TikTok isn’t just a place for your dance trends or quick laughs anymore. Now, it’s becoming way more of a career hub for creators trying to reach global audiences. And when apps try to reach that scale, the question is always: how do you start getting paid? With TikTok, the Creator Fund helps.

The TikTok Creator Fund is the app’s official way of rewarding creators for their videos. It focuses on paying them based on performance and audience engagement. For a lot of people, it is the first step in treating TikTok like more than a hobby, and it has become a way to start earning directly from the app.

However, the TikTok Creator Fund has also seen its fair share of changes. The rules have shifted, and the payout structure looks very different now. Then, there are the changes in how TikTok measures success.

With all these changes, it’s important to know if TikTok is still worth being the platform to make your content on. As you read on, you’ll see everything there is to know about the Creator Fund. You’ll go through the updated requirements and some of the best ways you can start earning from this feature.

Let’s start!

How the TikTok Creator Fund Has Changed

When TikTok first came out with the Creator Fund, it was a big move. No other platform was paying creators at the same scale, and that made TikTok stand out.

But as the Fund grew, so did the complaints against it. Creators often found that the payments were inconsistent and sometimes too small to reflect the work they put in.

That’s when TikTok started experimenting with a few alternatives. It tested out different reward systems that focused more on performance and engagement. It was the app’s way of trying to ensure that their creators didn’t end up on Instagram or YouTube Shorts.

But that also ended up changing in 2025. Now, the TikTok Creator Fund isn’t just a flat payout pool that gets divided up. The rules are clearer, and there are new ways to measure how valuable your content really is.

In short, it’s less about handing out a share of a fund. It’s more about rewarding creators who are doing well on the app.

Who Can Apply For the Creator Fund

Before you start counting your payouts, you’ll need to know if you can even get into the Creator Fund. The rules this year may seem to be more strict, but they’ve also made them a lot clearer.

Like any other platform, you first need to meet the age and follower requirements. For TikTok, this means being at least 18 years old and having at least 10,000 real followers. You also need to get at least 100,000 genuine views in the last month. 

That’s the baseline for getting into this program. Then comes the location, as the fund isn’t open everywhere yet. This feature is only available to those people living in:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• France
• Germany
• Spain
• Italy
• Brazil
• Japan
• South Korea

Go over to TikTok’s website to see if any new countries have been added to this list. Finally, as for requirements, your standing on the app also matters. This means following TikTok’s Community Guidelines and keeping your content advertiser-friendly. Having too many violations can get you kicked off or prevent you not even being approved for the creator program.

How to Apply to the Program

Once you know that you’re eligible to start earning from this program, filling out the actual application is pretty simple. The whole process is built into the app itself.

Step 1 – Head to Your Profile

From there, tap the three-line menu in the corner. Then, go to the Creator Tools.

Step 2 – Click on the Creator Fund

Depending on your location, this may be called the Creator Rewards Program.

Step 3 – Fill Out Your Basic Details

For this, you’ll need to add your:

• Age
• Location
• Verification Documents

You’ll also need to set up a Pro Account, which gives you access to earnings and analytics.

Step 4 – Hit Submit

Step 5 – Let TikTok Review Your Application

You’ll usually get a reply to the application within a few days. If you’re approved, you’ll get access to the earnings dashboard inside the app. From here, you can track your payouts and performance.

How Payments Work Now

TikTok now calculates what you’ve earned each month and reports it within 30 days after that month closes. The payments are then made in U.S. Dollars. But you can only get this cash out once you’ve hit at least $50. Anything below that, and you have to wait until the threshold is reached.

Under special circumstances, you can cash out when you have less than $50. But this only depends on whether TikTok lets you do that.

Once the payments are sent, you’ll have 30 days to accept them. If you don’t do so within the time period, the funds are marked as forfeited by TikTok.

It’s your job to ensure that your payment accounts are linked and up-to-date. TikTok isn’t responsible for the delays or failed transfers, especially if it’s because of a problem on your end.

TikTok has also mentioned that it has the right to hold back or adjust your payments. This depends on whether your content is invalid, suspected of being a fraud, or has fake or incentivized views.

If you’ve broken the rules, you may lose out on your earnings. You can even be asked to pay it back to TikTok. After that, TikTok may pause your payouts if they think something’s off.

TikTok Creator Fund Termination Rules

Being a part of the Creator Fund isn’t guaranteed forever. TikTok makes it clear that they can end your participation at any time, and the reasons range from pretty straightforward to a little harsh.

If you break the rules or end up falling short of the eligibility requirements, they can suspend you. They may also terminate your account if they think you’re a part of something that may hurt TikTok’s image.

On your side, if you decide that the Creator Fund isn’t for you, then you can walk away from the feature whenever you want. But to do this, you have to go and cancel it yourself.

If you’re leaving TikTok on your own or TikTok ends things without a proper reason, you can still get paid. However, your balance needs to be above the $50 minimum requirement. But if you do get kicked out of the Creator Fund for a proper reason, TikTok isn’t going to pay you anything that is left on your account.

Upon breaking any rules, you might even be banned from ever being a part of the fund later. To dispute something like this, you’ll have 30 days to do so. If you miss this window, nothing else can be done.

Simplifying the Representations and Warranties

Joining the Creator Fund isn’t just about views and payouts. You’re also making a few promises to TikTok when you sign up.

First, you need to be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into an agreement. That means if you’re underage or not allowed to contract under our country’s laws, you can’t get into the fund.

To join, you’ll be agreeing not to use anything that can mess with your views. That means no bots, no scripts, and no sneaky tools. TikTok is strict about this because your fake views can end up hurting advertisers and the app itself.

Finally, you’ll also have to confirm that the content you upload is yours to share. This means that it does not end up conflicting with any contracts you might have. Simply put, this means that TikTok wants to ensure that you’re not breaking any of their or anyone else’s rules.

Best Ways to Succeed Under the New Creator Fund

The rules of the TikTok Creator Fund are important, but the real approach depends on how you actually get to posting content inside the fund. In 2025’s version of the Creator Fund, the creators who stand out post a lot.

They’re not going to disappear every once in a while. Instead, they already have a posting schedule up, which ensures that their audience and the algorithm are always engaged.

Originality is also pretty important. Anyone can start posting about a trending sound, but what matters is how you’re putting out your content. If it’s just like anyone else’s, that will end up stalling your growth, and you might end up missing the eligibility criteria because of it. Adding your own fresh perspectives ensures that you get some meaningful engagement in your posts.

Speaking of engagement, don’t think of views as the only goal. The other metrics that you’ll see in the analytics section are pretty important too. This includes things like watch times and impressions.

The Creator Fund is all about rewarding those creators who are getting users to stay on the app and interact with your videos. That’s why you need content that is capable of keeping people hooked.

Another best practice is to stay compliant all the time. You do not want to end up breaking any of TikTok’s rules or eligibility requirements. These sudden suspensions can mess up your flow.

The Bottom Line

The new TikTok Creator Rewards Program isn’t just a rebranding of the old funding program; it’s a complete reset of how creators earn on the platform. It now has higher payouts and stricter rules. It also mentions its clear expectations, which means that you have to approach the fund very carefully. It can’t be seen as just a side hustle anymore.

In the end, TikTok is still standing out as a great place to do something with your content. But instead of just focusing on the Fund, focus on getting a strategy that solidifies your place as a creator in the Rewards Program.