Guides
Short explanations of terms that are easy to mix up when running estimates, like RPM versus CPM, Page RPM versus Ad RPM, and how platforms calculate payouts.
RPM vs CPM
RPM is take-home per 1,000 views or pageviews. CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions. Using CPM as if it were RPM overstates what you keep.
YouTube RPM by niche
Creator-reported long-form YouTube RPM ranges by niche, plus why geography and Shorts mix move the number more than your upload schedule does.
How AdSense pays
Google pays publishers about 68% of display ad revenue. AdSense Page RPM is already after that share. How to read it, and when to stop using it as the forecast.
What is a good website RPM?
AdSense sites often see $1 to $5 Page RPM. Premium networks pay much more. What counts as good depends on network, niche, and traffic source.
How podcast CPMs work
Price a host-read as (downloads / 1,000) × CPM. Mid-rolls cost more than pre-rolls. Small shows should usually quote a flat fee.
YouTube Shorts vs long-form revenue
Long-form Watch Page ads pay creators 55% of net ad revenue. Shorts pay 45% of a pooled allocation. The RPM gap is usually an order of magnitude.
How to read YouTube Studio revenue
Use last-28-days RPM, split long-form and Shorts, and do not divide estimated revenue by lifetime views. The path through Studio that matches these calculators.