Many people think that AdSense is the only way to make money on YouTube, but that’s not true! While AdSense pays creators for ad views, there are several other ways to earn money from YouTube, even if you’re not part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).

If you’re struggling to meet the 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days, don’t worry! There are many ways to monetize your YouTube content without AdSense, and some of them can be even more profitable than ad revenue.

Let’s explore the best alternative income sources for YouTube creators!

1. Affiliate Marketing – Earn Commissions Without Monetization

Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest ways to start earning from YouTube, even if you have a small channel. With this method, you promote products or services, and when someone buys through your referral link, you earn a commission.

How to Start?

1. Join an affiliate program – Some of the best options include:

   • Amazon Associates (Best for tech, home products, gadgets)

   • ClickBank (Great for digital products like courses & software)

   • ShareASale, CJ Affiliate (Ideal for fashion, fitness, and software products)

   • Brand-specific affiliate programs (Nike, Bluehost, etc.)

2. Choose products relevant to your niche – Promote items that your audience would find useful.

3. Create valuable content – Make reviews, tutorials, comparisons, or “best of” lists featuring the products.

4. Place affiliate links in your video description and pinned comment.

Example

Let’s say you run a tech YouTube channel and want to earn money with affiliate marketing. You could create a video titled:

📌 “Best Budget Laptops Under $500 (2025 Edition)!”

• In the video, you compare 5 budget laptops, showing their specs, pros, and cons.

• You include your Amazon affiliate links in the description for each laptop.

• You add a strong call to action (CTA):

  • “Want to check the latest price? Click the links in the description!”

• When viewers buy a laptop through your links, you earn a commission (Amazon pays 1-4% per sale).

🔹 Pro Tip: The more valuable your content, the higher your conversions. Instead of just showing product specs, explain real-life usage and who each product is best for.

Why is this powerful?

Even if your channel isn’t monetized through AdSense, you can still earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars through affiliate commissions!

2. Sponsorships & Brand Deals – Get Paid Directly by Companies

Even without AdSense, you can make money on YouTube through brand sponsorships. Many companies pay YouTubers to promote their products because YouTube audiences trust their recommendations.

How to Get Sponsorships?

✔ Create a media kit – A simple PDF with your channel stats, audience demographics, and past collaborations.
✔ Reach out to brands via email or social media.
✔ Sign up for influencer platforms like Upfluence, AspireIQ, or YouTube BrandConnect.
✔ Offer different types of brand deals:

• Dedicated reviews (e.g., “Unboxing & Review of XYZ Product”)

• Product placements (Brief mention in your regular content)

• Discount codes (Earn commission per sale)

Example

Suppose you have a fitness YouTube channel with 10,000 subscribers. You reach out to a protein supplement brand and offer a sponsored video deal.

• The brand pays you $500 to create a workout video featuring their supplement.

• You use the supplement on camera and explain its benefits.

• You add a discount code in the description:

  • “Use code FITNESS10 for 10% off at checkout!”

• If 100 people use your code to buy the product, you earn a commission on top of the sponsorship fee.

Why is this powerful?

Unlike AdSense, you get paid upfront, and the amount can be way higher than ad revenue!

3. Sell Digital Products – Earn 100% Profit

One of the most profitable ways to make money without AdSense is by selling digital products. Unlike physical products, digital products have no shipping costs, and you keep 100% of the revenue.

What Can You Sell?

✔ E-books – If you have expertise in finance, fitness, or personal growth, create an e-book and sell it on Gumroad or Amazon.
✔ Online courses – Teach a skill (like video editing, coding, photography) and sell it on Udemy or Teachable.
✔ Presets & Templates – Sell Lightroom presets, Canva templates, stock footage, or animations.

Example

Let’s say you have a graphic design YouTube channel. You can create a video titled:

📌 “How to Make Eye-Catching YouTube Thumbnails (Step-by-Step)”

• In the video, you teach viewers how to design a professional YouTube thumbnail.

• At the end, you say:

  • “Want to save time? Download my 10 custom YouTube thumbnail templates – link in the description!”

• You sell the templates for $15 each on Gumroad.

If just 100 people buy, that’s $1,500 without AdSense! 🚀

🔹 Pro Tip: Always offer free value first (like a short tutorial) before pitching your paid product.

4. Patreon & YouTube Memberships – Get Monthly Support from Fans

If you have a loyal audience, they might be willing to support you financially in exchange for exclusive perks.

Ways to Earn Monthly Support:

• YouTube Memberships (Requires 1,000+ subs)

• Patreon – A crowdfunding platform where fans pay monthly for extra content.

• Buy Me a Coffee – One-time donations from viewers.

Example

Imagine you run a music tutorial channel. You offer:
✔ Free tutorials on YouTube.
✔ Exclusive lessons & behind-the-scenes content for Patreon members ($5/month).
✔ A private Discord group where members can ask questions.

If 200 people join your Patreon at $5/month, that’s $1,000 monthly without AdSense!

🔹 Pro Tip: Offer tiered membership levels with different perks to maximize earnings.

Final Verdict – Can You Really Make Money on YouTube Without AdSense?

YES! In fact, many YouTubers earn way more money outside AdSense than they do from ads.

The Best Non-AdSense Income Streams:

🔥 Affiliate Marketing – Earn commission by promoting products.
🔥 Sponsorships & Brand Deals – Get paid upfront for promoting brands.
🔥 Selling Digital Products – Keep 100% profit from e-books, courses, templates.
🔥 YouTube Memberships & Patreon – Earn monthly income from loyal fans.
🔥 Selling Merch – Turn viewers into customers.
🔥 Crowdfunding & Donations – Get financial support from viewers.

Instead of waiting for AdSense approval, start using multiple monetization strategies today and build a sustainable YouTube income!

Which method are you going to try first? Let me know in the comments! 👇