Every once in a while, YouTube rolls out a feature that feels like it’s genuinely designed for creators at the earlier stages. Something that isn’t just another tool for the giants of the platform, but a way to help new voices break through the noise.
That’s exactly what the new Hype feature looks like.
What is Hype?
Hype is YouTube’s newest discovery and engagement tool. Viewers can “Hype” a new video in the first seven days after it’s uploaded. These Hypes are free (each viewer gets three per week) and they act as points that boost your video’s visibility.
The more Hype you get, the more likely your video is to land on the Hype Leaderboard in your country. And if things really start rolling, your video can even display a Hyped badge across YouTube a visual signal to other viewers that your content is gaining traction.
This isn’t about competing with MrBeast. It’s about giving smaller creators a shot at early discovery.
Who Can Use It?
Hype isn’t for everyone. You need to be in the YouTube Partner Program and have between 500 and 500,000 subscribers. That sweet spot is no accident. YouTube knows that discovery is hardest in the “middle zone” after you’ve proven consistency but before you’ve truly broken through.
By default, eligible channels will have Hype turned on inside YouTube Studio (you’ll see it under advanced channel settings). You can turn it off if you want, but honestly… Why would you?
How the System Works
Here’s how it plays out:
Upload a video.
For the next seven days, your audience can Hype it.
Each Hype adds points to your video.
The more points you stack, the higher you climb on the leaderboard.
That leaderboard is country-specific and refreshes every few minutes. It’s not personalized, meaning everyone in your country sees the same top-ranked videos. If you make it onto that list, you’ve got an opportunity for serious new eyeballs.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
The Small Creator Bonus
YouTube knows that a straight points system would only benefit mid-sized creators sitting at 400K+ subscribers. So they’ve flipped it.
The smaller your channel, the more each Hype is worth.
A 500-subscriber channel gets 7,500 points per Hype.
A 500,000-subscriber channel only gets 50 points per Hype.
That’s a massive difference. And it means the playing field finally tilts toward the smaller creator for once.
What Content Qualifies?
Not everything can be Hyped. YouTube has set some guardrails:
Shorts are excluded this is a long-form only tool.
Age-restricted, “made for kids,” clickbait, private/unlisted, or Content ID-claimed videos won’t qualify.
Live streams can’t be Hyped while they’re live, but the replay VODs can.
Essentially, YouTube wants Hype to surface quality, safe, and widely watchable content.
Paid Hype (Coming Soon)
Right now, YouTube is testing paid Hypes in Brazil and Turkey. The idea is that once viewers use their free weekly Hypes, they could buy extra ones to boost a video further.
This isn’t just a discovery mechanic anymore it becomes a monetization stream. Likely similar to Super Chats or memberships, creators would take a cut, and YouTube takes theirs.
If (or when) this rolls out globally, it means your fans won’t just help your videos rank higher they’ll literally be putting money in your pocket while they do it.
Why Hype Actually Matters
For years, creators have said: “If only YouTube gave smaller channels a little more visibility early on…”
Hype is YouTube’s answer.
By weighting the system in favor of smaller creators, and making the first seven days after upload even more important, it creates a genuine discovery mechanism for those still grinding toward their first 100K subs.
It’s not a silver bullet. You’ll still need to make content that earns attention. But for once, YouTube has built a tool that doesn’t just reward those already at the top — it helps those trying to climb.
Try Calculating Your Hype
Here’s the part I love: Hype isn’t just for waiting around until YouTube shows you.
If you want to calculate your own Hype, I’ve made a quick free calculator for you to use:
👉 Check it out here
It’ll let you plug in your numbers and see whether your latest video is truly punching above its weight.