How Many Followers on TikTok Do You Need to Get Paid in 2025? (The Truth)

TikTok isn’t just a place for dance challenges and viral memes anymore, it’s become one of the biggest platforms where creators can actually make money. Whether you post comedy skits, lifestyle videos, or educational content, TikTok offers several ways to turn your creativity into income.

But there’s one question almost every creator asks: How many followers do you need on TikTok to get paid?

The answer isn’t as simple as one number; it depends on how you plan to earn money. In this guide, we’ll break it all down clearly, from TikTok’s official programs to other ways creators make a living.

Understanding How TikTok Pays Creators

TikTok doesn’t directly pay everyone who posts videos. Instead, it rewards creators through specific programs and monetization features. Here are the main ways you can earn on TikTok:

1. TikTok Creator Rewards Program (formerly Creator Fund)
2. TikTok Creativity Program Beta (in some regions)
3. Live Gifts and Coins
4. Brand Sponsorships and Collaborations
5. Affiliate Marketing and Product Promotion
6. Selling Your Own Products or Services

Each of these has its own eligibility rules and follower requirements, so let’s go through them one by one.

The TikTok Creator Rewards Program (Creator Fund Replacement)

TikTok’s Creator Rewards Program is the platform’s official way to pay creators based on how well their content performs; mainly views, engagement, and authenticity.

This program replaced the old Creator Fund to offer better and fairer payouts.

Eligibility Requirements:

To qualify, you generally need:

• At least 10,000 followers
• At least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
• Original content that complies with TikTok’s community guidelines
• To be 18 years or older
• To live in a supported country (like the U.S., U.K., Canada, and parts of Europe)

So, if you’re wondering how many followers you need to get paid directly by TikTok — the answer is 10,000 followers.

How Much You Can Earn:

TikTok doesn’t pay a flat rate, but creators generally report earning between $0.01 and $0.04 per 1,000 views, depending on engagement and region.

That means a video with 1 million views could earn anywhere from $10 to $40.

It’s not a get-rich-quick system, but it’s a solid start for consistent creators.

The TikTok Creativity Program Beta

The Creativity Program Beta is TikTok’s newer version of monetization that focuses on longer, high-quality videos (over 1 minute long). It was introduced to encourage more engaging storytelling and educational content.

Eligibility:

To join, you must:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have at least 10,000 followers
• Have at least 100,000 views in the past 30 days
• Post original, high-resolution videos longer than 1 minute

Earnings:

Reports from participating creators suggest earnings can go up to $0.10–$1 per 1,000 views, which is much higher than the old fund.

So if you focus on quality, informative videos, you could potentially earn much more per view.

TikTok LIVE Gifts and Coins

Once you reach 1,000 followers, TikTok allows you to go LIVE. During your live sessions, fans can send virtual gifts or coins, which you can convert into real money.

Requirements:

• Be 18 years or older (or the minimum age in your region)
• Have at least 1,000 followers
• Follow TikTok’s community guidelines

Earnings Potential:

How much you earn depends entirely on your audience engagement. Gifts are purchased by viewers and can be exchanged for “Diamonds,” which TikTok later converts to cash.

Many small creators earn $20–$200 per month just by going live consistently and interacting with fans.

Brand Deals and Sponsorships

This is where real money starts coming in. Brands love working with influencers to promote products or services — and TikTok creators with loyal audiences are perfect for that.

Follower Requirements:

Here’s the good news: there’s no official minimum follower count for brand deals.

Even micro-influencers with as few as 1,000–5,000 followers can land collaborations if their audience is active and niche-specific.

Earnings:

Your earnings depend on:

• Follower count
• Engagement rate
• Niche and audience demographics
• Brand budget

Creators with 10,000–50,000 followers can earn between $100–$1,000 per post, while those with hundreds of thousands or millions can charge thousands.

Affiliate Marketing on TikTok

Affiliate marketing means you promote products and earn a commission for each sale made through your unique link.

TikTok’s Shop Affiliate Program makes this easier than ever; allowing you to promote products directly in your videos or bio.

Requirements:

• No strict follower minimum, but having at least 1,000 followers helps build trust.
• A Business or Creator account.

Earnings Potential:

Commissions vary by product, but affiliate creators can make anywhere from 5%–20% per sale. Some make steady passive income just by recommending their favorite items.

Selling Your Own Products or Services

If you run a business or personal brand, TikTok can drive massive traffic to your products, whether you sell digital courses, clothing, beauty products, or art.

TikTok’s algorithm favors authentic, entertaining content, so creators who showcase their products naturally can make impressive sales even with small audiences.

Example:

A small business with 3,000 followers can still make thousands in sales if one video goes viral and leads people to their store or website.

How to Grow Your TikTok Followers (So You Can Get Paid Sooner)

Reaching 10,000 followers might sound tough, but with the right approach, it’s totally achievable.

Here are simple, proven strategies:

1. Post Consistently

Upload at least 3–5 videos per week. The more content you create, the more chances you have to appear on people’s “For You” page.

2. Use Trending Sounds and Hashtags

TikTok trends change fast. Jumping on viral sounds or challenges can quickly boost your visibility.

3. Engage With Your Audience

Reply to comments, ask questions, and encourage followers to duet or stitch your videos.

4. Focus on a Niche

Creators who stick to one topic like cooking, fitness, or finance, tend to grow faster than those who post random content.

5. Optimize Your Bio

Make sure your profile clearly says who you are and what followers can expect. A good bio builds instant trust.

6. Cross-Promote on Other Platforms

Share your TikTok videos on Instagram, YouTube Shorts, and Facebook Reels to grow faster.

How TikTok Actually Pays You

Once you qualify for TikTok’s official programs, you’ll link your account to a payment method (like PayPal or a bank account). TikTok tracks your eligible views and engagement, and payments are usually processed monthly.

For brand deals, you’ll typically receive payment directly from the company after completing the promotion.

Always ensure your content follows TikTok’s community guidelines and copyright rules to avoid account suspension.

Is 10,000 Followers the Only Way to Earn?

Not at all!
While 10,000 followers is the threshold for TikTok’s built-in payment programs, many creators start earning with fewer followers through:

• Brand partnerships
• Affiliate links
• Selling their own merchandise
• TikTok LIVE

What matters most isn’t just your follower count, it’s your engagement rate and how well your audience trusts you.

How Many Followers You Need to Get Paid

So, to summarize everything:

The truth?
You don’t need millions of followers to make money on TikTok, you just need a clear strategy, engaging content, and a loyal community.

Start small, stay consistent, and build trust. Before long, those views and followers can turn into real income.

Key Takeaways

• You need 10,000 followers to qualify for TikTok’s official payout programs.
• You can start earning earlier through brand deals, affiliate links, and live gifts.
• Focus on engagement, not just followers; brands care more about influence.
• Follow TikTok’s and Google’s content and monetization policies for long-term growth.
• Authenticity always wins; people follow creators who feel real, not forced.