How to Make Money with TikTok: 9 Proven Methods (2026)

TikTok isn't just for viral dances anymore—it's a serious money-making platform. With nearly 2 billion active users and an algorithm that rewards engaging content over follower count, TikTok offers opportunities for creators at every level to earn real income.

The best part? You don't need millions of followers to start making money. From TikTok's built-in monetization programs to brand deals and selling your own products, there are multiple paths to income on this platform.

Here are nine proven ways to turn your TikTok presence into profit.

1. TikTok Creator Rewards Program

The Creator Rewards Program (formerly the Creativity Program Beta) is TikTok's primary way to pay creators directly for their content. Unlike the old Creator Fund, this program offers significantly higher payouts—up to 20x more.

How it works:

Create original videos at least 1 minute long
Earn based on qualified views and engagement
Get paid through RPM (Revenue Per Mille) model

Requirements:

18+ years old
10,000+ followers
100,000+ video views in the last 30 days
Account in good standing
Based in a supported country (US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico)

What you can earn:

Average RPM: $0.40-$1.00 per 1,000 qualified views
Top performers in lucrative niches: $2.50-$6.00 per 1,000 views
1 million views = approximately $400-$1,000 (vs. $20-$40 under the old Creator Fund)

2025 update: TikTok introduced "Additional Rewards" for videos that are especially well-crafted, engaging, and specialized—giving bonus payouts for premium content.

Pro tip: Focus on watch time and retention. TikTok rewards videos that keep viewers watching to the end, not just videos that get views.

2. TikTok Shop Affiliate Marketing

TikTok Shop Affiliate is one of the fastest-growing ways to earn on TikTok. You promote products from TikTok Shop and earn commission on every sale—without handling inventory or shipping.

How it works:

Browse products in TikTok Shop's affiliate marketplace
Add products to your videos or livestreams
Earn commission (typically 5-30%) when viewers purchase

Why it's powerful:

78% of TikTok users have purchased products after seeing creator recommendations
TikTok's in-app checkout means frictionless purchasing
Affiliate links on TikTok have 160% higher engagement than Instagram

What you can earn:

Beginners: $280+ monthly
Mid-tier affiliates: $2,000-$24,000 monthly
Top performers: $30,000+ daily (rare, but documented)
Average commission rate: 13% (varies by category)

Best niches for TikTok Shop affiliate:

Beauty and skincare
Fashion and accessories
Home and kitchen gadgets
Tech accessories
Health and wellness

Pro tip: Live selling converts 2-3x better than pre-recorded videos. Top affiliates dedicate 5-10 hours weekly to livestreams where they demo products in real-time.

3. Brand Partnerships and Sponsored Content

As your following grows, brands will pay you to create content featuring their products. This remains one of the most lucrative ways to monetize TikTok—and you don't need millions of followers.

How it works:

Brands pay you directly to create videos featuring their products
You maintain creative control while promoting their message
Payments are negotiated per post or per campaign

Where to find brand deals:

TikTok Creator Marketplace (TikTok One) - TikTok's official platform connecting brands with creators
Influencer platforms - AspireIQ, Grin, Creator.co, Shopify Collabs
Direct outreach - Pitch brands that align with your content
Inbound requests - Brands reach out as your following grows

What you can earn:

Micro-influencers (10K-50K followers): $100-$500 per post
Mid-tier creators (50K-500K followers): $500-$5,000 per post
Large creators (500K-1M followers): $5,000-$10,000 per post
Top influencers (1M+ followers): $10,000-$100,000+ per post

Key stat: 66% of brands plan to repurpose micro-influencer content as TikTok Spark Ads, making smaller creators increasingly valuable.

Pro tip: Don't wait for brands to find you. Create a media kit showcasing your engagement metrics, audience demographics, and past collaborations—then actively pitch brands in your niche.

4. Sell Products Through TikTok Shop

If you have your own products (physical or digital), TikTok Shop lets you sell directly within the app. Viewers can purchase without ever leaving TikTok, making the path from discovery to checkout seamless.

How it works:

Set up a TikTok Shop seller account
List your products with images, descriptions, and pricing
Create shoppable videos and livestreams
Viewers buy directly in the app

What you can sell:

Physical products (apparel, accessories, beauty, home goods)
Handmade and artisan items
Print-on-demand merchandise
Dropshipped products

Why TikTok Shop works:

3 in 4 TikTok users consider buying products they see on the platform
83% say TikTok influences their purchasing decisions
TikTok Shop generated $5.8 billion GMV in H1 2025 alone

Success story: Soo Slick generated over $1 million in creator affiliate sales with $50,000 from a single video.

Pro tip: Combine TikTok Shop with live selling. Top sellers report significantly higher conversion rates during livestreams compared to static product posts.

5. LIVE Gifts and Subscriptions

TikTok LIVE lets you earn money directly from viewers through virtual gifts and subscriptions. It's one of the most accessible monetization methods, requiring only 1,000 followers to start.

How LIVE Gifts work:

Go live and engage with your audience
Viewers send virtual gifts (purchased with TikTok coins)
Gifts convert to Diamonds, which you cash out

Requirements:

1,000+ followers
18+ years old
Account in good standing

What you can earn:

Diamonds are worth approximately $0.005 each (1,000 Diamonds ≈ $5)
Casual streamers: $50-$500 monthly
Consistent streamers: $1,000-$5,000 monthly
Top performers: $10,000+ monthly
Record session: $2.1 million in 14 hours (extreme outlier)

LIVE Subscriptions: TikTok also offers LIVE Subscriptions (similar to Twitch), where fans pay monthly for exclusive access and perks.

Pro tip: Consistency matters more than individual session performance. Regular streamers build dedicated audiences who return for scheduled sessions, creating predictable revenue.

6. TikTok Series (Paid Content)

TikTok Series lets you create exclusive, premium content that lives behind a paywall. It's ideal for educational content, tutorials, or in-depth storytelling.

How it works:

Create a collection of videos (up to 80 videos, each up to 20 minutes)
Set your price ($0.99 to $189.99)
Viewers pay once to access the entire series

Requirements:

10,000+ followers (or proof of selling premium content elsewhere)
18+ years old
Good account standing

Best content for TikTok Series:

Online courses and tutorials
Behind-the-scenes content
Exclusive entertainment
In-depth educational content
Fitness programs

Pro tip: Tease your Series content with free videos on your main feed. Give enough value to build trust, then direct interested viewers to your paid content.

7. Drive Traffic to External Revenue Sources

TikTok is an incredible traffic driver. Even if you can't monetize directly on TikTok, you can funnel viewers to platforms where you're already earning money.

Where to drive traffic:

Monetized YouTube channel:

Create TikToks that tease your YouTube content
Build an audience that follows you across platforms
Earn from YouTube ads, memberships, and Super Chats

Blog with display ads:

Use TikTok to drive traffic to your blog
Monetize with Mediavine, AdThrive, or Raptive
A single viral TikTok can send thousands of visitors

Email list:

Offer lead magnets (free guides, templates, checklists)
Build an email list you own
Sell products or services to your subscribers

Podcast:

Promote episodes with short clips on TikTok
Monetize through sponsorships and ads

Pro tip: TikTok content has a longer lifespan than other platforms. A video can go viral weeks or months after posting, continuously driving traffic to your external platforms.

8. Sell Digital Products and Services

TikTok is an excellent platform for promoting digital products and services—especially if your content demonstrates expertise in a particular area.

Digital products to sell:

E-books and guides
Online courses
Templates (Canva, Notion, spreadsheets)
Presets (Lightroom, video editing)
Printables and planners
Stock content (photos, videos, music)

Services to sell:

Coaching and consulting
Freelance services (design, writing, video editing)
1:1 sessions or group calls
Done-for-you services

How to promote:

Create content that showcases your expertise
Use your bio link to direct followers to your products
Go live to answer questions and soft-sell
Share testimonials and results

Example: Creators who've mastered TikTok often sell courses teaching others how to grow on the platform. Meta? Yes. Profitable? Absolutely.

Pro tip: Use a link-in-bio tool (Linktree, Stan Store, Beacons) to direct followers to multiple products and services from a single link.

9. User-Generated Content (UGC) Creation

Here's a method that doesn't require any followers at all: creating User-Generated Content (UGC) for brands. You create TikTok-style videos that brands use in their own marketing—you get paid, they get authentic content.

How it works:

Brands hire you to create videos featuring their products
You film the content (usually product demos, unboxings, testimonials)
Brands use the videos for their ads and organic content
You get paid per video—often $100-$500+ each

Why brands love UGC:

Authentic content outperforms polished ads
UGC has higher engagement and conversion rates
Brands can use your content as TikTok Spark Ads

How to get started:

Build a UGC portfolio (create sample videos for products you already own)
Join UGC platforms (Billo, JoinBrands, Insense)
Pitch brands directly with your portfolio
Post on TikTok about being a UGC creator (meta, but it works)

What you can earn:

Beginners: $50-$150 per video
Experienced UGC creators: $200-$500+ per video
High-demand niches (tech, finance, beauty): $500-$1,000+ per video

Pro tip: You don't need to post UGC on your own account—brands use it on theirs. This means you can earn money without building a personal following.

Quick Comparison: TikTok Monetization Methods

Method	Requirements	Typical Earnings	Best For
Creator Rewards	10K followers, 100K views	$0.40-$1/1K views	Established creators
TikTok Shop Affiliate	1K-5K followers (varies)	5-30% commission	Product-focused creators
Brand Partnerships	Engaged audience	$100-$100K/post	Niche influencers
TikTok Shop Seller	Business account	Varies widely	Product sellers
LIVE Gifts	1K followers	$50-$10K+/month	Engaging personalities
TikTok Series	10K followers	$0.99-$189.99/series	Educators, entertainers
External Traffic	No minimum	Varies	Bloggers, YouTubers
Digital Products	No minimum	Varies	Experts, creators
UGC Creation	No followers needed	$100-$500/video	Video creators

Keys to TikTok Monetization Success

Regardless of which methods you choose, these fundamentals apply:

1. Stack multiple income streams The most successful TikTokers don't rely on one method. A typical month might include $800 from Creator Rewards, $2,000 from affiliate sales, $500 from a brand deal, and $300 from LIVE gifts.

2. Focus on quality over quantity TikTok's algorithm rewards engaging, high-retention content. One great video outperforms ten mediocre ones.

3. Pick a niche Creators who focus on specific topics build more loyal audiences—and attract brands willing to pay premium rates for access to that audience.

4. Understand the algorithm TikTok prioritizes watch time, engagement, and content relevance. Create hooks that stop scrollers, and deliver value that keeps them watching.

5. Be consistent Post regularly, go live on a schedule, and show up for your audience. Consistency builds trust and keeps you visible in the algorithm.

6. Think long-term Building sustainable income takes time. Focus on providing value, growing your audience, and diversifying your revenue streams.

Final Thoughts

TikTok has evolved from an entertainment app to a full-fledged business platform. With the Creator Rewards Program paying up to 20x more than the old Creator Fund, TikTok Shop generating billions in sales, and brands eager to partner with creators of all sizes, there's never been a better time to monetize your TikTok presence.

The key is diversification. Don't rely on a single income stream. Combine Creator Rewards with affiliate marketing. Stack brand deals with your own products. Drive traffic to platforms you control.

The creators winning in 2026 treat TikTok like a business—multiple revenue streams, consistent content, and a focus on providing value to their audience.

Ready to turn your TikTok into a money-making machine? Start with Genviral and make every video count.

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