When you become a channel member, you get access to exclusive members-only perks for a channel. If a creator has more than one level in their memberships program, you get different members-only perks based on the level you join at. Each level costs a different amount and perks stack on top of one another as you go up levels. That means if you join at the most expensive level, you get access to all perks at the lower levels.
The perks you get for each level varies from channel to channel. You can view the different perks available for a channel when you select Join. If you’re already a member, go to the channel homepage and then select See perks.
Channel membership benefits for members
There are many members-only perks that a creator can give as part of their memberships program.
Channel membership perks for members
If the creator has turned on the individual feature, here are some of the benefits you can get when you join a channel’s memberships program:
- Channel badges: An exclusive public-facing membership badge that shows up next to your channel name in all comments and live chats that you make on that channel.
- On some channels, the badge will reflect how long you've been a member, through different colored default badges or custom badges.
- Members-only community posts: You can view members-only posts on the channel’s Community tab. Exclusive content is tagged as “Members-only”and includes text posts, GIFs, polls, videos, and more.
- Custom emoji: If uploaded by the creator, channel members can use exclusive emoji in comments on the channel’s videos and live chats. You can use the family name assigned by the creator to autocomplete emoji in live chat.
- Early access to new videos: Creators can upload content that’s available only to members for a certain period of time, before access opens up to everyone. You get to be one of the first people to view and engage with the content.
- Members-only live chat: During public live streams, creators may make the chat members-only. While everyone can still view the live stream, only members can post chats.
- Members-only live streams: Exclusive live streams only available for channel members at the right levels.
- Member milestone chats: For each month you remain a member, you get one Member Milestone Chat. This benefit starts from your second consecutive month. Member Milestone Chats are special highlighted messages that can be used in live chat on live streams and Premieres. These special messages highlight how long you’ve been a member of the channel and are visible to all viewers.
- Member recognition shelf: If the Creator has this shelf turned on, then your avatar is featured with other active members on the channel’s page. This shelf is the Creator’s way of publicly thanking you for being a member of their channel. If you cancel your membership, you're no longer featured on the shelf.
- Members-only shorts: Exclusive Shorts that are only available for channel members to watch. You can find members-only Shorts in your Shorts and Home feed, as well as in Watch Next.
- Members-only videos: Exclusive videos only available for channel members at the right levels to watch. Anyone can find a members-only video, but only members at the right levels can watch it. These videos can be found on the channel’s Memberships, Content, and Community tabs. These videos may also surface in your Home and Subscriptions feed.
- New member message: If you become a channel member during a live stream on that channel, a bright green “New Member” message is sent in live chat. Your profile picture is also pinned at the top of chat for 5 minutes.
- Other creator perks: If available, you may also get access to other exclusive creator perks.
Note: "Slow mode" - which limits how often you can comment in live chat - does not apply to active paid channel members.
Report inappropriate or defective perks
If you notice a perk that is in breach of YouTube's Community Guidelines, you can report it. Examples of inappropriate perks include sexual, violent, or hateful content, misleading offers, or spam.
If you’re not a member of the channel:
- Go to the channel’s homepage and select JOIN.
- Click Report perks in the memberships screen.
If you’re already a member of the channel:
- Go to the channel’s homepage.
- Click See perks.
Request a refund for inappropriate or defective perks
If perks or other features of the paid channel membership are defective, unavailable, or do not perform as stated, contact our support team to request a refund. We do not give refunds or credits for partially elapsed billing periods.
If you're a member who signed up via Apple, you must contact Apple support to request a refund for your paid channel membership. Apple’s refund policy will apply.
Manage notifications for your channel membership benefits
As a channel member, you can find members-only content in the Community tab, Membership tab, or the channel’s Content tabs. Members-only content may also surface in your Home and Subscriptions feed.
We’ll use notifications or email to tell you when a channel:
- Creates a new members-only post
- Uploads a new members-only video
- Starts a members-only live stream
- Schedules a members-only live stream that will begin in 30 minutes
Turn off notifications
If you don't want to know about new members-only content, opt out of notifications and emails for a certain channel or turn off all notifications.
Opt out of notifications and emails for individual channels
You can opt out of notifications and emails for specific channels that you're a member of.
- To opt out of notifications for members-only content: Go to Settings
Notifications
- To opt out of emails for members-only content: Use the Unsubscribe link in any members-only email you get. If you’d like to resubscribe to email notifications, go to Settings
- To opt out of all notifications for an individual channel: Go to a channel that you’re subscribed to
. This will turn off all notifications for this channel, not just members-only content.
Turn off all notifications for your account
If you don’t want any notifications, you can turn off all notifications on your account.
Payment and billing information
Learn more about how payments and billing works for channel memberships.
Privacy info
Once you join a channel, the following info will be publicly visible on YouTube and the channel may share info with 3rd-party companies to give perks:
- Your channel URL
- The name of your YouTube channel
- Your profile picture
- When you joined the channel as a member
- The level you're a member of
How your info may be used
When you join a channel’s memberships program, other users may view the publicly visible info listed above. The info shared with others may depend on the channel you’ve joined.
Here are some other ways users may view and use your info, but keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive:
- All members have a visible badge that shows up next to your channel name in comments and chat.
- If you become a channel member during a live stream on that channel, a bright green “New Member” message is sent in live chat. Your profile picture is also pinned at the top of live chat for 5 minutes, and may show your channel name.
- Some channels may add your info to a list of “thank yous” in their videos or your info may be added to the channel's recognition shelf.
- Some channels may share your info to give a service (for example, member-only access to a chatroom hosted by a 3rd-party company).
Check & remove 3rd party site or app access
If you gave account access to a site or app you no longer trust, you can remove its access to your Google Account. Once removed, the site or app can’t access any more info from your Google Account. You can also request that they delete the data they already have.
- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left navigation panel, select Security.
- On the Third-party apps with account access panel, select Manage third-party access.
- Select the site or app that you want to remove.
- Select Remove Access.
Learn more about how to manage account access for third-party sites and apps.
Report a 3rd party site or app
If you believe that a site or app is misusing your data, you can report them. Some examples of misusing your data include creating spam, impersonating you, or using your data in harmful ways. To report a third-party app:
- Sign in to your Google Account.
- Go to the Apps with access to your account section of your Google Account.
- Select the app that you want to report
Learn more about how to manage account access for third-party sites and apps.