Earn money from YouTube 2025 is the top goal for many creators stepping into the world of content creation. However, since YouTube offers both short and long-form videos, it makes sense to inquire:
In 2025, which one earns you more?
The differences between YouTube Shorts and Long-Form Videos will be discussed in this blog, along with topics like views, sponsorship potential, and monetization. If your objective is to make money on YouTube by 2025, this comparison will assist you in selecting the most effective content strategy.
What Are YouTube Shorts?
Vertical videos under 60 seconds are known as YouTube Shorts. Because of their brief and captivating format, they are made to be consumed quickly and frequently go viral. Similar to Instagram Reels or TikToks, they are featured in a dedicated “Shorts Feed.”
Benefits of Shorts:
- Easier to create and upload
- Quick growth and virality
- Helps in increasing subscribers fast
- Can be reused from TikTok/Instagram content
What Are Long-form YouTube Videos?
Long-form content refers to traditional YouTube videos over 1 minute, typically 5–15 minutes long. They give creators more freedom and can contain reviews, vlogs, tutorials, and narrative content.
Benefits of Long-form Videos:
- Better suited for ad revenue
- Allows detailed explanations
- Builds viewer trust and loyalty
- Good for product reviews and affiliate marketing
Ways to Earn from YouTube
Let’s go over the most popular YouTube monetization strategies to see which format generates the highest revenue:
- Ad Revenue (YouTube Partner Program)
- Shorts Ad Revenue (introduced in 2023)
- Brand Sponsorships
- Affiliate Marketing
- Channel Memberships
- Super Chats & Stickers (for live content)
YouTube Shorts vs Long-form: Monetization Breakdown
1. Ad Revenue
✅ Winner: Long-form Videos
Pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll advertisements are all beneficial for long-form videos. A creator may receive $1 to $5 for every 1,000 views, depending on the audience’s location and niche.
On the other hand, Shorts uses a shared revenue model. You make less because advertisements show up in the feed in between shorts.
- Shorts CPM: Around $0.04 – $0.06 per 1,000 views
- Long-form CPM: $1 – $5+ per 1,000 views
2. Subscriber Growth
✅ Winner: YouTube Shorts
Shorts help creators become more visible quickly and go viral more quickly. In a matter of days, you can reach thousands of views and subscribers.
However, the 4,000 hours needed for monetization do not include the time spent watching Shorts. In 90 days, you would need 10 million Shorts views to be eligible.
3. Brand Sponsorships
✅ Winner: Long-form Videos
For in-depth marketing, brands favor long-form videos. These videos increase time-on-screen, engagement, and story integration, all of which increase sponsorship revenue.
Depending on views and niche, a sponsored long video can bring in between ₹5,000 and ₹50,000+.
4. Affiliate Marketing
✅ Winner: Long-form Videos
To earn money from YouTube 2025, long-form content wins big with affiliate marketing. You can increase conversions by describing the advantages of a product, demonstrating how it works, and including affiliate links in the description.
Shorts limit the opportunity for in-depth advertising or calls to action, which lowers affiliate sales.
Creator Strategy for 2025
If your goal is to earn money from YouTube 2025, a smart strategy is to use both Shorts and Long-form:
- Post Shorts daily to grow your reach
- Post Long-form videos weekly to build depth and revenue
- Turn Shorts viewers into long-form video fans
- Promote affiliate links and sponsored content in long-form
This hybrid method works best for growth + monetization.
Tools to Help You Succeed on YouTube
| Tool | Purpose | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Canva | Create thumbnails, Shorts | Free/Paid |
| CapCut | Edit Shorts quickly | Free |
| InShot | Mobile editing | Free/Paid |
| OBS Studio | Screen recording (long-form) | Free |
| TubeBuddy | SEO optimization | Free/Paid |
| vidIQ | Keyword research | Free/Paid |
Which Should You Focus on?
| Your Goal | Best Format |
|---|---|
| Quick subscriber growth | Shorts |
| Higher AdSense income | Long-form |
| Attracting brand sponsorships | Long-form |
| Promoting affiliate products | Long-form |
| Going viral on social media | Shorts |
| Long-term income and trust-building | Long-form |
Final Thoughts: Maximize Your YouTube Earnings in 2025
To earn money from YouTube 2025, the smartest move is combining Shorts for discovery and Long-form videos for income.
Shorts can help you quickly gain popularity and go viral. However, the true money-making potential of long-form videos is found in affiliate marketing, sponsors, and advertisements.
🔑 Pro Tip:
Review your YouTube Analytics weekly. Find out which format increases earnings, subscriber growth, and watch time, then focus even more on what works.