So, you’re looking to get paid through the TikTok Creator Fund? Well, there's a huge update you need to know about first: the original fund doesn't exist anymore. It's been officially replaced by the new TikTok Creativity Program, which completely changes how creators get paid.
The End of an Era: The Creator Fund Is Gone
For a long time, the TikTok Creator Fund was the way for creators to make money directly on the app. It was a big deal and helped legitimize content creation as a real job for a lot of people. But, let's be honest, it wasn't perfect.
While the idea was great, many creators found the payouts to be incredibly low and all over the place. You could have a video blow up with millions of views and earn just a few dollars. It was frustrating and made it nearly impossible to build a reliable income. The old system often rewarded just pumping out tons of videos, no matter the quality.
Why TikTok Made the Switch
TikTok saw these problems and decided to change its approach. The platform wanted to encourage creators to make more engaging, longer videos—the kind that keep people watching, a lot like YouTube's model. This is what led to the new Creativity Program.
This new program is built to offer a much better and more predictable way to earn. The big change? It specifically rewards videos that are longer than one minute. By offering a higher revenue per mille (RPM) for this type of content, TikTok is pushing creators to put more thought and effort into their work.
Key Takeaway: Moving from the Creator Fund to the Creativity Program is a major shift in how TikTok thinks about monetization. The focus is now on deeper engagement and rewarding creators who can capture an audience's attention for more than just a few seconds.
The original Creator Fund kicked off in July 2020 with a $200 million commitment, which grew to a $2 billion global pool by 2023. But even with that investment, the program was shut down for good on December 16, 2023, making way for the Creativity Program. You can read up on the history of TikTok's monetization efforts over at amraandelma.com.
Getting a handle on this change is the first real step to successfully making money from your content today.
Meeting the Creativity Program Requirements
Before you can even start thinking about joining the Creativity Program (the successor to the original Creator Fund), you've got to clear a few hurdles. TikTok put these rules in place for a reason—they're looking for creators with a real, engaged community that’s ready for monetization.
First up, the big one: your follower count. You’ll need at least 10,000 followers to even be in the running. Think of this as your ticket to the show. Hitting that number tells TikTok that you've put in the work to build an audience that consistently shows up for your content.
Hitting Your View and Account Goals
Followers are just one piece of the puzzle. TikTok also puts your recent content performance under a microscope. You’ll need to rack up at least 10,000 authentic video views within the last 30 days. This metric is all about proving that what you're posting right now is landing with people and making its way onto the For You Page. That’s where the real earning potential is.
This infographic lays out the basic path to getting your account qualified.
As you can see, it's a step-by-step process. Grow your audience, keep them engaged, and the monetization opportunities will follow.
Finally, your account has to be in "good standing." This is a non-negotiable. It means you play by the rules and consistently follow TikTok’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. If your account has a history of violations, you could get disqualified, even if your follower and view counts are solid. For a deeper dive, check out our guide on TikTok Creator Fund eligibility.
The core requirements are designed to filter for serious creators. Meeting them isn't just about unlocking a feature; it's about proving you can create content that people genuinely want to watch.
The full checklist is pretty straightforward, but it definitely takes dedication. Let's break it down into a quick reference table.
Creativity Program Beta Eligibility Checklist
Here’s a simple table to help you track where you stand with the core requirements for joining the TikTok Creativity Program.
| Requirement | What You Need | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Age | Be at least 18 years old. | This is a strict legal requirement. There's no way around it. |
| Follower Count | Have at least 10,000 followers. | Focus on a niche and post consistently to build a loyal following. |
| Video Views | Achieve 10,000+ views in the last 30 days. | Analyze your top-performing videos and create more content like them. |
| Account Status | Be in good standing with no major violations. | Regularly review TikTok's Community Guidelines to stay out of trouble. |
| Location | Reside in a supported country (US, UK, etc.). | Check the latest list of eligible countries, as it can expand. |
Meeting these criteria is your first major step. You also need to be on a TikTok Pro or Creator account and live in a country where the program is active, such as the US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, or Italy. If you're looking for more info on how payouts work, Bluehost’s guide to TikTok pay offers some great insights.
Getting into the Creativity Program: A Step-by-Step Guide
So, you've hit the follower and view counts and you're ready to start getting paid. Awesome. The good news is that applying for the Creativity Program is surprisingly straightforward, and you can do it all right inside the TikTok app. No clunky external websites to deal with.
Let’s walk through it.
First, pop open TikTok and head to your profile. See those three little lines in the top-right corner? Tap them to open up your Settings and privacy menu. This is basically the control panel for your entire account.
In that menu, you’re looking for Creator Tools. This is where TikTok keeps all the good stuff for creators—analytics, Q&A, and of course, the monetization options. Give that a tap.
Finding and Submitting Your Application
Once you're in Creator Tools, scan for the "Monetization" section and tap on Creativity Program Beta.
Now, here’s the moment of truth. If you’ve met all the requirements (age, followers, and those 100,000 views), you'll see a big, beautiful "Apply" button. If you're not quite there yet, the app will kindly show you exactly what you're still missing. It’s pretty transparent.
This screenshot from TikTok's own creator portal shows you what to look for:
Once you hit "Apply," you'll go through a couple of quick confirmation steps. You’ll have to prove you’re over 18, which usually means uploading a photo of a government-issued ID, so have that handy.
You'll also need to agree to the program's terms and conditions. I know it's tempting to just scroll and tap, but I really recommend you at least skim them. They contain the rules of the road for staying in the program and getting paid.
And that's it! After you submit, you just have to play the waiting game. TikTok says it can take a few days, but I've seen it vary. You can easily check your application status by heading right back to that same Creativity Program Beta screen.
Strategies to Maximize Your Earnings
Getting accepted into the Creativity Program is a fantastic achievement, but it's really just the starting line. Now the fun part begins: turning your content into a consistent source of income. This requires a slight shift in your creative strategy to match what the program actually rewards.
The single biggest change you need to make is focusing on longer videos. To see your earnings climb, you have to create compelling content that’s over one minute long. The algorithm is now built to reward creators who can keep people watching for more than just a few seconds.
This is a complete flip from the old Creator Fund, where short, punchy, viral videos were the name of the game. Now, things like deep-dive tutorials, detailed storytelling, and vlogs are performing incredibly well. Start thinking about how you can stretch your existing ideas into a longer format without making them boring.
Boosting Your RPM with Quality Content
The key metric you’ll become obsessed with is your RPM (Revenue Per Mille), which is what you earn for every 1,000 qualified views. A higher RPM means more money for the same amount of effort. With the Creativity Program, payouts can range anywhere from $0.40 to over $1.00 per 1,000 views on videos that pass the one-minute mark.
So, how do you get that RPM number up?
- Find a Profitable Niche: Not all niches are created equal. Topics like personal finance, tech reviews, and education tend to attract advertisers with deeper pockets, which often translates to a higher RPM for you.
- Drive Engagement: Don't just post and ghost. Actively encourage comments, saves, and shares. High engagement is a massive signal to the algorithm that your content is valuable, which helps it get pushed out to more people.
- Target High-Value Audiences: Content that resonates with viewers in countries with stronger economies (like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia) generally earns a higher RPM.
Of course, none of this matters if people don't see your video in the first place. Posting when your audience is most active is crucial. You can figure out the best times to post on TikTok to give your content the best possible start.
Creating a Sustainable Content Plan
Consistency is everything on TikTok, both for getting into the program and for succeeding once you're in. This means you need a content plan you can stick with for the long haul.
Pro Tip: Avoid creator burnout. Don't try to pump out multiple long-form videos every single day. Aim for 2-4 high-quality, well-produced videos per week. In the Creativity Program, quality truly trumps quantity.
Batch-creating your videos can be a total lifesaver. Try dedicating one day to filming several videos and another day to editing them. This way, you build a buffer of content that’s ready to go, so you’re not scrambling on days when you’re not feeling creative. If you want to get ahead, you can even TikTok schedule posts to maintain a consistent presence.
Common Mistakes That Can Get You Kicked Out
Getting into the TikTok Creativity Program feels amazing, but keeping your spot takes some real diligence. I’ve seen creators get their earnings paused or even get kicked out entirely over mistakes that are surprisingly easy to make. Honestly, knowing what not to do is just as crucial as knowing how to get in.
One of the fastest ways to get flagged is by using copyrighted material, especially commercial music. It's tempting to use a chart-topping song, but if it's not licensed for commercial use on TikTok, your video can get demonetized in a heartbeat. The safest bet is to stick exclusively to the sounds in TikTok's official commercial library.
Understanding Qualified Views and Originality
Another huge pitfall is unoriginal content. The whole point of the Creativity Program is to reward, well, creativity. If you’re just reposting clips from movies or other people’s videos without adding your own significant spin, you’re breaking the rules. This also applies to low-effort Duets or Stitches where you're just reacting without adding much substance.
Remember, a video going viral doesn't automatically mean a big payout. The program only pays for "qualified views," which are almost always from the For You Page. Views from paid ads or links you share elsewhere probably won't count.
To keep your account safe and the money coming in, you absolutely have to focus on a few things:
- Avoid Artificial Engagement: Whatever you do, don't buy likes, views, or followers. TikTok's algorithm is smarter than you think and can spot this activity from a mile away. It’s a surefire way to get banned from all monetization.
- Follow Community Guidelines: This sounds like a no-brainer, but even a single violation can get you suspended from the program. The rules change, so it's worth re-reading the guidelines every now and then.
- Create 100% Original Content: Your aim should be to make stuff that people can only find on your profile. That's who the program is built to reward.
Think about it this way: a creator who spends a week animating an original short is who TikTok wants to pay. Someone who just screen-records a funny clip from YouTube is not. Stick to being original and playing by the rules, and you'll secure your spot and keep your earnings flowing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Monetization
Jumping into TikTok monetization can feel like a maze, especially with the big switch from the old Creator Fund to the newer Creativity Program. Let's tackle some of the most common questions I hear from creators so you can get on the right track to earning.
The first thing everyone asks is, "What's the real difference between the old and new programs?" Honestly, it's night and day. The original Creator Fund was known for its frustratingly low and unpredictable payouts on just about any video. The new Creativity Program, on the other hand, is built to reward better, more thoughtful content. It offers a much higher payment rate, but there's a catch: it only pays for original videos that are longer than one minute.
Application and Video Eligibility
So you've applied. Now what? The waiting game can be tough. TikTok usually gets back to you within a few days, but don't panic if it takes a bit longer—they can get swamped with applications. You can always peek at your application status right in the Creator Tools section of your profile.
Here's a common stumbling block I see: many creators think any video over a minute will automatically start earning money once they're in. That's not how it works. To get paid, your video needs 'qualified views,' which mostly means views from the For You Page. On top of that, it absolutely must follow all of TikTok's Community Guidelines to the letter.
If you want to explore earning methods beyond just the Creativity Program, we've got you covered. Check out our detailed guide on how to monetize a TikTok account for a full breakdown of your options.
Common Policy Questions
"Can I join the program with all my accounts?" This is a big one, and TikTok's answer is pretty clear: you're generally limited to participating in the Creativity Program on a single account. They do this to keep the playing field level and stop people from trying to game the system.
And what if your application gets denied? It happens, and it's not the end of the world. If you don't get approved the first time, you can reapply after 30 days. My advice? Use that month wisely. Go back through the eligibility checklist, level up your content, and focus on boosting your engagement. Building one strong, compliant account is always the best path to long-term success.
Ready to bypass the grind and start earning right away? MonetizedProfiles offers fully approved TikTok accounts that meet all the requirements for the Creativity Program. Skip the waiting and get a monetized account today at https://monetizedprofiles.com.
