as you follow each program’s rules and YouTube’s link policies.
Do I have to disclose commissions? Yes. Tell viewers clearly that you may earn a commission from purchases.
Final Thoughts
The YouTube Shopping affiliate program has become one of the most creator-friendly ways to earn on YouTube. With eligibility now starting at the 500-subscriber YPP tier, even small, focused channels can earn meaningful commissions by recommending products they genuinely use.
If you are in an eligible country, join through YouTube Studio, choose products that fit your audience, show them honestly in real use and track which ones sell. If your country is not included yet, build your review and recommendation content now with other affiliate options, so you are ready the day YouTube Shopping arrives in your market.
YouTube updates Shopping eligibility, countries and commission rules regularly. Always check YouTube Studio and the YouTube Help Center for the latest details.