Can You Require Subscribing or Liking in a YouTube Giveaway?
The short answer: you can ask viewers to subscribe and like, but you shouldn't make either one the price of entry. YouTube's spam policy lists "offering rewards in exchange for likes, views, or subscribers" as artificial engagement, and no comment picker can check them anyway: subscriptions are private by default, and YouTube doesn't show anyone who liked a video. Make a comment the entry, keep subscribing optional, and check your winner by hand if it matters to you.
What YouTube's policies actually say
Both YouTube policies that cover this allow asking:
- Spam policy: "It's okay to ask viewers to like, comment, or subscribe." (source)
- Fake engagement policy: "You're allowed to encourage viewers to subscribe, hit the like button, share, or leave a comment." (source)
And both draw the line at rewarding it:
- The spam policy prohibits "repetitive or templated content aimed at artificially inflating engagement through bots, coercion, or offering rewards in exchange for likes, views, or subscribers."
- The fake engagement policy says "content that solely exists to incentivize viewers for engagement (views, likes, comments, etc) is prohibited," enforced with a warning, then strikes, and possible termination after three strikes within 90 days.
- The contest policies add that you "may not manipulate metrics on the YouTube service," including subscribers.
"Subscribe, like and comment to win" puts a prize on exactly the metrics YouTube names. "Comment to enter, and subscribe if you enjoy the channel" doesn't.
Why no picker can check subscriptions or likes
- Subscriptions are private by default. "By default, all settings are set to private," and when they are, the person's account "does not show in a channel's Subscribers List, even if you're subscribed" (YouTube Help). Even YouTube Studio's recent subscribers list only shows people who "chose to make their subscriptions public" (YouTube Help). A tool reading comments can't see more than you can.
- Likes are anonymous. YouTube shows creators how many people liked a video, not who.
So if a tool says it "verified subscribers", at best it saw the people with public subscriptions, and "not subscribed" may just mean "private". That's why our YouTube comment picker doesn't claim to check either, and says so on the page.
Safer ways to run your giveaway
1. Make a comment the entry
Ask for something specific: a keyword, or an answer to a question about the video. It's easy to check, it shows real engagement, and a picker can require it.
2. Keep subscribing optional, and say so
"Subscribing is appreciated but not required" in your rules keeps the ask without attaching a reward.
3. Reward your best comments
For "best answer" giveaways, heart the comments you like and draw only from those. One trap: the YouTube Studio mobile app can suggest "heart-worthy" comments and offers Add hearts to all (YouTube Help). Tap it, and every suggested comment is in your hearted-only draw.
4. Check the winner yourself if you want to
Open the winner's channel. If their subscriptions are public you can see them; if not, you can't, so don't promise in your rules that you'll check.
What about subscriber-only or member-only giveaways?
Subscribers only. YouTube lets you limit who can comment on a video to "Subscribers and members," with a minimum subscription time of "Any duration, 1 hour, 1 day, and 1 week" (YouTube Help). Every commenter is then a subscriber, but subscribing becomes the price of entry, which is close to the rewards-for-subscribers YouTube warns about. We wouldn't use it for a giveaway.
Members only. Channel memberships cost money every month, and YouTube's contest policies say contests "must be free of charge to enter." A members-only draw makes a paid membership the way in, which can also turn a giveaway into a lottery under local law. If you want to thank members, give them a perk that isn't a prize draw, or offer a free way to enter as well.
A rule set that works
For most YouTube giveaways: comment with a keyword to enter, one entry per person, replies don't count, your own comments are left out, and subscribing is optional. That's four settings in the picker and a draw nobody can argue with. Our YouTube giveaway rules guide has a template with this wording, and the step-by-step guide covers the draw.
More YouTube giveaway guides
Frequently asked questions
Can a comment picker check whether someone subscribed?
Not reliably. Subscriptions are private by default, so a picker can only see people who've made theirs public. A result of not subscribed may just mean private.
Is subscribe to enter against YouTube's rules?
YouTube allows asking viewers to subscribe, but its spam policy lists offering rewards in exchange for likes, views or subscribers as artificial engagement. Requiring a subscription to enter ties the prize to subscribing, so it's safer to keep it optional.
Can I limit my YouTube giveaway to subscribers only?
You can limit who can comment to subscribers and members in the video's comment settings, but that makes subscribing the price of entry, which is close to what YouTube's policy warns about. We'd avoid it for giveaways.
Can I run a giveaway just for channel members?
Be careful. Members pay a monthly fee, and YouTube's contest policies require contests to be free to enter. A members-only draw can also count as a lottery in some places. Offer a free way to enter too, or thank members another way.
How can I check if my winner is subscribed?
Open their channel. If their subscriptions are public you'll see them; if they're private, no one can check, so don't promise it in your rules.