Best Ways to Make Money on TikTok in 2025

Look, I’m not gonna sugarcoat this – making money on TikTok isn’t some overnight magic trick. But here’s the thing: millions of creators are pulling in real cash right now, and honestly? You could be one of them.

I mean, when I first started posting random videos about my morning coffee routine, I had no clue that TikTok would eventually pay my rent. Actually, scratch that – it pays more than my rent now. The platform has over 113 million users in the US alone, and these people are actively buying stuff they see on their feeds.

So if you’re tired of scrolling without earning, let’s talk about how to make money on TikTok. I’ll walk you through the five methods that actually work in 2025, plus all the messy details they don’t tell you in those “get rich quick” posts.

The Creator Rewards Program – Your First Real Paycheck

Remember the old Creator Fund? Yeah, TikTok basically said “that sucked” and rolled out something way better. The Creator Rewards Program actually pays decent money – we’re talking $0.40 to $1.00 per 1,000 views instead of those pathetic 2.5 cents.

Here’s what you need to get in:

• 10,000 followers (I know, I know)
• 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
• Videos longer than one minute (this is new)
• Be 18 or older

The catch? Your content needs to keep people watching. TikTok pays based on watch time now, not just views. So those 15-second dance videos won’t cut it anymore. You need to create stuff that makes people stick around.

I learned this the hard way when my first long-form video about “why my plants keep dying” got 500K views and earned me $350. Not bad for talking to a camera for three minutes about my black thumb, right?

TikTok Shop – Turn Your Profile Into a Storefront

This one’s actually genius. TikTok Shop lets you sell stuff directly through the app – no weird link-clicking or leaving the platform. Your followers can literally buy products while watching your videos.

You can sell three ways:

• Live shopping during your streams
• Shoppable videos with product links
• A full shop page on your profile

The beauty is you don’t need a massive following. I’ve seen creators with 5,000 followers making thousands monthly just by showcasing products they genuinely use. The key word here is “genuinely” – people can smell fake recommendations from a mile away.

TikTok takes a commission (they’re not telling us exactly how much, which is… fun), but the conversion rates are insane. Like, 3 out of 4 users consider buying things they see on TikTok. That’s basically a captive audience ready to shop.

Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships – The Big Money Maker

Okay, real talk – this is where the serious money lives. Brands are throwing cash at creators because traditional advertising feels like shouting into the void now.

You don’t need millions of followers either. I started getting brand inquiries around 15,000 followers, and I’ve seen nano-influencers with 2,000 engaged followers land $500 deals.

The process usually goes like this:

• Brands reach out (if you’re lucky)
• You pitch yourself to brands (more realistic)
• You negotiate rates
• You create content that doesn’t feel like an ad

Pro tip: Don’t wait for brands to find you. I made a list of companies whose products I actually use, then sent them DMs showing how I could help their audience. Half ignored me, but the other half? Those turned into my best partnerships.

Affiliate Marketing – Earn While You Sleep

This one’s perfect if you hate the commitment of brand partnerships. You promote products, drop your affiliate link, and earn commissions on sales. Simple.

Amazon Associates is the obvious choice, but don’t sleep on smaller programs. I make more from a tiny supplement company’s affiliate program than from Amazon, because their commission rate is 20% instead of 3%.

The trick is picking products that match your content naturally. If you’re posting workout videos, fitness gear affiliates make sense. If you’re doing cooking content, kitchen gadgets work. Don’t be that person promoting random stuff that has nothing to do with your niche – it’s weird and obvious.

What I love about affiliate marketing is it works regardless of follower count. One viral video with the right affiliate link can pay your bills for months.

Live Gifts and Direct Support – The Tip Jar Method

TikTok Live gifts are basically digital tips. Viewers buy coins, convert them to gifts, send them during your streams, and you convert those to diamonds, then to actual money.

Look, let’s be honest – unless you’re pulling massive live audiences, this won’t make you rich. Most diamonds are worth half a cent each. But here’s the thing: it adds up, and it’s immediate cash.

I do weekly live streams where I just answer questions about content creation. Nothing fancy. People send gifts to show appreciation, and I usually walk away with $50-100 per stream. Not life-changing money, but it covers my coffee habit.

The cool part is you can receive gifts on regular videos too, not just live streams. Viewers can drop gifts in your comments if they really love your content.

Content Planning Without the Burnout

Here’s where most creators mess up – they think they need to post constantly. Actually, that’s how you burn out and start hating what you do.

I batch-create content once a week. Sunday mornings, I film 5-7 videos, edit them all, and schedule them out. This gives me time to actually live my life instead of constantly thinking “what should I post today?”

For planning, I keep three content buckets:

• Educational stuff (tips, tutorials, behind-the-scenes)
• Entertainment (trends, challenges, random thoughts)
• Promotional (but subtle – maybe 1 in 10 videos)

The goal isn’t to post daily. It’s to post consistently. I’d rather see someone post quality content three times a week than garbage every day.

Platform and Tool Selection That Won’t Implode

You know what’s annoying? Building your entire income around a platform that could ban your account tomorrow. So here’s my approach: TikTok is the traffic driver, but not the only revenue source.

I use TikTok to drive people to:

• My email list (where I actually own the audience)
• My website (where I control everything)
• Other platforms like Instagram and YouTube

For tools, I keep it simple:

• CapCut for editing (free and actually good)
• Canva for thumbnails and graphics
• ConvertKit for email marketing
• A simple link-in-bio tool to organize everything

Don’t get caught up in expensive tools until you’re actually making money. I edited videos on my phone for the first six months and still made my first $1,000.

Automation That Actually Helps

Automation is tricky on TikTok because the platform rewards authentic, real-time engagement. But there are smart ways to automate without looking like a bot.

Email sequences work great. When someone signs up for my newsletter through TikTok, they get a welcome series explaining my best monetization tips. That’s automated income right there.

I also use scheduling tools for posting, but I’m always online to respond to comments manually in the first hour. That’s when the algorithm decides if your video gets pushed to more people.

For community management, I have template responses for common questions, but I customize each one. People can tell when you’re copy-pasting, and it kills engagement.

Managing Community Across Time Zones

Speaking of time zones – they’re actually super annoying when you’re trying to go live or engage with your audience. I’m East Coast, but my biggest audience chunk is in California. So my “evening” live streams are their afternoon, which works better anyway.

I learned to post when my audience is most active, not when it’s convenient for me. TikTok’s analytics show you when your followers are online – use that data.

For live streams, I rotate times so different time zones can join. Monday evenings for West Coast, Wednesday lunch for East Coast, Saturday mornings for early birds. It’s not perfect, but it works.

What Doesn’t Work (And Why)

Let me save you some time by listing what I tried that flopped:

Posting every trending sound immediately – By the time you see a trend, it’s usually oversaturated. Better to put your spin on it a few days later.

Buying followers – Fake followers don’t engage, which kills your reach. The algorithm can tell, and it’ll bury your content.

Copying successful creators exactly – TikTok rewards originality. Take inspiration, but make it your own.

Obsessing over viral content – I spent months trying to recreate one viral video instead of building consistent income streams. Big mistake.

Ignoring your analytics – If you’re not checking what content performs best, you’re flying blind.

The Reality Check Nobody Talks About

Making money on TikTok takes time. I didn’t see my first dollar for three months, and I didn’t hit $1,000/month until month eight. But once it clicks? The income can scale pretty quickly.

You’ll have weeks where you make $50 and weeks where you make $2,000. It’s unpredictable, which is why diversifying income streams matters so much.

Also, taxes are weird when you’re a creator. You’re basically self-employed, so track everything and maybe talk to an accountant. I learned this after my first big month when I realized I owed more in taxes than I’d saved.

But here’s what makes it worth it – you get to create content about stuff you actually care about, work from anywhere, and build a business around your personality. That freedom is pretty addictive once you taste it.

Your Next Steps

Start with one monetization method and get good at it before adding others. If you’re under 10,000 followers, focus on affiliate marketing or building an email list. If you’re above 10,000, test the Creator Rewards Program alongside brand partnerships.

Most importantly, create content you’d watch even if you weren’t getting paid. The money follows great content, not the other way around.

And remember – every big creator started with zero followers. The only difference between them and you is they started. So maybe it’s time you did too.

Quick Questions People Always Ask

Do I need to be good on camera? Honestly? No. Some of my highest-earning videos are just voice-overs with B-roll footage. TikTok cares more about value than your presentation skills.

What if I hate writing emails? Then don’t build an email list. Focus on TikTok Shop or affiliate marketing instead. Play to your strengths.

How long before I make real money? Define “real money.” I made my first $100 in month two, $1,000 in month eight, and $5,000 in month twelve. Your timeline will be different.

Can I do this while working full-time? Absolutely. I did for the first year. Batch content creation on weekends, engage during lunch breaks, and treat it like a side hustle until it replaces your income.

What about my privacy? You can make money without showing your face or sharing personal details. Educational content, product reviews, and tutorials work great for private creators.

Should I focus on one niche? Generally, yes. It’s easier to monetize a focused audience than a scattered one. But don’t stress if you’re still figuring out your thing.

What happens if TikTok gets banned? Build your email list and cross-post to other platforms. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket, even if that basket is really, really profitable.