You can make money on TikTok through brand partnerships, affiliate links, TikTok Shop, selling your own products or services, LIVE gifts, and TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program. The catch is that TikTok’s own payout programs are only available in some countries and need a sizeable following. For most people, especially outside those countries, the reliable income comes from using TikTok to send viewers to something they can buy. This guide covers all six options and how to choose.
Quick comparison
| Method | Follower threshold | Country limits | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand partnerships | None, but brands look at engagement | Few | Clear niche audiences |
| Affiliate links | None for most programs | Depends on the program | Reviews and tutorials |
| TikTok Shop | Program-specific | Only where TikTok Shop operates | Product creators and sellers |
| Your own products or services | None | None | Experts, freelancers, small brands |
| LIVE gifts | Program-specific | Varies | Creators comfortable going live |
| Creator Rewards Program | High | Limited countries | Large creators in eligible countries |
TikTok changes its programs often. Check the Monetization or TikTok Studio section of your app for what is open to your account.
1. Brand partnerships
Brands pay creators to feature products in videos. A small account with an engaged, specific audience, such as students learning design or parents of toddlers, can attract brands that a large general account would not. Create a simple media kit with your audience, typical views and two or three example videos. Always label paid content using TikTok’s branded content setting.
2. Affiliate links
Affiliate programs from retailers and software companies pay a commission when someone buys through your link. Because TikTok limits clickable links in captions, most creators put one link in their bio that leads to a simple page of recommendations. Recommend only what you have used, and disclose affiliate links clearly. Our guide to affiliate marketing explains how commissions work.
3. TikTok Shop
Where TikTok Shop operates, creators can earn commission by tagging products in videos and LIVE streams, and sellers can list their own products. Availability depends on your country, so check whether TikTok Shop is open where you live before building a plan around it. For the seller side, see our guide to the TikTok Shop.
4. Your own products or services
This is the option with no follower threshold and no country limit. A designer can show quick before-and-after redesigns and link to a design package. A tutor can post one exam tip a day and link to booking. A small business can show its products being made. TikTok becomes the shop window, and the sale happens on your own page. If you want to sell digital products, read our guide to selling digital products.
5. LIVE gifts
Viewers can send virtual gifts during LIVE streams, which can convert into earnings for eligible creators. Age and account requirements apply, and income depends heavily on having a loyal audience that turns up to watch. It works best as a supplement rather than a main income.
6. Creator Rewards Program
TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program replaced the older Creator Fund and pays for qualified views on longer videos. Widely reported requirements include being at least 18, having around 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, and posting original videos longer than one minute. It is only open in a limited number of countries, so many creators, including those in Pakistan and much of Asia and Africa, cannot join it. Check TikTok Studio to see whether it is available to you.
How to choose your method
- If you have a skill or product, start with method 4. It works at any follower count.
- If you review or teach, add affiliate links from programs open in your country.
- Once you have steady engagement, approach brands with a short media kit.
- Only then plan around TikTok’s own programs, and only if they are available where you live.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying followers. Fake followers hurt engagement and can get your account restricted.
- Reposting other people’s videos. Unoriginal content is usually excluded from monetization and can lead to copyright claims.
- Not disclosing paid content. Use the branded content label and say so in the video.
- Relying on one income source. Programs change, so mix at least two methods.
- Ignoring your own website. A page you control keeps working even if your account is restricted.
Not sure which side hustle suits your time and skills? Take the free Side Hustle Finder quiz, or compare similar options in our guide to making money on YouTube.
Frequently asked questions
Does TikTok pay you directly for views?
Only through the Creator Rewards Program, which has follower and view thresholds and is available in a limited number of countries. Most creators earn through brands, affiliate links and their own products instead.
How many followers do you need to make money on TikTok?
None for selling your own products, services or affiliate items. TikTok’s own payout programs have thresholds, commonly reported as around 10,000 followers for the Creator Rewards Program.
Can I make money on TikTok from Pakistan?
TikTok’s own payout programs are generally not available there, but you can still earn through brand deals, your own products or services and affiliate programs that accept your country.
Is the TikTok Creator Fund still available?
No. The Creator Fund was replaced by newer programs, now the Creator Rewards Program.
TikTok’s programs and their requirements change often and vary by country. Confirm in the app before relying on any figure. This article is general information, not financial advice.
