Affiliate marketing on YouTube works through two distinct paths: the YouTube Shopping affiliate program (requires YPP and specific countries — commissions paid through AdSense) and external affiliate programs like Amazon Associates (available to any channel — link placed in long-form video descriptions). Per YouTube's Help Center, affiliate content is permitted, but massively posting affiliate content in dedicated accounts violates YouTube's spam policy.
| Aspect | YouTube Shopping Affiliate (official) | External affiliate (Amazon etc.) |
|---|---|---|
| Requires YPP? | Yes | No |
| Geographic restriction? | Yes — specific countries | Depends on external program |
| How link is placed | Product tag inside video from YouTube Studio | Link in long-form video description (clickable) |
| Works in Shorts descriptions? | Product tags work on Shorts | No — Shorts description links are non-clickable |
| Payment method | AdSense for YouTube — 60 to 120 days after purchase | Determined by external affiliate program directly |
| Disclosure required? | Yes if compensated | Yes — per YouTube policy and local law |
Key takeaways:
- Per YouTube's link sharing page, external links in Shorts descriptions and comments are non-clickable. External affiliate links only work in long-form video descriptions (and require Advanced Features to be clickable).
- Per YouTube's external links policy, affiliate content does not violate YouTube's terms — but massively posting affiliate content in dedicated accounts violates the spam policy.
- YouTube Shopping affiliate is currently available in: the United States, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brazil, Taiwan, and Japan — check the official page for the current list.
- YouTube Shopping affiliate commissions are paid through AdSense for YouTube within 60 to 120 days of purchase. If a buyer returns the product, the commission is reversed.
- If affiliate content involves compensation (payment or free products in exchange for promotion), you must enable the "contains paid promotion" checkbox in YouTube Studio per YouTube's policy.
What are the two main affiliate marketing paths on YouTube?
Affiliate marketing on YouTube operates through two distinct paths that differ in eligibility, mechanics, and payment:
Path 1: YouTube Shopping affiliate program (official)
According to YouTube's Shopping affiliate program page (see also our guide to selling products on YouTube), this program lets eligible creators tag products from participating brands inside their videos, Shorts, and live streams. Viewers see a tappable product shelf within the content; when they purchase, the creator earns a commission.
Eligibility requirements (verify current requirements at the Help Center before acting):
- Be in YPP and meet the subscriber threshold
- Be based in an eligible country (United States, South Korea, Indonesia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brazil, Taiwan, or Japan)
- Channel must not be a music channel or Official Artist Channel
- Channel must not be set as Made for Kids
- Channel must not have active Community Guidelines strikes
Commissions are paid through AdSense for YouTube within 60 to 120 days of the purchase. If a buyer returns the product, the commission is reversed.
Path 2: External affiliate programs (Amazon Associates etc.)
External affiliate marketing means joining a third-party program, receiving a tracking link, and placing it in your video description. When a viewer clicks and purchases, your commission is tracked and paid directly by that program — YouTube is not involved in the transaction.
This path does not require YPP and has no geographic restriction from YouTube's side — but it is subject to the terms of each external affiliate program independently.
Where can affiliate links be placed on YouTube?
According to YouTube's link sharing page, YouTube explicitly documents which links are clickable:
| Link location | Clickable? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Long-form video description | Yes | Requires Advanced Features to be enabled |
| Shorts description | No | Non-clickable — explicitly stated by YouTube |
| Shorts comments | No | Non-clickable |
| Channel profile links | Yes | Up to 14 links on the channel page |
| YouTube Shopping affiliate links (product tags) | Yes | Works on long-form videos, Shorts, and live streams |
⚠️ External affiliate links do not work in Shorts
Per YouTube's Help Center, URLs placed in Shorts descriptions and comments are non-clickable to reduce spam and scam attempts. If you want to promote an affiliate product through Shorts, the available path is the YouTube Shopping affiliate program (product tags) if you are eligible — or directing Shorts viewers to a linked long-form video that contains the clickable link.
When is disclosure required for affiliate content?
According to YouTube's paid promotion policy, if affiliate content involves a commercial relationship (financial or in-kind compensation in exchange for promotion), you must enable the "My video contains paid promotion" checkbox in YouTube Studio → Content → More options.
Beyond YouTube's platform requirement, advertising laws in many countries impose their own affiliate disclosure obligations. It is your responsibility to verify and comply with the laws applicable to your jurisdiction.
⚠️ When does affiliate content NOT require the YouTube paid promotion disclosure?
If you place an external affiliate link for a product you purchased yourself without any agreement or compensation from the company, there is no third-party commercial relationship — YouTube's paid promotion policy does not apply. However, if the company sent you the product for free or paid you for the mention, you are required to disclose it.
What is the line between permitted affiliate content and spam on YouTube?
According to YouTube's spam and deceptive practices policy, affiliate content does not violate YouTube's terms on its own. However, the page explicitly lists as prohibited content: "Massively posting affiliate content in dedicated accounts."
The practical distinction: a channel that publishes genuine reviews or tutorials and includes affiliate links is permitted. A channel whose sole purpose is publishing affiliate links with thin or repetitive content is at risk of a spam policy violation.
How do you start affiliate marketing on YouTube?
📋 Decision map — which path fits your channel?
- Is your channel in YPP and are you in an eligible country for YouTube Shopping affiliate?
- Yes: Enable the program in YouTube Studio → Earn → Shopping → Explore affiliate offers. Start tagging products in your content.
- No: Join an external affiliate program suited to your niche and get your tracking links.
- Is most of your content Shorts?
- External affiliate links won't work in Shorts descriptions. Use YouTube Shopping affiliate product tags if eligible, or create companion long-form videos that contain the clickable links.
- After choosing your path:
- Place affiliate links at the top of the long-form video description (before "Show more").
- Disclose the affiliate relationship in the video and in the description — this builds trust and meets disclosure requirements.
- If you received compensation from the company: enable the paid promotion checkbox in YouTube Studio.
Common affiliate marketing mistakes on YouTube
❌ Mistake 1: Placing affiliate links in Shorts descriptions and expecting them to be clickable
Per YouTube's Help Center, external links in Shorts descriptions are non-clickable. The viewer sees the URL as text but cannot tap it. Solution: direct Shorts viewers to a linked long-form video that contains the clickable affiliate link, or use YouTube Shopping affiliate product tags if you are eligible.
❌ Mistake 2: Failing to disclose when receiving free products
Per YouTube's paid promotion policy, receiving free products from a company in exchange for coverage constitutes a commercial relationship that requires enabling the paid promotion disclosure checkbox in YouTube Studio. Failing to do so may result in action against the content or account.
❌ Mistake 3: Building a channel whose sole purpose is affiliate links
Per YouTube's spam policy, massively posting affiliate content in dedicated accounts is explicitly listed as a prohibited practice. The channel must deliver genuine value to viewers — affiliate links are a supplementary component, not the channel's primary purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need YPP to place an external affiliate link in a video description?
No. Placing external affiliate links in long-form video descriptions does not require YPP. You need Advanced Features enabled on your channel for the links to be clickable — Advanced Features is separate from YPP. The YouTube Shopping affiliate program (product tags inside videos) does require YPP.
Can YouTube remove an affiliate link from a video description?
Per YouTube's external links policy, if YouTube cannot verify that a link is safe, it may remove the link. Links directing to content that violates Community Guidelines are also removed. Affiliate links to legitimate stores and programs are not a problem in themselves — the content and destination must comply with YouTube's policies.
How are YouTube Shopping affiliate commissions paid?
Per YouTube's Help Center, YouTube Shopping affiliate commissions are paid through AdSense for YouTube within 60 to 120 days of the purchase date to account for customer returns. If a customer returns a product, the commission is reversed. Earnings appear in your revenue reports in YouTube Analytics.
Is disclosure required if I receive no direct payment from a company for an affiliate link?
YouTube's paid promotion policy applies to commercial relationships with third parties involving compensation. If you purchased a product yourself and placed an affiliate link with no arrangement with the company, YouTube's disclosure requirement does not apply from the platform's perspective. However, advertising laws in some countries require affiliate link disclosure regardless of direct payment — verify the applicable law in your jurisdiction.
Can YouTube Shopping affiliate tags and external affiliate links be used in the same video?
Yes. You can tag products through the YouTube Shopping affiliate program inside the video and also place external affiliate links in the long-form video description. The two paths are independent and do not conflict on YouTube's side. Check the terms of your external affiliate program to confirm there are no restrictions on combining multiple programs.
Official sources
- YouTube Help — YouTube Shopping affiliate program overview and eligibility
- YouTube Help — Sharing links with your audiences (clickable vs non-clickable)
- YouTube Help — External links policy (affiliate content permitted; excessive posting is spam)
- YouTube Help — Spam, deceptive practices, and scams policies
- YouTube Help — Add paid product placements, sponsorships and endorsements