To stay competitive among social platforms and to address complaints about low payouts from its original (and now discontinued) Creator Fund, TikTok has recently launched a new monetization tool: the Creativity Program.
According to TikTok, the Creativity Program is designed to reward creators for their “high-quality, original content.” The initiative is the latest addition to TikTok’s monetization solutions for creators, including the ad revenue share program TikTok Pulse, tipping features, as well as the paywall feature Series.
Is TikTok finally getting it right with this new fund? And how do you join this new program, anyway?
Below, we break down everything you need to know about the TikTok Creativity Program.
What is the TikTok Creativity Program?
TikTok’s Creativity Program Beta was first announced at the end of February 2023, as a new way to reward content creators financially. The program is supposed to be the answer to complaints that some creators had about the subpar payouts from the original TikTok Creator Fund.
One of the biggest criticisms of the Creator Fund is that it just didn’t pay enough, with some creators saying they only made $20-$30 a month even though their videos had millions of views.
TikTok recently announced that it will discontinue the Creator Fund in the the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany on December 16, 2023, replacing it fully with the Creativity Program. Creators enrolled in the original fund can switch over to the Creativity Program.
So, is the TikTok Creativity Program going to support creators who felt somewhat demoralized by the lackluster Creator Fund? At this point, it’s still too early to say. However, TikTok did claim that with the Creativity Program, creators can earn 20 times the amount they were making through the original fund. If you’re eligible for it, the program is certainly worth a shot.
Who’s eligible for the TikTok Creativity Program?
While TikTok hasn’t revealed exactly how much you can make from the Creativity Program, it has shared some requirements for joining the program. Eligible creators should:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have at least 10,000 followers.
- Have a minimum of 100,000 valid video views in the last 30 days.
- Have a personal account that’s in good standing. Business accounts are not accepted.
- Abide by TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
- Be located in a region where the TikTok Creativity Program Beta is available. TikTok plans to bring the program to more regions in the future.
In May 2023, TikTok rolled out the Creativity Program Beta to all eligible U.S. creators. And as of September 2023, TikTok has expanded the program to even more regions, including Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, and the U.K.
How to join the TikTok Creativity Program
If you’re one of the creators who felt underpaid by the original fund, you can upgrade to the Creativity Program. To join the program, simply follow these steps:
- Tap Profile on the TikTok app.
- Then, tap the Menu button (☰) and select Settings.
- Select Creator Tools.
- Then, tap Creator Fund and then Dashboard.
- Tap Switch to upgrade to the Creativity Program.
For those who weren’t enrolled in the TikTok Creator Fund, you can directly apply for the new program. Here’s how:
- Tap Profile on the TikTok app. at the bottom of your feed.
- Then, tap the Menu button (☰) and select Settings.
- Select Creator tools.
- Tap Creativity Program to apply.
You’ll receive a notification on whether your application is successful within three days after you’ve submitted your application.
How is the TikTok Creativity Program different from the Creator Fund?
While there isn’t a lot of information available on the TikTok Creativity Program yet, you may notice several key differences between this new initiative and the TikTok Creator Fund.
It’s available in more regions
It’s early in the game for the Creativity Program, but even so, the new program is already available to creators in a number of countries.
While the Creator Fund was only available for creators in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Italy, France, and Spain, the Creativity Program is currently open for creators in the U.S., U.K., Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, and Korea. If you’re based in one of the these countries and are already enrolled in the Creator Fund, you can upgrade to the new program.
Videos have to be longer than one minute
Only eligible creators posting longer videos of over one minute can start earning from the TikTok Creativity Program. For some, this seems to be a sign that TikTok is trying to compete with YouTube on longer videos.
On the contrary, the TikTok Creator Fund had no such requirement. It didn’t matter how long your videos were, you just needed a minimum of 10k followers and 100k views over the past 30 days.
It’s supposed to pay creators (a lot) more
One of the complaints about TikTok’s Creator Fund was just how small the payouts were. Some creators were so dejected that they wanted to quit making content altogether. So how does the Creativity Program shape up in comparison?
A TikTok spokesperson told The Verge that creators can expect to make 20 times the amount they were making through the original fund, which sounds promising.
To help you get an idea of estimated revenue you can make with this new program, some creators have already started sharing their numbers online:
So is this going to be the typical creator’s experience? Or are we looking at outliers? Only time will tell. But so far, it does seem like the TikTok Creativity Program is rewarding creators with more money than the Creator Fund.
What are other ways you can make money on TikTok?
So what should you do if you’re frustrated by the chump change you’re getting from TikTok but aren’t eligible for the Creativity Program yet? Luckily, there are other ways you can make money on TikTok:
LIVE Gifts and Subscriptions: Going live on TikTok is one of the easiest ways to earn some cash on the platform. When you go live, your audience can use Diamonds (i.e. TikTok’s digital currency) to buy virtual gifts, as a way to thank you for creating great content. Your biggest fans can also sign up for a paid LIVE subscription, which gives them access to subscriber-only LIVEs and other perks.
TikTok Series: A relatively feature, Series lets you put longer content of up to 20 minutes behind a paywall, allowing you to create exclusive, premium content while monetizing your audience.
TikTok Pulse: First announced back in May 2022, TikTok Pulse is a revenue-sharing program for advertising.
Selling digital products: If you have an audience on TikTok, you can make money by creating and selling digital products on the platform. From templates to ebooks to mini-courses, you can create different digital products based on your niche and what your audience needs. Once you’ve come up with a product, you can use TikTok as a marketing channel to boost your sales.
Want to get in on the digital product game? The Leap’s AI-powered tool helps you create and sell digital products in minutes. Try The Leap for free today!
Creating UGC (user-generated content) for brands: Many brands pay creators to make authentic-feeling, UGC-like content to promote their products on TikTok. If you have the ability to create high-converting content, this is a great way to flex your skills and earn some money.
TikTok Effect Creator Rewards: Are you good at making viral-worthy AR (augmented reality) effects and filters? This $6 million fund pays the creators behind TikTok’s top-performing effects.
Wondering how much money you could make on TikTok? Use our free TikTok Money Calculator to estimate your earnings.
Need more tips for making money on TikTok?
Even if the TikTok Creator Fund was a bit of a dud and the Creativity Program is in its early stages, it’s still possible for you to make substantial income through TikTok. Besides the platform’s own monetization tools, explore other revenue opportunities like selling digital products, creating UGC for brands, or partnering with brands on sponsored content.
For more tips and ideas, download our free guide on how to make money on TikTok!
FAQ
What is the TikTok Creativity Program?
The TikTok Creativity Program is a new monetization tool designed to reward creators for making high-quality original content. It’s believed that the program will better reward TikTok creators, as TikTok shared that it developed the Creativity Program based on learnings and feedback from the original Creator Fund.
How do you qualify for the TikTok Creativity Program?
To qualify for the TikTok Creativity Program, you must meet the following requirements:
- Be of age 18 or older.
- Have 10,000 followers or more.
- Have a minimum of 100,000 valid video views in the last month.
- Have a personal account that’s in good standing. Business accounts aren’t accepted.
- Follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines.
You must also be located in a region where the TikTok Creativity Program is available. See the full list below:
- Brazil
- France
- Germany
- Japan
- Korea
- United Kingdom
- United States
How do I join the TikTok Creativity Program?
If you’re enrolled in the Creator Fund, you can follow these steps to switch over to the Creativity Program Beta:
- Tap Profile on the TikTok app.
- Then, tap the Menu button (☰) and select Settings.
- Select Creator tools and then Creator Fund.
- Tap Switch at the bottom of the page, and voilà!
For those who aren’t currently enrolled in the original Creator Fund, you can apply for the new program by following these steps:
- Tap Profile on the TikTok app.
- Select Creator tools and then Creator Fund.
- Tap Creator tools and then Creativity Program.
TikTok will then review your application, and notify you if it’s successful within three days after you’ve applied.
Follow The Leap on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for more monetization tips for creators. We also make a newsletter.
Further reading
- How To Make Money on TikTok: 8 Effective Ways
- TikTok Is Shutting Down the Creator Fund. What Now?
- How Much Does TikTok Pay You?
- TikTok Money Calculator: Estimate How Much You Can Earn as a Creator
- How To Sell Products on TikTok: A Beginner’s Guide
- TikTok Pulse: How Does the Revenue Share Program Work – And Is It Worth It?
- TikTok Effect Creator Rewards: What To Know About the $6 Million Fund
