YouTube · Data study
YouTube Shorts vs Long Videos: 586 Channels That Post Both
the views of a long video, for a typical short
By Elijah Westbrook · 2026-10-20 · 2 min read
On 586 channels that post both, the typical short got about 0.30× the views of the same channel’s typical long video. Shorts beat long videos on only 22% of channels. And a short paid about 16 cents per 1,000 views, versus $6.19 for long videos.
n = channels
Shorts didn’t even win on views
Most of these channels make long videos first and post shorts too, so this doesn’t prove shorts can’t work. Plenty of channels grow on shorts alone. But on channels doing both, shorts usually lost.
Don’t assume a short is an easier view than a long video on your channel.
And they pay a fraction
At the median, a short needs about 39× the views of a long video to earn the same.
Use shorts to test ideas fast. When a short takes off, that promise deserves a long video.
It’s the most asked question creators have
In 23,660 creator questions on Reddit, Shorts vs long form was the top specific topic: 2,205 questions, more than subscribers, views or money.
If you’re confused about shorts, you’re in good company. Use them for testing, not for paying the bills.
From my channel
How I did it
586 channels with at least 3 shorts and 3 long videos (14+ days old) in their public feeds. For each channel we compared the median short with the median long video. Pay numbers come from the RPM study.
The limits
Most of these channels are long-video channels that also post shorts. Shorts-first channels may see the opposite.
Questions
Do YouTube Shorts help small channels grow?
On channels that post both, shorts usually got fewer views than long videos (0.30× at the median). They’re best used to test which ideas people respond to.
How much do YouTube Shorts pay?
Creators who shared their Shorts RPM had a median of about $0.16 per 1,000 views.