How to Make Money on Instagram? A Simple Guide for Beginners

That's the key difference from older guides: Instagram no longer pays for reach. The Reels Play Bonus stopped accepting new participants in March 2023. Today the money comes from fans and partners, not from the platform.

What does each route earn?

These are rough figures. What you can actually charge depends more on your niche than on follower count — finance, tech and business pay far more than entertainment.

How brand collaborations work

A brand pays you to feature its product in a post, Reel or story. For most creators this is the biggest income source, and it works even with small accounts as long as the community is active.

How to get enquiries: have a clear topic so brands can see what you stand for. Put a contact option in your bio. Approach brands yourself instead of waiting. And remember: paid posts must be labelled as advertising — that's not a suggestion, it's a legal requirement.

The Creator Marketplace, which connects brands and creators, only runs in selected countries. Where it's missing, collaborations happen through direct contacts or agencies.

How subscriptions work

Your followers pay a monthly amount and get exclusive content — dedicated stories, subscriber-only Reels, live videos or a private channel. You set the price. The conditions are on the official Instagram monetisation page.

Two things make subscriptions attractive: Instagram takes no cut, and the income is predictable instead of depending on individual viral posts. You need 10,000 followers and a country where the feature is live.

The catch: it requires regular extra content. Anyone who flips the switch and delivers nothing loses subscribers within a month or two.

What gifts and stars are worth

Fans buy stars and send them under your Reels. Each star is worth one US cent, with payouts from a balance of 25 US dollars.

Honestly assessed: as an income source this only works with large, very active reach. The real value lies elsewhere — stars tell you precisely which content your community genuinely values, and that information is worth more than the few euros.

How affiliate marketing works on Instagram

You recommend other companies' products and earn a commission when someone buys through your link. There's no follower threshold and no approval needed from Instagram.

What makes the difference: only recommend what fits your topic. A fitness account that suddenly promotes insurance loses trust — and trust is the currency every other income stream feeds on. Labelling rules apply here too, set out in the Partner Monetisation Policies.

Why your own products are the strongest route

Because no middleman takes a cut and nobody can change the rules on you. Selling your own product — a course, consulting, a craft, a digital offer — keeps the full margin and doesn't depend on whether Instagram shuts a programme down.

That's exactly the lesson of the Reels Play Bonus: platform programmes come and go, a customer relationship stays.

What about pay per Reels view?

It no longer exists in the form it's often described. The Reels Play Bonus has not accepted new participants since March 2023. Bonus programmes still exist, but by invitation only, for limited periods and in selected countries.

If you want a fixed payout per 1,000 views, TikTok is the likelier place: its Creator Rewards programme pays between 0.40 and 1.00 dollars per 1,000 qualified views, though only in participating countries. The details are in How much do you earn with TikTok.

Where to start

If you have no income yet, the order is almost always the same: first affiliate links or a small offer of your own — neither has a minimum. Then collaborations, once your engagement rate holds up. Later subscriptions, once the community is big enough to justify regular extra content.

Which tool unlocks at which threshold is covered in detail in When do you start earning money on Instagram.

FAQ

What's the fastest way to make money on Instagram?

Affiliate links or your own small offer — neither requires a minimum follower count or approval.

Does Instagram pay for views?

No. The Reels Play Bonus has not accepted new participants since March 2023. Bonus programmes are invitation only.

How much do you charge for a sponsored post?

As a rough guide, €50 to €150 per 10,000 followers, depending on niche, format and engagement rate.

Does Instagram take a cut of subscription revenue?

No, Instagram takes no cut. App store fees may still apply.

Do I have to label paid posts?

Yes. Advertising must be recognisable — that applies to collaborations and affiliate links alike.

Do I have to pay tax on this income?

Yes, including goods received for collaborations. Rules differ by country; for recurring amounts it's worth speaking to a professional. This article is not tax advice.

Conclusion

Making money on Instagram in 2026 means fans and partners instead of the platform. Payments from Instagram itself have become a side note, while collaborations, your own offers and subscriptions make up the bulk.

To get started you don't need 10,000 followers — you need a clear topic, an active community and an offer that matches it.