TikTok is a global sensation of a social media app with over 2 billion downloads and more than 1.5 billion active users worldwide.
And while it has a reputation for being the platform for dance videos and trends, it’s also an ecommerce powerhouse.
You don’t even have to be a megabrand or famous influencer with millions of video views to turn TikTok into a revenue stream. All you need is a core group of loyal followers, high-quality content, and a bit of elbow grease.
This guide will help you learn ways to monetize TikTok so you can tap into a reach that rivals that of monetizing YouTube or Instagram.
From in-app revenue programs to shoppable content and audience-driven income streams, TikTok offers multiple ways to turn views into dollars.
Ready to harness the power of a TikTok account?
Let’s get started.
What is TikTok Monetization?
TikTok monetization refers to the various ways businesses and creators can earn money through their presence and content on TikTok.
There are two main ways to earn money from TikTok:
- Direct payments from TikTok’s own programs, like Pulse and the Creator Rewards Program
- Revenue sources from outside TikTok—brand deals, product sales, and affiliate marketing
Each path to revenue comes with its own rules and requirements, which we’ll cover later in this piece.
But first, let’s talk about why TikTok is a viable source of income for motivated businesses and creators.
The first component here is TikTok’s massive reach. The all-powerful TikTok algorithm matches people to exactly the type of content they love to see, at scale.
Basically, there’s an enormous audience on TikTok just waiting to be served your business’s content.
Second, there’s the opportunity to make money from multiple revenue streams.
Third, TikTok is a place where niche content absolutely thrives. From gummy bears singing Adele songs to creators applying makeup to fruit, nothing’s really out of the question here.
There’s a target audience—a community—for everything.
And finally, TikTok has dived headfirst into expanding its monetization opportunities for businesses and creators. The platform now offers business and creator analytics, marketplace matchmaking events for brands and creators, and commerce features (like TikTok Shop) that make earning more accessible.
Basic Requirements for Monetization (Across Most Programs)
In this table, you’ll see the basic things you need if you want to start earning money on TikTok. Each program comes with slightly different rules, but this baseline can get you started.
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 18+ for most monetization features |
| Account Standing | Must follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service |
| Follower Thresholds | Varies by program (e.g., 1,000+ for LIVE) |
| Region-Specific Availability | Not all features are available in all countries |
| Active Content | You’ll need a consistent posting history and recent video engagement to be eligible |
An Overview of TikTok’s 5 Best Monetization Pathways
Let’s dive into the specifics of which TikTok monetization avenues are best for businesses—plus a couple that work well for creators.
Top TikTok Monetization Pathways For Businesses
If you own a business or manage a brand, you’ll want to create a TikTok Business Account and monetize using the business tools that come with it.
Here’s how.
1. TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop lets brands sell physical products from right within the TikTok app. This means customers can discover, explore, and buy products without ever leaving TikTok. Since they don’t have to navigate off the app to your website or storefront, they’re more likely to buy a product.
On the business end, TikTok handles checkout, payment processing, and order tracking.
Here’s what businesses can do with TikTok Shop:
- List products in a shoppable storefront. Upload SKUs, product images, pricing, and descriptions directly to TikTok Shop. You can then feature these products on your business profile, in videos, and in paid ads.
- Tag products in videos and LIVEs. Embed your products in your content with clickable shopping icons called product cards. This makes it easy for viewers to buy your products while they’re watching your videos and livestreams.
- Run affiliate campaigns with Creators. Invite creators to promote your products through TikTok’s affiliate portal. You can set the commission rate, and creators can browse and apply to promote your products. TikTok tracks clicks and sales for you automatically.
- Track sales performance with built-in analytics. Monitor product views, clicks, conversions, and revenue from within the TikTok Shop Seller Center. This data helps you optimize your content strategy and creator partnerships for a better return on investment.
- Fulfill orders and manage returns. Process and manage your orders through TikTok’s fulfillment program, Fulfilled by TikTok (FBT), handle fulfillment yourself, or use a third-party logistics partner.
There’s no question about it: if you sell physical products, joining TikTok Shop as a seller is the best way to monetize your TikTok presence.
Get started by signing up for a business account on TikTok.
2. Shoppable Ads
TikTok’s shoppable ads feature helps brands turn video content into sales. You can use TikTok Ads Manager to create paid ad campaigns that let users buy products directly from the ads, without leaving TikTok.
There are a few different types of shoppable ads to work with.
- Video shopping ads. These short-form videos show up in user feeds and showcase a product with a CTA button. The ad acts like a regular TikTok video, but it includes a shoppable product card that users can tap to buy the featured product. You can either link the product from TikTok Shop or an external website.
- LIVE shopping ads. These ads drive traffic to a TikTok LIVE selling event, where users can buy a product directly from within the livestream. As your team or a brand advocate talks about the product during the livestream, users can tap on them to buy it right away. LIVE shopping ads are perfect for product launches and interactive Q&A sessions with TikTok influencers.
- Dynamic Showcase Ads (DPAs). These ads are for brands that don’t use TikTok Shop. They offer personalized product recommendations to users based on what they’re interested in. The product catalog is synced with TikTok via a product feed, usually connected to your ecommerce storefront (Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce) via TikTok Pixel, a special piece of code.
With TikTok’s shoppable ads, you can get your products in front of the right eyes and drive clicks and conversions. And if you meet specific requirements, you might even qualify for TikTok Pulse, an ads placement program that puts your brand right next to the top 4% of high-performing, brand-safe content on the platform.
3. Spark Ads and Shoppable UGC
Organic user-generated content (UGC) can be a complete game-changer for brands.
When a user creates a video about your product just because they love it, and that video gets popular on TikTok, you suddenly have a prime opportunity to increase your reach—and make sales.
With TikTok Spark Ads, you can take advantage of this UGC by turning the organic video into an ad, with permission from the creator.
You can also turn your own organic brand videos into Spark Ads, but UGC has that trust factor: people trust authentic content about a product when they get it from other people.
Research suggests that UGC drives brand trust. When brands take an active role in promoting user-generated content, they have a better chance of being perceived as relatable to consumers.
With Spark Ads, you can harness the power of UGC and make it shoppable, too. See TikTok’s guide to Spark Ads for more information.
Beyond Spark Ads, consider putting user-generated videos in valuable places, like your website, product pages, or online storefront. This lets shoppers see real people using (and loving!) your product, which helps them make that decision to buy.
Putting UGC on your website brings your customer journey full circle, making the relationship between your TikTok presence and your online presence a seamless and beautiful loop.
Here at Foursixty, we can help you turn your best TikTok videos into shoppable galleries across your website, landing pages, and product pages.
All without any developer work on your end—and without causing a drop-off in conversions.
Top TikTok Monetization Pathways for Creators
If you don’t run your own business, you can still earn money on TikTok with a Creator account.
Here’s how.
4. TikTok Creator Rewards Program
TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program has replaced the previous TikTok Creator Fund. The Creator Rewards Program incentivizes creators to make engaging content that’s at least one minute long. The content must also be original (no duets or stitches) and top-notch quality with a focus on storytelling.
To qualify for the Creator Rewards Program, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old (or 19 in South Korea)
- Have at least 10,000 followers
- Accumulate 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
- Have a personal account (business, political, or government accounts are ineligible)
- Post original TikTok content that is at least one minute long
- Make sure your account information is authentic, including your real name and date of birth
- Follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service
Creators can earn between $0.40 to $1.00 per 1,000 views, which is a big increase compared to the now-defunct Creator Fund’s rates. Longer videos, as well as those with lots of engagement, are more likely to earn on the higher end of that scale.
Videos must also meet these eligibility requirements:
- Be original and produced entirely by the creator
- Be at least one minute long
- Have at least 1,000 qualified views (where the viewer watches for at least five seconds and doesn’t mark the content as “not interested”)
- Not be Duet, Stitch, or Photo Mode videos
- Have zero ads, paid promotions, or sponsored content
Check out TikTok’s guide to the Creator Rewards Program for a full breakdown of how to get started.
5. Affiliate Marketing on TikTok
Affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to start earning money on TikTok, especially when you don’t have tens of thousands of followers quite yet. You can either join third-party affiliate programs like Impact or ShareASale/Awin, or join TikTok Shop—which is what we recommend doing.
The concept is simple:
- Sign up for an affiliate program, whether that’s third-party (Impact) or native (TikTok Shop)
- Get a link or code for each product you want to promote
- Make shoppable videos on TikTok, like unboxings, demos, or reviews
- Share the code or link in your TikTok bio (organized using Linktree or Koji) for third-party affiliate programs, OR
- Promote it with TikTok Shop integrations on your videos if you use TikTok Shop
- When viewers click and make a purchase, you earn a commission
To join the TikTok Shop Affiliate Program for Creators, you must meet these minimum qualifications:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have at least 5,000 TikTok followers
- Maintain an account in good standing (no recent community violations)
- Be actively posting and engaging with your audience
When brands and TikTokkers work together, everyone on the app benefits.
6. TikTok Series
TikTok Series lets content creators (and businesses) sell exclusive collections of videos behind a paywall. Each series can have up to 80 videos of up to 20 minutes each. You set the price (from $0.99 to $189.99), and users can purchase access from directly in the app.
Series is ideal for creators to offer tutorials and courses from right within the app. For businesses, behind-the-scenes content or premium experiences—like product development insights or early access drops—can help strengthen customer loyalty while also creating a new revenue stream.
Here’s how to get started with Series.
Start Monetizing TikTok with UGC and Foursixty
Ready to start featuring real TikTok videos from creators and customers directly on your product pages? With Foursixty, you can turn authentic UGC into fully shoppable galleries that convert — no code, no friction, just social proof that sells.
Start your free 14-day trial today to elevate your digital marketing strategy with TikTok and Foursixty.
FAQs
How much does TikTok pay per 1,000 views?
While it’s not a huge amount on its own, smart creators stack other revenue streams to grow their earnings — especially with formats like shoppable content.
Popular ways creators boost their revenue include:
- Earning virtual gifts through TikTok LIVE
- Sharing affiliate links (e.g., to Amazon) and adding them to their TikTok bio
- Partnering with brands for sponsorships or paid campaigns
- Embedding viral videos on their brand website via a shoppable content platform
Creators and brands who add shoppable content to their website often see a better ROI on shoppable content by capturing high-intent visitors and converting social proof into purchases.
How do you monetize on TikTok?
Whether you’re a creator or a business, there are a variety of monetization options available on TikTok. The best results often come from using several together.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Creator Rewards Program: Earn from qualifying long-form videos.
- TikTok Creator Marketplace: Connect with brands for paid partnerships and sponsored posts.
- Affiliate Marketing: Promote products and add a link to your TikTok bio to earn commissions.
- TikTok Shop: Sell your own products or feature others’ items in shoppable videos.
- LIVE Gifts: Get tipped with virtual gifts during livestreams.
- Exclusive Content: Monetize with TikTok Series for gated, premium content.
- Shoppable Ads: Run paid media that links directly to products and drives conversions.
How many followers do you need to monetize on TikTok?
Your follower count influences what monetization tools you can access:
- You need 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in 30 days to join the Creator Rewards Program.
- 1,000 followers unlocks TikTok LIVE and the ability to earn virtual gifts.
- 5,000 followers is typically required to become a TikTok Shop Affiliate.
- 10,000 to 50,000 followers is ideal for accessing the Creator Marketplace, but high engagement often matters more than size.
- For brand sponsorships, smaller creators with niche influence and loyal followers can still land deals.
Regardless of follower count, every creator should use a tool like Linktree or Koji to add a link to their TikTok bio, directing traffic to affiliate products or landing pages.
Does TikTok pay more than Instagram?
It depends on how you’re monetizing. Instagram offers some structured bonuses (like Reels Play), but its reach is more limited. TikTok tends to offer higher discoverability and stronger engagement.
