Do YouTube sponsorship platforms take a percentage of deals?

Yes. Most YouTube sponsorship platforms take 15–25% of deal value as their commission. Grapevine and Creator.co take approximately 20–25%. IZEA and AspireIQ charge 15–20%. Collabstr is an exception — the brand pays the platform fee, not the creator. Direct outreach avoids platform fees entirely, which is why most established creators (100K+) prefer pitching brands directly.

Is it better to use a sponsorship platform or do direct outreach?

For creators under 50,000 subscribers, platforms offer better deal flow with less effort. For creators above 50,000 subscribers, direct outreach typically yields 20–40% higher rates (no platform commission), better brand relationships, and more negotiation flexibility. A common strategy: use platforms for your first 5–10 deals to build a portfolio, then transition to direct outreach as your leverage increases.

What minimum subscriber count do YouTube sponsorship platforms require?

Minimum requirements vary: Grapevine (1,000 subs), Creator.co (1,000 subs), Collabstr (1,000 subs), Influencer.co (2,500 subs), AspireIQ (10,000 subs), IZEA (25,000 subs). Note that subscriber count alone is not the full requirement — most platforms also evaluate engagement rate and content quality during approval.

2026 Review · Updated June 2026

Best YouTube Sponsorship
Platforms & Websites in 2026

Q: What is the best YouTube sponsorship platform for small channels?

For channels under 10,000 subscribers, Grapevine and Creator.co are the best starting points. Both accept creators from 1,000 subscribers and have brands actively seeking smaller, higher-engagement creators. Grapevine is best for niches like lifestyle, tech, and gaming. Creator.co offers more product deal opportunities alongside cash. Both platforms take 20–25% commission but handle brand discovery for you.

Q: Which websites help YouTube creators find sponsorships?

The best websites to find YouTube sponsorships in 2026: (1) Grapevine (grapevine.io) — 1,000 subscriber minimum, brands come to you; (2) Creator.co — 1,000 subscriber minimum, product and cash deals; (3) Collabstr (collabstr.com) — 1,000 subscriber minimum, you set your own rate, brand pays the platform fee; (4) AspireIQ — 10,000 subscriber minimum, mid-tier creator focus; (5) IZEA (izea.com) — 25,000 subscriber minimum, enterprise brand deals; (6) Influencer.co — multi-platform, 2,500 subscriber minimum. Additionally, many brands including Hostinger, NordVPN, and Canva have public creator partnership or affiliate program pages where any creator can apply directly without going through a marketplace.

6 platforms reviewed by fees, minimum subscriber requirements, deal quality, and which channel sizes they work best for. Find the right platform for your stage.

Know Your Rate Before Applying →

The 6 Best YouTube Sponsorship Platforms — Summary

Platform	Min Subs	Fee	Best For
Grapevine Best for Nano & Micro-Creators	1,000	20–25%	Cash + product
AspireIQ Best for Mid-Tier Creators	10,000	15–20%	Cash deals primarily
Creator.co Best for Getting Started (1K+ Subs)	1,000	20%	Product + cash
IZEA Best for Enterprise Brand Deals	25,000	15%	Cash deals, multi-video campaigns
Collabstr Best for Quick Marketplace Deals	1,000	0% (brand pays platform fee)	Cash, defined deliverables
Influencer.co Best for Multi-Platform Creators	2,500	18%	Cash + product

Grapevine

Best for Nano & Micro-Creators

4.2 /5

Min Subscribers

1,000

Platform Fee

20–25%

Deal Types

Cash + product

Best for: Lifestyle, tech, gaming, education creators under 100K

Pros

+Brands come to you — no cold pitching
+Accepts very small channels (1K+)
+Good brand variety
+Simple approval process

Cons

−Commission is higher than direct deals
−Deal values can be low for small channels
−Limited to US brands primarily

AspireIQ

Best for Mid-Tier Creators

4 /5

Min Subscribers

10,000

Platform Fee

15–20%

Deal Types

Cash deals primarily

Best for: Creators 10K–500K in beauty, fitness, lifestyle, tech

Pros

+Strong brand partnerships
+Higher average deal values
+Good campaign management tools
+Multi-platform (YouTube + Instagram)

Cons

−Higher minimum subscriber threshold
−More selective approval process
−Slower deal cycle than marketplaces

Creator.co

Best for Getting Started (1K+ Subs)

3.8 /5

Min Subscribers

1,000

Platform Fee

20%

Deal Types

Product + cash

Best for: Beginners building their first portfolio

Pros

+Very low minimum requirements
+Good for building portfolio with portfolio brands
+Simple dashboard
+Mix of product and cash deals

Cons

−Many product-only campaigns at small scale
−Lower cash deal values compared to direct outreach
−Some brand quality varies

IZEA

Best for Enterprise Brand Deals

4.1 /5

Min Subscribers

25,000

Platform Fee

15%

Deal Types

Cash deals, multi-video campaigns

Best for: Established creators seeking large brand partnerships

Pros

+Access to major brand budgets
+Professional campaign management
+Higher deal values
+Multi-campaign contracts available

Cons

−High minimum requirements
−Lengthy approval and onboarding
−Less transparent pricing

Collabstr

Best for Quick Marketplace Deals

3.9 /5

Min Subscribers

1,000

Platform Fee

0% (brand pays platform fee)

Deal Types

Cash, defined deliverables

Best for: Creators who want to set their own rate and get found quickly

Pros

+You set your own rate
+Brand pays the platform fee
+Fast deal turnaround
+Transparent marketplace model

Cons

−Lower average deal values
−More transactional, less relationship-based
−Smaller brand pool than IZEA or AspireIQ

Influencer.co

Best for Multi-Platform Creators

3.7 /5

Min Subscribers

2,500

Platform Fee

18%

Deal Types

Cash + product

Best for: Creators active on YouTube + Instagram or TikTok

Pros

+Multi-platform campaign management
+Good brand variety
+Performance reporting tools

Cons

−YouTube-specific features less developed than Instagram
−Moderate minimum requirements

Platform vs. Direct Outreach: Which Pays More?

Direct outreach consistently pays 20–40% more than platform deals for the same audience and niche — because there is no 15–25% platform commission in the middle. However, direct outreach requires more effort: finding contacts, cold pitching, and managing negotiations independently.

Factor	Platform	Direct Outreach
Rate	Lower (commission deducted)	Higher (full rate)
Deal finding effort	Low	High
Negotiation control	Limited	Full
Brand relationship	Platform-mediated	Direct
Good for	Under 50K subscribers	50K+ subscribers
Time to first deal	2–8 weeks	4–16 weeks

Recommended strategy: Use platforms for your first 5–10 deals to build a portfolio and learn the process. Transition to direct outreach as your channel grows past 50K subscribers to capture the full rate premium.

Before pitching on any platform, know your rate: Free Sponsorship Rate Calculator →

YouTube Sponsorship Platform FAQs

What is the best YouTube sponsorship platform for small channels?

Grapevine and Creator.co are best for channels under 10,000 subscribers. Both accept creators from 1,000 subscribers. Grapevine is better for lifestyle and tech. Creator.co offers more product-deal variety. Both take ~20% commission but handle brand discovery for you.

Do YouTube sponsorship platforms take a percentage?

Yes — most platforms take 15–25% of deal value. Grapevine/Creator.co: ~20–25%. AspireIQ/IZEA: ~15–20%. Collabstr is an exception where the brand pays the platform fee. Direct outreach avoids commissions entirely.

Is it better to use a platform or do direct outreach?

Platforms are better under 50K subscribers — less effort, steady deal flow. Direct outreach is better above 50K — 20–40% higher rates, no commission, better relationships. Use platforms to build your first portfolio, then shift to direct outreach.

What minimum subscribers do sponsorship platforms require?

Grapevine, Creator.co, Collabstr: 1,000 subs. Influencer.co: 2,500 subs. AspireIQ: 10,000 subs. IZEA: 25,000 subs. Engagement rate and content quality also factor into approval.

Which websites help YouTube creators find sponsorships?

Best websites in 2026: (1) Grapevine (grapevine.io) — 1,000 sub minimum, brands come to you; (2) Creator.co — 1,000 sub minimum, product and cash deals; (3) Collabstr — 1,000 sub minimum, you set your own rate, brand pays the fee; (4) AspireIQ — 10,000 sub minimum, mid-tier focus; (5) IZEA (izea.com) — 25,000 sub minimum, enterprise deals; (6) Influencer.co — multi-platform, 2,500 sub minimum. Also: many brands (Hostinger, NordVPN, Canva) have public creator partnership pages where you can apply directly without a marketplace.

Know Your Rate Before You Apply

Enter your stats and get your market rate before applying to any platform — so you never accept below your value.

Calculate My Sponsorship Rate →

Related Resources

YouTube Sponsorship: The Complete 2026 Guide How to Get a YouTube Sponsorship (Step-by-Step) YouTube Sponsorship Rate Benchmarks Free YouTube Media Kit Generator

Best YouTube Sponsorship Platforms & Websites in 2026

The 6 Best YouTube Sponsorship Platforms — Summary

Grapevine

AspireIQ

Creator.co

IZEA

Collabstr

Influencer.co

Platform vs. Direct Outreach: Which Pays More?

YouTube Sponsorship Platform FAQs

Know Your Rate Before You Apply

Best YouTube Sponsorship
Platforms & Websites in 2026