YouTube Super Thanks - full guide
YouTube just announced amazing new feature - "Super Thanks".
Now YouTube has 4 features to support creators:
- Super Chat
- Super Stickers
- YouTube channel subscriptions
- Super Thanks
What is Super Thanks?
It is a tip jar feature - viewers can tip creators of the video.
The tip can range from $2 to $50 in local currency.
When viewers buy Super Thanks, they can leave a message, which will appear highlighted in the comments section.
According to Neal Mohan, YouTube CPO, This new feature gives creators yet another way to earn money while also allowing them to strengthen relationships with viewers.
Super Thanks was formerly known as Viewer applause.
You can find Super Thanks below eligible videos. Next to the Download button, there will be a Thanks icon.
If you click on a Thanks icon, there will be a menu with different amounts, which you can send to the creator.
"Buy yourself an animated Super Thanks. As an added bonus, we'll post the following public comment on your behalf".
Fans watching YouTube videos can now purchase Super Thanks to express their gratitude and show support. They will see an animated GIF and, as an added bonus, get a distinct, colorful comment to highlight their purchase, which creators can respond to.
Super Thanks is currently available at four price points between $2 and $50 (or local currency equivalent). Just like Super Chat and Super Stickers, Super Thanks does double duty for creators: keeping their connections with (super) fans meaningful, while also giving them a new way to make money.
Some YouTube creators were able to generate 15% more revenue using Super Thanks.
How to enable Super Thanks?
Super Thanks should be available for all YouTube Partners. It is available in 68 countries and slowly rolling out to everyone.
Super Thanks is available to eligible creators in the following locations: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay.
If you are a YouTube Partner and in an eligible country - you should have Super Thanks until the end of the year.
According to YouTube, Super Thanks is currently in beta and with today’s expansion, is now available to thousands of monetizing creators. The feature is available to creators and viewers in 68 countries on desktop and mobile devices (Android and iOS).
Creators can check if they have early access by following the instructions here. If they don’t yet have access, fear not -- we will be expanding availability to all eligible creators in the YouTube Partner Program later this year.
Eligibility for individual videos
Super Thanks is not available for the following types of videos:
- Age-restricted
- Unlisted
- Private
- Made for kids
- Videos with Content ID claims
- Videos with YouTube Giving fundraisers
- Live streams or Premieres, while live (available on archived VODs afterwards)
Here is a guide how to enable Super Thanks in your YouTube Studio.
At least you can check if it available yet in your Studio.
Turn on Super Thanks
- Sign in to YouTube Studio.
- From the left menu, click Monetization.
- Select the Supers tab and follow the on-screen instructions to get started.
- Once you’ve completed all the instructions, you’ll find “Super Thanks” with an on/off button in the Supers tab.
- Toggle on “Super Thanks.”
- Once you turn on Super Thanks, the Thanks button will appear on all previous and future videos. It will not appear on your live streams or Premieres.
In my case, Super Thanks is not available yet...
How to buy Super Thanks?
Now, let's explore if you are a viewer and want to buy Super Thanks.
Here is what will happen: "When you buy Super Thanks, you're purchasing a one-time “clapping” animation that will only be shown to you over the top of the video. As an added bonus, you’ll also get a distinct, colorful comment in the video’s comments section."
Make a purchase
- Start watching a video on mobile or a computer.
- Under the video, click Super Thanks.
- In the popup, you’ll find how much Super Thanks costs in your country/region.
3. To complete the purchase, follow the on-screen instructions.
There are 4 different types of animations that you can purchase. Each one is a different price. If you pay more, you'll get a more elaborate Super Thanks animation.You can buy Super Thanks as many times as you wish on the same video, subject to the purchase limits shared below. Creators receive the majority of the revenue that is recognized by Google.
Purchase limits
You can spend up to $500 USD per day, or $2,000 USD (or the equivalent in your local currency) per week on:
- Super Chats
- Super Stickers
- Super Thanks, all 3 combined
If a comment that was automatically published with your Super Thanks purchase is deleted, moderated, or removed, you won’t get a refund. Also, Super Thanks voluntary payments are non-refundable.
Super Thanks revenue
Super Thanks revenue share is the same as Super Chat, Super Stickers, and Channel Memberships.
You'll receive Super Thanks revenue in the same way that you receive ad revenue with AdSense.
So, now instead of "Like, comment, subscribe", you should add "Like, comment, subscribe and super thanks!"
Can you generate a lot of additional revenue with Super Thanks? It depends a lot on your channel and audience engagement. Some channels were able to generate 15% more revenue using Super Thanks.
Here is a case story from an early user of Super Thanks:
"Having a built-in feature like Super Thanks ensures that my viewers can show their love and support while watching a video -- without interrupting their viewing. It nicely augments Super Stickers and Super Chat by allowing folks who are watching a replay of a livestream to still feel like they’re being seen (thanks to the purchase animation) and also thanks to the comment that it leaves."
Can you estimated if you channel will be successful with Super Thanks? I think the way to test it is with Memberships. If you enabled YouTube Memberships and there are active members of your YouTube channel, then probably Super Thanks will also work out.
To be successful with ST, you need to have a highly engaged audience, which receives a great advice/education/entertainment from your content and is ready to pay for more.
My Experience with Super Thanks
My YouTube channel is eligible for Super Thanks, however this feature is not available yet.
So, I reached out to YouTube Creator Support.
So, as you can see, even if you are eligible for Super Thanks - it is still in beta and may not be available for you. But, according to YouTube support, "we are planning to bring this feature to more eligible creators at the end of this year".
There is an active discussion about Super Thanks on Reddit.
The talk is about, will this feature die out or there will be YouTubers having success with it? Of course, Super Thanks looks similar to Patreon. And a lot of YouTubers already use Patreon to support their channels.
Another alternative is BuyMeACoffee - where you can send one-time payments to your creators. I also tried BMAC on my YouTube channel and got 1 supporter :) Support me btw :)
Also, Linktree recently enabled PayPal. So, while creating linktree links - you can accept payments. I just recently enabled it for my channel.
However, maybe using Super Thanks is less friction - it is easier to pay your favorite creator right on YouTube than going to a third-party platform.
What do you think? Leave suggestions in comments.
