Frequently asked questions FAQ

Get answers to common questions about advertising on YouTube.

How much do YouTube ads cost?

YouTube ads can work for almost any budget, and how much you spend is always up to you. You also have the option to set your account to bill automatically or manually.

Ads pricing depends on the format that you choose. Learn about pricing for awareness, consideration and action ad formats.

Do I need a Google Ads account to advertise on YouTube?

Yes. Google Ads helps businesses run ads across the entire Google advertising platform, which includes YouTube. This means that you'll set up, run and manage your YouTube Ads campaign with a Google Ads account. If you don't have an account yet, you can sign up here.

Where and when will my YouTube ad show up online?

Your ad can show in different ways, depending on the format that you decide to run. For example, some ad formats run before, during or after a viewer's video has played, while others appear on the YouTube home feed. Learn about YouTube ad formats for awareness, consideration and action.

How do I know if my YouTube ads campaign is working?

When you start a campaign, you'll get access to free tools that can help you measure how it's doing. We also partner with third parties like Nielsen and ComScore to help advertisers compare results across different publishers and networks. All Google Measurement Partners meet high standards for accuracy and user privacy.

Can I control who sees my ad?

Absolutely. When you set up a YouTube ads campaign, you'll choose the people you want to see your ad based on age, location, interests and more. Learn how you can use video ads to reach the right audience.

Do I need a YouTube channel to advertise?

Yes. You'll need to upload your video ad to your YouTube channel before you set up a campaign. Learn how to create a channel and upload a video.

Where can I get help with my video ad?

There are free YouTube creative tools that you can use to make your own video ad. If you need more help, our trusted creative partners can work with you to edit existing videos and images into an ad or create one from scratch.

How do I start a YouTube live stream?

YouTube Live is a great way to engage with your audience in real time with a video feed, chat and more. To start live streaming from your computer

  1. Go to YouTube
  2. From the top right, click Create > Go live
  3. If you haven't already, follow the prompts to verify your channel

Enabling your first live stream may take up to 24 hours. Once enabled, you can live stream instantly. Note that you'll need at least 1,000 subscribers to live stream from a phone or tablet.