How Many Followers on TikTok to Get Paid in 2026 (Exact Requirements)

TikTok doesn't just have one way to make money — there are 5 distinct monetization paths, each with different follower requirements. Here's exactly what you need for each one in 2026.

TikTok Monetization Requirements at a Glance

Let's break each one down.

1. Creator Rewards Program (Formerly Creator Fund)

This is TikTok's main monetization program and the one most people think of when they ask "how many followers to get paid."

Requirements:

• At least 10,000 followers
• At least 100,000 video views in the last 30 days
• Must be 18 years or older
• Account must be in good standing
• Must be in an eligible country (US, UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy)

How much does it pay?

The Creator Rewards Program pays significantly better than the old Creator Fund. Real creator data shows:

• Average: $0.50–$1.50 per 1,000 qualified views
• High-performing content: Up to $2–$4 per 1,000 views for longer videos (1+ minutes)
• Low-performing content: As low as $0.10–$0.20 per 1,000 views for short clips

Key insight: TikTok heavily rewards videos over 1 minute. If you're making 15-second clips, your per-view earnings will be significantly lower than someone posting 2–3 minute content.

Monthly earnings estimate at 10,000 followers:

If you're posting consistently and getting 100K–500K views per month, expect:

• Low end: $50–$100/month
• Average: $150–$400/month
• High end: $500–$1,000/month

2. TikTok LIVE Gifts — Only 1,000 Followers Needed

This is the fastest path to monetization because it only requires 1,000 followers.

Requirements:

• At least 1,000 followers
• Must be 18 years or older
• Account in good standing

How it works:

During a LIVE stream, viewers can send you virtual gifts purchased with TikTok coins. You can convert these gifts into "diamonds," which can be withdrawn as real money.

The math:

• 1 coin ≈ $0.01 USD (viewers buy coins)
• TikTok takes roughly 50% of gift value
• You keep the remaining 50%

Realistic earnings:

A creator with 1,000–5,000 followers doing regular LIVE streams can earn:

• $20–$100 per LIVE session (1-2 hours)
• $200–$800/month with consistent streaming

Pro tip: LIVE works best for creators who build genuine community. Q&A sessions, tutorials, and interactive content drive the most gifts.

3. TikTok Shop — 5,000 Followers

TikTok Shop lets you sell products directly through your videos and profile.

Requirements:

• At least 5,000 followers
• Must be 18 years or older
• Account based in the US or UK
• Must comply with TikTok Shop policies

Two ways to earn:

1. Sell your own products — You list products and fulfill orders

2. Affiliate commissions — You promote other sellers' products and earn 5–20% commission per sale

Earnings potential:

TikTok Shop is where the real money is for many creators. A single viral product review video can generate hundreds or thousands in commission. Creators with 5,000–50,000 followers regularly report $1,000–$10,000/month from Shop affiliate commissions.

4. Brand Deals — Start at 1,000 Followers

You don't need TikTok's permission to make money from brand deals. Brands will pay you directly to promote their products.

"Requirements":

• No official minimum, but most brands want at least 1,000 followers
• More importantly: high engagement rate (3%+ is considered good)
• A defined niche (fitness, cooking, tech, etc.)

How much do brand deals pay?

The rough industry formula is $10–$25 per 1,000 followers per post:

Pro tip: Brands care more about your engagement rate than your follower count. A creator with 5,000 highly engaged followers in a specific niche (e.g., drone photography) can charge more than a general creator with 50,000 followers and low engagement.

If you want to prove your engagement quality to brands, having hourly analytics data makes a massive difference. Tools like ContentStats let you track your TikTok video performance hour by hour, so you can show brands exactly how your content performs.

5. TikTok Series — 10,000 Followers

TikTok Series lets you create premium, paywalled content collections.

Requirements:

• At least 10,000 followers
• At least 1,000 video views in the last 30 days
• Must be 18 years or older

How it works:

You create a "series" of up to 80 videos, each up to 20 minutes long. You set a price ($0.99–$189.99), and followers pay to unlock the series.

Best for: Educational content, courses, behind-the-scenes content, extended tutorials.

The Fastest Path From Zero to Paid

If you're starting from scratch, here's the optimal path:

Phase 1: Get to 1,000 followers (2-8 weeks)

• Post 2–3 times daily
• Focus on one niche
• Use trending sounds and formats
• Engage in comments on similar creators' posts
• Unlocks: LIVE Gifts + Brand Deals

Phase 2: Get to 5,000 followers (1-3 months)

• Continue consistent posting
• Go LIVE 2–3 times per week
• Start building email list or community
• Unlocks: TikTok Shop

Phase 3: Get to 10,000 followers (2-6 months)

• Optimize content based on what's working
• Create longer-form content (1-3 minutes)
• Collaborate with similar-sized creators
• Unlocks: Creator Rewards + TikTok Series

How to Track Your Growth

The biggest mistake creators make is not tracking their video performance closely enough. TikTok's built-in analytics only update daily and don't give you granular data on how individual videos perform hour by hour.

Understanding exactly when your videos gain traction helps you:

• Know the best times to post
• Identify which content hooks work fastest
• Catch viral moments early and boost them
• Prove your value to brands with real data

ContentStats.io provides hourly snapshots of your TikTok video performance — views, likes, comments, and shares — via a simple API. Track any public TikTok video and see exactly how it grows over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you get paid on TikTok with 500 followers?

Not through TikTok's official programs. The minimum is 1,000 followers for LIVE Gifts. However, you can earn through brand deals at any follower count if you have strong engagement in a specific niche.

How many followers on TikTok to go LIVE?

You need 1,000 followers to access the LIVE feature on TikTok. This is separate from LIVE gifts — to receive gifts during LIVE, you also need to be 18+.

Do TikTok followers equal money?

Not directly. Followers unlock monetization features, but your actual earnings depend on views, engagement, and which monetization paths you use. A creator with 10,000 followers and high engagement can out-earn one with 100,000 followers and low engagement.

How long does it take to get 10,000 followers on TikTok?

It varies wildly. Some creators hit 10K in 2 weeks with a viral video. Most take 2–6 months of consistent posting (2-3 videos/day) in a focused niche. The algorithm rewards consistency and engagement, not just time.

Is 10,000 followers enough to make a living on TikTok?

Not from the Creator Rewards Program alone — you'd need millions of views monthly. But combining Creator Rewards + brand deals + TikTok Shop affiliate, creators with 10,000+ followers regularly earn $1,000–$5,000/month.

Bottom Line

You don't need millions of followers to start earning on TikTok. Here's the summary:

• 1,000 followers → LIVE Gifts + Brand Deals
• 5,000 followers → TikTok Shop
• 10,000 followers → Creator Rewards + Series

The fastest path to real money isn't chasing follower count — it's building engaged audiences in specific niches and stacking multiple monetization paths. Start with LIVE Gifts at 1,000 followers while growing toward 10,000 for the Creator Rewards Program.