Last week, TikTok became the first app (not a game) to make a whopping $10 billion from people buying stuff on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
And it’s all thanks to TikTok Coins.
The social media giant created a marketplace where audiences can “tip” creators they like.
This is a further incentive, besides the TikTok Creativity Program, of course, to keep their creators on the platform by offering them different revenue streams to profit from their content.
In this blog post, we will dive into the world of TikTok Coins and discover if they are worth the hype. So, let’s get started!
What Are TikTok Coins?
TikTok Coins are like the currency of TikTok. If you want to get them, you have to buy them with real money, and you can decide how many coins you want to get. Once you have these coins, you can use them to buy gifts for your favorite TikTok creators.
Now, each gift you can buy costs a different amount of coins, and they're not just regular gifts, they're represented by different emojis.
These coins were made so that fans and users of TikTok can give a little something back to their favorite creators. It's like a virtual way of “tipping”, a way to say, “Thank you for the great content”.
If you're a TikTok creator, you can use these coins to boost your posts. It's like giving your content a little extra push so more people can see it. And, if your audience sends you coins on a live stream or a comment section, you can also cash in these coins into actual money.
What Are the Different Types of TikTok Gifts?
So, as we said TikTok users can use these coins to buy different gifts that they can give to their favorite creators. These gifts are represented by different emojis and each one is worth a certain amount, the list includes:
- The Panda Emoji
The Panda emoji is one of the most affordable of the bunch and is worth 5 coins, which is about $0.065. The sparkling Diamond version is worth $0.0325.
- Italian Hand Emoji
Now, there's the Italian Hand emoji, perfect for expressing feelings with style. It’s also worth 5 coins, about $0.065, and its Diamond buddy is $0.0325.
- Love Bang Emoji
This one is worth 25 coins, which is around $0.325. The Diamond version is $0.1625. You can share your love with your favorite creators by using this emoji.
- Sun Cream Emoji
On sunny days, the Sun Cream emoji is great for spreading good vibes. It's worth 50 coins, so that's about $0.65. The Diamond version is $0.325. A simple way to brighten someone's day!
- Rainbow Puke Emoji
Now, if you want to make a big colorful statement, the Rainbow Puke emoji is worth 100 coins. That's $1.3, and the Diamond one is $0.65.
- Concert Emoji
The Concert emoji is for the music side of TikTok, and it's worth 500 coins. That's $6.5, and the Diamond version is $3.25.
- I'm Very Rich Emoji
When TikTok users are feeling generous, they tend to go for this emoji. It's worth 1000 coins, which is about $13. The Diamond version is $6.5.
- Drama Queen Emoji
And lastly, the Drama Queen emoji steals the show at 5000 coins. That's $65, and the Diamond one is $32.5. This is the big gun in the TikTok Coins’ economy.
What Are TikTok Coins Used for?
All of these emojis are great to use on the platform. But what can you use them for? Well, you can use them in three cool ways.
Sending Gifts on TikTok Live
TikTok coins allow users to purchase gifts for their beloved creators during live streams. As creators amass these virtual gifts, they can exchange them for real money. The act of sending gifts during live streams triggers on-screen notifications visible to everyone, including the content creator.
This feature essentially functions as a virtual tip jar, and recipients often express gratitude in real time, sometimes offering shoutouts to generous fans.
Sending Gifts in a Creator's Comment Section
For those creators who don't partake in live streaming, TikTok coins provide another avenue for fan support, sending gifts through the comment section.
This method ensures that users can still express their appreciation and encouragement even if the creator isn't actively engaging in a live broadcast. It's a way for the TikTok community to connect and show solidarity with their favorite content creators.
Buying a TikTok Promotion
Beyond supporting individual creators, TikTok coins can be used through the TikTok Promote feature. This functionality allows users to invest their TikTok coins to boost the visibility of one of their videos over a specified duration.
The cost of these promotions varies depending on the desired duration and the number of views. Essentially, it's a tool that empowers content creators to give their videos an extra push, reaching a wider audience and gaining more recognition on the platform.
How Can Creators Earn TikTok Coins?
Now, getting these coins can be done in different ways, of course, you can just buy them. However, if you are a content creator, here are some different ways you can earn TikTok Coins without spending money. In fact, you can make money.
In-App Activities
You can earn TikTok Coins by being active on the app. TikTok often has events, challenges, and campaigns where you can win coins for participating and completing tasks. Just keep an eye on the app's pages for these opportunities.
Refer a Friend
TikTok sometimes has referral programs. If you invite friends to join and they become active users, you can get TikTok Coins as a reward for bringing in new people.
Live streaming and Gifts
If you're into live streaming, your viewers can send you virtual gifts, which you can turn into TikTok Coins. And, even cash in your coins for actual money. They can also live you coins in your comment section.
Join TikTok Premium
TikTok Premium is a subscription service that gives you different perks, including TikTok Coins. Subscribers get a certain number of coins each month as part of their Premium package.
How to buy coins on TikTok?
First, you must be at least 18 years old and have a TikTok account with a verified identity.
1- Click on this link to access TikTok Coins: TikTok Coins. Alternatively, you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser's address bar: https://www.tiktok.com/coin/
2- Log in using your verified TikTok account.
3- After logging in, you should see a screen similar to the one shown below: 👇
4- Choose the offer that suits your needs.
Please note that the cost of TikTok coins can vary slightly based on your location and the device you use for the purchase. Some sources suggest that purchasing coins through a computer may be more cost-effective than buying them via a phone.
Payment options include Mastercard, Visa Card, or PayPal.
TikTok's pricing strategy is designed so that the more you spend, the better value you get. For instance, from a value-for-money perspective, purchasing 17,500 coins offers a better deal compared to buying just 350 coins.
How Much Are TikTok Coins Worth?
When you want to buy TikTok Coins, there are different options for how much you can get. Each TikTok coin is worth about 1.5 cents, and you can buy them in various bundles. For example, you can start with 65 coins for 99 cents.
If you want more, there are bigger packages like 1,321 coins for $19.99, 6,607 coins for $99.99, or 16,500 coins for $249.99. Now, there's this really fancy gift called a Universe, but it costs a whopping 34,999 coins, which is around $525.
It's a cool way to show a lot of love to your favorite creator, but it's up to you to decide if it's worth spending that much money. But it’s something creators enjoy receiving.
Now, when TikTok creators get these gifts, they can exchange them for something called virtual diamonds. These diamonds can then be turned into real money. But here's the catch, diamonds are like TikTok's own money, and they're worth half of what coins are worth.
This is because TikTok takes a 50% commission. So, if a gift is valued at 10,000 coins, the creator actually gets the equivalent of 5,000 coins, which is $75 after TikTok's commission. This is how TikTok made that 10 billion we talked about at the start of this post.
Something important to remember is that if you want to send or receive gifts on TikTok, you need to be 18 years or older. It's a way to support your favorite creators, but make sure you're old enough to do it!
