With over 1.8 billion active users, TikTok has become a leading platform for content monetization. It is one of the most powerful platforms for creators to grow their personal brands and generate income.
By tapping into the app’s massive reach and highly engaged audience, creators can turn their content into a reliable revenue stream. But to succeed, you’ll need more than just viral videos—you need a smart, strategic approach.
Here, we’ll break down eight proven ways to make money on TikTok, whether you're just starting out or looking to scale your content into a full-time business.
TikTok creators can earn anywhere from a few dollars to thousands per month, depending on several key factors—like their audience size, engagement rate, content niche, and monetization strategies.
Income can come from various sources, including the Creator Fund, brand deals, affiliate marketing, TikTok Live gifts, and UGC content creation. For example, smaller creators might earn $50–$500 per sponsored post, while larger influencers can make $10,000 or more per campaign.
The more targeted and engaged your audience is, the higher your earning potential—regardless of follower count. With the help of our free TikTok money calculator, you can easily estimate your earnings.
The Creator Rewards Program is a way for an influencer to monetize their presence and content on TikTok. The closure of the Creators Fund was a blow to creators who published most of their content here, and following multiple controversies, the platform created the Creator Rewards Program in 2023.
In this program, creators receive rewards based on the quality of the content they upload, its impact on the platform (generating engagement and interactions), and the length of their content.
To be eligible for the Creator Rewards program, your profile and content must:
You can access additional rewards if your content:
TikTok doesn't publicly disclose the amount of money a content creator can earn with this program. The pay from TikTok can vary depending on the number of views your video receives, the engagement it generates, and additional rewards such as the quality it brings to the platform.
Content creators claim to earn an average of $500 to $2,500 per month with the rewards program, including nano and micro influencers who regularly upload content to the social network. However, they assure that the amount varies and there are many variables that can affect it, so some months it may be $400 or less.
The influencer marketing industry is expected to reach $32 billion by 2025, and brands know that partnerships are a unique opportunity to easily reach their targeted audiences. As a content creator, establishing partnerships with brands will help you monetize the content you upload to TikTok without having to rely on the Creator Rewards Program.
Collaborating with brands within your niche or category maximizes the chances of success for both parties: The brand has a greater chance of achieving conversions and thus establishing more collaborations with you. It's also important that the brand's values resonate with your profile, and that they are products or services you would truly recommend, so that it's more organic to your account.
For example, @travelmomoirs specializes in recreating vintage fashions with modern touches. Through a partnership with Lace Made, she was able to showcase the brand’s products, which are similar to what she regularly features on her profile. The post garnered high engagement (2 million likes and 10,000 comments), being a win-win situation for both parties.
With brand partnerships, each content creator can specify their rate and then negotiate with the brand until an agreement is reached. The final price will also vary depending on whether it's UGC or if the brand requires more extensive production and editing—which is typically another type of collaboration.
The UGC rate ranges from $100 (limited-time post) to $1,000+ (permanent videos in the feed). Additional charges such as commission rates or usage rights can then be added. Other collaborations can also range from $250+ based on the number of followers you have or the type of content they require.
TikTok Shop is a great way for sellers and creators to monetize your presence on the platform, and unlike the Creator Rewards Program, it doesn't require a minimum number of followers or engagement. With TikTok Shop, you can create pages to post products and then add links to the content you upload so your audience can go directly to purchase them.
To join the TikTok shop you just have to go to https://business.TikTokshop.com/us/creator and follow the following steps:
The program is available for content creators in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, and Mexico.
Product demos will help you increase your sales and are essential for TikTok Shop. Videos of you using the product, showing its features, and more, are what differentiate TikTok Shop from other online storefronts like Amazon. Make sure to showcase the best of the product and that the content is engaging for your audience.
Whether you already have a business or are just getting started, TikTok is a great platform to promote your products or services. Even if you haven’t made any sales yet or haven’t launched on another platform, you can begin by creating products or services based on your area of expertise.
TikToker @Beausbrain focuses on entrepreneurship-related content, selling courses so his followers can learn how to thrive as entrepreneurs. Thanks to his TikTok presence, he claims he's been able to sell more than 5,000 copies online without the need for outsourced advertising.
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, there are various digital products and services you can sell. It's crucial that you focus them on your area of expertise and that you tailor your account content to that niche. Here are some digital products you can sell as a content creator on TikTok:
Using TikTok as your sales funnel is a super effective alternative if you already have a storefront or profile or another platform. For people who already sell these types of services and products on freelance platforms like Fiverr or Upwork, it will be easier to make the jump to selling them on TikTok, as they can link their profiles to encourage people to buy.
Subscription platforms are a great way to monetize your TikTok profile outside of it. You have to encourage your viewers to subscribe and pay money in exchange for receiving additional and exclusive content, monthly giveaways, interactions with you, among other things.
To use these types of platforms effectively, you need an audience willing to pay for the additional content you sell. This is easier when influencers always treat their followers as if they were a community. This creates a sense of belonging, and people will be more willing to help you financially so they can continue viewing your content.
The best platform will be the one that best suits what you're looking for. We recommend choosing one that offers the lowest fees, but also makes it easy for your audience to donate money. If they have to follow multiple steps (such as creating an account, providing information, etc.), they may not be willing to do so.
Here is a top 5 of platforms that you can use to generate an additional income:
TikTok Lives are a great way to diversify the content you upload to the platform and earn in-app money. During these live streams, viewers can use TikTok's virtual currency to send you "gifts," which you can then convert into real money.
While earnings vary, creators typically earn between $0.01 to $0.02 per coin received, and top streamers can make hundreds—even thousands—of dollars per live session depending on their audience size and engagement.
The process of receiving gifts through TikTok Live is very simple: users buy TikTok Coin, and when you go live, users can send you gifts in exchange for reactions—or even without having to react to them. You can then exchange that TikTok Coin for money in your local currency.
Other additional tips to be able to receive gifts during Live Streams:
Only by meeting these conditions will you be ready to start receiving this form of monetization within TikTok.
Here are some tips to help you maximize engagement during TikTok Lives and increase your chances of receiving gifts from your audience:
Affiliate programs are one of the best ways for content creators to earn extra income. The great thing is that you can search for affiliate programs related to your niche or the content you already publish, so what you promote will be organic to your TikTok profile.
Creator Hero is a one-stop affiliate storefront that lets you easily partner with multiple brands across niches like tech, beauty, lifestyle, pet care, and more. Instead of signing up for individual programs, you can manage everything in one place—making it simpler to earn through affiliate marketing.
By promoting products that genuinely align with your TikTok content and audience interests, you can drive more engagement and increase your commissions. Creator Hero makes it easy to turn your influence into income.
All affiliate programs provide a link or code for you to buy on your social media. When you make a TikTok post promoting a product, add that link or code, as it's the only way to track your sales and receive your commission.
If you're signed up for multiple affiliate programs, you can combine those products into a storefront, like Creator Hero. Then, just add your storefront link to your TikTok bio so your audience is directed directly to it.
The TikTok Shop affiliate program is designed so that influencers on the platform can earn money without having to outsource to other affiliate programs. The entire process, from application to product promotion and profit generation, is done within the platform, so it's great if you prefer to manage everything in one place.
The process to become a TikTok Shop affiliate is pretty straightforward. You just need to:
That's all you have to do, and according to TikTok, there are no specific requirements to become an affiliate. However, they'll evaluate your profile based on the quality of the content you upload, how regularly you upload it, and the engagement you achieve.
As a TikTok Shop affiliate, you can earn between 15% and 20% in commission depending on the product's value. The more expensive the products you sell, the more money you'll earn. It's not a fixed or steady income, but it's a good way to complement other monetization options on TikTok.
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a massive following to start making money on TikTok. New creators can still earn by tapping into features and strategies designed for engagement and niche appeal rather than follower count.
Consistency, quality, and authenticity matter more than numbers. If your content resonates, monetization will follow.
In 2025, making money on TikTok is more accessible than ever—if you know how to leverage the right strategies. From brand partnerships and product sales to affiliate marketing and subscriptions, TikTok offers multiple income streams tailored to your strengths as a creator.
By focusing on authenticity, consistency, and community engagement, you can transform your content into a sustainable business. Whether you're just starting or scaling up, these eight proven methods can help turn your passion for content creation into real, reliable income.
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