YouTube announced on Thursday that eligible U.S. creators can now tag Amazon products in their content and earn a commission on resulting sales. This feature is available for shorts, long-form videos, and livestreams.
What’s changing?
Previously, creators pasted Amazon Associates links into video descriptions and relied on viewers to use them. Now, a native integration allows creators to tag high-demand and trending products from Amazon’s curated catalog directly in their content. Creators can request additional products through YouTube Support if needed.
The rollout also includes auto-tagging. When enabled, YouTube’s systems scan a creator’s recent uploads and automatically tag eligible Amazon products.
Creators must be enrolled in both the YouTube Partner Program and the Shopping Affiliate Program. They also need an active Amazon Influencer or Associates account linked to their YouTube channel.
How do payouts work?
YouTube Studio displays creators’ total daily earnings, but does not provide breakdowns by product or individual video. If a customer returns a purchased item, the associated commission is deducted from the creator’s balance.
International reach, with a catch
Currently, only U.S. creators can tag Amazon products, but these tags are visible worldwide. For international viewers, YouTube may substitute a trusted local merchant so the creator can earn a commission. If no local merchant is available, the tag redirects viewers to Amazon’s U.S. site, and the creator earns a commission only if the purchase is completed there.
Why does this matter?
YouTube’s Shopping affiliate program now operates in 12 countries, including India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Japan. In India, the program launched in October 2024 with Flipkart and Myntra as the only merchants. As of mid-2025, no new partners had joined, and the original eligibility rules remain for Indian creators.
Currently, the Amazon integration is available only in the U.S., Indian creators still use Flipkart and Myntra, while international viewers can generate commissions through Amazon U.S. if no local merchant is available for a tagged product. This expansion aligns with YouTube’s broader strategy to compete with TikTok Shop in Southeast Asia and India during 2024 and 2025. Additionally, YouTube introduced mobile-native “Shopping Product Stickers” for Shorts in June 2025 to address low conversion rates caused by blocked clickable links.
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