How to make money on TikTok: 8 ways to turn your videos into income

One of your videos went viral, thousands of people landed on your profile, and now the big question is: how do you turn all that attention into money? The good news is that there are several ways to make money on TikTok, and not all of them depend on millions of views or a massive audience.

In this article, you’ll discover eight ways to earn income on and off the platform, learn how many followers you need to get started, and see how to turn your content into real business opportunities, even with a small profile.

8 ways to make money on TikTok

Can you really make money on TikTok? Yes, you can make money on TikTok in two ways: through the platform’s own monetization features, such as the Creator Rewards Program, LIVE gifts and TikTok Shop, and by using your profile as a channel to promote brands, offer services and sell digital products. With more than 1 billion monthly active users worldwide, according to TikTok, there’s an audience for both paths.

This means you don’t have to rely only on getting paid for views. Depending on your knowledge, niche and audience, some options can generate income even before you meet the requirements of TikTok’s official programs.

Here are eight options:

1. Creator Rewards Program;
2. LIVE gifts;
3. Selling products on TikTok Shop;
4. TikTok Shop affiliate;
5. Brand deals and sponsored posts;
6. Creating videos for brands (UGC);
7. Selling digital products;
8. Promoting digital products as an affiliate.

Below, we explain how each option works, what you need to get started and how to put it into practice.

1. Creator Rewards Program

The Creator Rewards Program is one of the ways to make money posting videos on TikTok. Through it, the platform pays eligible creators based on the performance of original videos longer than one minute.

But posting any kind of content or racking up views isn’t enough. To join, you need to meet the program requirements, which include criteria for age, followers, recent views and account standing.

On top of that, TikTok only counts qualified views, which follow specific rules. In other words, not every video play earns money.

2. LIVE gifts

Another option is to make money on TikTok LIVE. During live streams, viewers can send virtual gifts to show support for creators.

Viewers buy these gifts with Coins inside the app, and gifts can help you collect Diamonds, which TikTok uses to determine eligibility for certain rewards.

To use this feature, you need LIVE access, must meet the age requirements (18 or older to receive gifts) and must follow the platform’s monetization rules.

This model usually works best for creators who have already built a close relationship with their audience. Keep in mind, though, that gifts are voluntary. Having lots of viewers doesn’t necessarily mean getting paid.

3. Selling products on TikTok Shop

TikTok Shop is an e-commerce solution built into the platform that lets you promote and sell physical products through videos, live streams and in-app shopping experiences.

If you want to know how to make money on TikTok Shop, one option is to open a store and sell your own products.

Imagine you run a small accessories brand. Instead of using TikTok only to show off your pieces, you can feature the products in videos, demonstrate how to use them and let people buy directly on the platform.

This way, your content works as a storefront that shortens the path from discovering a product to buying it.

To get started, you need to register as a seller on TikTok Shop Seller Center, provide the requested business or personal information and follow TikTok Shop’s commerce policies.

It’s also important to plan your inventory, shipping, customer service and pricing. After all, a seamless checkout doesn’t replace a good customer experience.

4. TikTok Shop affiliate

Did you know you can also sell products on TikTok Shop without owning a store or inventory?

Through the affiliate program, creators can promote products from sellers on the platform and earn a commission on qualified purchases made through their recommendations.

It works like this: you choose products available for affiliates, create content to showcase them and use TikTok Shop’s shopping features, such as product links in your videos.

If someone makes an eligible purchase through your recommendation, you can earn a commission based on the terms set for that product. This model is a great fit for demos, reviews and recommendations.

But keep in mind: being an affiliate doesn’t mean getting paid for views. Your earnings depend on qualified purchases and commission rules.

To join, open TikTok Studio and look for TikTok Shop for Creators. In the US, you generally need at least 1,000 followers and to be 18 or older, and newer affiliates may start with posting limits until their account grows.

5. Brand deals and sponsored posts

Brand deals are partnerships in which brands pay creators to promote products and services in their videos. Brands invest in influencer marketing because creators reach audiences that already trust them. Pay depends on factors such as niche, engagement, audience and agreed deliverables.

To land these opportunities, it helps to have clear positioning and a media kit. TikTok One, the platform that replaced the former TikTok Creator Marketplace, also connects creators and brands. Always turn on TikTok’s content disclosure setting for sponsored posts and follow the FTC’s Endorsement Guides, which require clear disclosure of paid partnerships.

What you need: a defined niche, a media kit with audience and engagement data and, to use TikTok One, to meet the platform’s eligibility requirements.

6. Creating videos for brands (UGC)

UGC (user-generated content) is the production of videos by creators for brands to use on their own profiles or in ads.

The main advantage is that you don’t need a large following, since the company pays for the content itself, not for your reach. To become a UGC creator, start with a simple portfolio of product demos, tutorials and review videos.

What you need: a portfolio with a few sample videos, good lighting and audio, and a rate card to share with brands.

7. Selling digital products

Selling digital products on TikTok means turning what you already teach in your videos into an online course, ebook or coaching program and using your profile to attract buyers. Online courses are one of the most popular formats, so check out our guide on how to sell online courses.

A healthy recipes profile, for example, could sell an ebook of weekly meal plans. With Hotmart, you can create, host and sell these products without depending on the follower requirements of TikTok’s monetization programs. If you’re new to the platform, see how Hotmart works before you create your first product.

What you need: knowledge that solves a problem for your audience, a finished product and a sales page.

8. Promoting digital products as an affiliate

Being a digital product affiliate means promoting courses, ebooks and other products created by others and earning a commission on sales made through your recommendation.

Through the Hotmart affiliate program, you can find products available for promotion, under the terms set by each creator. A creator who shares photography tips, for example, could recommend a related course and earn a commission on eligible sales.

What you need: choose products related to your niche, get approved by the product creator and share your affiliate link.

How many followers do you need to make money on TikTok?

The number of followers you need to make money on TikTok depends on the monetization method. While some official features require minimum follower and view counts, creating videos for brands, selling digital products and affiliate marketing can start with small profiles.

Here are the main US requirements and differences between the options:

Sources: TikTok Help Center, TikTok One and TikTok Shop’s US creator eligibility policy.
US criteria checked in November 2026. Eligibility may change based on account type, program and platform updates.

Keep in mind that meeting a program’s requirements doesn’t guarantee income. Even after you’re approved, you still need qualified views, sales or other actions that meet each program’s rules.

How much does TikTok pay per view?

TikTok doesn’t pay a fixed amount per view. In the Creator Rewards Program, earnings are based on qualified views and a revenue-per-thousand-views metric known as RPM.

This amount can vary based on factors such as originality, watch time, engagement and the search value of the content.

That’s why two videos with the same number of views can earn different amounts. Videos that don’t meet the program’s criteria don’t earn this type of payout at all.

In practice, the math works like this: estimated earnings = (qualified views ÷ 1,000) × RPM. Creator-reported RPMs in the US usually fall between about $0.40 and $1.00. A video with 200,000 qualified views and an $0.80 RPM, for example, would earn roughly $160. This is only an illustration: your actual RPM appears in the TikTok Studio monetization dashboard and changes from video to video.

Can you make money on TikTok Lite or by watching videos?

TikTok Lite, the lighter version of the app, has offered rewards for tasks like watching videos and inviting friends in some countries. However, the rewards program isn’t available in the US, and TikTok withdrew it from the European Union after regulators raised concerns.

So if you’re wondering how to make money watching videos on TikTok, the honest answer is that this isn’t a real source of income: even where rewards exist, the amounts are small and unpredictable.

Be wary of apps that promise big payouts for watching videos, especially if they ask you to pay a fee to unlock withdrawals or request personal information and passwords. These are common signs of scams.

How to start making money on TikTok from scratch

To start making money on TikTok from scratch, the safest path is to monetize with methods that don’t require a large following while your profile grows. In practice:

1. Pick a niche: choose a topic you know well and that has an interested audience.
2. Post consistently: follow a video schedule you can keep up with and watch which formats get the most retention. Consistency works best when it’s backed by a clear TikTok strategy.
3. Start with methods that have no follower minimum: UGC, affiliate marketing and selling digital products can bring in income from your first videos.
4. Turn on official features once you’re eligible: when you meet the requirements, add the Creator Rewards Program, LIVE gifts and TikTok Shop.

Combining more than one income stream makes your earnings less dependent on any single platform feature.

Tips to grow and go viral on TikTok

To increase your monetization opportunities, you need to create content that sparks interest and makes people want to follow your profile. Here are a few strategies:

• Hook viewers in the first few seconds: open with a question, a surprising fact or a demo that sparks curiosity and keeps people watching.
• Use keywords: include relevant terms in your caption and in the video itself. After all, TikTok also works as a search engine.
• Keep a consistent posting schedule: set a routine you can stick to without hurting the quality of your content. Pair it with the best times to post on TikTok for your audience.
• Ride the trends: adapt trending sounds, formats and topics to your niche, always keeping your audience’s interests in mind.
• Try videos longer than one minute: if you want to join the Creator Rewards Program, this is one of the criteria for content to earn money.
• Track your metrics: watch average watch time and retention to understand which videos drive the most interest and where you can improve.

And remember: going viral isn’t the only way to build a valuable audience. A smaller profile with followers who genuinely care about what you share can also lead to monetization opportunities.

How to start selling a digital product on TikTok

If you already share your knowledge on TikTok, you can turn the topics your audience loves into a digital product. Your TikTok audience is the perfect starting point if you want to sell digital products, and you don’t need thousands of followers to begin.

Here’s a simple path:

1. Spot your audience’s questions: look at the comments and questions that come up often on your videos. They can reveal opportunities to create a product.
2. Choose the format: turn your knowledge into an ebook, online course or coaching program, based on what your audience needs. If writing is your strength, learn how to create an ebook.
3. Create and host your product on Hotmart: use the platform to organize your content and make it available for sale.
4. Promote it in your videos: share tips related to the product and send interested viewers to the link in your bio, when available.
5. Go LIVE: use live streams to answer questions, show your expertise and present your offer.
6. Open your product to affiliates: let other creators promote your product through Hotmart and earn commissions on the sales they bring in.

This way, your videos can work as an entry point for people who want to learn more about the topic, while your digital product offers a more complete learning experience.

And if you’d rather not be on camera, you can also make money on TikTok without showing your face: tutorials, voiceover videos, animations and AI-assisted content all work well to promote your product.

Ready to turn your videos into income?

Now that you know how to make money on TikTok, it’s easier to see that there are many paths to turn your content into business opportunities.

You can earn from qualified views, land brand deals or sell products. Best of all, some of these options don’t require thousands of followers to get started.

What matters is choosing a strategy that fits your profile and your audience’s interests. Combining different income streams can also help you build a more sustainable business.

And when you’re ready to monetize your knowledge, Hotmart is an all-in-one platform for creators to create, host and sell digital products.

Frequently asked questions about how to make money on TikTok

Still have questions about how to make money on TikTok? Here are answers to the most common ones.