Where is the rain of money? Instagram or YouTube? Understand how the earnings math works on ‘these’ two platforms!
Samira Vishwas November 06, 2025 11:24 PM
  • What makes Instagram or YouTube more profitable?
  • When and how is the money received?
  • Learn complete mathematics

Instagram vs YouTube Earnings: Today social media is not just a time pass or entertainment tool but it has become the biggest source of income for billions of people. Especially in the youth YouTube And Instagram These are two platforms that have the potential to provide recognition, fame and income. But, the question is often asked, which of these two platforms pays more? When and how is the money received? Let’s take a look at the exact maths of earning on these two platforms and some important things that will help you decide which platform is better for you.

How to earn from YouTube?

Ad Revenue is the biggest source of revenue on YouTube. When people watch your videos, they earn money from the ads that appear on them.

Other ways of earning

  • Super Chat
  • Channel Membership
  • Brand Sponsorship
  • Affiliate Marketing

What does income depend on?

Earning mainly depends on the number of views on your video, how long people watched the video (Watch Time), which country your audience is from and which category your content falls into.

audience Rate (per 1,000 views)
Indian audience From ₹20 to ₹100
foreign audience From ₹ 300 to ₹ 400

How to earn from Instagram?

Direct Ad Revenue is not available on Instagram like YouTube. Earnings here are mainly based on:

  • Brand promotion
  • Reel Sponsorship
  • Affiliate Links
  • Collaborations

That is, when a brand pays an influencer to promote its product. This amount depends on the number of followers, engagement rate and reel views of the influencer.

For example:

Those who have 1 lakh followers can earn ₹ 5,000 to ₹ 50,000 per sponsored post. Big creators and celebrity influencers sign deals worth millions of rupees.

YouTube vs. Instagram: Who’s More Profitable?

criteria YouTube Instagram
Nature of income Steady and Reliable (Ad Revenue) Volatile, based on brand deals
Content Life Long term (earning continued for years) Short (less engagement in a few days)
Better for what Long term income and content More money and branding in less time
  • Long-Term Income: YouTube is a more stable and reliable platform. Even your old video keeps getting views and revenue for years.
  • Quick Income: Content has a short life-time on Instagram, but through sponsorships and brand deals, there are opportunities to make more money in less time.

Which platform is right for you?

If you… specialize in video production, storytelling and long-form content, then YouTube is perfect for you. But, if you are good at… trends, short videos and personal branding, Instagram can be more profitable. Smart creators combine the use of both platforms – that is, build a large fan base on Instagram, and earn a steady stream of content on YouTube. This is the most balanced and effective way.

  • YouTube: Initially focus on good audio quality and editing – this is what will make you stand out.
  • Instagram: The first 3 seconds of the reels are the most important – this is where the user decides whether to watch the full video or not.
  • Maintaining consistency and authenticity across both platforms is the biggest algorithm hack.

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