Side-by-Side Comparison
TikTok has fundamentally restructured how it pays creators. The original Creator Fund, which launched in 2020, has been replaced in most markets by the Creator Rewards Program (previously known as the Creativity Program Beta). These two programs share a name structure but operate on completely different economic models.
Here is how they compare across every metric that matters to your earnings.
| Feature | Old Creator Fund | Creator Rewards Program |
|---|---|---|
| Pay rate per 1,000 views | $0.02 - $0.05 | $0.50 - $2.00 |
| Payment model | Fixed pool split among creators | Performance-based (no fixed pool) |
| Minimum video length | No minimum | 1 minute |
| Follower requirement | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
| View requirement | 100,000 views in last 30 days | 100,000 views in last 30 days |
| Content originality | No specific requirement | Must be original content |
| View counting | All views counted | Only "qualified views" counted |
| Estimated pay per million views | $20 - $50 | $500 - $2,000 |
The difference in earnings potential is not marginal — it is transformational. Switching from the Creator Fund to Creator Rewards can increase your platform income by 10x to 40x on qualifying content.
Pay Rate Differences
The pay rate gap between these two programs is the most consequential change TikTok has made to creator monetization since launching the original fund.
Old Creator Fund: $0.02 - $0.05 per 1,000 views. The Creator Fund operated on a fixed-pool model. TikTok allocated a set amount of money — initially $200 million for US creators, later expanded — and split it among all participating creators based on view share. This structure created an inherent problem: as more creators joined the fund, each individual creator's share decreased even if their views stayed constant. The fixed pool meant that the program could never scale with the platform's growth. A creator generating 10 million views per month might earn $200-$500, which many found unsustainable.
Creator Rewards: $0.50 - $2.00 per 1,000 qualified views. The Creator Rewards Program abandoned the fixed-pool model entirely. Instead, it ties payouts to the revenue TikTok generates from advertising shown around and alongside creator content. This performance-based structure means your earnings scale with your content's actual value to the platform. The shift from "share of a pool" to "share of revenue your content generates" aligns creator and platform incentives in a way the original fund never did.
The practical difference is staggering. A video that earns 1 million views would generate $20-$50 under the old Creator Fund. The same video, if it meets Creator Rewards requirements (1+ minute, original content), could generate $500-$2,000. That is the difference between TikTok being a hobby and TikTok being a viable income stream.
RPM rates under Creator Rewards vary based on the same factors that affect all TikTok earnings: audience geography, content niche, engagement quality, and video watch time. US-audience views in high-CPM niches like finance or technology consistently hit the upper end of the $0.50-$2.00 range. Entertainment content with global audiences tends to land closer to the lower end.
The term "qualified views" is important. Creator Rewards does not count all views equally. TikTok's documentation indicates that views must meet certain watch time and engagement thresholds to count toward monetization, though the exact thresholds have not been publicly disclosed. Creators report that views from genuine, engaged viewers count while views from viewers who scroll away within seconds may not.
Eligibility and Requirements
Both programs share baseline entry requirements but diverge on content-level criteria.
Shared requirements for both programs:
- Minimum 10,000 followers.
- At least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days.
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Account must be in good standing (no community guideline violations).
- Must be in an eligible country (US, UK, France, Germany, and select other markets).
Creator Rewards adds three critical requirements:
1. Minimum one-minute video length. Every video you want monetized through Creator Rewards must be at least one minute long. This is the most significant operational change for creators who built their audience on 15-30 second content. The one-minute minimum exists because longer videos generate more ad revenue and provide more data points for TikTok to measure engagement quality. Videos under one minute are not penalized — they simply do not qualify for Creator Rewards payouts.
2. Original content only. TikTok requires that Creator Rewards content be original — meaning you created it yourself. Re-uploads, compilations of other creators' content, and videos that rely heavily on unoriginal elements do not qualify. This requirement targets the content farms and repost accounts that were draining money from the original Creator Fund without adding value to the platform. If your content is genuinely yours, this requirement should not affect you.
3. Engagement and quality thresholds. Creator Rewards evaluates content quality beyond simple view counts. TikTok has stated that the program considers factors like search value (does the video answer questions people are searching for), originality of perspective, and production quality. While the exact scoring criteria are not public, creators report that educational content, narrative-driven videos, and content that generates high save-and-share rates consistently earns at the higher end of the RPM range.
The old Creator Fund had none of these content-level requirements. Any video of any length from an eligible creator counted toward earnings. This lower bar is precisely why the pay rates were so much lower — the fund was subsidizing enormous volumes of low-effort, short-form content.
Which Should You Choose
If you are eligible for Creator Rewards, the answer is straightforward: switch immediately. There is no scenario in which the old Creator Fund pays more than Creator Rewards for comparable content.
The only creators who might hesitate are those whose entire content strategy revolves around videos under one minute. If your format is 15-second comedy clips or quick tips that cannot be extended, you will need to adapt your content approach to benefit from Creator Rewards. However, even in this case, the economics strongly favor adapting. A single one-minute video earning Creator Rewards rates can generate more revenue than dozens of short clips under the old fund.
Creator Rewards is the better choice for every eligible creator because:
The pay rate is 10-40x higher on a per-view basis. The performance-based model means your earnings are not diluted by other creators joining the program. The program incentivizes higher-quality content, which also tends to perform better algorithmically. Your revenue scales directly with your content's value rather than being capped by a fixed pool.
The only reason to stay on the old Creator Fund is if you are not eligible for Creator Rewards — either because your content does not meet the originality requirements or because Creator Rewards has not launched in your country yet. In that case, the Creator Fund provides some baseline monetization while you work toward qualifying for the upgrade.
For creators who produce a mix of short and long content, the optimal strategy is clear: use Creator Rewards for all content over one minute, and treat sub-one-minute content as audience building and algorithm fuel that supports your longer, monetized videos.
How to Switch Programs
Switching from the Creator Fund to Creator Rewards is a one-way process. Once you join Creator Rewards, you cannot return to the old Creator Fund. This should not give you pause — the economics are unambiguously better under the new program.
Step 1: Check your eligibility. Open the TikTok app, go to your profile, tap the three-line menu, and navigate to Creator Tools. If you see "Creator Rewards Program" or "Creativity Program Beta" listed, you are eligible. If it does not appear, confirm that you meet the baseline requirements: 10,000+ followers, 100,000+ views in the last 30 days, 18+ years old, and located in an eligible market.
Step 2: Opt out of the Creator Fund. If you are currently enrolled in the old Creator Fund, you will need to leave it before joining Creator Rewards. Navigate to Creator Tools, select Creator Fund, and follow the prompts to deactivate. Any pending earnings from the Creator Fund will still be paid out on their normal schedule.
Step 3: Join Creator Rewards. Return to Creator Tools and select the Creator Rewards Program option. Review and accept the terms. The enrollment process typically takes effect immediately, though TikTok notes that it may take up to 24 hours for the program to fully activate on your account.
Step 4: Adjust your content strategy. Once enrolled, focus on creating original content that exceeds one minute in length. Review your existing content to identify which formats can naturally be extended past the one-minute threshold. Many creators find that the transition is easier than expected — adding context, deeper explanations, or additional examples to existing formats often pushes videos past one minute without feeling padded.
Step 5: Monitor your earnings dashboard. Creator Rewards provides more detailed earnings analytics than the old Creator Fund. Track your RPM rates across different content types and audience geographies to identify what earns the most per view. Use this data to refine your content strategy toward the formats and topics that maximize your revenue.
Most creators see their first Creator Rewards payout reflected in their dashboard within 2-3 days of posting qualifying content. Use our TikTok Creator Fund calculator to estimate your expected earnings under both programs and see the projected impact of switching.