TikTok in 2025: How much can you really profit and how to get started today

If you want to make money on TikTok, know that the platform has evolved from a simple short-video app to one of the largest monetization ecosystems on the internet. The question is no longer whether it’s possible to profit there, but which strategy best fits your profile and audience.

Millions of Brazilians have discovered that it’s entirely feasible to turn TikTok into a steady income — from beginners earning with simple tasks to creators making five-figure monthly earnings. In this guide, you will understand the 15 main ways to earn money on TikTok, the requirements for each, and how realistic the profit expectations are for 2025.

The earning potential on TikTok: real numbers

Before diving into strategies, let’s look at the numbers. Earnings vary greatly depending on your size:

• Nano creators (up to 10,000 followers): R$ 100 to R$ 500 per sponsored video
• Micro creators (10k to 100k): R$ 500 to R$ 2,500 per post
• Mid-tier creators (100k to 500k): R$ 2,500 to R$ 10,000 per content
• Macro creators (500k to 1M): R$ 10,000 to R$ 25,000
• Mega creators (1M+): above R$ 25,000 per post

These values depend on niche, engagement, and content type — but the good news is that there are ways to profit even without massive follower counts.

The 4 main pillars to make money on TikTok

1. Direct reward programs from the platform

TikTok offers three programs that pay directly:

TikTok Bonuses: The fastest way to start. You accumulate rubies by completing tasks like watching videos, returning daily, and using recommended music. Conversion rate is R$ 1 for every 10,000 rubies. Perfect for beginners starting from zero.

Invitation System: Send a link valid for 10 days. When someone registers, both earn. The invitee gets R$ 10 and you get R$ 2. If this new user watches 30 minutes daily, you can earn up to R$ 190 in a week.

TikTok Creativity Program: Rewards videos over 1 minute with good retention and quality. Requirements: 18+, 10k followers, 100k views in the last 30 days. Earnings vary based on performance.

2. Virtual gifts and Live streams

One of the most profitable methods for active communities:

• To do Live streams: 16+ years old + 1,000 followers
• To receive gifts during Live: 18+ years old
• To receive gifts in videos: 100k followers

During a live broadcast, followers send rubies and diamonds which you can convert into real money. Creators with loyal communities can earn hundreds per live.

3. Brand partnerships and sponsored content

This is the biggest slice for creators with an audience:

Direct Sponsored Content: Brands pay you to promote products or campaigns. Requirements: 10k followers, frequent posting, good engagement. You must use #ad in videos.

TikTok Creator Marketplace: An official platform where brands post campaign proposals and you can apply or be invited. It acts as an official intermediary.

Earnings vary widely depending on niche — finance, fashion, and education content tend to have higher rates.

4. Direct sales of products and services

TikTok Shop: Sell products directly through the app. Creators skilled in live demonstrations and storytelling can generate dozens or hundreds of sales daily.

Affiliate Marketing: Promote third-party products with personalized links and earn commissions on sales. Requires 10k followers. One of the most profitable strategies if you have an engaged audience.

Consulting and Services: Coaches, designers, teachers, and consultants use TikTok to acquire clients. Offering courses, mentoring, design — everything works.

The 15 detailed ways to make money on TikTok

Besides the 4 pillars above, there are complementary strategies:

Simple daily tasks — Watching videos, sharing content, using coupons. Quick, but low return.

Account management for brands — Small businesses seek TikTok specialists to create strategies, manage content, and produce videos.

Dark accounts (without showing face) — Niches like mystery, horror, curiosities, and news. With creative editing, it’s possible to profit without showing your face.

TikTok Creator Fund — Similar to the Creativity Program, you receive a share of a fund based on views and engagement.

Informal brand partnerships — Even without Marketplace, brands look for creators with good engagement and well-defined niches. Micro-influencers are highly valued.

How to grow quickly on TikTok to monetize

TikTok’s algorithm doesn’t care about how many followers you have — it cares about retention. Best practices:

• Post consistently: 1 to 4 videos daily
• Use trending sounds and trends: The algorithm favors content with trending audios
• Focus on the first 2 hours: Quick engagement signals quality to the algorithm
• Invest in editing and strong storytelling: Fast cuts and clear stories retain more viewers
• Strategic hashtags: Combine niche + trend
• Collaborate with creators in your area: Both gain reach
• Weekly Live sessions: Increase community and engagement
• Technical quality: Lighting, audio, and opening hook matter

Best times to post

• Monday: 5pm
• Tuesday: 10am–1pm
• Wednesday: 4pm–6pm
• Thursday: 7am–9am
• Friday: 4pm–6pm
• Saturday: 10am–7pm
• Sunday: 9am–12pm

Profile optimization for conversion

Your bio is your main asset:

• Persuasive bio with a clear call-to-action: Don’t leave vague
• Single link aggregator: Direct to your store, consultations, or social networks
• Consistent visual identity: Recognizable profile in seconds

Important metrics: What to monitor

Use TikTok Analytics to track:

• (Retention rate): How long people watch
• Average watch time
• Follower growth by source
• Traffic generated to external links

How long until you start earning?

The answer varies. With bonus programs and daily tasks, you earn from day one — though in small amounts. To make significant money with sponsorships and affiliates, it usually takes 2 to 6 months of consistent content to reach 10k followers.

Creators combining multiple sources — affiliate marketing, TikTok Shop, Creator Rewards, brand partnerships, sponsored posts — have the highest potential for continuous profit.

The fastest way to make money on TikTok

If you’re just starting, this is the recommended path:

1. First month: Post 1-2 authentic and consistent videos daily. Use TikTok Bonuses and daily tasks to earn your first reais.

2. Months 2-3: Refine your niche, monitor analytics, collaborate with creators, and start live streams. Reaching 1-5k followers already allows monetization with gifts.

3. Month 4+: With 10k followers, you unlock sponsored content, affiliates, and the Creativity Program. Then your earnings can scale.

The truth is that the profit potential on TikTok is very high, but directly proportional to your effort, creativity, consistency, and community-building capacity. For beginners, the recipe is simple: post consistently, invest in authentic content, and be open to testing different formats. Turning TikTok into a growing and sustainable income is absolutely feasible in 2025.