Am I Eligible for Snapchat Monetization?

Snap invites creators to its Monetization Program once they reach 50,000 followers and 15,000 hours of view time in the last 28 days, with at least 3,000 of those hours from Spotlight. Enter your Snapchat username and email: we read the account's real follower count and recent Spotlight videos from our data, check them against Snap's rules and show exactly what's left. Rules checked against Snap's help centre on 7 October 2026.

Optional: add your view time from Insights

Only your own Snapchat Insights shows view time, so we can't read it. Add it for a complete answer, or leave it blank and we'll mark it "check this in Snapchat".

We email this result and a monthly progress update for this account; unsubscribe anytime.

Snapchat Monetization Program Requirements (2026)

Snap's help centre article About Snapchat's Monetization Program (checked 7 October 2026) says creators may be invited once they meet two groups of criteria. This tool checks the first group, the numbers.

1. Audience and engagement (all required)

  • At least 50,000 followers.
  • 15,000 hours of view time over the last 28 days, across your Stories and Spotlight videos.
  • At least 3,000 of those hours from Spotlight.

2. Compliance (all required, not checkable here)

  • Be at least 18, or the age of legal majority in your country.
  • Publish original, advertiser-friendly content that follows Snap's Community Guidelines and its Content Guidelines for Recommendation Eligibility.
  • Live in an eligible country.
  • Be a Snap Star. Snap's article links to its Snap Star verification application.
  • Agree to and follow Snap's Monetization Terms and Creator Monetization Policy.

There is no application form. Snap regularly reviews creators and emails the ones it invites, so keep the email on your account up to date. Snap charges no fee for an invitation, and anyone offering one for payment is not acting for Snap.

The 100-hour rule for maximum rewards

Beginning 7 May 2026, Snap says you must maintain at least 100 hours of Total Spotlight View Time over the last 28 days to qualify for maximum Creator Rewards. It is not an entry requirement, since the 3,000-hour Spotlight bar for an invitation is already higher. It matters for creators already in the programme whose Spotlight viewing drops. Snap shows this figure in the Daily Rewards Eligibility section at the top of Insights.

What changed from earlier rules

Older guides, including the rules Snap announced in December 2024, list monthly posting targets, a minimum number of posting days and a views-based reach gate. Snap's help page no longer includes any of those. The current test is followers plus hours of view time, with a minimum share from Spotlight. If a guide quotes posting quotas or view counts, it describes the old rules.

How much does it pay?

The programme pays a share of ad revenue, not a fixed rate. Snap places ads between Snaps in Public Stories and within Spotlight, and ads are served mainly on the time people spend watching (Snap's help article). That article gives no per-view rate, and third-party estimates vary widely: ShortSync (August 2026, from creator reports) puts the typical Spotlight rate at $0.10 to $0.30 per 1,000 views, while Syllaby (May 2025) said $1 to $5. The earnings calculator uses the 2026 range.

FAQ

Where do I find these numbers in my Snapchat app?

Open Insights in the Snapchat app (you need a Public Profile). Snap's help article points to the Daily Rewards Eligibility section at the top of Insights, which shows your Total Spotlight View Time for the last 28 days. Your follower count is on your profile.

Do Stories count toward eligibility?

Yes. The 15,000 hours are total view time, and only 3,000 of them have to come from Spotlight, so the rest can come from your Public Stories. Stories alone cannot qualify you, because the Spotlight share is required.

Do I need to be a Snap Star?

Snap's help article lists being a Snap Star among the compliance criteria and links to the Snap Star verification application. Check the article for the latest wording before you rely on it.

Can I apply, or pay someone to get me in?

No. Entry is by invitation only: Snap reviews creators itself and contacts them by email. Snap says it never charges for an invitation and that no third party controls eligibility.

How long do Spotlight videos need to be to earn?

Snap's help article says Spotlight videos must be at least 30 seconds long to be eligible to earn revenue.

Can my rewards drop once I'm in?

Yes. View time is measured over a rolling 28 days, and since 7 May 2026 you need at least 100 hours of Spotlight view time in that window to qualify for maximum Creator Rewards.

What happened to the Spotlight Fund?

Snapchat's original Spotlight Fund (launched 2020 with $1M/day, paid per view) was wound down over 2022 to 2024 and ended on 31 January 2025. Tubefilter and TechCrunch covered the December 2024 announcement. It was replaced by the current unified Monetization Program. Older posts citing $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views refer to the old fund.

Once you're eligible, see how much you could earn with the Snapchat earnings calculator.