Why TikTok Ended the Creator Fund
TikTok's Creator Fund ending marks the platform's biggest monetization shift since the original program launched in 2020 with a $200 million pool. The fund paid creators between $0.02 and $0.04 per 1,000 views, splitting a fixed pool among an ever-growing number of eligible accounts. As enrollment surged past 2 million creators, individual payouts dropped steadily each quarter.
The core problem was structural. A fixed fund divided among more creators means each person earns less, regardless of content quality. By late 2023, many creators reported per-view rates falling below $0.01 per 1,000 views, making the program financially irrelevant for most participants.
TikTok replaced the Creator Fund with the Creator Rewards Program, a revenue-share model that ties payouts to search value, originality, and audience retention rather than raw view counts. This shift aligns TikTok's creator payments closer to how YouTube compensates its partner creators.
How the Creator Fund Originally Worked
The Creator Fund operated on a fundamentally different model than its replacement. TikTok allocated a fixed dollar amount, initially $200 million, later expanded to $1 billion over three years, into a pool shared by all eligible creators. Your share of that pool depended on your percentage of total qualifying views across all fund members.
This design created a zero-sum dynamic. When new creators joined the fund, the pool did not grow proportionally. More creators meant smaller slices for everyone. A creator earning $0.04 per 1,000 views in early 2021 might earn $0.015 per 1,000 views by mid-2023 with identical content performance, simply because the denominator grew.
The eligibility bar was also relatively low: 10,000 followers, 100,000 views in 30 days, and 18 years of age. This accessibility brought millions of creators into the fund, accelerating the dilution problem. Many creators who joined expecting meaningful income found themselves earning single-digit dollars per month.
For context on how these low rates compared to other platforms even at the time, see the TikTok vs YouTube RPM by niche data.
The Complete Shutdown Timeline
The transition from Creator Fund to Creator Rewards followed a staggered rollout across regions and account tiers.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2023 | Creator Rewards Program beta launched in the US |
| May 2023 | Beta expanded to UK, Germany, France |
| August 2023 | Open enrollment began for eligible creators |
| December 2023 | TikTok announced Creator Fund deprecation |
| March 2024 | New Creator Fund enrollments closed |
| Q3 2024 | Final Creator Fund payouts distributed |
| 2025 | Creator Rewards became the sole program |
Creators who were enrolled in the Creator Fund received in-app notifications about the migration window. Those who did not opt in to Creator Rewards before the deadline stopped receiving platform-based content payments entirely.
The migration was not automatic. Each creator had to manually accept the new terms, verify eligibility, and agree to updated content guidelines that emphasize originality over virality.
How Earnings Changed After the Transition
Creator Fund vs. Creator Rewards: Pay Rates
Creator Rewards pays significantly more than the old Creator Fund for videos that meet the program's quality signals. Reported RPM (revenue per mille) rates under Creator Rewards range from $0.40 to $1.00 per 1,000 qualified views, compared to the Creator Fund's $0.02 to $0.04 range.
| Metric | Creator Fund | Creator Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| RPM Range | $0.02 - $0.04 | $0.40 - $1.00+ |
| Pay Model | Fixed pool split | Revenue share |
| Minimum Video Length | None | 1 minute |
| Originality Requirement | Low | High |
| Search Value Factor | None | Yes |
The catch: only videos longer than one minute qualify for Creator Rewards payouts. Short-form clips under 60 seconds, which dominated the Creator Fund era, earn nothing from the new program. This requirement pushed creators to produce longer, more substantive content.
Check the RPM calculator to estimate your potential earnings under the new rate structure.
Who Benefits and Who Loses
Educational, tutorial, and review creators gained the most from this transition. Their content naturally runs longer than one minute and scores high on TikTok's search-value metric. Creators in niches like finance, cooking, and tech reviews have reported 10x to 20x increases in per-view earnings.
Dance, lip-sync, and trend-based creators were hit hardest. Their typical video length falls under 30 seconds, locking them out of Creator Rewards entirely. For these creators, brand deals and live gifting became the primary revenue paths.
Review the average TikTok earnings per views data to see where your niche stacks up under the new system.
Migration Steps: What to Do Now
Creators who have not yet enrolled in Creator Rewards need to act quickly. The program requires meeting specific thresholds before you can apply.
Eligibility Requirements for Creator Rewards:
- 10,000 or more followers
- 100,000 or more video views in the last 30 days
- Account in good standing with zero active community guideline strikes
- Based in an eligible country (US, UK, Germany, France, and others)
- Age 18 or older
Step-by-step migration process:
- Open TikTok and navigate to Creator Tools in your profile settings.
- Look for the Creator Rewards Program section (previously labeled "Creativity Program Beta").
- Review and accept the updated terms of service.
- Begin posting videos that are one minute or longer to qualify for payouts.
- Track your earnings in the Creator Rewards dashboard, which updates within 48 hours of video publication.
If you fall short on followers or views, focus on growth strategies first. The TikTok algorithm guide covers how the recommendation system works and how to increase your reach.
Creator Fund Shutdown: Key Data Points
The financial impact of this transition varies dramatically by creator size and content type. Here is how payouts shifted across different account tiers.
| Account Size | Avg. Monthly Creator Fund Pay | Avg. Monthly Creator Rewards Pay | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10K - 50K followers | $5 - $20 | $50 - $200 | +900% |
| 50K - 200K followers | $20 - $100 | $200 - $800 | +700% |
| 200K - 1M followers | $100 - $500 | $500 - $3,000 | +500% |
| 1M+ followers | $500 - $2,000 | $2,000 - $10,000+ | +400% |
These figures assume the creator posts content that meets Creator Rewards requirements (longer than one minute, original, with search value). Creators who continued posting only short clips saw their platform income drop to zero from this revenue stream.
The TikTok creator income distribution data shows the full earnings spread across account sizes, including revenue from all monetization channels.
Strategies to Maximize Creator Rewards Earnings
The shift from Creator Fund to Creator Rewards requires a content strategy overhaul. Creators who adapt their approach to the new system's ranking signals see the biggest payoff.
Prioritize search-friendly content. TikTok's algorithm now assigns a "search value" score to each video. Content that answers specific questions (e.g., "How to remove stains from white sneakers") earns higher RPMs than generic entertainment clips. Use the hashtag strategy guide to identify high-search-volume topics in your niche.
Extend your video length strategically. The one-minute minimum is the floor, not the ceiling. Videos between 2 and 5 minutes that maintain strong retention rates earn the highest RPMs. Padding content with filler hurts your retention score, so add depth rather than length.
Post consistently but prioritize quality. Under the Creator Fund, posting frequently maximized earnings because every view counted. Creator Rewards weights quality signals more heavily, so one well-produced video per day outperforms five rushed clips.
Diversify beyond platform payments. Even with improved RPMs, Creator Rewards alone rarely provides full-time income. Combine it with brand deals, affiliate marketing, and live gifting to build a sustainable revenue stack. The seven ways to make money on TikTok guide covers each income stream in detail.
Track your performance weekly. Use the TikTok Money Calculator to project monthly earnings based on your current view counts and RPM rates. Compare your numbers against seasonal earnings trends to set realistic targets.
What This Means for New Creators Starting in 2026
Creators joining TikTok in 2026 never experienced the Creator Fund era, which is actually an advantage. The Creator Rewards framework rewards the exact behaviors that build sustainable audiences: producing original, in-depth content that viewers search for and watch through to the end.
New creators should skip short-form trend chasing entirely and focus on one-minute-plus content from day one. Building this habit early means every video you publish has earning potential from the moment you hit the 10,000-follower threshold.
The path from zero to Creator Rewards eligibility typically takes 4 to 8 months of consistent daily posting. Use the first $1,000 on TikTok guide to map out the milestones between account creation and your first meaningful payout.
If you are building TikTok as a side income stream, the TikTok pay and US earnings data shows what creators at various levels actually take home after the transition.
Estimate Your Post-Transition Earnings
The Creator Fund shutdown changed the math for every TikTok creator. Whether you have already migrated or are still evaluating the switch, running your numbers through the Creator Fund Calculator shows exactly how the transition affects your bottom line.
Input your average views, video length, and posting frequency to get a side-by-side comparison of what you would have earned under the old fund versus what Creator Rewards projects for your account. The calculator factors in the new RPM tiers, originality bonuses, and search-value multipliers that determine your actual payout.
Creators who understand the new system's mechanics earn significantly more than those who keep posting the same way they did under the Creator Fund. The transition rewarded adaptability, and the data confirms that creators who shifted to longer, search-optimized content saw their TikTok income multiply within months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still join the Creator Fund in 2026?
No. TikTok closed new enrollments to the Creator Fund in March 2024 and distributed final payouts by Q3 2024. The Creator Rewards Program is the only platform-based content payment program available to creators now.
What happens to my unpaid Creator Fund balance?
TikTok disbursed all remaining Creator Fund balances during the shutdown period. If you had an unpaid balance and did not receive it, contact TikTok Creator Support through the app with your payment records for resolution.
Do I need to reapply if I was already in the Creator Fund?
Yes. Creator Rewards has separate eligibility requirements and a distinct enrollment process. Being a former Creator Fund member does not grant automatic access. You must meet the 10,000-follower and 100,000-view thresholds independently.
Why are my Creator Rewards earnings lower than expected?
Videos shorter than one minute earn nothing from Creator Rewards. Low originality scores, poor retention rates, and limited search value also reduce RPM. Review the engagement rate calculator to diagnose which performance metrics need improvement.
Related Resources
- Creator Rewards vs. Creator Fund — Full Comparison
- How to Make Money on TikTok — Complete Guide
- Average TikTok Earnings Per Views — Data Breakdown
- Diversify Your TikTok Income Streams
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still join the Creator Fund in 2026?
No, new enrollments to the Creator Fund closed in March 2024. The Creator Rewards Program is now the only option for creators.
What happens to my unpaid Creator Fund balance?
All remaining balances were disbursed during the shutdown. If you didn't receive yours, contact TikTok Creator Support.
Do I need to reapply if I was already in the Creator Fund?
Yes, you must meet the new eligibility requirements for Creator Rewards and reapply independently.