In recent years, TikTok has evolved from a trending app to a dominant platform for content creation, marketing, and personal branding. For influencers, it's more than entertainment, it's a serious income stream.

In this article, we’ll break down the main monetization methods, complete with real numbers, tips, and visuals. Whether you're a creator or just curious, here’s how influencers actually make money on TikTok in 2025.


1. TikTok Creator Fund

The Creator Fund is TikTok’s built-in way of compensating creators for their content’s reach and performance. It’s available in select countries and rewards creators based on engagement, authenticity, and views.

  • 10,000+ followers
  • 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
  • Must be over 18 and post original content
  • $0.02–$0.04 per 1,000 views
  • 1M views = $20–$40
  • Creators with frequent viral videos might earn $200–$500/month from this alone

Use case: Best as a passive bonus, not a main income source.


2. Live Gifting & TikTok Diamonds

One of the most interactive and profitable features on TikTok is live gifting. Followers can send virtual gifts during live streams, which translate into "Diamonds" and then into real money.

  • Viewers buy “Coins” via in-app purchases
  • Gifts range from $0.01 (Rose) to $500+ (Universe)
  • TikTok takes ~50% commission
  • Creators can cash out via PayPal once they earn $100+
  • Influencers with 500+ concurrent viewers can earn $50–$300 per live
  • High-engagement streamers regularly earn $1,000+ per week

Pro tip: Use pin comments, real-time shoutouts, and countdown timers to boost gift volume.


3. Brand Sponsorships

The #1 income source for established influencers is brand deals.

Companies pay creators to:

  • Showcase a product in a TikTok
  • Join challenges or branded trends
  • Act as long-term ambassadors
  • 10k followers = $100–$500
  • 100k followers = $1,000–$5,000
  • 1M+ = $10,000+ per post

Engagement rate often matters more than total followers. A smaller creator with 10%+ engagement can out-earn bigger accounts with low interaction.


4. Affiliate Marketing

This involves promoting products or services using custom links. When followers click and buy, the creator earns a commission.

  • Amazon Associates
  • ClickBank
  • Impact.com
  • ShareASale
  • Stan.store
  • Beauty creators linking makeup
  • Fitness influencers promoting supplements
  • Tech reviewers sharing product links

Even with low follower counts, affiliate income scales well with trust.


5. Selling Products or Services

Many creators launch their own:

  • Merchandise (T-shirts, mugs, phone cases)
  • Digital products (ebooks, presets, mini-courses)
  • Services (consulting, coaching, reviews)
  • Gumroad, Shopify, Ko-fi, Stan.store
  • Print-on-demand (e.g., Printful, Teespring)

Key advice: Don’t just “sell” solve a problem. This builds loyalty and long-term income.


6. TikTok Creator Marketplace (TCM)

TikTok's own platform that connects creators with verified brands. Great for creators who want serious brand deals without

cold-pitching.  

  • 100k+ followers
  • Consistent engagement
  • Must apply to join
  • Secure contracts
  • Exposure to high-budget campaigns
  • Automatic analytics tracking for clients


7. YouTube and Instagram Cross-Monetization

Smart TikTokers treat the platform as a top-of-funnel channel. They push traffic to:

  • YouTube → ad revenue
  • Instagram → brand DMs + affiliate links
  • Email newsletters → product promotion

Many mid-level creators earn 3–5x more on YouTube than TikTok, using the same video topics.


8. Music & Sound Promotions

Record labels and musicians pay creators to feature their songs in videos. This helps push trending sounds and boost Spotify streams or chart performance.

  • Mid-sized influencer: $200–$1,000 per campaign
  • Top-tier accounts: $5,000+ per viral challenge

Only works if you blend the music naturally into engaging content. Forced promotion rarely performs.


9. UGC Content Creation (No Followers Needed)

Brands are increasingly hiring regular people to create authentic videos—not for your TikTok, but for their ads.

You don’t need followers, just:

  • Camera presence
  • Natural delivery
  • Basic editing skills
  • $100–$500 per video
  • Often includes multiple revisions


Best platforms to find UGC work:

  • Billo
  • Trend.io
  • UGC Creator Hub
  • JoinBrands


10. Hosting Events, Classes, or Coaching

TikTok creators in niches like:

  • Fitness
  • Education
  • Business
  • Personal development

can monetize by offering:

  • Zoom masterclasses
  • Paid coaching
  • Community memberships

Even with 5,000 engaged followers, creators earn $500–$2,000/month from coaching or private events.

BONUS: Mistakes That Limit Monetization

Avoid these common traps:

  • Only focusing on views, not engagement
  • Ignoring email capture and cross-platform growth
  • Overpromoting low-quality products = lose trust
  • Not tracking analytics (CTR, conversions, click-through)

Consistency + trust = long-term income.


Final Thoughts

TikTok isn’t just about going viral. It’s about building influence and leveraging multiple income streams.

The most successful creators:

  • Build real community
  • Diversify income (not just one method)
  • Analyze performance
  • Create useful, relatable content consistently

Don’t aim to be the biggest aim to be valuable.