Every creator dreams of turning views into income, and on TikTok, that dream is achievable now. In 2025, TikTok offers two main monetization paths: the Creator Rewards Program and the Creativity Program, a system built for longer, more in-depth videos.
Both promise real money for creators, but the catch? Your earnings depend on which one you join.
While some creators are cashing out hundreds per viral post, others see pennies per thousand views. With TikTok evolving into a hybrid of entertainment and education, knowing where to focus your creative energy can make or break your income stream.
In this post, we’ll unpack both programs, how they work, what they pay, who they favor, and how to decide which one fits your content style best.
1. Understanding the Two Programs
Before diving into earnings, it’s essential to understand how TikTok’s two monetization programs differ. They may sound similar, but the structure, and payout logic, behind them is entirely different.
The TikTok Creator Rewards Program
TikTok officially retired the old Creator Fund and introduced the Creator Rewards Program, a more transparent system designed to reward engagement and authenticity rather than just views.
Here’s what’s new:
- Performance-based rewards: Payouts depend on how well your videos perform across metrics like watch time, engagement, and originality.
- Short-form friendly: It works for nearly all video lengths and is ideal for creators posting quick, frequent content.
- Lower but steady payouts: Reports show an average range between $0.40–$1 per 1,000 views, depending on region and engagement rate.
- Availability: The program is currently available in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, South Korea, France, and Brazil.
The TikTok Creativity Program Beta
On the other side is the Creativity Program Beta, built for TikTok’s growing wave of educational, storytelling, and review-style creators.
Key features include:
- Long-form focus: Only videos over 1 minute qualify for monetization.
- Higher payout potential: Creators have reported rates as high as $3–$6 per 1,000 views, especially for high-retention content.
- Quality over quantity: The algorithm rewards completion rates, originality, and in-depth storytelling.
- Limited availability: Currently active in select countries (U.S., U.K., France, and a few others).
While it demands more effort per video, from scripting to editing, the rewards can be significantly higher for creators who can hold audience attention past the one-minute mark.
Both have their place, but knowing how each works is key to maximizing your TikTok income in 2025.
2. Which One Actually Pays More?
Let’s get to the question every creator cares about, how much money are people actually making? The truth is, both programs pay, but the structure behind those payments couldn’t be more different.
Creator Rewards: Lower but Consistent
The Creator Rewards Program focuses on accessibility. You don’t need to hit huge milestones or produce cinematic videos to earn. The payout per 1,000 views revenue per mille (RPM) typically falls between $0.40–$1, depending on your niche, engagement, and viewer region.
It’s built for creators who post often, think trends, lip-syncs, reactions, or mini tutorials. If your content is short and consistent, those small payouts can add up. For example, 500K monthly views could earn between $50–$300, depending on engagement.
Not huge numbers, but predictable, and ideal for creators testing new content or growing their base audience.
Creativity Program: Higher Earnings for Long-Form Creators
The Creativity Program Beta is where things get interesting. Because it prioritizes watch time and depth, it pays more per view, with many creators reporting $3–$6 per 1,000 views, sometimes even higher for highly engaging videos.
A 1-minute+ video hitting 100K views could earn $300–$600, compared to just $30–$50 under Creator Rewards. That’s up to 10x higher for the same number of views, if your video keeps viewers watching.
@mikiraiofficial How much does the tiktok creativity program pay? 🤔 my monthly break down #finance #moneytok #tiktok #tiktokcreativityprogrambeta ♬ original sound - Miki Rai
Regardless of which program you join, watch time and engagement quality drive your real income. A shorter video with high completion rates can outperform a longer one with weak retention. Likewise, videos that spark saves, comments, and replays send positive signals to TikTok’s recommendation system, boosting both reach and payout.
3. Eligibility, Pros, and Cons
Both programs reward creators differently, and understanding their requirements helps you avoid wasted effort or missed income. Here’s how they compare side by side:
Ease of Entry
The Creator Rewards Program is TikTok’s open door. If you’re an active, verified creator with consistent posting history, you’ll likely qualify. It’s ideal for creators who want to start monetizing quickly without changing their style.
The Creativity Program, on the other hand, has stricter rules. Only videos over one minute qualify, and recycled or watermarked clips won’t earn. It favors creators who can produce original, narrative-driven content that keeps viewers watching. Besides, you need at least 10,000 authentic followers and at least 100,000 authentic video views in total over the last 30 days.
Common Pitfalls
Whichever program you join, several mistakes can slash your payout potential:
- Reused content: TikTok downgrades videos reposted from other platforms or using recycled audio.
- Low watch time: Long videos that people skip through won’t earn full RPM.
- Irregular posting: Inconsistent activity reduces algorithm visibility, especially in the Creator Rewards Program.
Choosing between them isn’t about which is “better”, it’s about which fits your creative rhythm.
4. Which Program Is Best for You?
Now that we’ve compared payouts and structure, the real question is: Which TikTok monetization program fits your content style best?
If You Post Short, Viral Content, Go with the Creator Rewards Program.
It’s built for quick trends, reaction videos, skits, and daily posting. You’ll earn smaller amounts per post, but with higher output, your total income stays consistent. It’s also the best choice if your audience scrolls fast and engages often but doesn’t watch for long.
Think of it as a volume-based model, more posts, more chances to earn.
If You Create Long-Form Tutorials, Reviews, or Vlogs, Choose the Creativity Program Beta.
This program is designed for creators who deliver value through depth, educational explainers, storytime videos, tech reviews, cooking tutorials, and personal insights. The payout per 1,000 views is significantly higher, especially when your audience watches until the end.
Here, quality beats quantity, and creators who master retention can see exponential growth.
If You Want Both, Try a Hybrid Approach
Some creators are successfully blending the two. They post shorter clips under the Creator Rewards Program to stay active and drive discovery, while using the Creativity Program for high-quality long-form content.
By testing both and tracking analytics (especially RPM and engagement), you can discover where your content performs best, and double down.
In the end, both TikTok monetization programs serve the same purpose, rewarding creators for keeping audiences engaged. But how they do it, and who benefits most, couldn’t be more different.
The real takeaway? Monetization on TikTok isn’t about chasing the “better” program, it’s about aligning your content style with the system that values it most.
And with tools like Nuelink, creators can schedule smarter, analyze performance across formats, and adapt as TikTok’s monetization evolves, without losing focus on what matters most.
