Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Indian Creators Explore Bilibili as YouTube Monetisation Rules Tighten
Some Indian video makers are trying Bilibili, a video platform from China.
Bilibili began with anime, comics and gaming content but now hosts many types of videos.
India is not yet one of Bilibili’s official international markets.
Some creators use technical workarounds to join and upload videos.
One travel creator reportedly gained more than 700 followers and thousands of views in about two weeks.
YouTube plans to make it harder for new creators to qualify for advertising and Premium revenue from February 1, 2027.
The new rules will not affect creators already in the YouTube Partner Programme.
Bilibili could give creators access to new audiences, but its payment and monetisation systems for India are not yet established.
Indian creators are experimenting with Bilibili despite the platform having no official presence in India.
Some creators use location changes, alternate browsers, APK downloads and VPNs to access Bilibili.
Bilibili has expanded from an anime, comics and gaming community into a broader video platform.
From February 1, 2027, new YouTube monetisation applicants will face higher subscriber and viewing thresholds.
Bilibili offers access to Chinese audiences but lacks established India-specific monetisation and payment systems.
- Who
- Indian content creators, Bilibili and YouTube.
- What
- Indian creators are testing Bilibili as YouTube prepares stricter monetisation requirements for new applicants.
- When
- The YouTube changes are scheduled to begin on February 1, 2027; creator interest in Bilibili is occurring ahead of that date.
- Where
- The trend involves Indian creators using Bilibili, whose official international markets currently include several Southeast Asian countries but not India.
- Why
- Some smaller creators are seeking alternative ways to build audiences and potentially earn revenue as YouTube raises its entry thresholds.
Bilibili opportunity
Bilibili limitations
Audience growth
Bilibili opportunity
Creators may gain early access to an emerging platform, large Chinese audiences and communities focused on gaming, anime, technology and education.
Bilibili limitations
India is not an official Bilibili market, so creators must use workarounds and cannot rely on a fully established local creator ecosystem.
Revenue potential
Bilibili opportunity
Bilibili’s international expansion could eventually provide creators with an additional revenue stream beyond YouTube.
Bilibili limitations
International payment and monetisation infrastructure is still developing, and India-specific arrangements have not been established.
YouTube alternatives
Bilibili opportunity
Higher YouTube entry requirements may encourage smaller creators to test other platforms before they qualify for monetisation.
Bilibili limitations
Creators already enrolled in the YouTube Partner Programme will not face the stricter new entry bar, limiting the change’s impact to new applicants.
- YouTube change date
- February 1, 2027
- New subscriber threshold
- At least 1,000 subscribers
- Alternative watch-time threshold
- 8,000 qualified public watch hours in the preceding year
- Alternative Shorts threshold
- 20 million qualified Shorts views in the preceding 90 days
- Bilibili official markets
- Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia
- Reported early creator growth
- One Indian travel creator gained more than 700 followers and thousands of views in roughly two weeks
- India monetisation status
- Bilibili has no established India-specific payment or creator monetisation arrangements