Bigfollow•24. August 2025•

TikTok and the love of money - a first overview

TikTok videos are fun and reach an audience of millions. But How much do you earn with TikTok really? Many aspiring creators ask themselves this question. Perhaps you too have thought about whether you can get rich with a few viral videos. The short answer: Yes, you can earn money with TikTok - but the amount you earn depends on many factors. In this article, you'll find out what TikTok earnings depend on and what amounts are realistically possible.

TikTok itself pays Creatorn money for successful videos, but the amounts are surprisingly small. At the same time Earn influencers with large follower numbers through Influencer marketing and Affiliate Marketing often significantly more. Sounds contradictory? Don't worry - we'll look at all of this step by step and also clarify typical questions such as "How much does TikTok pay per 1000 views?" or «What can a TikTok star do with 1 million followers earn?».

What does TikTok pay per call? - The TikTok Creator Fund

Let's start with the money that TikTok itself pays out. TikTok has a TikTok Creator Fund to reward creators for their videos. As part of this program, you receive a payment per 1,000 views (i.e. per thousand video views). However, you should not expect huge sums of money: According to a report by Business Insider the remuneration is only about 0.02 to 0.04 US dollars per 1,000 views. This means, 1,000,000 views (one million views), the Creator Fund would only provide around 20 to 40 US dollars are the equivalent of about 18 to 36 Swiss francs.

Become an influencer: Income with followers and sponsoring

If TikTok itself doesn't make you rich, where does the real money? The answer: Influencer marketing. As soon as you have a larger Follower count you become interesting for companies. Brands pay TikTok influencers money to present products or services in their videos (so-called sponsorships or collaborations). And the earnings here are significantly higher than with the Creator Fund!

One example: According to NBC News, TikTok accounts with around 5 million followers about 5,000 to 8,000 US dollars per sponsored post demand (source: shopify.com). Of course, 5 million followers is an enormous reach that only top stars can achieve. But even smaller creators can earn money. Micro-influencer with for example 10,000 followers often achieve through a few advertising partnerships a few hundred to a thousand euros a month in addition. The more followers and views your videos get and the more active your community is, the more you can earn from such collaborations.

Imagine you have 100,000 TikTok followers. With this reach, you could, for example, receive an offer from a fashion company to present their clothing in a video. Depending on the industry and how engaged your audience is, you might be able to get a few hundred to a few thousand francs per video. Many TikTok stars earn the majority of their income in this way. They enjoy creating the actual video - and the money then comes from deals with companies.

Important to know: Followers are not everything. Companies also look at your Engagement rate (i.e. how many likes, comments and shares your videos get in relation to your followers). A creator with 50,000 followers and very engaged fans can be more interesting for brands than someone with 500,000 followers but hardly anyone actively following them. So if you want to make money with TikTok, focus on building a loyal community rather than just aiming for huge follower numbers.

Affiliate marketing: Earn money with links

In addition to direct sponsorship by brands, there is another source of income: Affiliate Marketing. In doing so, you place Affiliate links to products or services in your TikTok profile or describe them in videos. If your followers buy something via this link, you will receive a commission. This is usually around 5-10% of the purchase price.

Let's say you're a food TikToker from Germany and show off great kitchen appliances in your videos. You can add an affiliate link to the blender or pan to your profile. If people buy the product via this link, you earn money without being paid directly by TikTok. In the USA in particular, many creators use affiliate links to supplement their income. This also works in Switzerland and Germany - Amazon partner links are used more often, for example. It is important to make it clear that it is advertising or a referral link.

The advantage of affiliate marketing: you don't need millions of followers. Even with a smaller but interested niche, you can generate regular income through affiliate commissions. However, the large sums are usually only achieved with a larger reach.

Good affiliate marketing programs for influencers:

• LTK (rewardStyle) - Creator application - Fashion & Lifestyle (influencer storefronts).
• GetYourGuide Partner - Travel & Activities.
• B&H Photo Video Affiliate - Tech, photo/video equipment.
• Ulta Beauty - Affiliate/Creator Programs - Beauty & Cosmetics.
• Myprotein - Affiliated Partners - Fitness & Supplements.
• NordVPN - Affiliate Program - VPN & online security.
• eToro Partners - Finance & Investing (broker leads, regulated).
• Chewy - Affiliates - Pet supplies.
• HelloFresh - Affiliate - Food & Meal Kits.
• Wayfair - Affiliate (CJ Signup) - Home & Furniture.

Further sources of income on TikTok

In addition to Creator Fund, sponsorships and affiliate links, there are a few other ways to earn money on TikTok:

• Live gifts: If you Livestreams on TikTok viewers can send you virtual gifts (e.g. in the form of TikTok coins that you can later exchange for money). Popular creators sometimes receive considerable amounts through live gifts, especially if they have a dedicated fanbase. However, this usually requires at least 1,000 followers to go live.
• Own products and merch: Some TikTokers sell their own products, merchandise (e.g. T-shirts with slogans or logos) or e-books/courses. TikTok is ideal for advertising such products. Of course, the income here depends heavily on how well your product sells.
• TikTok Creator Marketplace: TikTok itself has set up a marketplace where companies and creators can find each other directly. There you can apply for campaigns and get paid if a deal is made. This is basically a platform for Influencer marketingthat TikTok provides.
• New programs (TikTok Creativity Program): TikTok is constantly testing new ways to support creators. In 2023, the "Creativity Program (Beta)" was launched, which could potentially bring higher rewards per view than the old Creator Fund. However, the data on this is still limited. Nevertheless, it is worth keeping an eye on TikTok's official announcements, as the platform is constantly evolving.

As you can see, there are many ways to earn money on TikTok. Successful creators often combine several methods: they are in the Creator Fund (if available), have sponsors, use affiliate links and interact live with their fans.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about TikTok earnings as well as for other countries.

Conclusion: Is it worth earning money with TikTok?

To summarize: Earning money with TikTok is possible, but it requires patience and the right strategies. The question "How much do you earn with TikTok" cannot be answered in general terms - some only earn a few francs on the side, while top stars earn several million US dollars a year. TikTok itself only pays a few cents per 1,000 views, but clever creators make use of Influencer marketing, Affiliate links and other ways to get significantly more out of it.

If you want to get started yourself, first focus on good content and building a following. Earning money with TikTok is then the next step - and as you can see, there are numerous options. With the right mix of creativity and business acumen, you too can benefit from the TikTok trend. Good luck with it!

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