Billing and payment info for channel members

When you become a channel member, you get access to exclusive members-only perks from a channel, and make a recurring monthly payment.

Review the info below to learn more about how billing and payments work for channel memberships. Keep in mind that memberships may be priced differently depending on your country and the platform you use.

How billing works

For new and existing channel members

When you have an active, paid channel membership, you are automatically charged at the start of each monthly billing cycle.

For channel members that change membership levels

When you upgrade to a higher membership level:
  • You’ll immediately get access to the upgraded level upon purchase.
  • You’re only charged the difference in price in levels, at an adjusted price, for the days remaining in your current billing cycle.
    • Example: If you’re paying $4.99 and you upgrade to the $9.99 level with half a month left until your next payment, you’re charged ($9.99-$4.99) X (0.5)= $2.50.
  • Your monthly billing date will not change due to a level upgrade.
  • When your next billing date comes, you’ll be charged the new higher price.
  • If the creator has badges, your badge will retain any accumulated loyalty.
When you downgrade to a lower membership level:
  • You have access to your original level until your next billing date.
  • Your monthly billing date will not change due to a level downgrade.
  • When your next billing date comes, you’ll be charged the new lower price.
  • If the creator has badges, your badge will retain any accumulated loyalty.

For canceled channel memberships

When you cancel a paid channel membership, you are not charged again unless you reactivate it. You’ll continue to get membership perks until the end of that billing period.

For reactivated memberships

You can reactivate your membership at any time. If you reactivate during the same billing cycle as you canceled, you are not charged again until that current billing cycle ends.

Payments FAQs

How do I update my payment info?

You can change the credit card used for a paid channel membership in the My subscriptions section of your Google Account. Note that you may need to add a new card to your Google Account first.
You can also view your next billing date and manage your membership at youtube.com/paid_memberships.

I get an error message when I try to gift memberships. How do I fix this?

If you get an error message that says, “We couldn’t verify your country” then we need to verify your country before we can show you gifting options. To fix this issue, try to connect to a different network, or use a different device.
Note: If you’re actively using a VPN or proxy service, refer to the service’s website for info on how to turn off the service.

Recurring charges in India

Due to the Reserve Bank of India eMandate requirements, you have to verify or re-enter your payment details to maintain access to your recurring memberships. To do so, follow the instructions in the YouTube app or on youtube.com. Note that your bank may not support recurring payments at this time. Check the list of banks supporting recurring payments or learn more.

How does paused channel memberships impact my payments?

What is “paused mode”?

Sometimes, channel memberships are put in “paused mode.” This may happen if a channel changes MCNs, sets their channel as made for kids, or can’t monetize. When “paused mode” happens, it means that the channel cannot:
  • Monetize with memberships - this is usually temporary.
  • Deliver perks and other benefits.

What happens to my payments?

If you’re an active paid member of a channel in “paused mode,” your monthly recurring payment, billing cycle, and access to memberships is also paused.
If a channel is “paused” and “unpaused” within your billing cycle, there’s no change to your billing. You’ll continue to pay your normal, monthly recurring fee.
If you signed up for a channel membership on iOS or Android, your monthly recurring payments may be canceled if the channel is in paused mode after your billing period ends. If this happens, you will be told that your membership has been canceled and you can join again if or when the channel’s membership is unpaused.
Memberships can remain paused on a channel for a maximum of 120 days; after that point, memberships and members’ monthly recurring payments are canceled.

What happens if a channel terminates their memberships program? 

If a channel terminates or loses access to the memberships feature, all memberships monthly recurring payments, and access to membership perks are terminated immediately. Viewers who were members at the time of termination are sent a termination email with info on how to request a refund.

Refunds and creator revenue FAQs

Can I get a refund for channel memberships?

You may cancel your paid channel membership at any time. Once you cancel, you are not charged again. You can use the badge and have access to creator perks until the end of the billing cycle. Note that you are not refunded for the time between when you cancel and when your channel membership officially ends.

If you notice an unauthorized channel memberships charge on your account, report the unauthorized charge.

If creator perks or other features of your paid channel membership are defective, unavailable, or do not perform as stated, you can contact our support team to request a refund at any time. We do not give refunds or credits for partially elapsed billing periods.

If you're a member who signed up via Apple, you’ll need to contact Apple support to request a refund for your paid channel membership. Apple’s refund policy will apply.

How much of channel memberships revenue goes to creators?

Creators get 70% of memberships revenue recognized by Google after local sales tax and other fees (depending on country/region and users' platform) are deducted. Payment processing fees (including credit card fees) are currently covered by YouTube.

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