YouTube Revenue Revealed for First Time: $60B+ Surpasses Netflix
YouTube has disclosed its full revenue for the first time, revealing over $60 billion in total 2025 revenue that exceeds Netflix. Alphabet's Q4 earnings report breaks out YouTube's complete financial picture including advertising and subscription services.
YouTube Total Revenue (2025): Over $60 billion (ads + subscriptions)
Netflix Revenue (2025): $45.18 billion
Q4 2025 Ad Revenue: $11.38 billion (up 8.7% YoY)
Alphabet Paid Subscriptions: 325+ million (YouTube Premium, TV, Google One)
First-Time Full Revenue Disclosure
For the first time in its history, YouTube's parent company Alphabet has disclosed the platform's complete revenue picture. The $60+ billion figure for 2025 combines both advertising revenue and subscription services including YouTube Premium and YouTube TV.
Previously, Alphabet only reported YouTube's advertising business separately. This new transparency reveals the full scale of YouTube's business, positioning it as one of the world's largest entertainment companies by revenue.
YouTube Surpasses Netflix, Trails Only Disney
YouTube's $60+ billion in 2025 revenue places it ahead of Netflix, which reported $45.18 billion for the same period. Among entertainment companies, only Disney exceeded YouTube with $95.7 billion in revenue last year.
$95.7B
2025 Revenue
$60B+
2025 Revenue
$45.18B
2025 Revenue
Advertising Still Dominates Revenue Mix
Despite the growth of subscription services, advertising continues to make up a major portion of YouTube's revenue. During Q4 2025, the platform generated $11.38 billion in global ad revenue, marking an 8.7% increase year-over-year.
However, the figure came in below analyst expectations. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai attributed this to lower political ad spending compared to Q4 2024, which impacted brand advertising results during the quarter.
325+ Million Paid Subscriptions Across Services
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai revealed the company now has more than 325 million paid subscriptions across its consumer services. This total includes YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and Google One, highlighting how YouTube's business model has evolved far beyond advertising alone.
The NFL Sunday Ticket package, offered through YouTube TV, reached its highest paid subscriber total yet, though Alphabet did not disclose exact numbers. This demonstrates YouTube's expansion into premium live sports content.
Massive Engagement: 700M+ Hours of Podcasts
Engagement metrics reveal the platform's continued growth. Pichai disclosed that viewers watched more than 700 million hours of podcasts on YouTube via TVs in October 2025 alone, demonstrating YouTube's dominance in podcast distribution.
YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, in his 2026 letter to the community, shared that more than 1 million channels were using YouTube's AI tools daily in December 2025. He also revealed that YouTube Shorts now averages 200 billion daily views.
Alphabet Q4 Earnings Beat Expectations
Alphabet's overall Q4 2025 financial performance exceeded expectations, with $113.8 billion in revenue and $34.5 billion in net income for the quarter. The strong results demonstrate the company's continued dominance across its product portfolio.
Looking ahead to 2026, CEO Sundar Pichai announced plans to spend between $175 billion and $185 billion on capital expenses focused on AI investments, signaling the company's commitment to artificial intelligence development.
YouTube's $60+ billion revenue demonstrates the platform's massive scale as a creator economy. With over 325 million paid subscriptions and 200 billion daily Shorts views, the platform continues to offer significant monetization opportunities for content creators.
The expansion into podcasts (700M+ hours watched on TV), live sports (NFL Sunday Ticket), and AI tools (used by 1M+ channels daily) shows YouTube is investing heavily in creator features and new content formats beyond traditional video.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much revenue did YouTube generate in 2025?
YouTube generated over $60 billion in total revenue during 2025, combining advertising and subscription services including YouTube Premium and YouTube TV.
Is YouTube bigger than Netflix?
Yes, YouTube's $60+ billion in 2025 revenue exceeds Netflix's $45.18 billion for the same period. However, Disney remains the largest entertainment company with $95.7 billion in revenue.
How much did YouTube make from advertising in Q4 2025?
YouTube generated $11.38 billion in global ad revenue during Q4 2025, representing an 8.7% year-over-year increase, though the figure came in below analyst expectations.
How many paid YouTube subscriptions are there?
Alphabet reported more than 325 million paid subscriptions across its consumer services, including YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, and Google One. The exact breakdown for YouTube-specific subscriptions was not disclosed.
How many daily views does YouTube Shorts get?
According to YouTube CEO Neal Mohan's 2026 community letter, YouTube Shorts now averages 200 billion daily views, demonstrating massive engagement with short-form video content.