How to Make Money on YouTube Without Google AdSense

Earning money from YouTube without relying on Google AdSense can be done through sponsorships, product sales, footage licensing, production services, affiliates, or fan support. This income doesn’t automatically occur just because your viewership increases. Some monetization features within YouTube still have specific YouTube Partner Program (YPP) requirements; external sponsorships are a separate business relationship.

The original article contains the author’s personal experience earning income when his channel was still small, with four videos and four historical images. The original testimonials and material are retained, and the 2026 YouTube terms and conditions update is explained separately so readers don’t equate the author’s experience with guaranteed results.

You won’t find any tricks for making money from YouTube easily in this article. The reality is that earning your first dollar from YouTube does require effort. However, earning money from YouTube without Google AdSense is possible. I even earned money from YouTube when I only had around 300 subscribers!

And I didn’t earn it from Google AdSense. Because when my main YouTube channel at youtube.com/catperku first started earning money, it only had around 300 subscribers. So, it didn’t meet the 4,000 watch hours and 1,000 subscribers required to start earning money from YouTube with Google Adsense.

So, how do you earn money? If you’re curious, you can read this article to the end. Also, if you’re curious about how a beginner YouTuber can earn a year or salary from YouTube, you can read and watch the video in this article. Or if you want to learn how to start becoming a beginner YouTuber, read here.

Of course, you can also continue reading this article because I’ll start discussing it after this. Because the tips here are based on personal experience, and I’ve put them all into practice. So, yes, their effectiveness has been proven. They’re not just fancy tips and tricks. Okay, let’s get started.

How to Make Money From YouTube Without Google Adsense?

Please read until the end!

1. Sell the Videos You Make

Author’s historical notes: The experience of getting sponsored when the channel still had around 300 subscribers is an incident the author has shared, not the average creator income or the official monetization threshold. Distinguish between beginner’s guide to YouTube and notes original channel earnings; Old figures should not be used as an estimate for income in 2026.

Long before I started making vlogs on YouTube, I already knew that videos could be sold for money. So, it’s clear that one way to make money on YouTube without Google AdSense is by selling videos you’ve created yourself.

Of course, the videos you sell must be original videos, recorded by you. You can do the editing yourself or hire someone else to edit them.

When I first started selling travel videos, I only had a few hundred YouTube subscribers. I sold one video for 1.5 million, for permanent, unlimited use. At that time (around 2017), I managed to sell two videos, for a total of 3 million.

The video can be seen below. I think the editing process was quite basic. However, because the video’s theme was appropriate at the time, and not many people had visited this tourist destination and made videos about it, buyers were eager. My video below was quite unique at that time.

Because of this, I started to be diligent. make a travel vlog video, and upload it to YouTube. My goal isn’t to make money from YouTube with Google AdSense. Rather, I hope to sell more videos to brands or agencies. It’s much more profitable than AdSense.

Although my Catperku YouTube channel was monetized in 2014, it had few subscribers, so not many people watched it. (In 2017, YouTube’s monetization requirement was still just 10,000 views.) In fact, I got my first payout from YouTube in 2019. Haha!

This method is still effective today, although not many people buy finished videos like the one above. The ones that do sell are… drone footage, timelapse And hyperlapse. But now there’s a lot of competition, and you need good recording equipment if you want your video footage to sell.

If you know the ropes, this method of making money by selling videos is quite profitable. I know some people make a lot of money just selling video footage and photos. But it does require some skill. Okay, let’s move on.

2. Using the Outreach Method, We Find Advertisers Who Want to Place Ads on Our Channel

Selling footage or video usage rights requires a clear licensing agreement, including duration, territory, platform, and exclusivity. Check the client’s identity and the rights to the people or music appearing in the video. Learn about content management in YouTube Studio and how to detail usage rights in creator rate card.

I actively used this outreach method when I was chasing 1,000 subscribers. The intention was to simultaneously promote my channel. Coincidentally, I’ve been managing the catperku.com travel blog for a long time, long before YouTube became popular.

So, every time someone offers advertising to my catperku travel blog, I also offer advertisers the opportunity to advertise on my YouTube channel. This is indeed one way to earn money from YouTube without Google Adsense that you can try.

While not all of them, some are willing to place ads on videos broadcast on my catperku YouTube channel. The amount may not be that large, considering that when I started this, my subscribers were still under 1,000.

For example, the video below is an endorsement video with a certain amount plus an invitation to explore Bau Bau tourist attractions. When I made this video, I only had around 400 subscribers. Even then, my channel was already generating revenue.

But it’s not bad for me to buy more meatball snacks. There’s no harm in promoting my YouTube channel if I’m already accepting ads, even if I only have a few subscribers. You can try it too. For example, by offering promotions to brands or agencies.

For the case study on the Catperku YouTube channel, I usually offer promotions to tourism players like hotels or travel agents. Last time, before the coronavirus pandemic hit, I secured a partnership with one of the major travel agents in Indonesia.

3. If You’re an Influencer or Blogger with a Popular Blog, Offer Your YouTube Channel

Sponsorship collaborations don’t require a channel to have millions of subscribers, but offers should include an audience profile, deliverable estimates, and proof of relevant content. Use the concepts of campaign marketing and personal branding when contacting potential clients. Avoid claiming conversions or performance without data.

This method is also effective for earning money from YouTube without Google AdSense. However, the requirements are quite difficult in my opinion. At a minimum, you must have a credible blog or social media presence.

In short, you’re ready famous Indonesian blogger, or already an influencer that brands are considering collaborating with. The trick is, every time someone asks you to collaborate, offer your YouTube channel as well for an additional fee.

There’s no harm in it. Last time I was really lucky, I landed a social media and YouTube campaign project worth double digits in 2018. For one project, the total was almost equivalent to my entire year’s Google AdSense earnings from YouTube Catperku. So sometimes, the income outside of Google AdSense can be much higher. You can see one of the videos below.

This means that if you’re a blogger or influencer with a name but don’t yet have a YouTube channel, or aren’t yet active on YouTube, you can start actively creating vlogs on YouTube. In my opinion, this type of video content has a bright future. It’s a plus for your blog.

Considering that many Indonesians are lazy to read, they can choose between reading text or watching vlogs. I don’t know whether to be sad or happy about this fact. Because if people are lazy to read, it means audio-video content is increasingly in demand and can generate a lot of money.

4. Selling Endorsed Goods Is One Way to Earn Money from YouTube Without Google Adsense

Revenue outside of AdSense can come from creator work such as video production, paid content, and material licensing. Create a written scope of work and disclose any commercial relationships. digital creator also need to maintain reputation; theme channel settings helps ensure channel profiles are consistent with job offerings.

Sometimes, brands offer collaborations through barter. There’s no cash payment in this type of collaboration. This is usually called an endorsement, right?

For example, you’re offered product A in exchange for reviewing it on your YouTube channel. You can then resell the endorsed product for cash.

But I really dislike this method of selling endorsed products. I’m usually very picky about product endorsements. I only accept endorsements if I genuinely like the product.

An example of an endorsed product collaboration is the vlog video below. I reviewed a smartwatch. I wasn’t paid cash, but I exchanged one video for their latest product.

If I’m not really comfortable with it, I usually add a certain monetary value to the endorsed item. So I don’t need to sell endorsed items from that brand. I just don’t think it’s ethical.

Unless I’m in a pinch, rarely use them, or if there’s a newer product that can replace them from that brand, I usually don’t sell them. I usually use endorsed items myself.

5. Make Money on YouTube Using Affiliate Links

Endorsed items still have economic value, so it’s best to clearly state if they’re compensation. For sponsored products, channel owners must activate the paid promotion marker according to YouTube’s rules and must not hide the commercial relationship. Align the creator’s identity and the client’s brand identity without turning reviews into false claims.

This may not be the easiest way, but it’s a reliable way to earn money besides Google Adsense. Especially if you already have a large number of subscribers.

I often come across foreign YouTube channels making money with these affiliate links. There are tons of them offering these affiliate links. For me, whose content used to be mostly about travel, I partnered with Agoda Affiliate.

I didn’t earn much, I only got two payouts, each time I got USD 200. I still work with Agoda because they’ve worked with me in the past for a decent amount.

So, I consider these Agoda affiliate links just to add to my piggy bank. It’s quite satisfying when I suddenly receive information about a transfer to my account from an Agoda Affiliate link. But that’s the thing, I usually only get a transfer once a year. Haha!

6. With Donations From Subscribers

Affiliate links must be transparent and lead to truly relevant products. Understand YouTube SEO to write informative descriptions, but avoid spamming with repeated links. Check YouTube Analytics to assess whether affiliate content has a suitable audience.

One last trick to earn money from YouTube without Google AdSense is by getting donations from subscribers. YouTubers abroad often use Patreon.

What is Patreon? It’s a place for subscribers to express appreciation or gratitude to content creators who have created useful content. So, this is one way for subscribers to financially support their favorite creators.

This has become a common practice abroad. In Indonesia, it’s unclear whether this donation or creator appreciation model is effective. There is actually a local Indonesian donation platform called Sociabuzz Tribe. You can find it yourself, as it’s not an advertisement or endorsement. I haven’t tried it yet. Hehe!

7. Anyone Have Any Ideas or Additions?

Donations and memberships need to provide legitimate value, be transparent, and comply with applicable platform regulations. To tailor content to your audience’s interests, use YouTube keyword research and ethical community interaction. Not all fan funding features are available for every country or channel.

Based on my experience and knowledge, the information above is the same. However, if you have ideas or information on how to make money from YouTube without Google Adsense, please share them in the comments section below. Who knows, it might inspire others to try it.

Sharing doesn’t hurt, right? Thank you for reading to the end. If you find this article useful, please share it with other friends who might also need this information.

The difference between external sponsors, affiliates, and YouTube monetization

Don’t buy fake subscribers or traffic to gain eligibility. The growth of YouTube subscribers and organic views should be supported by useful videos, quality production (creator tools), and content planning. When marketing your own products, measure conversions, not just the number of sponsored link clicks.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can YouTubers get paid without AdSense?

Yes. External revenue such as sponsorships, licenses, production services, sales and affiliates are not the same as AdSense ad revenue sharing.

Can small channels get sponsorships?

Yes, if it is relevant to the brand and there is an agreement, but there is no guarantee of getting cooperation.

Do sponsorships need to be reported to YouTube?

Content with paid promotions needs to be marked using the paid promotion settings according to YouTube’s policies.

Can all channels use Super Thanks?

No. Fan funding features are subject to YPP eligibility, territory, and policies.

Is affiliate content allowed?

It may be allowed within the policy, but links that violate the rules or spam are still at risk.

What is a video footage license?

Permission to use video material with agreed-upon usage limits, duration, and rights.

Are product gifts considered compensation?

Goods received in exchange for promotions may constitute a commercial relationship that needs to be disclosed.

How much does YouTube earn per thousand views?

There is no fixed number; Revenue varies by country, format, ad, audience, and various other factors.

Can ads and sponsorships run simultaneously?

Yes, if platform rules and commercial relationships are met.

How to avoid brand deal fraud?

Verify company email/domain, contracts, deadlines, payments and do not install foreign software or share credentials.

External References

• YouTube Help — How to Make Money on YouTube
• YouTube Help — Choosing Monetization
• YouTube Help — Sponsorship Disclosure

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