How to Make Money on TikTok

TikTok has quickly evolved from a platform for dance trends and memes to one of the most powerful tools for online influence and monetization. With over 1 billion monthly active users globally, it’s no surprise that creators, entrepreneurs, and brands are flocking to the app to earn income. Whether you're a content creator, business owner, or just getting started, TikTok offers a variety of monetization avenues worth exploring.

Understanding how to make money on TikTok isn't limited to just viral videos. With the right strategy, niche focus, and understanding of TikTok's tools and features, creators can turn their content into multiple income streams and even earn from their phones. This guide provides a comprehensive breakdown of how to make money on TikTok, covering strategies, best practices, platform tools, and global accessibility.

TikTok monetization refers to the various ways creators can earn money through the platform, either directly through TikTok’s programs or indirectly by leveraging their content to promote products, services, or brands. With the rise of the creator economy, TikTok has introduced tools that help content creators turn their creativity into income. Understanding these tools and how they function is the first step toward building a profitable presence on the platform.

TikTok pays creators through several official and unofficial channels. The most notable of these is the Creator Rewards Program, formerly known as the Creator Fund. This program allows eligible users to earn money based on their video performance metrics. Other built-in monetization options include LIVE gifting, ad revenue sharing, and TikTok Shop.

Earnings on TikTok are calculated based on:

While the payouts may vary based on region and performance, many creators diversify their income using both TikTok's native tools and external monetization methods. If you're serious about learning how to make money on TikTok, it’s essential to explore all available options.

There are several misconceptions about earning on TikTok that discourage newcomers:

You might ask, "how much money can you make on TikTok?" Well, to successfully monetize your TikTok presence, you need to know who you're creating content for. Understanding your audience’s age, interests, and behaviors allows you to produce more engaging content and identify monetization strategies that align with their needs. A creator who tailors content to the right demographic is far more likely to achieve growth and revenue.

Understanding who your audience is can dramatically improve your monetization strategy. TikTok's primary user base consists of:

Behavioral patterns show that:

Use TikTok Analytics (available to Pro and Business accounts) to track your audience’s demographics, active hours, and video performance to guide content planning. These insights are critical when figuring out how to make money on TikTok effectively.

To effectively monetize, creators must define a niche. This includes:

Examples:

Refining content for a niche helps attract a loyal audience, leading to better engagement and more monetization options. Choosing the right niche is a key step in mastering how to make money on TikTok.

Competitive analysis helps you identify what’s working and what gaps you can fill. Here’s how:

This research enables you to tailor your approach and potentially outperform competitors by offering unique, high-value content.

There’s no single way to make money online and on TikTok—in fact, the most successful creators usually combine multiple revenue streams. TikTok has developed a robust set of monetization tools, and many creators also incorporate external platforms to diversify their income. Whether you're building your personal brand, launching a product line, or growing a business, understanding your monetization options is crucial to long-term success.

TikTok's Creator Rewards Program pays users for video performance. To qualify, you must:

Once accepted, you’ll receive payouts based on video metrics like reach, watch time, and engagement. Payouts are typically modest but grow with account influence. Understanding this program is crucial for anyone learning how to make money on TikTok.

Selling merchandise is one of the most effective and accessible ways to monetize your TikTok presence, especially if you have a loyal and engaged following. Whether you’re an artist, influencer, coach, or niche content creator, offering custom products can help solidify your brand and generate consistent revenue.

You don’t need to manage inventory or invest upfront to start selling merchandise. Print-on-demand services like Printful, Teespring, Redbubble, and Merchbar allow you to design and sell products with zero inventory risk. These platforms handle everything from production to shipping, letting you focus on marketing.

Here’s how to launch your merch line:

If available in your region, TikTok Shop is a game-changer. It allows creators to tag products directly in their videos or LIVE streams, making shopping seamless for viewers. Integration with your product catalog enables in-app purchases, which can significantly increase conversion rates.

Selling merchandise not only helps you make money on TikTok but also turns your followers into brand advocates. As your audience grows, so does the potential of your merch store.

Affiliate marketing and brand partnerships are among the most lucrative and scalable ways to make money on TikTok, especially for creators who have built a loyal following or operate within a defined niche. These monetization strategies allow creators to either promote products in exchange for a commission or collaborate directly with brands for sponsored content.

Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services and earning a commission for every sale generated through your unique affiliate link. Here's how creators can leverage affiliate marketing effectively:

Successful affiliate marketers on TikTok often generate significant passive income by consistently driving traffic and encouraging purchases through trustworthy and value-driven content.

To maximize earnings and build long-term relationships:

Combining affiliate marketing with brand deals allows you to diversify income and scale your earnings as your account grows. When executed correctly, these strategies not only generate revenue but also enhance your credibility and value as a content creator.

TikTok Shop is a built-in eCommerce platform that allows creators and businesses to promote and sell products directly within the TikTok ecosystem. This feature transforms TikTok from a content platform into a complete sales channel, offering a seamless shopping experience for users.

To get started:

Once your shop is set up, you can tag products directly in your video content and LIVE streams, allowing viewers to click and purchase without leaving the app.

TikTok Shop is a must-use feature for those serious about learning how to make money on TikTok through product-based monetization.

In-Feed Ads are promotional videos that appear in users’ For You feeds and resemble regular TikTok content. These ads can be self-managed through TikTok Ads Manager or coordinated via brand partnerships.

This strategy is especially effective for creators with a polished style and a history of producing content that resonates with broad audiences.

Crowdfunding enables creators to receive direct financial support from their fans. TikTok content can be a powerful driver for campaigns on platforms such as:

Crowdfunding is ideal for creators working on passion projects, such as independent films, new product launches, or charitable causes.

TikTok Series and other external subscription platforms allow creators to package premium content for their most loyal fans.

Subscriptions work best when creators:

This strategy is particularly effective for educators, coaches, or creators offering specialized knowledge.

Growing and selling TikTok accounts has become a business model in itself. These accounts, built around a specific niche or theme, are attractive to:

Accounts with organic followers and high engagement are more valuable and can fetch higher prices.

Offering personalized shout-outs and services is a creative and engaging way to monetize your TikTok presence. This strategy involves recording custom videos for fans or clients, delivering messages that are tailored to specific occasions, needs, or requests. It's an ideal revenue stream for creators with strong personal brands, a loyal follower base, or a niche that supports one-on-one engagement.

Personalized services offer a win-win scenario: followers get memorable interactions, and you get paid for leveraging your brand in a direct, scalable way. As you learn how to make money on TikTok, don’t underestimate the power of a well-delivered message.

TikTok and third-party apps occasionally offer referral bonuses. These typically reward users for:

Track referral bonuses using affiliate dashboards or TikTok’s own analytics.

TikTok Pulse enables creators to share ad revenue by featuring their content alongside top-performing ads in premium categories.

To be eligible:

Pulse provides a more traditional advertising revenue stream similar to YouTube’s AdSense.

Leverage your expertise by creating:

Promote them through:

Use TikTok as a traffic engine to funnel viewers to:

Create teasers and guide viewers with CTAs (calls to action).

Brands pay creators to:

This boosts brand visibility while paying creators for influence and creativity.

Creating content that resonates with viewers is essential to growing your TikTok following and increasing monetization potential. While trends and formats evolve quickly, certain foundational practices remain consistent. From authenticity and originality to smart use of the algorithm, following best practices will help you stand out and succeed.

Unique content builds trust. Avoid copying formats blindly. Instead:

To catch early trends:

Customize trends to fit your niche. Don’t just copy—reinterpret.

Engagement drives reach and loyalty. Try:

To boost visibility:

Most profitable niches (based on CPM and demand):

Combine passion, expertise, and demand to build a profitable niche.

TikTok’s monetization features are expanding rapidly, but they are not yet available everywhere. The availability of monetization tools like the Creator Rewards Program, TikTok Shop, TikTok LIVE Gifts, and TikTok Pulse depends largely on your geographic region. For creators looking to understand how to make money on TikTok, it's essential to know which tools are accessible in your country and what alternatives exist if they aren't.

The Creator Rewards Program (formerly Creator Fund) is currently available in select countries, including:

TikTok continues to expand this program to new regions, but rollout is gradual. If you're outside of these countries, you won't be eligible to receive payouts directly from TikTok through this program—yet.

TikTok Shop is another powerful monetization tool that enables in-app product sales and affiliate commissions. It is currently available in regions such as:

For creators in these countries, TikTok Shop allows seamless product discovery, in-video tagging, and affiliate earning, making it a key tool for those exploring how to make money on TikTok through eCommerce.

TikTok LIVE gifting is more broadly available across regions, though payment redemption rules and thresholds vary. TikTok Pulse—TikTok’s premium ad revenue-sharing program—is more limited and typically available only in larger markets with high-performing creators and advertisers.

Creators outside supported regions can still earn income on TikTok through external monetization strategies. These include:

For creators looking for an additional way to earn outside of TikTok's ecosystem—especially those in countries where TikTok monetization features are limited—Honeygain offers a globally accessible solution. Honeygain is a passive income app that allows users to share unused internet bandwidth in exchange for payouts. It's a simple great way to earn money from your laptop.

Key benefits:

While it won’t replace a full income, Honeygain is a helpful supplementary tool for creators eager to diversify how they make money, particularly in regions where TikTok monetization isn’t yet fully supported.

To earn money on TikTok, you must ensure your content complies with the platform’s rules. TikTok enforces guidelines to protect users and maintain a healthy content environment, and violations can lead to reduced visibility, demonetization, or even bans. Understanding these policies is key to building a sustainable creator business.

Review TikTok’s:

Key rules:

Tips:

Use TikTok’s music library or:

Avoid using unauthorized audio or clips, which can lead to muted videos or bans.

TikTok has become a powerful income-generating platform. Whether you're selling products, teaching skills, or building a brand, the opportunities are vast and it's definitely a great way to make money from home. By understanding your audience, selecting a monetizable niche, and leveraging platform tools, you can turn creativity into income.

Success won’t come overnight—but with consistency, authenticity, and strategic planning, TikTok can become a rewarding revenue stream.

Through Creator Programs, TikTok LIVE gifts, brand sponsorships, affiliate sales, and TikTok Shop.

100,000 video views in the past 30 days to qualify for Creator Rewards.

You need 10,000+ followers, 100K views in 30 days, be 18+, and follow guidelines.

Yes—use voiceovers, animations, or screen recordings to build faceless content brands.

No, but business accounts offer better analytics and marketing tools for monetization.