How to Make Money on TikTok: 7 Real Ways (and Requirements)

TikTok doesn’t pay you just for having an account, but it does offer several ways to earn once you meet certain requirements. Some, like LIVE gifts, open up relatively early. Others, like the Creator Rewards Program, need a bigger audience and longer videos. And some of the most reliable income, such as brand deals and affiliate sales, comes from outside TikTok’s own payouts.

This guide explains how to make money on TikTok in plain terms: what each option is, who can use it, what the commonly reported requirements are, and how to combine them. TikTok changes its programs often and requirements vary by country, so treat the numbers here as a starting point and confirm the current rules in the app (usually under Creator tools or a Monetization section) before you plan around them.

Can you actually make money on TikTok?

Yes, but most income comes from combining several sources, not from views alone. TikTok’s built-in programs pay for eligible views, LIVE gifts and subscriptions, while brands and TikTok Shop pay for promotion and sales.

It helps to sort the options into three groups:

Paid by TikTok: the Creator Rewards Program (for eligible long-form views), LIVE gifts and Subscriptions.
Paid through TikTok’s commerce tools: TikTok Shop affiliate commissions and paid Series.
Paid by others: brand partnerships (often arranged through TikTok One, which absorbed the old Creator Marketplace, or directly), plus your own products, services or tips.

You don’t need all of them. A small creator who goes LIVE often might earn mostly from gifts; a product reviewer might earn mostly from affiliate links. Pick the routes that fit the content you already enjoy making.

TikTok monetization requirements at a glance

Most TikTok monetization features require you to be 18 or older, and many add a follower minimum and a recent-activity rule. The table below shows commonly reported requirements. They vary by country and change over time, so check the app for your account.

Method	Commonly reported requirements	How you earn
Creator Rewards Program	18+, around 10,000 followers, around 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, personal account in good standing, eligible country	Rewards for qualified views on original videos longer than 1 minute
LIVE gifts	18+ to receive gifts, LIVE access (often around 1,000 followers)	Viewers send gifts bought with Coins; you receive Diamonds you can cash out
Subscriptions	18+, a follower minimum (often reported as 1,000+) and recent activity; invitation or region-dependent	Monthly fee from subscribers for perks such as badges and subscriber-only content
TikTok Shop affiliate	18+, a follower minimum that varies by market, eligible region	Commission on products sold through your videos or LIVEs
Series	18+, a follower minimum and good standing (varies)	Viewers pay to unlock a collection of premium videos
Brand deals	No fixed minimum; TikTok One has its own eligibility rules	Negotiated fee per campaign

If a feature doesn’t appear for you, it usually means your account, age or region isn’t eligible yet, not that you’ve done something wrong.

How many followers do you need to get paid on TikTok?

There is no single number: LIVE gifts and some affiliate programs can open with roughly 1,000 followers, while the Creator Rewards Program is commonly reported to need about 10,000. Brand deals have no official minimum at all.

Followers are only one gate. TikTok also looks at age, account type (business accounts are excluded from some programs), your country, recent views and whether your account follows the Community Guidelines. A creator with 3,000 engaged followers in a clear niche can earn more from affiliate links or a small brand deal than an account with 30,000 passive followers.

If you’re still building toward the first thresholds, our guide on how to get followers on TikTok covers the habits that grow an audience without shortcuts.

Does TikTok pay you for views? The Creator Rewards Program

TikTok pays for views only through the Creator Rewards Program, which rewards qualified views on original videos longer than one minute. It replaced the older Creator Fund in 2024.

Commonly reported eligibility:

Age 18 or older and a personal (not business) account in good standing.
Around 10,000 followers.
Around 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.
Living in a country where the program is offered.

Only original videos over a minute count. Duets, stitches, ads, sponsored posts and reposted content generally don’t qualify. TikTok says rewards depend on factors such as originality, watch time, search value and audience engagement, so two videos with the same views can earn different amounts.

You’ll see many “TikTok pays $X per 1,000 views” claims online. Treat them with caution. Those figures are self-reported by creators, vary widely by country, niche and month, and are not published rates from TikTok. The honest answer is that your dashboard is the only reliable source for what your views earn.

To join, look for the Creator Rewards Program under your creator or monetization tools in the app. Labels change between versions, so if you can’t find it, search for “Creator Rewards” in TikTok’s in-app help.

How to make money on TikTok LIVE

On TikTok LIVE you earn when viewers send virtual gifts, which turn into Diamonds you can withdraw, and from monthly Subscriptions if your account is eligible. LIVE is often the earliest route to income because it rewards connection, not just reach.

Viewers buy Coins, spend them on gifts during your stream, and you receive Diamonds. TikTok keeps a share, and the exact conversion isn’t something you should plan around from third-party numbers. Our explainer on TikTok LIVE gifts, Coins and Diamonds walks through how it works.

What makes viewers gift is rarely asking for gifts. It’s a stream worth staying for. Practical ways to get there:

Give people something to do. Interactive formats like polls, trivia and team battles turn quiet viewers into participants. Tools such as Tug of War or Live Trivia let viewers play just by commenting.
Go LIVE on a schedule so regulars know when to show up.
Thank people by name, whether they gift, comment or just stay.
Keep free participation fun. Streams that only reward gifters feel transactional. See TikTok LIVE games that work without gifts.

New to streaming? Start with how to go LIVE on TikTok for the eligibility basics.

TikTok Shop affiliate: earning commission on products

TikTok Shop affiliate lets eligible creators tag products in videos or LIVEs and earn a commission on every sale. It’s available in a growing list of markets, with follower and age requirements that vary by region.

How it typically works:

Check for an affiliate or TikTok Shop option in your creator tools. If you don’t see it, your region or account may not be eligible yet.
Browse the product marketplace and add items that fit your niche to your showcase.
Make honest videos that show the product in use, and tag it so viewers can buy without leaving the app.
Track which videos drive sales and make more in that style.

Affiliate works best when you’d genuinely recommend the product anyway. Viewers notice when a creator promotes everything, and trust is the asset you’re actually selling. Always follow TikTok’s rules for disclosing commercial content.

Brand deals, Series and other income streams

Brand partnerships are often the biggest earner for mid-size creators, and they don’t require a fixed follower count. Brands look for an engaged audience that matches their customer.

Brand deals

You can find partnerships through TikTok One (TikTok’s creator-brand platform, which folded in the former Creator Marketplace), agencies, or by pitching brands directly. A simple media kit with your niche, audience location, average views and a few example videos goes a long way. Use TikTok’s commercial content disclosure setting on any paid post.

Series

Series lets eligible creators put a collection of videos behind a one-time paywall, like a mini course or a bonus episode set. It suits tutorials, recipes and storytelling where viewers want depth.

Your own offers

TikTok can also drive people to things you sell yourself: coaching, digital products, merch or services. Put a clear link in your bio once your account is eligible for one.

Mistakes that can block or cost you TikTok earnings

The fastest way to lose monetization is to break TikTok’s rules or try to fake growth. Avoid these:

Buying followers, views or likes. Fake engagement violates TikTok’s rules, can get content restricted, and makes your real engagement rate look worse to brands.
Engagement pods and bots. Coordinated or automated activity is treated as inauthentic behavior.
Reposting other people’s content. Unoriginal content is generally not eligible for rewards and can limit reach.
Begging for gifts. Repeatedly pressuring viewers to gift can break LIVE rules and drives people away.
Hiding paid promotions. Undisclosed ads can lead to removal.

If your views suddenly fall, check your Account status before changing your strategy. Our guide on why your TikTok views are low explains how.

A simple plan to start earning at every stage

Match your monetization plan to your current audience size instead of waiting for one big threshold.

Stage	Focus	Possible income
Under 1,000 followers	Post consistently in one niche, learn what holds attention	Your own offers, small local or product collaborations
1,000 to 10,000	Start regular LIVEs, build a community of regulars	LIVE gifts, affiliate (where eligible), small brand deals
10,000+	Make original videos over 1 minute, build a media kit	Creator Rewards, Subscriptions, Series, larger partnerships

At every stage, the underlying driver is the same: content people watch to the end and want to talk about. Our guide to getting more views on TikTok and TikTok LIVE tips for small creators cover that groundwork. If you want to try an interactive LIVE format first, you can try a Tream game demo before your next stream.

Frequently asked questions

How many followers do you need to make money on TikTok?

It depends on the method. LIVE gifts are commonly reported to open at around 1,000 followers for adults, while the Creator Rewards Program is commonly reported to need about 10,000 followers plus around 100,000 views in the last 30 days. Brand deals have no official minimum.

How much does TikTok pay per 1,000 views?

TikTok does not publish a fixed rate. Creator Rewards earnings depend on factors such as originality, watch time, search value, engagement and country. Figures you see online are self-reported and vary widely, so check your own dashboard.

Can you make money on TikTok without showing your face?

Yes. Many creators earn with voiceovers, tutorials, product demos, screen recordings and interactive LIVE games. Monetization rules focus on originality and guideline compliance, not on showing your face.

Do you have to be 18 to make money on TikTok?

For TikTok’s own monetization features, generally yes. The Creator Rewards Program, receiving LIVE gifts, Subscriptions and TikTok Shop affiliate typically require you to be 18 or older.

Is the TikTok Creator Fund still available?

No. TikTok replaced the Creator Fund with the Creator Rewards Program, which focuses on original videos longer than one minute.

How do you get paid from TikTok LIVE gifts?

Viewers send gifts bought with Coins, and you receive Diamonds. Once you meet the minimum withdrawal amount, you can cash out through the rewards or balance section of the app using a supported payout method.

Written by the Tream Team. Tream is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by TikTok or ByteDance. TikTok features and eligibility rules change, so check TikTok’s current guidelines in the app.