Google announced that YouTube surpassed 4 billion daily active users in June 2026 at its I/O developer conference, maintaining its position as the world’s largest video platform by a significant margin despite intensifying competition from TikTok, Instagram Reels, and Netflix.
The 4 billion DAU figure represents roughly half the global internet-connected population. YouTube CEO Neal Mohan said the platform now sees more than 1 billion hours of content watched on television screens daily, reflecting a shift from mobile-first to living room-first viewing.
YouTube’s connected TV watch time grew 40 percent year-over-year in Q1 2026, the fastest-growing segment of the platform. Mohan said YouTube is the most-watched streaming service on US televisions for the 18th consecutive month, ahead of Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video.
YouTube Premium and Advertising
YouTube Premium, the ad-free subscription tier, reached 100 million subscribers globally in May 2026, ahead of the company’s internal projection by approximately eight months. YouTube Premium revenue contributes to Google Services revenue, which grew 14 percent year-over-year in Q1 2026.
YouTube advertising revenue grew 21 percent year-over-year in Q1 2026 to $9.8 billion. The growth accelerated as brands shifted TV advertising budgets toward YouTube’s connected TV inventory, where average CPMs are now comparable to traditional network television.
YouTube Shorts, the short-form video feature competing with TikTok, now generates 200 billion daily views globally. Mohan said Shorts views have grown 400 percent since 2023, but monetization of Shorts remains lower per view than long-form content.
YouTube Creator Economy
YouTube paid more than $7 billion to creators in 2025, the company disclosed at I/O. The figure covers AdSense revenue sharing, YouTube Premium subscriber revenue sharing, Super Thanks tipping, and Channel Memberships.
The platform has 2 million channels enrolled in the YouTube Partner Program, which requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours annually to qualify for monetization. A lower threshold Shorts monetization program launched in 2025 has enrolled another 500,000 channels.
YouTube Platform Metrics June 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Daily active users | 4 billion |
| Content uploaded per minute | 600 hours |
| Daily watch time on TV screens | 1 billion hours |
| YouTube Premium subscribers | 100 million |
| YouTube Shorts daily views | 200 billion |
| Creator Partner Program channels | 2 million |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people use YouTube per day in 2026?
YouTube surpassed 4 billion daily active users in June 2026, according to Google. Monthly active users are higher; YouTube reported 2.7 billion monthly active users in 2023 and growth has continued since. The 4 billion DAU figure reflects the expansion of YouTube into TV watching and international markets.
Is YouTube the most-watched streaming service?
Yes. According to Nielsen’s monthly Gauge report, YouTube has been the most-watched streaming service on US televisions every month for 18 consecutive months through June 2026. It leads Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video in total TV watch time share, primarily because its free ad-supported tier includes a massive library of content.
How much money do YouTubers make in 2026?
YouTube paid $7 billion to creators across all monetization programs in 2025. Individual creator earnings vary widely. Large channels with 1 million subscribers typically earn $40,000 to $400,000 per year from AdSense alone, depending on niche. Channels in high-CPM categories like finance, technology, and healthcare earn significantly more than entertainment or gaming channels per view.
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