How to make money on TikTok

With over one billion active users and a powerful discovery algorithm, TikTok enables creators of all sizes to reach large audiences and make money, even when starting from scratch.

While going viral significantly increases your account’s recognition, generating a steady income stream on TikTok requires a strategic approach and consistency in creating content that supports it. 

From direct platform payments and product sales to partnerships with global brands, there are multiple ways to make money on TikTok:

1. Go live and earn through viewer gifts. Make money during TikTok LIVE sessions by receiving virtual gifts that can be converted into real cash.
2. Work with brands on sponsored videos. Get paid to create promotional content that features a brand’s product or service for your audience.
3. Earn commissions through affiliate marketing. Share affiliate links or TikTok Shop products and earn a commission on each sale.
4. Sell products directly through TikTok Shop. Use TikTok’s in-app shopping tools to sell your own physical or digital products without redirecting users off the platform.
5. Get paid for views with TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program. Earn direct payouts from TikTok based on the performance, watch time, and engagement of your videos.
6. Monetize your expertise with TikTok coaching or consulting. Offer paid guidance or strategy services to creators or businesses looking to grow on TikTok.
7. Create paid user-generated content (UGC) for brands. Create TikTok-style videos based on a brand’s brief, and they’ll pay you for the creation itself.
8. License your content to brands or media outlets. Earn money by granting usage rights to brands or media outlets to reuse your viral or high-performing content legally.
9. Grow faster through creator collaborations. Expand your reach and unlock shared revenue opportunities by collaborating with other TikTok creators.
10. Turn TikTok growth into cross-platform income. Use TikTok as a discovery channel to build audiences on other platforms and create multiple income streams.

As you build momentum on TikTok, expanding to other social media platforms lets you grow faster and earn more sustainably.

Begin with low-effort repurposing by posting the same content on Instagram Reels or YouTube Shorts, then gradually increase your investment by creating platform-specific content as your audience and goals evolve.

1. Start a livestream on TikTok to receive gifts

Receiving gifts during a TikTok LIVE is a fun way to make money online, especially for creators who enjoy interacting directly with their community and hosting Q&A sessions.

TikTok’s virtual gift system allows your followers to show their appreciation in real-time while you’re doing a livestream on TikTok. Fans use real money to buy coins, which they send as gifts during a creator’s live session.

To receive gifts while livestreaming on TikTok, you must be at least 18 years old and have a minimum of 1,000 followers.

TikTok converts these gifts into Diamonds in your account balance. You can withdraw Diamonds as actual currency to your PayPal account, with one Diamond equaling half a US Dollar cent.

Daily cash-outs are capped at $1,000, with a transaction fee applied. But also note that withdrawal limits and fees vary by location.

2. Partner with brands for sponsored content

Partnering with brands means getting paid to feature a product or service in your TikTok videos.

This method works best when you’ve identified the topics you want to focus on, such as fitness, skincare, tech, or finance, and have already built an audience that regularly engages with your content.

When you’re still a micro-creator, however, brand collaborations don’t always involve monetary payment. Many brands start with product-for-content partnerships, where you receive their products in exchange for promotional TikTok posts on your account.

Although unpaid, these collaborations can be valuable for expanding your reach, gaining experience, and establishing early relationships with brands.

If you want to pursue brand partnerships as a long-term source of income on TikTok, a good place to start is by creating content around products you genuinely enjoy using.

Share your experience from your own perspective, apply your storytelling style, and keep a consistent editing approach.

This makes your content easier to recognize and appeals to brands about how a paid collaboration with you could work.

When negotiating brand deals, your rates should reflect your actual performance, not just your follower count.

In practice, this means examining your average views, engagement rate (including likes, comments, and shares), and audience demographics, such as location and age.

As a general guideline:

• Nano creators (1K-10K followers). Often charge lower rates or start with product-for-content deals, especially if engagement is strong.
• Micro creators (10K-50K followers). May charge per video based on average views and engagement, with rates increasing as performance becomes more consistent.
• Mid-size creators (50K-100K+ followers). Typically charge higher flat rates and may negotiate usage rights or multi-video packages.

To encourage repeat partnerships, track the performance of your campaigns and share concrete results with brands, such as link clicks, conversions, or product sales, so they can clearly see the impact of your content.

As your audience grows, you can also join TikTok One, a built-in tool that helps brands discover content creators, review their performance metrics, and initiate collaborations more easily.

To be eligible, you need to:

• Maintain a TikTok account in good standing, with no repeated or serious violations of Community Guidelines or Terms of Service, and no involvement in fraudulent or malicious activity
• Be at least 18 years old (minimum age may vary by region)
• Have at least 10,000 followers (threshold may vary by location)
• Accumulate 1,000 post views within the past 30 days
• Publish at least three posts in the last 30 days

3. Promote affiliate products

TikTok is one of the most effective platforms for promoting affiliate links, primarily because its For You page enables your content to reach a broad audience beyond your existing followers.

If you’re new to affiliate marketing, the concept is simple: you share a unique tracking link or discount code for a product and earn a commission for every sale made through it. To get started, join a reputable affiliate marketing program such as Amazon Associates or ShareASale.

Once approved, you can add a link in your bio that leads to a curated list of the products you mention in your videos.

To succeed, focus on creating engaging videos that demonstrate the product in real-life use, such as “day in the life” clips, tutorials, or problem-solution scenarios. This type of content feels more natural and relatable to viewers.

Certain types of products also tend to drive conversions exceptionally well on TikTok, such as those that are visually engaging or demonstrate creative hacks to do something. Beauty and skincare items, fashion and accessories, home gadgets, fitness gear, tech accessories, and trending lifestyle products are among the most popular.

Alternatively, you can join the TikTok Affiliate Program if you have at least 1,000 followers. This allows you to showcase affiliate TikTok Shop products directly on your profile through a dedicated product page.

You’ll also be able to embed a clickable yellow shopping basket, allowing viewers to purchase items directly within the app.

How much commission you’ll earn is set by the TikTok Shop seller you’re collaborating with. You’ll receive a commission only after an order is completed, with no cancellations or refunds. For a closer look at how TikTok affiliate commissions work, you can check out the TikTok Shop Academy page.

Always disclose your affiliate relationships to stay compliant with advertising regulations. And make sure to review and follow TikTok’s affiliate disclosure guidelines, which can vary depending on the region you’re in.

➡️ For your reference, read our guide to find out how much affiliate marketers make on average.

4. Sell your own products or merchandise on TikTok Shop

By becoming a TikTok Shop Creator, you can sell your own products directly through TikTok using the platform’s native ecommerce tools. This means users can discover your products as they casually scroll their feed and purchase them instantly, without leaving the app or going through external checkout pages.

Below are the general eligibility requirements for selling on TikTok Shop, whether you’re promoting affiliate products or offering your own:

• Be 18 years of age or older
• Are not classified as a Government, Politician, or Political Party Account (GPPPA) under TikTok’s definitions
• Do not share the same or similar login credentials with TikTok Shop accounts that have a history of serious or repeated violations
• Have no prior record of ecommerce privileges being revoked by TikTok Shop
• Successfully complete Creator Identity Verification (this requirement does not apply to Official Shop creators or Marketing creators without ecommerce access)
• Comply with all TikTok Shop policies, including the TikTok Shop Content Policy, TikTok Community Guidelines, Creator Code of Conduct, and related platform rules

Once you start selling on TikTok Shop, users can browse and purchase your products directly within the app – either through the Shop tab on your profile or via the clickable yellow shopping basket embedded in your videos.

For every completed sale on your store, TikTok charges a commission (referral) fee. The commission percentage for each order value can vary by product category, your location, and the type of seller account you have.

TikTok may also combine other processing fees into the referral fee or deduct them separately, depending on your region and your seller account’s plan.

Any refunded or cancelled orders won’t earn seller revenue, and TikTok may apply a refund admin fee on returned items. These fees are deducted from your payout after a sale, so you receive the balance once all charges have been settled.

In terms of how shipping is handled, you can set it up in your seller settings:

• Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT). TikTok Shop offers an in-house fulfillment service where TikTok (or its logistics partners) handles storage, packing, and shipping for you.
• Seller or 3PL. Alternatively, you can fulfill orders yourself or use a third-party logistics provider (3PL). You’ll manage inventory, packing, and delivery, and TikTok will require accurate tracking uploads to maintain performance standards.

To drive sales, focus on creating engaging content that clearly demonstrates your product’s value and real-world use.

Product demos, before-and-after clips, tutorials, and unboxings are especially effective for highlighting unique selling points. Additionally, you can create broader content that resonates with your audience’s interests, pain points, or current trends within your niche.

For example, if you sell home or lifestyle items, showcasing how they fit into daily routines or solve everyday problems can boost brand awareness and trust.

Include a clear call to action where naturally possible, such as encouraging viewers to “tap the yellow basket” or “check the product on my profile.”

➡️ Looking for some inspiration? Explore our list of products to make and sell to keep your profit margins high.

5. Join TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program

The TikTok Creator Rewards Program (formerly the Creator Fund) is designed to compensate creators for high-performing content. It pays eligible creators directly for their videos, taking into account engagement, watch time, content quality, and audience interaction, in addition to the number of views.

The TikTok Creator Rewards Program is currently available to creators based in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, Mexico, and Brazil.

Your account must be in good standing and comply with TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service.

Only Personal accounts are eligible to apply for this Creator Rewards program, and you must be at least 18 years old, have a minimum of 10,000 followers, and have 100,000 video views within the past 30 days.

If you meet all the requirements, applying is straightforward:

1. Go to your TikTok profile and tap the Menu (☰) icon
2. Select TikTok Studio, then choose Creator Rewards Program
3. Submit your application. TikTok typically reviews applications within three days

Once approved, you’ll earn payments based on the duration of viewing, engagement level of your videos, and the originality of your content, calculated per 1,000 qualified views. Payouts are typically received automatically on a monthly cycle.

To learn more about how rewards are calculated for each piece of content, visit TikTok’s official page explaining the earning factors. Again, this will vary depending on your location.

6. Offer TikTok consulting or coaching services

If you’ve already spent time growing your TikTok account, experimenting with content formats, and figuring out what drives views and engagement, you can monetize that knowledge by offering TikTok consulting or coaching services.

You can offer paid guidance in areas such as account growth strategy, content planning, video hooks, editing techniques, posting schedules, or analytics reviews. Services can be delivered through one-on-one coaching calls, account audits, personalized content plans, or even short-term mentorship packages.

To make your services easier to sell, clearly outline what clients will receive, the expected outcomes, and for whom the service is best suited. This helps potential clients quickly understand the value and decide if it’s right for them.

For example, you could offer a beginner audit, a 30-day content roadmap, or ongoing monthly coaching.

Finding paying clients often starts with your own TikTok presence. Share educational content, growth tips, or behind-the-scenes insights to position yourself as an authority.

Beyond coaching, there’s also demand for managing TikTok accounts for others. Brands, entrepreneurs, and creators may hire you to handle content creation, posting, community engagement, or strategy execution on their behalf.

This can evolve into a recurring income stream, especially if you manage multiple accounts or offer tiered management packages.

7. Become a paid UGC creator for brands

Unlike brand partnerships, UGC (user-generated content) creation focuses on producing content for brands to use, rather than publishing sponsored posts on your own account.

The content is designed to promote products through natural, TikTok-style storytelling, subtly promoting the brand, and is typically shared on the brand’s channels or used in paid advertising.

To get started, build a small UGC portfolio using products you already own. Create sample videos, such as product demos, unboxing moments, tutorials, testimonials, or problem-solution clips.

Next, define your services clearly. Many UGC creators charge per video or offer bundled packages, such as three to five short videos at a set rate.

Pricing is usually based on deliverables and usage rights, especially if the content will be used in paid advertising.

To find clients, look for brands already active on TikTok or running ads – they constantly need fresh content. You can pitch brands directly through email or social media with your portfolio, apply through creator marketplaces, or respond to brand posts seeking creators.

When reaching out, focus on how your content can help improve engagement, conversions, or ad performance, rather than emphasizing your follower count.

8. License your TikTok videos

If one of your TikTok videos goes viral, you can earn money by licensing that content to brands or media outlets. Licensing allows third parties to legally use your video in their marketing campaigns, websites, advertisements, or news coverage, but you retain ownership of the original content.

Platforms like Jukin Media and ViralHog help connect you with brands and publishers seeking licensable videos. These platforms typically handle outreach, usage rights, and payments, so you don’t need to negotiate directly.

In some cases, brands may also contact you directly after discovering your video on TikTok.

Creators may earn anywhere from a few hundred dollars for smaller digital-only licenses to several thousand dollars if a clip is picked up by major media outlets, advertisers, or used in large campaigns.

Exceptionally viral content can earn more over time through multiple licenses, though this is less common.

Because of this volatility, Most creators treat content licensing as bonus income rather than a predictable revenue stream, since earnings depend heavily on virality and demand rather than consistent posting.

Before agreeing to any licensing deal, ensure you understand exactly how your content will be used, where it will appear, and for what duration.

Avoid granting unlimited or perpetual usage without proper compensation, and verify whether the license is exclusive or non-exclusive.

Additionally, always ensure that you own the rights to everything in the video, including music, footage, and visuals, to avoid potential copyright issues. In practice, this means:

• Use TikTok’s built-in music library or sounds that are clearly labeled as eligible for commercial use.
• Only use footage you recorded yourself, or content you have written permission to use. Avoid clips taken from movies, TV shows, or other creators unless you’ve secured rights.
• Be careful with background elements, such as music playing in public places or TV screens visible in the frame, as these can still trigger copyright claims.
• When in doubt, keep it original. Visuals, voiceovers, and edits that you entirely created are the safest option.

9. Collaborate with other TikTok creators

Collaborating with other TikTok creators in the same or complementary niches lets you expand your reach to viewers who are likely already interested in your content.

Creator collaborations can take many forms. You can co-create a short video series, participate in joint challenges, duet or stitch each other’s content, or host collaborative TikTok LIVE sessions. These formats feel natural on the platform and often perform well because they introduce fresh perspectives and dynamic interactions.

Collaborations can also lead directly to shared income opportunities. For example, creators may split earnings from affiliate promotions, co-sell digital products, jointly host paid workshops, or bundle services such as coaching or UGC creation.

Brands may also be more inclined to work with creator duos or groups that can offer broader reach and creative variety.

Beyond monetization, networking with other creators can lead to long-term partnerships, referrals, and insider knowledge about trends, tools, or brand opportunities. Over time, these relationships can become just as valuable as your follower count.

10. Build a following for cross-platform monetization

TikTok is an excellent platform for growth, but relying on a single app can limit your long-term earning potential. Many creators use TikTok as a discovery channel, then guide their audience to other platforms where engagement and monetization tend to be more stable.

To make this work, it helps to understand how each platform fits into your overall content ecosystem.

• YouTube is well-suited for in-depth, long-form content and tends to attract viewers who are willing to invest more time in learning or watching. If a TikTok video performs well, you can expand that idea into a longer YouTube video, tutorial, or story-based format that adds more context and value.
• Instagram is highly visual and popular among younger and lifestyle-focused audiences. Short TikTok clips can be repurposed as Instagram Reels, while Stories and posts can be used to share behind-the-scenes content, quick updates, or product recommendations.
• Facebook has a broader and slightly older audience compared to TikTok and Instagram. It’s well-suited for community-driven content, longer captions, and video reposts through Facebook Reels. High-performing TikTok videos often translate well here, especially when paired with direct engagement in comments or groups.

To do this efficiently, repurpose your TikTok content instead of creating everything from scratch. Adjust captions, pacing, or context slightly to match each platform’s style and audience expectations.

Finally, add clear calls to action that guide viewers to your other channels. Simple prompts, like linking your YouTube channel in your bio, or mentioning where to find more in-depth content, help turn casual viewers into long-term followers across platforms.

How to make money on other social media platforms

Expanding to other social media platforms provides additional opportunities to earn money. This way, if one platform changes its algorithm or payout structure, your income isn’t tied to it alone.

On YouTube, you can earn money through ads on your videos once you meet the eligibility requirements.

You can also enable channel memberships, where viewers pay a monthly fee for exclusive content or perks. YouTube works especially well for creating longer or more in-depth content.

Meanwhile, making money on Instagram can be done through brand partnerships, affiliate links, and subscription-based content.

If your audience trusts your recommendations, you can earn commissions by promoting products or offering exclusive content to your most engaged followers.

Additionally, you can make money on Facebook through in-stream ads on your videos, fan subscriptions, paid online events, and brand collaborations.

Facebook is particularly useful if you build an active community and regularly engage with your audience through posts, videos, or live sessions.

Each platform attracts audiences in different ways, which means you can earn money through multiple channels by repurposing a content piece to fit various platforms’ audiences.

As you grow your presence beyond TikTok, you also become more attractive to brands, since an engaged audience across platforms signals credibility and influence.

Think of your content like an ecosystem: TikTok helps people discover you, while other platforms give you more opportunities to earn consistently and build long-term income.

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