YouTube discontinued the feature literally named “Fan Funding” years ago. What replaced it is a set of distinct tools that let viewers support you directly — which is what people actually mean when they search for this. Here’s each one and how to turn it on.
The Tools That Replaced Fan Funding
Channel Memberships
Recurring monthly payments in exchange for perks you define — badges, custom emoji, members-only content, early access. Enable under YouTube Studio > Earn > Memberships.
Super Thanks
A one-time tip on a specific video, shown as a highlighted comment. This is enabled automatically for eligible channels — there’s no separate setup beyond being monetized.
Super Chat and Super Stickers
During live streams and Premieres, viewers pay to have their message highlighted and pinned in chat. Enable under YouTube Studio > Earn > Super Chat & Super Stickers.
Eligibility for All of Them
All fan-support features require the YouTube Partner Program’s entry tier: 500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours in the past 12 months (or 3 million Shorts views in 90 days), plus being 18 or older and in a supported country.
Note that this is a lower bar than the 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours needed for ad revenue — fan funding tools are often the first income a channel unlocks.
What You Actually Keep
Creators receive 70% of Super Chat and Super Thanks revenue after platform fees. On mobile, app-store fees (Apple’s or Google’s) come out first, so the same tip nets you less when given through an app than through a browser. This isn’t something you control, but it explains why reported earnings don’t match the sticker price.
Making Fan Support Actually Work
- Acknowledge it visibly. Reading Super Chats aloud during streams or replying to Super Thanks is the single biggest driver of repeat support — people give partly to be noticed.
- Don’t beg. Constant appeals for tips reduce support rather than increase it. Mentioning it once naturally works better than repeatedly.
- Live streams convert far better than uploads for direct support, because the real-time interaction is the appeal.
- Deliver on membership perks consistently — the most common reason members cancel is promised content that never arrives.
Third-Party Alternatives
Platforms like Patreon, Ko-fi, and Buy Me a Coffee work independently of YouTube and require no Partner Program eligibility at all. For a channel below 500 subscribers, this is the only realistic route to fan support — link it in your video descriptions.
The tradeoff: third-party platforms usually take a smaller cut than YouTube, but they add friction (viewers must leave YouTube and create an account), which meaningfully reduces conversion. Many established creators run both.
FAQ
Does YouTube still have a feature called Fan Funding?
No. It was discontinued and replaced by Channel Memberships, Super Thanks, and Super Chat.
What do I need to enable fan support tools?
500 subscribers and 3,000 watch hours in the past 12 months, plus being 18 or older in a supported country.
How much of a Super Chat do I keep?
70% after platform fees. On mobile, app-store fees come out first, so the same tip nets less than through a browser.
Can I use Patreon instead?
Yes, and it requires no Partner Program eligibility — making it the only realistic option below 500 subscribers.