TikTok is a fast-growing, established social network, and for many, it’s only synonymous with endless entertainment. But for creators, it has become a real source of income.

Do you want to learn how to make money on TikTok?

In this article, you’ll discover how to turn your TikTok account into a profitable channel. We’ll start with the official monetization methods, but we’ll also bring you some external strategies that content creators often use.

How to Make Money on TikTok in 2025: Ways to Generate Income with Your Account

Can You Really Make Money on TikTok?

Yes—and there are more and more ways to monetize on this social network. So, if you thought all you needed was a large number of followers for TikTok to pay you, you’re mistaken.

Of course, audience size is still a key factor on TikTok. But today, the real key lies in how you leverage your content and your connection with your community. Not just through official programs, but also via external paths that have opened up to generate creative income.

How to Make Money on TikTok: Options in 2025

Nowadays, there are multiple ways to make money on TikTok without being famous. And the opportunities are varied. Here’s the breakdown:

1. Creator Rewards Program

2. Brand Collaborations.

3. Gifts and Live Diamonds.

4. Affiliate Marketing.

5. TikTok Shop.

6. Selling your own products or services

Now let’s dive into the details of each method.

1. Creator Rewards Program

The Creator Rewards Program is TikTok’s official monetization system, which follows the logic of the old Creator Fund. Since its launch in March 2024, it has focused on original videos of at least one minute.

The Creator Rewards Program essentially works by rewarding creators based on the performance of their content. 

Eligibility requirements include:

• Being at least 18 years old.

• Having at least 10,000 followers.

• Reaching 100,000 views in the last 30 days.

• Posting original content with a minimum duration of 1 minute.

• Having a personal-use account.

• Complying with TikTok’s guidelines.

Pros

• If you achieve strong retention, payments are higher and more consistent.

• Provides metrics and estimated earnings inside TikTok Studio.

• Promises more attractive payments for creators with strong audience retention.

Cons

• Limited to a few countries (US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, South Korea, and Brazil).

• Payments remain variable depending on performance.

2. Brand Collaborations

Collaborations are one of the best-known ways to monetize TikTok among influencers. They can happen directly or through sponsorships, where you’re paid to promote a product or service in your videos.

Formats range from creative presentations to challenges or reviews. What matters is aligning the brand’s identity with your style. Additionally, TikTok has a Creator Marketplace, designed to connect you with brands interested in specific campaigns.

This model is usually profitable—but you need a segmented and active audience.

3. Gifts and Live Diamonds

TikTok live gifts are another popular income source—especially if you stream frequently and build close engagement with your audience.

These are virtual gifts that followers send during livestreams after purchasing coins with real money. Each gift translates into diamonds, which can then be exchanged for money or virtual perks.

The more gifts you receive, the more diamonds you accumulate—and the bigger your reward. However, not all content is eligible.

Excluded are:

• Duets.

• Stitches.

• Ads.

• Sponsored posts.

This system especially benefits creators with an active, engaged community.

4. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a typical strategy to make money on TikTok without being famous. The process involves recommending products and driving sales through a link, for which you earn a commission.

The key is to choose products that resonate with your followers—whether by affinity, need, or trend. It’s equally important to present them naturally, since each purchase made through your link turns into income.

TikTok Affiliates can be a very accessible option if you don’t have a huge audience.

5. TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop is an integrated e-commerce feature that allows you to sell products. It’s an attractive option recently launched in Mexico and Brazil, and you can use it in two ways to make money:

1. Promoting third-party items and earning affiliate commissions.

2. Selling your own products.

In both cases, you’ll need to set up a bank account for sales and payments. It’s also wise to use apps for international transfers to receive money from abroad.

6. Selling Your Own Products or Services

Many content creators use TikTok to generate income without depending on third parties. It’s very common to see videos of people selling:

• Books.

• Clothing and accessories.

• Digital courses.

• Training programs.

• Personalized products.

• Consulting and advisory sessions.

If you work as a freelancer or run an online store, don’t miss the opportunity to promote your own products or services. You can do this by:

• Integrating your e-commerce with TikTok Shop.

• Adding a profile link that redirects followers.

• Connecting your Shopify store with TikTok.

It all depends on your ability to build trust and convert followers into customers.

Other Ways to Monetize Outside of TikTok

The 6 options mentioned aren’t the only ways to monetize TikTok, although they are the most common. Some people use this channel as a springboard, as a starting point to generate income on other platforms.

How to Make Money on TikTok Without Staying Within the Platform?

Repurposing Videos on YouTube Shorts or Facebook Reels

Today, it’s possible to repost content from TikTok to YouTube Shorts or Facebook Reels. In other words, you create content for one video and increase its exposure across different channels to generate earnings.

Using TikTok as a Traffic Engine

You can also drive traffic to a blog or a monetized newsletter. But keep in mind that the most stable opportunities come from advertising, memberships, or sponsorships.

In both cases, TikTok works as a magnet for audiences.

Creator Fund vs. Creator Rewards Program

Practical Tips to Maximize Your TikTok Income

Apart from knowing how to make money on TikTok, you need a strategy that actually works to boost your results.

Here are some tips to consider:

• Pick a specific niche. A profile focused on a clear niche attracts a more engaged community, more receptive to what you recommend or sell, increasing monetization chances.

• Be consistent and steady. Posting regularly not only keeps your followers engaged and builds trust, it also helps the algorithm show your videos more often and expand reach.

• Join challenges or viral formats. Following trends can give you extra visibility, as long as you adapt them to your own style.

• Adjust strategy based on results. It’s important to know what’s working best—what videos bring more views, interactions, and therefore income. This will help refine your strategies.

Analyzing these metrics isn’t hard with TikTok Analytics, a platform tool designed to give you that data. It allows you to make decisions based on real numbers, speeding up your growth.

Conclusion

While there are many reliable companies to work for online, some social networks are used to earn money on your own. 

That’s why there are different ways to monetize TikTok—from its official creator rewards program to selling your own products/services. You can even use it as a bridge to drive traffic to blogs or newsletters.

Currently, follower count is still relevant. However, it’s not just about that—it’s about how you build your community and use the tools available.

In fact, you could try several options at once and evaluate what works best for your content.

Either way, DolarApp is a perfect financial alternative to get paid quickly and easily in digital dollars and euros. You’ll also find a fair exchange rate for buying and selling USDc and EURc.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many followers do I need to start making money on TikTok?

This depends on the monetization method you choose. Some official TikTok options require a certain number of followers and views, but there are also open paths available.

Is it possible to make money without being in the Creator Rewards Program?

Yes. You can monetize with live gifts, TikTok Shop, affiliate marketing, or direct brand collaborations. Many creators with small but active audiences generate income without relying on TikTok’s official programs.

What’s the most profitable way to make money on TikTok?

There’s no single answer, as it depends on your content and style. For some, brand deals and sponsorships are more profitable; for others, selling their own services works best. However, you can combine multiple income streams to diversify.

Sources:

New Creator Rewards Program

Creator Marketplace

TikTok Analytics