TikTok Creator Fund and Creativity Program: how creators get paid
The TikTok Creator Fund has closed. Creators now earn through the TikTok Creativity Program, and it pays meaningfully more for longer, original video.
If you want to earn money from TikTok, the route is the Creativity Program (in some regions branded as the Rewards programme). It replaced the original Creator Fund, which TikTok began winding down in December 2023 after years of creator complaints about thin payouts. The new model rewards qualified views on videos over one minute long, and TikTok says creators can earn up to 20 times what the old fund paid.
This guide breaks down both programmes: what the Creator Fund was, how the Creativity Program works, who qualifies, what it pays, and how to join.
Key takeaways:
- The original TikTok Creator Fund (launched June 2020) is closed to new entrants and has been retired.
- The TikTok Creativity Program is the current monetisation route. It pays on qualified views of videos longer than one minute.
- Eligibility starts at 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, plus an account in good standing.
- Payouts run on RPM (revenue per 1,000 qualified views) and vary by engagement, content authenticity and region.
- Platform payouts are one income stream. The larger, more stable one is brand partnerships, and that’s a different game.
Credit: TikTok
What were the TikTok Creator Fund and the TikTok Creativity Program?
Launched in June 2020, the TikTok Creator Fund paid creators directly for their content, an alternative to the ad-revenue-share model used by other platforms, and a way to keep talent producing the videos that kept users scrolling.
TikTok opened with an initial investment of $200 million in the US and said it intended to grow the fund past $1 billion within three years.
The Creator Fund paid out based on a mix of views, engagement and region. There was no application, meeting the criteria automatically made you eligible. But payouts weren’t guaranteed even when you qualified, and the numbers were small: estimates put earnings at roughly 2 to 4 cents per 1,000 views. A fixed overall cap meant that as more creators joined, each one’s share thinned out. That dilution is exactly why creators grew frustrated with it.
In December 2023, after sustained feedback on low payouts, TikTok announced it was retiring the original Creator Fund and moving creators onto the Creativity Program. The old fund is now closed to new entrants.
The replacement rewards creators for longer, original video and offers clearer monetisation. TikTok says creators can earn up to 20 times what the Creator Fund paid, and the longer-format focus doubles as a way to attract advertisers with more ad placement opportunities. The programme also bundles in educational resources, networking, and a path toward brand partnerships.
@tiktokfeatures Join the new Creativity Program Beta and get rewarded for longer quality content. #CreativityProgramBeta ♬ original sound – TikTok Features
Who is eligible for the TikTok Creativity Program?
To qualify, you’ll need to meet all of the following:
- Be at least 18 years old (or 19 in South Korea)
- Have a TikTok account in good standing, with no history of regularly violating the Community Guidelines or Terms of Service
- Have a personal account: business, political and government accounts aren’t eligible
- Live in a region where the programme is available
- Have at least 10,000 followers (or 50,000 in South Korea)
- Have at least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
Credit: TikTok
How does the TikTok Creativity Program work?
The mechanics are more transparent than the old fund. Here’s how it works:
- Viewers have to watch your content for a set amount of time before it counts toward earnings
- Rewards are calculated on RPM, average gross revenue per 1,000 qualified views (Revenue Per Mille)
- Your RPM fluctuates with video engagement, content authenticity, the region your video is viewed in, and your adherence to the Community Guidelines and Terms of Service
What are the TikTok Creativity Program content requirements?
If you’re planning to monetise, your videos need to clear these bars:
- Original and high-quality: filmed, designed and produced entirely by you
- At least one minute long
- Eligible format: Duets, Stitches, Photo Mode videos, ads and sponsored content are excluded
- Uploaded after you joined the Creativity Program
- At least 1,000 qualified For You feed views (views from the same account count once per video), worth tracking alongside your wider TikTok analytics
- Views longer than five seconds to count
- Not marked ‘Not interested’: those views are excluded
- No ads, disinformation, paid promotions, sponsored content or series-linked videos: these aren’t included
@tiktokCheck out TikTok’s new Creativity Program. It’s a more transparent way to help grow your community, with the potential to earn more. Eligible creators can apply today! ♬ original sound – TikTok
How much does the TikTok Creativity Program pay?
More than the Creator Fund, and with more clarity. TikTok says the programme gives creators the potential to earn up to 20 times the amount previously offered by the fund.
Actual earnings vary widely, because RPM moves with engagement, region and content type. Treat any single creator’s screenshot as a data point, not a forecast. Yours will track to your own audience and watch time.
The honest read: platform payouts are real but volatile, and they reward volume and watch time over relationships. They’re a useful income stream, not a strategy.
@smartworkai How much does the TikTok creativity program pay? I break down my earnings results and what I’ve learned about the program rules. #creativityprogram #tiktokcreators #creatorfund #tiktokcreativityprogrambeta #tiktokcreator ♬ original sound – Celia | Ai Tips & Life Hacks
How to join the TikTok Creativity Program
With the old Creator Fund closed, here’s how to join the current programme:
- Open the TikTok app
- Tap Profile at the bottom
- Tap the Menu ☰ button at the top
- Tap Creator tools
- Tap Creativity Program
- Follow the on-screen instructions
Your age is set by the birthdate on your account and is confirmed during the application. Applications are reviewed and you’ll usually hear back within three days. Unlike the old fund, acceptance isn’t automatic, but if you’re declined and believe you qualify, you can appeal within 30 days or reapply after that.
@claireliz_ Replying to @Lilly / nyc + fashion how to join the tiktok creativity program! this is the new tiktok creator fund and how you can earn money off your tiktoks 💫 #tiktokcreativityprogrambeta #tiktokcreativityprogram #microinfluencertips #microinfluencertiktok #learnontiktok #aspiringcreatortips #earnontiktok ♬ original sound – claire | social media coach
Does the Creativity Program differ by country?
The core mechanics are consistent across regions, but the details that change are practical ones:
- Currency: payouts land in your local currency
- Tax: your obligations depend on where you live
- Content trends: what performs varies market to market
Availability has also rolled out gradually. TikTok expanded the programme across more regions over time, so the specific eligibility thresholds and exact branding can differ by country. Always confirm the current rules for your region inside the TikTok app before you rely on them. Programme terms change.
Frequently asked questions
Is the TikTok Creator Fund still open?
No. TikTok began retiring the original Creator Fund in December 2023 and it’s closed to new entrants. Creators now monetise through the Creativity Program instead.
What’s the difference between the Creator Fund and the Creativity Program?
The Creativity Program rewards longer, original videos (over one minute), uses a clearer RPM-based payout, and pays substantially more. TikTok cites up to 20 times the old fund. The Creator Fund paid a small, capped amount across all eligible content regardless of length.
How many followers do I need to monetise on TikTok?
For the Creativity Program you generally need at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days, plus an account in good standing. Thresholds can vary by region.
Is platform monetisation the best way to make money on TikTok?
It’s one way, but rarely the biggest. For most creators, brand partnerships and sponsored work earn more, and earn it more predictably than view-based payouts that swing with the algorithm.
Platform payouts are income. A creator business is built on relationships.
The Creativity Program is worth joining if you qualify. It’s free money for content you’re already making. But view-based payouts are volatile by design, and they reward chasing watch time over building anything durable.
The creators who earn consistently treat their channel as more than a feed. They build a recognisable point of view, an audience that trusts them, and a body of work brands want to be part of. Platform funds reward the video. Brand relationships reward the creator.
That’s the side of the equation Vamp works on. We’re a tech-enabled influencer marketing agency. We design the creator-led systems brands use to find, brief and back the right creators, so the partnerships are fair, the work is good, and the relationships compound. Keep making content that’s unmistakably yours; the programmes will come and go, but a strong creator brand is the asset that lasts.