How to Make Money on TikTok: Complete 2025 Guide
Learn every way to monetize your TikTok presence: Creator Fund, brand deals, LIVE streaming, TikTok Shop, and more. Includes realistic earnings data and strategies for 2025.
Table of Contents
TikTok has evolved from a viral video app into a legitimate income platform for creators. In 2025, thousands of creators earn anywhere from $500 to $50,000+ monthly through various monetization streams.
Real Example: Sarah, a lifestyle creator with 150K followers, earns approximately $3,200/month: $200 from Creator Fund, $2,500 from 2-3 brand deals monthly, and $500 from LIVE gifts. She reached monetization 8 months after starting her account.
This guide covers every monetization method available in 2025, realistic earnings expectations, and step-by-step strategies to start earning from your TikTok content.
Want to estimate your total earning potential across all streams? Use our TikTok money calculator to get personalized projections based on your follower count and engagement rate.
1. TikTok Creator Fund
What Is the Creator Fund?
The TikTok Creator Fund pays eligible creators based on video views and engagement. Launched in 2020 with $200 million in funding, it's one of the easiest monetization streams to access—but also the lowest-paying. For a deep dive into how the Creator Fund actually works, including RPM rates by niche and optimization strategies, check our complete guide.
Payment Rate: $0.02–$0.04 per 1,000 views (average $0.03)
Example Earnings: 500,000 monthly views = $15–$20/month
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓10,000+ followers
Must be authentic, engaged followers
- ✓100,000+ video views in last 30 days
Cumulative across all videos
- ✓18+ years old
Age verification required
- ✓Account in good standing
No community guideline violations
How Much You Can Earn
| Monthly Views | Est. Monthly Earnings | Annual Potential |
|---|---|---|
| 100,000 | $2–$4 | $24–$48 |
| 500,000 | $10–$20 | $120–$240 |
| 1,000,000 | $20–$40 | $240–$480 |
| 5,000,000 | $100–$200 | $1,200–$2,400 |
| 10,000,000 | $200–$400 | $2,400–$4,800 |
Note: Creator Fund earnings are considered supplementary income for most creators. Brand deals typically generate 5-10× more revenue for the same audience size. See our Creator Fund vs Brand Deals comparison to understand which income stream to prioritize.
Pros and Cons
✓ Pros
- • Passive income (no extra work)
- • Easy to qualify (10K followers)
- • Pays for views you're already getting
- • Monthly automatic payments
✗ Cons
- • Very low pay ($0.02-$0.04/1K views)
- • Earnings fluctuate significantly
- • Many creators report decreasing rates
- • Not available in all countries
Want to calculate your potential Creator Fund earnings?
Use Creator Fund Calculator →2. Brand Deals & Sponsorships
Brand deals are the highest-earning monetization stream for most TikTok creators. Companies pay creators to feature their products or services in videos. Unlike Creator Fund's $0.03 per 1,000 views, brand deals can pay $0.10–$2.00+ per follower. Our complete brand deals guide covers everything from finding your first sponsorships to negotiating premium rates.
Typical Brand Deal Rates
| Follower Tier | Rate Per Post | Monthly (2-4 deals) |
|---|---|---|
| Nano (1K-10K) | $50–$200 | $100–$800 |
| Micro (10K-50K) | $200–$1,000 | $400–$4,000 |
| Mid (50K-500K) | $1,000–$10,000 | $2,000–$40,000 |
| Macro (500K-1M) | $10,000–$50,000 | $20,000–$200,000 |
| Mega (1M+) | $50,000–$200,000+ | $100,000–$800,000+ |
How to Get Brand Deals
1. Join TikTok Creator Marketplace
TikTok Creator Marketplace is the official platform connecting brands with creators. Requires 10K+ followers and strong engagement rate. Brands can discover and contact you directly.
2. Create a Media Kit
Professional PDF showcasing your stats, demographics, previous partnerships, and rates. Essential for pitching brands directly.
3. Use Influencer Platforms
Sign up for platforms like AspireIQ, CreatorIQ, or Hashtag Paid. They connect creators with brands actively seeking partnerships.
4. Direct Outreach
Email brands you love with a pitch. Works best for micro-creators (10-50K) targeting smaller brands in your niche.
Calculate your brand deal rate based on followers and engagement:
Use Brand Deal Calculator →This is a preview. The full 10,000-word guide continues with sections on LIVE monetization, TikTok Shop, requirements timeline, case studies, tax considerations, and complete FAQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore Related Guides
TikTok Creator Fund Guide
Deep dive into Creator Fund rates, requirements, and optimization
Brand Deals Guide
How to get sponsored and negotiate rates
TikTok LIVE Monetization Guide
Earn through LIVE gifts, subscriptions, and LIVE shopping
TikTok Shop Affiliate Guide
Make commissions promoting products from TikTok Shop
How to Join Creator Fund
Step-by-step application process and eligibility check
How to Get Brand Deals (Complete)
From zero followers to landing your first paid sponsorship
Essential Earnings Calculators
🚀 Next Steps to Maximize Your Earnings
- 1.
Increase your engagement rate to attract higher-paying brand deals and improve algorithm performance
- 2.
Learn how to price your sponsorships correctly to avoid leaving money on the table
- 3.
Understand creator tax deductions to keep more of what you earn
- 4.
Compare TikTok vs YouTube earnings to decide if you should expand to multi-platform