How It Works and How to Join
The TikTok Creator Fund is a way to support and reward creators for their content and creativity.
But even after three years of the Creator Fund running, TikTok users still aren’t sure whether it will benefit them, if it’s worth joining, or if there is a better way to monetize their content.
We’ll explore these topics so you can decide whether the TikTok Creator Fund is right for you.
What is the TikTok Creator Fund?
TikTok launched the $70 million Creator Fund in July 2020 as a way to support and compensate creators who meet certain criteria for their time and effort spent creating TikTok videos.
TikTok introduced the Creator Fund as an alternative way to earn money and incentivize content creation on the app rather than using an ad-revenue-sharing program.
The company also announced plans to increase the fund to $1 billion in the US, with hopes to double that amount for the world.
How do I join the Creator Fund?
It’s easy to apply to the Creator Fund via the TikTok app.
However, only certain TikTok users are eligible to join. These are the current requirements you need to adhere to before you can apply:
You must be 18 years of age or older
You must be based in the US, the UK, France, Spain, Germany, or Italy
You must have 10,000+ followers
You must have 100,000+ video views in the last 30 days
You must adhere to the platform’s community guidelines and terms of service
If you’re eligible, you can enroll in the Creator Fund and join the creator economy by following these steps:
1. Once you’re in the app, click Profile.
2. Select the three lines in the top right corner.
3. Click Creator Tools.
4. Select Creator Fund.
5. Read and acknowledge the agreement.
6. Click Apply.
I’ve been rejected from the Creator Funds. Can I reapply?
Yes. If you were rejected in error and are still hitting all the eligibility requirements and abiding by the TikTok community guidelines, you can reapply after 30 days.
How does the Creator Fund work?
It’s pretty vague as to how the fund is divided and how payouts work, even three years in.
It’s been described as a pie that changes daily based on creator performance and the tens of millions of videos published. Your slice of the pie is determined by how much you, as a creator, make an impact.
How much does the TikTok Creator Fund pay?
There’s no specific data from TikTok about exactly how much each creator will receive.
But creators have shared their experiences with the fund. The reports and experiences vary.
For example, @LoochyTV was paid $330.33 for over 10 million views. This means TikTok paid around 0.000033 cents per view, which seems very low.
Others seem to be happy earning any money at all from the fund.
@TGDefinition received £40.78 ($50.81) by repurposing existing content and seemed pleased with the ease of earning money through the fund.
However, compared to YouTube’s AdSense payments or how much brands pay for sponsorships, this is very low.
The low payments sting a little more considering TikTok originally described the Creator Fund as a way to support creators and turn passion into a career. (It later softened this statement.)
Even a hugely popular creator like MrBeast, with over a billion views, has only made $14,910.92.
Is there a minimum or maximum amount the TikTok Creator Fund pays?
No. TikTok claims that there is no minimum or maximum payout each individual can earn from the Creator Fund.
How are the funds calculated?
The payment structure is pretty elusive or, as TikTok calls it, dynamic.
The main factor that seems to influence the amount you’re paid for each video is the number of genuine video views.
However, TikTok also states that these factors are considered when calculating your revenue:
Region of the views
Video engagement
Sticking to the community guidelines and terms of service
Should I join the TikTok Creator Fund?
Yes, we’d recommend applying, if you are eligible.
If you’re not sure if it’s right for you, we’ve created a list of the pros and cons to help you decide.
Pros
Pay for content you’re already creating. If you’re going to continue creating incredible TikTok videos, you might as well get paid for it.
It doesn’t affect your views or engagement. TikTok explicitly states that joining the Creator Fund won’t affect your video’s performance.
Inspiration to create. TikTok is hoping the Creator Fund will help inspire users to create more content.
You can leave. Not getting on with the Creator Fund? You can opt out. There’s no commitment.
No obligations. Unlike working with brands, there are no restrictions on who you can partner with and what content you can produce.
It’s relatively new. We never know what’s going to happen or launch next with TikTok. So, the benefits of being part of the Creator Fund could change. For example, the payouts could increase, it could open your content to new opportunities, or you could get access to new features, like the Creativity Program (more information on that below).
Cons
Low payouts. Creators have reported that payouts are pretty low, and it’s unlikely you’ll make a livable wage from the fund.
Inconsistency. There’s no official way to calculate how much you’re going to earn from the Creator Fund. This is frustrating and can make it hard to create the right kind of content to improve your earnings.
Alternative monetization opportunities. There are tons of ways, other than the Creator Fund, you can generate income from your content, including joining the Creator Marketplace, AdSense, and brand sponsorships. Explore your options and join the creator economy. It’s booming.
What about the TikTok Creativity Program?
In February of 2023, TikTok launched the Creativity Program Beta.
It has been developed based on learnings and feedback from the Creator Fund.
So we’re hoping it’s a new and improved reward system.
It started as an invite-only program, but now, if you’re enrolled in the Creator Fund and based in the US, you can request to join. However, spaces are still limited, and acceptance is not guaranteed, even if you meet the criteria.
What’s the difference between the Creativity Program and the Creator Fund?
Despite being developed based on the Creator Fund, it does have some differences.
Video duration. You need to create videos of more than 60 seconds to earn money from the Creativity Program. We think this is probably to stop creators from reusing their content on YouTube Shorts and other social media platforms to keep TikTok content exclusive.
Not available everywhere. If the Creator Fund is country restrictive, the Creativity Program is even more so. It’s currently only available in the US, France, and Brazil.
Updated dashboard. This gives creators a much better insight into their earnings than the Creator Fund does.
Revenue estimation. See an estimated amount you’ll earn on your current views.
Video performance metrics. TikTok will show you which videos are qualified for the program, how many views are qualified, and how much you’ll earn per 1,000 views on each video.
So, is the Creativity Program better than the Creator Fund?
We don’t know for sure, but we hope so.
As it’s based on the feedback from the Creator Fund, we think TikTok has learned from the low payments and general disappointment.
The Creativity Program is certainly looking more promising.
Creators who are enrolled in the Creativity Program are comparing it with the Creator Fund and, so far, more creators are happy with the results.
Other users have reported that they would have only earned $80-$120 for the same video on the Creator Fund but have earned $2971.60 with the new Creativity Program.
The current feedback is pretty positive from those using it. The dashboard is already far more comprehensive, and those enrolled are reporting higher earnings too. Win-win.
Final thoughts
We’d recommend joining the Creator Fund if you qualify.
The pros definitely outweigh any negatives, and if it’s not working out, it’s super easy to opt out too.
The fund is a great way to earn a little bit of extra money for your content and possibly be first in line to test out any new launches, like the Creativity Program.
Want to learn more?
