YouTube gives physical Creator Awards, usually called Play Buttons, at four subscriber milestones: Silver at 100,000, Gold at 1 million, Diamond at 10 million and Red Diamond at 100 million. Reaching the number is not enough on its own, though. YouTube also reviews the channel against its award eligibility rules before sending anything.
Key points
- The four tiers are Silver (100K), Gold (1M), Diamond (10M) and Red Diamond (100M).
- You do not need to be in the YouTube Partner Program to qualify.
- The channel needs recent uploads, a clean policy record for the past year, original content and no inflated subscribers.
- Eligible creators get a notification in YouTube Studio, and YouTube says production and shipping take a few weeks.
- Awards are for personal use and must not be sold.
What are the YouTube Play Button milestones?
There are four official tiers, each tied to a subscriber count:
| Award | Subscriber milestone |
|---|---|
| Silver Creator Award | 100,000 |
| Gold Creator Award | 1,000,000 |
| Diamond Creator Award | 10,000,000 |
| Red Diamond Creator Award | 100,000,000 |
YouTube’s awards page lists only these four. You will see other plaques mentioned online, but this guide sticks to the official list.
Who is eligible for a Creator Award?
YouTube reviews every channel that crosses a milestone. According to the awards page, the channel must:
- Have uploaded within the last 6 months.
- Have had no Community Guidelines violations in the past 365 days.
- Have no inflated subscriber counts. Subscribers have to be real.
- Publish original content that follows YouTube’s policies.
- Be located in a country where awards are available.
YPP membership is not required. A channel with 100,000 real subscribers that has never monetized can still qualify for the Silver award.
The page also lists countries where awards are currently not available. Check it before you plan around an award if you are outside the main markets.
How do I claim my Play Button?
If your channel is eligible, YouTube contacts you through YouTube Studio. According to the awards page, a notification usually arrives within 10 days of reaching the milestone.
On desktop
- Sign in to YouTube Studio after you pass the milestone.
- Open the Creator Award notification (it appears in Studio notifications).
- Follow the instructions in the notification to submit your details for the award.
On mobile
Studio notifications also appear in the YouTube Studio app. Filling in the form on a computer makes it easier to double-check your shipping details.
YouTube says it takes a few weeks to make and ship each award, so plan for some waiting after you redeem.
How can I check how close I am to the next award?
Your exact count is under Analytics > Overview in YouTube Studio. Our live subscriber count tool shows any channel’s public count. Keep in mind that YouTube rounds public counts above 1,000 subscribers. For example, 123,456 subscribers are shown as “123K”.
The full abbreviation table is in our post on 100 subscribers on YouTube.
Why might YouTube refuse an award at a milestone?
The most common reasons follow from the eligibility list above. The channel may not have uploaded recently, may have had a policy violation in the past year, or YouTube may judge its subscriber growth to be inflated. YouTube says it regularly removes spam and closed-account subscribers from counts, so a number that drops back under the milestone also means no award.
Buying subscribers is a direct risk here, because “no inflated subscribers” is an explicit eligibility rule. If awards matter to you, grow the count organically.
What should I do before reaching the next milestone?
Keep uploading regularly (at least once every 6 months is the hard minimum), stay clear of policy strikes, and make sure your channel name is right, because it goes on the plaque. If you are still working toward monetization, our guide to YPP requirements explains the thresholds that come before any award. For the early stage, see what changes at 100 subscribers.
Closing in on 100,000? Our YouTube subscribers packages can help you get over the line.
Sources
FAQ
How many subscribers do you need for a YouTube Play Button?
100,000 for the Silver Creator Award. Gold is 1 million, Diamond 10 million and Red Diamond 100 million.
Do you need to be monetized to get a Play Button?
No. YouTube’s awards page says YPP membership is not required, but the channel must meet the other eligibility rules.
How long does it take to receive a Play Button?
YouTube says eligible channels usually get a notification within about 10 days of the milestone, and making and shipping the award takes a few more weeks.
Can I sell my YouTube Play Button?
No. YouTube says Creator Awards are for personal use and must not be sold.
Why didn’t I get a Play Button at 100K?
Common reasons are no uploads in the last 6 months, a Community Guidelines violation in the past year, inflated subscribers, or living in a country where awards are not available.