YouTube vs TikTok Statistics 2026: Users, Revenue, Creator Economy

YouTube reached approximately 2.85 billion monthly active users worldwide in 2026, per Alphabet’s earnings disclosure. TikTok reached approximately 1.59 billion monthly active users globally in 2026, with nearly one-third of its installed base using the app every day, per Sensor Tower. The contrast widens when revenue, creator payouts, and connected-TV viewing enter the frame, where YouTube’s broader format mix turns a user-count lead into a far larger commercial gap.

The data below tracks both platforms across users, revenue, creators, engagement, advertising costs, and commerce.

Key Takeaways

• YouTube counts roughly 2.85 billion monthly active users while TikTok sits near 1.59 billion, a gap of about 1.26 billion users in YouTube’s favour. Alphabet disclosed that YouTube reached approximately 2.85 billion monthly active users in 2026, per Alphabet’s earnings disclosure.
• YouTube’s total 2025 revenue surpassed $60 billion, including ads and subscriptions, while TikTok’s worldwide ad revenue is projected at $33.1 billion for the same year. Variety, citing Alphabet’s Q4 2025 earnings, confirmed YouTube generated more than $60 billion in 2025 revenue. eMarketer projects TikTok’s worldwide ad revenue at $33.1 billion in 2025.
• YouTube has paid creators, artists, and media companies over $100 billion since 2021, with 3 million channels in the YouTube Partner Program. CNBC reported that YouTube has paid over $100 billion to creators since 2021 across more than 3 million YPP channels.
• TikTok users average 95 minutes per day on the app versus 85 minutes for YouTube, per Sensor Tower’s 2025 mobile data. Sensor Tower reported TikTok users spent 95 minutes per day on the platform in 2025, versus 85 minutes on YouTube.
• YouTube held 13.4% of all US TV watch-time on Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge, the largest media-company share since the metric began in November 2023. Nielsen reported YouTube captured 13.4% of TV watch-time and led second-place Disney by 4.0 share points.
• TikTok Shop generated approximately $64.3 billion in global GMV during 2025, nearly doubling from 33 billion in 2024. Resourcera, citing TikTok commerce disclosures, reported TikTok Shop reached approximately $64.3 billion in 2025 global GMV, up from over $33 billion in 2024.
• YouTube Music and Premium reached 125 million subscribers in March 2025, a tier of recurring revenue TikTok does not currently match. Variety reported that YouTube announced 125 million subscribers across YouTube Music and Premium services in March 2025.

Editor’s Choice

• YouTube ad revenue hit $9.88 billion in Q1 2026, up 10.3% year over year. Tubefilter, citing Alphabet’s Q1 2026 earnings, reported that YouTube ad revenue rose 10.3% year-over-year to $9.88 billion.
• TikTok Shop US GMV reached $15.1 billion in 2025, a 68% year-over-year increase. Resourcera reported the United States contributed roughly $15.1 billion to TikTok Shop’s 2025 GMV, a 68% year-over-year increase.
• YouTube paid creators more than $32 billion in 2024 alone, per the KPMG Money in Motion report. Variety, citing the KPMG Money in Motion report, reported that YouTube paid out more than $32 billion to creators globally in 2024.
• YouTube Shorts now generates over 200 billion views per day, up from 70 billion in March 2024. IMDb, citing YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, reported YouTube Shorts now generates more than 200 billion views per day, up from 70 billion in March 2024.
• TikTok worldwide ad revenue grew from 23.6 billion in 2024 to a projected 33.1 billion in 2025. eMarketer reported TikTok’s worldwide ad revenue is projected to reach $33.1 billion in 2025, up from $23.6 billion in 2024.

Recent Developments

• April 2026: YouTube Q1 ad revenue rose 10.3% YoY to $9.88 billion, with Alphabet reporting more than 350 million paid subscriptions across Premium, TV, Music, and Google One per Tubefilter.
• February 2026: Alphabet disclosed that YouTube’s full-year 2025 revenue topped more than $60 billion for the first time, the inaugural breakout of YouTube’s combined ad and subscription line, according to Variety.
• January 2026: Sensor Tower’s State of Mobile 2026 confirmed TikTok topped worldwide app downloads, in-app purchase revenue, and total time spent in 2025.
• September 2025: YouTube announced cumulative creator payouts had passed over $100 billion since 2021, with 3 million channels now in the Partner Program, per CNBC.
• May 2025: Streaming reached 44.8% of total US TV viewing for the first time, surpassing broadcast and cable combined, with YouTube and Netflix leading the streaming category per Nielsen.
• March 2025: YouTube announced 125 million subscribers across YouTube Music and Premium and launched a Premium Lite tier at $7.99 per month in the United States, according to Variety.

User Base and Global Reach

• YouTube counted approximately 2.85 billion monthly active users in 2026, the largest reach of any video platform globally. Alphabet disclosed that YouTube reached approximately 2.85 billion monthly active users in 2026, per Alphabet’s earnings disclosure.
• TikTok reached roughly 1.59 billion monthly active users in 2026, growing about 6.8% year over year. Sensor Tower data places TikTok at approximately 1.59 billion monthly active users globally in 2026.
• The gap between the two platforms is approximately 1.26 billion users in YouTube’s favour. Subtracting TikTok’s approximately 1.59 billion MAU from YouTube’s approximately 2.85 billion MAU gives the gap between the two platforms.
• Nearly one-third of TikTok’s installed base uses the app every single day, per Sensor Tower’s power-user analysis. Sensor Tower reported nearly one-third of TikTok’s installed base uses the app every day.
• TikTok continues to expand its user base outside the United States. Sensor Tower noted that TikTok continues to expand its user base outside the United States.

Source: Alphabet earnings disclosure, Sensor Tower

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Total Platform Revenue Comparison

• YouTube’s total 2025 revenue surpassed $60 billion, including advertising and subscriptions. Variety reported that YouTube generated more than $60 billion in revenue for 2025, including advertising and subscriptions.
• TikTok worldwide ad revenue is projected at $33.1 billion for 2025, up from 23.6 billion in 2024. eMarketer projects TikTok’s worldwide ad revenue at $33.1 billion in 2025, up from $23.6 billion in 2024.
• The 2025 revenue gap between the two platforms is approximately $27 billion in YouTube’s favour, before counting TikTok Shop GMV. Subtracting TikTok’s $33.1 billion projected ad revenue from YouTube’s more than $60 billion total revenue gives the platform-revenue gap in YouTube’s favour.
• YouTube Q4 2025 ad revenue alone reached $11.38 billion, the platform’s biggest single-quarter ad number to date. Variety reported YouTube’s Q4 2025 global ad revenue totalled $11.38 billion, a year-over-year increase of 8.7%.
• YouTube subscription revenue is bundled inside the more than $60 billion total, a recurring-revenue line TikTok does not match at scale. Variety reported that YouTube generated more than $60 billion in revenue for 2025, including advertising and subscriptions.

Source: Alphabet Q4 2025 earnings (via Variety), eMarketer, Resourcera

Advertising Revenue and Growth

• YouTube Q4 2025 ad revenue reached $11.38 billion, up 8.7% year over year. Variety reported YouTube’s Q4 2025 ad revenue reached $11.38 billion, a year-over-year increase of 8.7%.
• YouTube Q1 2026 ad revenue rose 10.3% year over year to $9.88 billion. Tubefilter reported that YouTube Q1 2026 ad revenue rose 10.3% year-over-year to $9.88 billion.
• TikTok ad revenue grew approximately 40% year over year from 2024 to 2025, faster in percentage terms than YouTube. The percentage growth from TikTok’s $23.6 billion 2024 ad revenue to the $33.1 billion 2025 projection works out as a year-over-year rate.
• The United States accounts for approximately 10% of TikTok users globally but 41% of TikTok’s worldwide ad revenue. eMarketer reported that the United States accounts for approximately 10% of TikTok users globally but generates 41% of the platform’s worldwide ad revenue.
• TikTok US ad revenue alone is forecast at $11.8 billion for 2025, contingent on the platform retaining US market access. eMarketer forecasts TikTok US ad revenue at $11.8 billion for 2025.

By the numbers: According to eMarketer’s forecast, TikTok worldwide ad revenue is projected to reach $33.1 billion in 2025, up from $23.6 billion in 2024. The United States accounts for approximately 10% of TikTok users but generates 41% of the platform’s worldwide ad revenue per eMarketer. US market access is the single largest variable in TikTok’s commercial trajectory.

YouTube Premium and Subscription Revenue

• YouTube Music and Premium reached 125 million subscribers in March 2025, up from 100 million in January 2024. Variety reported YouTube announced 125 million subscribers across YouTube Music and Premium in March 2025, up from 100 million in January 2024.
• The 125 million figure includes free trial users, per YouTube’s own disclosure. Variety noted the 125 million subscriber figure includes free trial users.
• YouTube introduced a Premium Lite tier at $7.99 per month in the United States to broaden the funnel below the standard tier. Variety reported that YouTube introduced Premium Lite at $7.99 per month in the United States.
• Across all consumer subscription products, Alphabet now reports more than 350 million paid subscriptions, including YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, YouTube Music, and Google One. Tubefilter reported Alphabet now has more than 350 million paid subscriptions across consumer services as of Q1 2026.
• TikTok has no comparable scaled subscription tier; its monetization remains advertising-dominant.

Source: Variety, Tubefilter (citing Alphabet earnings)

Creator Payouts and Partner Programs

• YouTube has paid more than $100 billion to creators, artists, and media companies since 2021. CNBC reported YouTube has paid out over $100 billion to creators, artists and media companies since 2021.
• The YouTube Partner Program now includes more than 3 million channels worldwide. CNBC reported the platform has more than 3 million creators in the YouTube Partner Program.
• YouTube shares 55% of advertising revenue from long-form videos and 45% from Shorts with eligible creators. CNBC reported that YouTube shares 55% of advertising revenue from long-form videos and 45% of revenue from Shorts.
• YouTube paid out more than $32 billion to creators globally in 2024 alone, per the KPMG Money in Motion report. Variety, citing the KPMG Money in Motion report, reported that YouTube paid out more than $32 billion to creators globally in 2024.
• TikTok Creativity Program Beta top performers earn between $100 and $600 per million views, with revenue per 1,000 views (RPM) of approximately $3 to $6. Buffer reported that top TikTok Creativity Program Beta performers earn between $100 and $600 per million views, with an RPM of $3 to $6.
• TikTok’s legacy Creator Fund paid roughly $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views, equivalent to $20 to $40 per million views. Buffer reported the legacy Creator Fund paid roughly $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views, equivalent to $20 to $40 per million views.

Key finding: Per CNBC, YouTube has paid creators over $100 billion since 2021 across 3 million Partner Program channels, sharing 55% of long-form ad revenue and 45% of Shorts revenue. TikTok’s Creativity Program Beta top performers earn $100 to $600 per million views per Buffer.

Daily Time Spent and Engagement

• TikTok users spent an average of 95 minutes per day on the app in 2025, the highest of any social platform. Sensor Tower reported that TikTok users spent an average of 95 minutes per day on the platform in 2025.
• YouTube users spent 85 minutes per day on the platform in 2025, second to TikTok globally. Sensor Tower reported that YouTube users spent 85 minutes daily on the platform in 2025.
• The daily time spent gap between TikTok and YouTube was approximately 10 minutes in 2025, with TikTok ahead. Sensor Tower data shows TikTok users spent 95 minutes per day on the platform versus 85 minutes on YouTube in 2025, a 10-minute daily gap.
• TikTok led 2025 in worldwide app downloads, in-app purchase revenue, and total time spent, per Sensor Tower’s State of Mobile 2026. Sensor Tower reported that TikTok topped worldwide app downloads, in-app purchase revenue, and total time spent in 2025.

Across SQ Magazine’s platform coverage, engagement depth, not raw user count, drives ad-pricing power on mature platforms, a pattern also visible in social media screen time statistics.

Demographics and Audience Composition

• Approximately 60% of TikTok’s global users belong to Gen Z, per Pew Research Center analysis. Pew Research Center data shows approximately 60% of TikTok’s global users belong to Gen Z.
• 63% of US teens aged 13 to 17 use TikTok, per Pew. Pew Research Center reported 63% of US teens aged 13 to 17 use TikTok.
• 59% of American adults aged 18 to 29 report using TikTok. Pew Research Center reported 59% of American adults aged 18 to 29 use TikTok.
• YouTube’s audience skews older and broader, reaching users across every adult age bracket and the 13-to-17 cohort, while TikTok’s lock on younger users echoes patterns documented in Gen Z social media data.

Connected TV and Living-Room Viewing

• YouTube captured 13.4% of all US TV watch-time on Nielsen’s Media Distributor Gauge, the largest media-company share since the metric launched in November 2023. Nielsen reported YouTube captured 13.4% of TV watch-time, the largest lead by a media company since November 2023.
• YouTube led second-place Disney by 4.0 share points on the Gauge. Nielsen reported YouTube widened its lead over second-place Disney at 9.4% by 4.0 share points.
• YouTube’s share of US TV viewing has grown approximately 62% since July 2021. Nielsen reported YouTube has seen its share of TV viewing increase 62% since July 2021.
• Streaming reached 44.8% of total US TV viewing in May 2025, the first time it surpassed broadcast (20.1%) and cable (24.1%) combined. Nielsen reported streaming represented 44.8% of total television viewing in May 2025, the first time it outpaced broadcast at 20.1% and cable at 24.1%.
• TikTok has no measurable share on Nielsen’s TV Gauge; YouTube’s 13.4% share is a CTV moat TikTok has not contested, comparable to the streaming dominance documented in Netflix subscriber data.

YouTube Shorts vs TikTok Short-Form Volume

• YouTube Shorts generates more than 200 billion views per day as of mid-2025, up from 70 billion in March 2024. IMDb, citing YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, reported YouTube Shorts now generates more than 200 billion views per day, up from 70 billion in March 2024.
• The Shorts’ daily view count nearly tripled in approximately 15 months. IMDb reported the mid-2025 milestone represents a near-tripling of Shorts consumption in approximately 15 months.
• TikTok does not publish a global daily-view figure, leaving per-user time spent as the cleanest public proxy.
• Shorts’ revenue share for creators sits at 45%, lower than the 55% for long-form YouTube videos. CNBC reported YouTube shares 45% of revenue from Shorts with eligible creators, compared with 55% on long-form videos.

For a deeper short-form engagement comparison, see SQ Magazine’s YouTube Shorts vs TikTok short-form data.

Source: YouTube Blog (via IMDb), CNBC, Buffer

Advertiser CPM and Cost Comparison

• YouTube’s average CPM was $7.61 as of October 2025, per Gupta Media’s social ads cost tracker. Gupta Media reported the current average CPM for YouTube is $7.61 as of October 2025.
• TikTok CPM was $4.20 in January 2025, rising to $6.21 by June 2025. Gupta Media reported TikTok CPM was $4.20 in January 2025 and rose to $6.21 by June 2025.
• TikTok advertising rates are growing approximately 12.28% year over year, nearly twice the pace of Meta’s ad rate growth. Gupta Media reported TikTok advertising rates are growing approximately 12.28% year over year, nearly twice as fast as Meta‘s ad rates.
• Format breadth (long-form, Shorts, CTV) explains most of the YouTube-vs-TikTok CPM gap.

Source: Gupta Media social ads cost tracker

TikTok Shop and Commerce Revenue

• TikTok Shop generated approximately $64.3 billion in global GMV during 2025, nearly double the 33 billion posted in 2024. Resourcera reported TikTok Shop generated approximately $64.3 billion in 2025 global GMV, up from over $33 billion in 2024.
• The United States contributed roughly $15.1 billion to TikTok Shop’s 2025 GMV, a 68% year-over-year increase. Resourcera reported the United States contributed roughly $15.1 billion to TikTok Shop’s 2025 GMV, a 68% year-over-year increase.
• Indonesia and Thailand combined for over $12 billion in 2024 TikTok Shop GMV, with Indonesia at 6.2 billion and Thailand at 5.7 billion. Resourcera reported Indonesia and Thailand combined for over $12 billion in 2024 GMV, with Indonesia at $6.2 billion and Thailand at $5.7 billion.
• Alphabet has not broken out YouTube Shopping GMV, suggesting the product is small relative to TikTok Shop’s $64 billion 2025 figure.

Source: Resourcera (citing TikTok commerce disclosures)

Content Volume and Creator Counts

• YouTube hosts approximately 115 million channels, of which roughly 3 million are monetized through the Partner Program. Mediamister reported there are approximately 115 million channels on YouTube, of which roughly 3 million are monetized through the YouTube Partner Program.
• More than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. Mediamister reported that more than 500 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute.
• The platform hosts an estimated 800 million total videos. Mediamister reported that the platform hosts an estimated 800 million total videos.
• TikTok does not publish channel-count or hours-uploaded figures, while YouTube’s openness on supply metrics anchors its advertiser-trust positioning.

Across SQ Magazine’s Spotify user statistics, the supply-side picture matters: YouTube’s larger creator pool and longer-form library is what underwrites the bigger ad load and the $60 billion revenue line.

Source: Mediamister (citing YouTube Help and YouTube Creators pages)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

YouTube’s structural lead spans roughly 2.85 billion monthly users and a $60 billion 2025 revenue line across ads and subscriptions per Alphabet’s earnings disclosure. Cumulative YouTube creator payouts have exceeded $100 billion since 2021 across more than 3 million Partner Program channels, according to CNBC. YouTube also held 13.4% of all US TV watch-time on Nielsen’s US Media Distributor Gauge.

TikTok counters with TikTok Shop’s roughly $64.3 billion 2025 GMV per Resourcera. Three signals worth tracking: whether Alphabet’s consumer subscriptions climb past 350 million, whether TikTok retains US market access, and whether Shorts narrows the daily-time gap.