How to Make Money on TikTok in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide

Making money on TikTok in 2025 has become more accessible and lucrative than ever before. With multiple revenue streams available and significantly improved earning potential, creators at all levels can monetize their content. The platform has transitioned from a pure entertainment app to a comprehensive creator economy ecosystem, offering diverse ways to generate income through video creation, e-commerce, and audience engagement.

The Evolution of TikTok Monetization in 2025

TikTok fundamentally restructured its monetization model in 2025 with major changes that signal the platform's evolution toward professionalization. The Creator Fund was completely replaced by the Creator Rewards Program, which offers dramatically higher earning potential. The shift prioritizes quality over quantity, requiring creators to focus on original, longer-form content rather than viral entertainment.​

Revenue per thousand views (RPM) increased dramatically from $0.02-$0.04 to $0.40-$1.00 per 1,000 qualified views—a 20-fold increase compared to previous rates. This represents the most significant transformation in the platform's creator economy, making it genuinely viable for creators to build sustainable income.​

Monetization Requirement Changes for 2025

To participate in TikTok's monetization programs, you must meet specific eligibility requirements that have become stricter but more rewarding:

Creator Rewards Program Requirements: You need at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, be 18 years or older, have a personal account (not business), and create original videos longer than 1 minute. The program operates in a limited number of countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, and Brazil.​

Important Note: Business accounts cannot participate in the Creator Rewards Program—you must use a personal account. Additionally, Duets, Stitches, and Photo Mode content are no longer monetizable under the main program. VPN usage is prohibited and detected, with account suspension risk for attempting to bypass geographic restrictions.​

The 13 Best Ways to Make Money on TikTok in 2025

1. Join the Creator Rewards Program

The Creator Rewards Program remains the most accessible monetization option for creators who meet the threshold requirements. Unlike the previous Creator Fund, the new program rewards originality and audience engagement rather than pure view counts.

Earnings Potential: Creators can earn between $0.40-$1.00 per 1,000 views, making it significantly more profitable than before. Calculations suggest that a video receiving 100,000 views could generate $40-$100 in earnings, though actual payouts depend on engagement metrics, content category, and viewer location.​

Optimization Tips: Focus on creating engaging content with high completion rates, use relevant keywords and hashtags, and maintain consistent upload schedules. TikTok's algorithm prioritizes videos with strong engagement depth, so encourage viewers to watch until the end, comment, and share.

2. Go Live for Virtual Gifts

Livestreaming is one of the most immediate ways to earn money on TikTok. When you go live, followers can send you virtual gifts that convert into real money.​

How It Works: Viewers purchase coins using real money and send gifts during your livestreams. TikTok takes a 50% commission, leaving creators with approximately $0.005 per Diamond after conversion. Each coin purchased by viewers costs approximately $0.013-$0.015 USD.​

Earnings Reality: A 100-coin gift worth roughly $1.30 to the viewer translates to $0.65 in creator earnings after TikTok's commission. Most creators need 5,000-10,000 followers and consistent engagement to generate meaningful income through gifts.​

Income Breakdown by Streaming Hours:​

• 5-7 hours weekly: $20-40 per week

• 10-12 hours weekly: $60-80 per week

• 15-20 hours daily: $100-150 per week

• 25+ hours weekly: $200+ per week

Practical Strategy: Streaming during peak hours in high-spending regions significantly increases gift activity. Interactive content like fitness sessions, Q&A formats, gaming streams, and dance challenges generate higher gift volumes because they create direct engagement opportunities.​

3. Open a TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop represents one of the highest-earning monetization methods, allowing creators to sell products directly within the app without redirecting viewers elsewhere.​

How It Works: You can tag products in your videos and livestreams with clickable shopping icons. Viewers purchase directly without leaving the app, dramatically reducing friction and increasing conversion rates. You can sell your own products or promote items as an affiliate.​

Commission Structure: TikTok Shop commission rates vary by product category:​

• Beauty and skincare: 10-20% (highest rates)

• Fashion and apparel: 5-15%

• Health and fitness: 7-15%

• Electronics: ~8%

• Jewelry: 5% (plus lower platform fees)

Creators can set affiliate commission rates anywhere from 1% up to 80% depending on their strategy. Smart sellers often set different rates for organic clicks versus paid advertising to maximize ROI.

Earnings Potential: High-performing TikTok Shop creators earn between $10,000 to $44,000 monthly, dramatically exceeding other platform monetization options. A single viral video can generate $3,000-$27,000 in earnings, with exceptional cases reaching $100,000+ in sales.​

Platform Fees: Beyond commission rates, sellers face additional costs including a 6% referral fee (5% for jewelry), a 2.18% transaction fee, and $0.30 payment processing per order. Real-world profit margins after all fees typically range from 15-25% for well-optimized operations.​

4. Partner with Brands Through Creator Marketplace

The TikTok Creator Marketplace connects creators with brands seeking sponsored content partnerships. This method often generates significantly higher revenue than other monetization options.

Sponsorship Rates by Creator Tier:​

• Nano influencers (under 10K followers): $100-$500 per campaign

• Micro influencers (10K-100K): $500-$2,000 per campaign

• Macro influencers (100K-500K): $2,000-$20,000 per campaign

• Celebrity influencers (1M+): $20,000-$200,000+ per campaign

Mid-tier specifics: Influencers with 50,000-500,000 followers typically charge $2,000-$10,000 per brand partnership, with established creators commanding the higher end.​

Success Factors: Build a strong niche following in specific industries, stay true to your authentic voice, and only partner with brands aligned with your values. Always disclose sponsored content to maintain audience trust. Creators with engaged audiences often negotiate better rates than those with passive followers.

5. Promote Products Through Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the easiest monetization methods to start, requiring minimal follower count compared to other options.​

Two Approaches:

• TikTok Shop Affiliate Program (Recommended): Browse TikTok Shop products, contact sellers, and earn commissions on sales through your unique links

• Third-party Programs: Join external affiliate programs (Amazon Associates, ShareASale, Impact) and share links in your TikTok bio using link management tools like Linktree or Stan Store​

Earnings Strategy: Create shoppable videos featuring unboxings, product demos, and honest reviews. Since you don't need a massive following, nano-creators with 1K-10K followers can earn $250-$1,000 monthly from affiliate commissions.

6. Offer Exclusive Content with TikTok Series

TikTok Series allows creators to package premium content behind a paywall, creating subscription revenue streams.​

Content Structure: You can include up to 80 videos per series, with each video supporting up to 20 minutes of content. Include one free intro video to entice viewers, then gate the remaining content.​

Pricing Flexibility: Creators can charge between $0.99 and $189.99 per series subscription. This pricing range accommodates various content types and audience expectations.​

Best For: Educational content, episodic narratives, mini-documentaries, niche expertise tutorials, cooking classes, workout challenges, and professional training programs.​

7. Collect Tips and Donations

Beyond livestream gifts, TikTok offers direct tipping mechanisms for ongoing viewer support.​

Options Available:

• TikTok Tips: Viewers can tip creators directly during livestreams and on individual videos

• Tipeee: A third-party platform where fans directly "tip" any amount whenever they want (no subscriptions required)

• Buy Me a Coffee: Followers purchase "coffees" ($1 payments) transferred via PayPal or online banking

This method works best when you build a deeply engaged community that values your content and wants to support your work directly.

8. Sell Digital Products and Services

Leverage your TikTok audience to sell digital offerings directly through link management tools.​

Platform Options: Use Metricool's SmartLinks, Linktree, Stan Store, or similar services to create customizable landing pages. These tools allow you to track which links get the most clicks and optimize based on audience behavior.​

Content Types: Online courses, e-books, digital downloads, coaching services, consulting, templates, design assets, and membership programs work well with this approach.​

9. Create Shoppable Ads and Spark Ads

Brands can transform both organic and user-generated content into paid advertising, creating additional revenue opportunities.​

Spark Ads: TikTok can take your organic videos and turn them into ads with your permission. When a brand uses your authentic content as an ad, you earn compensation.​

UGC Advantage: User-generated content carries trust factors that branded content doesn't have. When viewers see real people recommending products, they're more likely to purchase.​

10. Resell and Grow TikTok Accounts

A less conventional but potentially lucrative method involves growing niche accounts and selling them to businesses or influencers seeking established audiences.​

Strategy: Build an account in a popular niche with consistent content and strong engagement, then sell it to businesses or influencers looking for a head start. Platforms like account marketplaces facilitate these transactions.​

11. Offer Personalized Shout-outs

Promote a Cameo account or offer shout-outs directly during livestreams in exchange for virtual gifts or direct payments.​

Mechanics: Encourage viewers to submit requests for personalized messages with a recommended reward per shout-out. This works particularly well if you have a recognizable personality or unique voice.

12. Monetize Through Music Partnerships

TikTok's music promotion features offer another income stream for creators.​

TikTok Work with Artists: Artists set up campaigns with specific requirements. You create videos meeting those requirements and use the artist's music. Your payout is directly tied to how many likes your videos receive.​

Alternative Platforms: Arrange music partnerships through platforms like Submithub, Songfluencer, and Zebr to connect with artists seeking promotion.

13. Refer New TikTok Users

All active TikTok users meeting age requirements can refer new users to the app and earn TikTok Rewards—virtual points that convert into small amounts of cash.​

How It Works: Persuade people to join TikTok, interact with videos, and create content. Rewards conversion rates depend on your location. Withdrawals are possible to bank accounts or PayPal.​

Building a Sustainable TikTok Income Strategy

Focus on Quality Over Quantity: The 2025 changes reward original, longer-form content with strong engagement. Abandon the temptation to chase pure view counts; instead, prioritize content completion rates and audience interaction.​

Stack Multiple Revenue Streams: Don't rely on a single monetization method. Combine Creator Rewards Program earnings with livestream gifts, affiliate commissions, and brand partnerships to create diversified income.​

Choose Your Niche Strategically: Certain niches command higher brand partnership rates and customer spending. Tech, health, finance, beauty, and lifestyle categories attract premium advertising budgets and high-intent buyers.​

Build Authentic Audience Connection: Engagement metrics matter more than follower count. A smaller audience with strong loyalty generates more gift revenue and sponsorship opportunities than larger passive audiences.​

Invest in Content Quality: High-quality production, editing, and storytelling increase engagement metrics and viewer investment in your content. This translates to higher earnings across all monetization channels.​

Key Takeaways for 2025 TikTok Monetization

The monetization landscape has shifted dramatically in 2025. TikTok now offers creators genuine income potential through multiple channels, making it realistic to build sustainable income from the platform. Whether you're focusing on the Creator Rewards Program's improved payouts, leveraging TikTok Shop's e-commerce integration, or building brand partnerships, the key lies in understanding your strengths and strategically stacking monetization methods.

Success requires consistency, authentic engagement with your audience, and adaptability as the platform continues to evolve. Start with the methods best suited to your current follower count and niche, then expand into additional revenue streams as you grow. With proper execution, TikTok can transition from a time-consuming hobby into a meaningful income source in 2025 and beyond.