Your Viewers Can Now Tip You on YouTube. Here's Everything You Need to Know About YouTube Gifts.

Likes are great. Comments are nice. But what if your audience could support you with actual money while you're live?

That's exactly what YouTube Gifts is all about.
The feature allows viewers to send paid virtual gifts to creators during eligible live streams, giving creators another way to earn directly from their communities.

So, What Exactly Are YouTube Gifts?

Think of YouTube Gifts as a digital tipping system.
Viewers purchase Jewels, YouTube's virtual currency, and use them to send animated Gifts during a live stream. When a creator receives a Gift, they earn Rubies, which represent their actual earnings from the feature.

In short:
Viewers buy Jewels → send Gifts → creators earn Rubies.

How Do YouTube Gifts Work?

The process is pretty simple:

• Viewers buy Jewels from YouTube.
• They use them to send Gifts during an eligible live stream.
• Creators receive Rubies, which are converted into earnings according to YouTube's payout policies.

The more engaged your community is, the bigger the earning potential.

Who Can Use YouTube Gifts?

To receive Gifts, creators generally need to:

• Be part of the YouTube Partner Program (YPP).
• Meet YouTube's monetisation and community guidelines.
• Be in a region where the feature is available.
• Have access to the Gifts feature on their channel.

If eligible, creators can turn the feature on directly from YouTube Studio under their monetisation settings.

One Important Thing to Know

YouTube Gifts were initially introduced for vertical live streams, but the feature has since expanded.

Today, viewers using the YouTube mobile app can also send Gifts on eligible horizontal live streams. This means creators don't necessarily need to stream vertically to receive Gifts.

However, availability still depends on factors such as your region, eligibility, and whether YouTube has enabled the feature on your channel.

One More Thing: Super Stickers Get Disabled on Vertical Lives

If you enable YouTube Gifts, Super Stickers are automatically disabled on your vertical live streams.

This doesn't affect your traditional horizontal streams, but it's something creators should keep in mind while planning their monetisation strategy.

Why Should Creators Care?

Because relying on one income source is risky.
YouTube Gifts adds another monetisation stream alongside ads, memberships, and brand deals.
The biggest benefits include:

• Direct support from your audience
• Additional income beyond ad revenue
• More engaging live streams
• Stronger creator-community relationships
• An opportunity for smaller creators to monetise loyal audiences

You don't need millions of subscribers to benefit. Sometimes, a small but highly engaged community can be incredibly valuable.

How Can Creators Make the Most of It?

A few simple ways:

• Host live Q&A sessions.
• Interact with viewers in real time.
• Acknowledge supporters during streams.
• Build a community that feels involved rather than just entertained.

The more connected your audience feels, the more likely they are to support your content.

The Bigger Picture

YouTube Gifts is another sign that the creator economy is shifting toward fan-powered monetisation.

Platforms are increasingly rewarding creators who build strong communities, not just those who chase views.

Because in 2026, your biggest asset as a creator isn't just your reach.
It's the people who are willing to support what you create.