TikTok has solidified its place as one of the most lucrative platforms for creators looking to turn content into cash. With over 1.5 billion users worldwide, the app offers endless opportunities for influencers, small business owners, and content creators to build an income. Whether through brand deals, affiliate marketing, or TikTok’s in-app monetization tools, earning money on TikTok is more accessible than ever in 2025, even though a ban may still be looming.
However, TikTok’s monetization landscape is constantly evolving. In December 2023, TikTok replaced the Creator Fund with the TikTok Creator Program, offering higher payouts to eligible creators. Additionally, new revenue streams like TikTok Series and live shopping provide even more ways to get paid.
Each video created on TikTok has the potential to go viral and bring in a new audience for content creators and small business owners. So, let’s look at all the different ways TikTok allows its creators to monetize their content.
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Ideas on how to make money on TikTok
If you want to become a content creator and make money with your content, TikTok is the perfect app to start with. Here are some of the best ideas on how to monetize your content on this app.
1. Join the TikTok Creator Rewards Program (replaced the Creator Fund)
TikTok first introduced the Creator Fund in 2020, which promised to give US creators $200 million to compensate them for their content. As of December 2023, TikTok discontinued the Creator Fund in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and France and replaced it with the TikTok Creator Rewards Program to increase earnings for longer videos.
How the TikTok Creator Rewards Program Works
- Open to creators with at least 10,000 followers
- Requires 100,000 video views in the past 30 days
- Rewards creators who produce videos longer than 1 minute
- Payouts are based on engagement and video watch time
This shift is great news for creators looking to earn higher payouts. Under the Creator Fund, many TikTokers reported earning only $0.02 to $0.04 per 1,000 views. The new program is designed to offer higher rates, though exact numbers depend on audience engagement.
How to Apply
- Navigate to Creator Tools in your TikTok profile.
- Select TikTok Creativity Program and check your eligibility.
- Apply and start creating high-quality, engaging videos to maximize earnings.
Pro Tip: Longer, value-packed videos tend to perform better in the TikTok algorithm, so focus on creating educational, entertaining, or storytelling-based content to maximize your income.
2. Brand collaboration
Collaborating with brands on sponsored content is one of the best ways to monetize your content on TikTok. You get an opportunity to work with brands you admire to promote their products and get paid a flat rate on the branded content you create. The rate will depend on the size of your audience and your engagement, but you can always negotiate a better deal for yourself.
It's easy to become overwhelmed with working with brands, especially as a new influencer or content creator. Take your time, learn about brand strategy, and how to best collaborate with brands for a win-win experience.
Get sponsored
- Build a niche audience that aligns with specific brands.
- Consistently create high-quality, engaging content to showcase your influence.
- Join the TikTok Creator Marketplace to connect with brands actively looking for influencers.
- Reach out to brands directly by pitching collaboration ideas and demonstrating your audience’s engagement.
Maximize earnings from brand deals
- Negotiate your rates based on engagement, not just follower count.
- Offer package deals, such as multiple videos or cross-platform promotions.
- Disclose partnerships transparently using #ad or #sponsored to comply with TikTok’s guidelines.
3. Affiliate marketing on TikTok
Earning money with affiliate marketing is possible through TikTok, just like with other platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube. And it can be just as effective. Affiliate marketing is often overlooked, but if you do it right, it can help you supplement your creator income and make you thousands of dollars every month in passive income.
Switch your TikTok account from a personal to a business account (which is free and easy to do!), which allows you to put one link in your bio. You can use tools like Beacons, which allows you to create a page that includes affiliate links to products you’re promoting. Or, set up your Amazon Storefront and link it in your bio if you prefer to promote products through Amazon.
Once that is set up, create video content using and promoting the products, so when people find your videos and are interested in the product, they can easily visit the link and purchase the product. To take things further, you might want to consider creating TikTok ads to reach a wider audience and drive more traffic to your affiliate link page.
Affiliate marketing on TikTok
- Sign up for affiliate programs like Amazon Associates, LTK (LIKEtoKNOW.it), ShareASale, or Impact.
- Get a unique tracking link for each product you want to promote.
- Create TikTok videos that showcase or review the product.
- Include a call-to-action directing viewers to the link in your bio or a discount code.
- Earn commissions on purchases made through your link.
How to start with TikTok affiliate marketing
- Choose products that align with your brand and audience.
- Sign up for an affiliate program and generate your custom referral link.
- Use Beacons, Linktree, or Stan Store to add multiple affiliate links in your TikTok bio.
4. TikTok Shop
TikTok has partnered with the online e-commerce platform Shopify to allow brands to sell their products directly through the app. You can become an official merchant by applying through the TikTok’s Shop Seller Center. You must meet the eligibility criteria to become a seller.
How TikTok Shop Works
- Creators can list and sell products directly on TikTok.
- Products can be promoted through in-feed videos, live streams, and the product showcase tab on profiles.
- TikTok integrates with Shopify, making it easy to manage inventory and orders.
How to Get Started with TikTok Shop
- Sign up at TikTok Shop Seller Center.
- List your products and set up payment options.
- Promote your products through "inspiring and joyful" TikTok videos and live streams.
- Use TikTok Ads to reach more customers and drive sales.
Why Sell on TikTok Shop?
- Sell directly to engaged TikTok users without sending them to an external site.
- Increase conversions with in-app checkout.
- Leverage influencer marketing by allowing other creators to promote your products.
5. Promote your physical products on TikTok
The hashtag #TikTokMadeMeBuyIt has hundreds of millions of views, and even 67% of TikTok users admit that TikTok inspired them to shop, even though they weren’t looking to do so. Promoting products from your business on TikTok can be a lucrative way to make money.
You can create fun and engaging content for your products and services, with every video having a fair chance to go viral. There are many creators and small business owners selling clothing, candles, and many other things who have grown their businesses with the help of TikTok alone and made millions doing it.
TikTok business account allows you to include the link to your website in your bio, which you can use to drive traffic to your online store. It’s a great, free marketing tool you definitely want to take advantage of.
When it comes to creating content to promote your business, you can choose to make fun videos or educational videos on your topic.
Another smart way to utilize TikTok to promote your business is to use it to grow your email list. People on your email list will be your number one customers when it comes to buying products and services. So, in your bio, link to a lead magnet and invite your audience to sign up for your email newsletter.
6. Sell your own digital products
TikTok is more than just a platform for brand deals and ads. If you have your own digital products you can sell them on TikTok. Whether you offer online courses, e-books, templates, or exclusive memberships, TikTok can drive traffic to your digital storefront and help you create a sustainable income stream.
Best digital products to sell on TikTok
- Online courses (teach a skill, social media growth, photography, etc.)
- E-books & guides (how-to manuals, business strategies, fitness plans)
- Digital templates (Canva templates, Notion planners, social media kits)
- Memberships & exclusive content (paid communities, mastermind groups)
How to sell digital products on TikTok
- Choose a platform to host your product. Teachable, is an excellent option for education heavy, business creators.
- Optimize your bio link. Use Linktree, Beacons, or Stan Store to direct users to your products.
- Create content that promotes your product. Show before-and-after results, testimonials, or quick tips from your course or product.
- Leverage TikTok trends optimize with relevant hashtags like #LearnOnTikTok, #SideHustle, and #PassiveIncome to reach the right audience.
- Run TikTok Ads to drive traffic to your product page.
Why selling digital products works
- Scalable income (sell once, earn indefinitely).
- No inventory or shipping required.
- Perfect for education-focused creators who want to monetize expertise.
Pro Tip: Offer a limited-time discount or freebie to encourage impulse purchases and build your email list.
7. Create content your audience cares about
1. Understand the algorithm
To create quality content that people engage with, you have to understand how the TikTok algorithm works. Every video uploaded on the app has a fair chance to go viral, which is why the app has been so successful for many small businesses and creators.
When you upload a video, TikTok puts it in front of a small pool of people to see how they interact with it. If the video is successful, TikTok pushes the video further to a wider audience. So, when you create a video, you always want to make sure you keep in mind the users. Ask yourself if the video is engaging, fun, and eye-catching.
The better and more engaging the video you upload is, the better the chance that it will reach a broader audience, putting you in front of more people and helping you grow.
2. Be consistent
Growing your social media account takes time, no matter what platform you choose. So, be consistent with your content and make sure you upload regularly to increase your chances of getting noticed. And as we mentioned, every new video has a chance to go viral, so keep creating and improving your content.
3. Participate in trends
TikTok loves trends and trending sounds. So, when you create a new video, always make sure you use trending sound and participate in all the trends you see on your For You Page. This will maximize your chances of getting in front of more people, and if your video is engaging enough, it might even go viral.
8. TikTok series and exclusive content
TikTok Series is a newer monetization feature that allows creators to put premium content behind a paywall. This is ideal for educators, coaches, and influencers who want to sell exclusive videos directly to their audience.
How TikTok series works
- Creators can offer collections of up to 80 videos, each up to 20 minutes long.
- Users pay a one-time fee to access the content.
- Pricing is flexible, ranging from $0.99 to $189.99 per series.
Eligibility
- Must be 18 years or older.
- Account must be at least 30 days old.
- Must have at least 10,000 followers and 1,000 video views in the past 30 days.
- Creators with fewer than 10,000 followers may still qualify if they have previous experience selling premium content elsewhere.
How to get started with TikTok series
- Apply for TikTok Series through Creator Tools in your profile.
- Plan your exclusive content. This could be in-depth tutorials, behind-the-scenes access, or masterclasses.
- Set a price and publish your first series.
- Promote your premium content through teaser videos on TikTok.
Best practices for selling exclusive content
- Offer a clear value proposition—make sure your audience understands why the content is worth paying for.
- Create a limited-time launch offer to drive initial sales.
- Use social proof by sharing testimonials or success stories.
Pro Tip: If you sell online courses or coaching on Teachable, use TikTok Series as a low-cost intro product to upsell viewers into your full program.
How to make money on TikTok FAQ
Let’s answer some of the most popular questions people have about making money on TikTok:
How to earn money on TikTok Live
TikTok allows you to monetize your Lives, which can be another great way to make money with TikTok. During your live, your audience can give you virtual gifts. You can then exchange those virtual gifts for diamonds, which are TikTok currency that can be exchanged for real money.
There are a few things to know about how to go live on TikTok. Before you can access this feature and monetize it, you must fit the eligibility criteria:
- You must be 18 years of age to be able to receive gifts during the Live.
- You must have at least 1,000 followers.
How to get paid on TikTok
Before you can start making money on TikTok, you have to fit a few criteria:
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- You must be based in one of the following countries: USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy, or Spain.
- You must have at least 1,000 followers.
- You must have at least 1,000 video views in the last 30 days.
- You must have posted at least three videos in the last 30 days.
These are just the minimal requirements to be able to join Creator Next, which opens up the doors to monetizing your content on TikTok through various ways we’ve discussed before.
If you want to join the Creator Fund, then you’ll have to have 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views on your videos in the past 30 days. And if you want to receive gifts and donations on all of your videos, not only TikTok Lives, then you’ll need to have at least 100,000 followers to access this feature.
To make serious money on TikTok with brand sponsorships, reportedly, you should have at least 100,000 followers. This number of followers encourages more brands to collaborate with you on sponsored posts, and you can set a higher rate, especially if you’re getting 100,000 video views and more.
How much do people make on TikTok?
The top TikTok stars can charge up to $500,000 per sponsored post, with the average being between $100,000 and $250,000 per post. The top 7% of TikTokers earn over $200,000 annually, according to Exploding Topics.
In 2024, the highest-earning stars are:
- Charli D’Amelio reportedly made $23.5million in 2024, up from $17.5 million in 2022. This includes earnings from her Hulu show and sponsorships with brands like Invisalign, Morphe, and Dunkin’ Donuts, and more.
- Khaby Lame: with 162.4 million followers, the creator reportedly made $20 million. "The Senegalese mega-influencer has overtaken Charli D'Amelio to become the most-followed creator on the platform" according to Exploding Topics.
- Brent Rivera: with 50.1 million followers, the creator reportedly made $11 million.
Can you earn money on TikTok?
Yes, absolutely! TikTok allows its creators to make money through the app directly or make money by promoting their products and services. You also have the option to work with brands to create sponsored posts, either independently or with the help of TikTok’s built-in Creator Marketplace, which connects brands and creators with ease.
How do you earn money on TikTok?
TikTok is a versatile platform that offers creators a lot of freedom and options to monetize their content. There are multiple ways how you can do that as a content creator:
- Join the Creator Fund: earn money by joining TikTok’s creator program that pays creators for the views and engagement on their videos.
- Promote affiliate products: create content promoting affiliate products and include the links in your bio, so people can easily buy products you recommend and earn a commission.
- Advertise your business: use TikTok to promote your products and services to a new audience and drive more traffic to your online store or online course.
- Accept donations: TikTok allows creators to receive virtual gifts during their Lives and on regular videos, which can later be turned into virtual currency and exchanged for real-life money.
- Collaborate with brands: reach out to brands you love, or join Creator Marketplace to connect with brands who are looking to work with influencers on creating sponsored content.
- Become a seller on TikTok: if you’re from the UK or Indonesia, you can become a TikTok seller and sell your products directly on the app.
How many followers do you need on TikTok to make money?
To start monetizing your content on TikTok, you have to have at least 1,000 followers. This allows you to apply to a Creator Next program, which allows you to gain access to things like TikTok Live and many other features. To be eligible to make money with the Creator Fund, you’ll have to have at least 10,000 followers, with most creators who earn big money having at least 100,000 followers.
How many views do you need on TikTok to make money?
The minimum number of monthly views is 1,000 to get started with making money on TikTok. However, if you want to join the Creator Fund, then you’ll need to have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.
How much money do you get with 1 million views on TikTok?
There is no guaranteed way to say how much money you’ll make with 1 million views on TikTok. With the Creator Fund, TikTok doesn’t openly state the rate per view, and the amount can vary depending on many different variables, like engagement and quality of the views.
A more guaranteed way to make consistent money with TikTok is to collaborate with brands on sponsored content, which allows you to charge a flat rate. Or, promote affiliate products and earn commission through that and promote your small business products and services.
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