YouTube Shopping now includes Amazon products. Here's how it actually works.
On August 28, 2026, YouTube expanded its US Shopping affiliate program to include Amazon's product catalog, letting eligible creators tag Amazon products directly in videos, Shorts, and livestreams. This is an expansion, not a new program: YouTube Shopping launched back in 2022 with retailers like Wayfair, Etsy, Currys, and Boots, later extending internationally. Amazon is the largest name added to the roster so far, and the one most faceless product and review channels will actually recognize from their own buying habits.
What's required to use it
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| YouTube Shopping affiliate program | Separate enrollment from ad monetization; see our 500-subscriber bar guide |
| Amazon Influencer Program | A separate Amazon-side approval, required in addition to YouTube's own program |
| Product catalog | Curated by Amazon: trending and requested products, not the full storefront |
| Auto-tagging (optional) | AI scans speech, visuals, title, and description to match and tag eligible products automatically |
The number YouTube is leading with
YouTube reports that videos using Shopping product tags see over 110% more clicks on products than a plain link in the description, its own figure rather than an independent study, worth treating as directional rather than a guarantee for any specific channel. Still, it lines up with the general logic behind product tagging: a tag sits inside the video at the moment a product is actually shown or mentioned, closer to the point of interest than a link buried below the fold.
Where this fits for a faceless channel
Amazon's addition specifically strengthens the case for product review and comparison content, where viewers are frequently already comparing options they'd normally search for on Amazon directly. Auto-tagging's automatic timestamps also pair naturally with the structural habits our chapters and timestamps guide already recommends, giving both viewers and search another reason to find the exact segment where a product actually comes up.
Where Thothium fits
Thothium keeps product shots clear and visually consistent across a video's scenes, which matters more once a tag can turn any given shot into a clickable product reference. It is in free alpha, and the form below gets you a key.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to join a separate Amazon program to use this?
Yes. Tagging Amazon products requires enrollment in both YouTube's Shopping affiliate program and Amazon's own influencer program; being approved for one doesn't automatically grant access to the other.
What is auto-tagging, and should I turn it on?
Auto-tagging uses YouTube's AI to scan a video's speech, visuals, title, and description, then automatically match and tag eligible Amazon products without you manually adding each one. It's a reasonable default for a channel already covering products regularly, since it also generates automatic timestamps showing where each tagged product is mentioned, but review what it tags before assuming every match is one you'd have chosen yourself.
Is Amazon's catalog fully open, or curated?
Curated. Amazon provides a set of trending and requested products rather than its entire catalog, so not every product a creator might want to tag will necessarily be available through the integration.
Does this change anything about disclosure requirements?
No. Affiliate links and product tags still require the same clear disclosure this blog has covered before, on top of YouTube's own paid-promotion settings where applicable. Adding Amazon as a retailer option doesn't relax that obligation; see our FTC AI disclosure guide and legal basics guide for the fuller picture on when and how to disclose.
Last updated September 3, 2026. Eligibility, catalog coverage, and click-rate figures are per YouTube's own reporting and may change; confirm current program terms in YouTube Studio before enrolling.