Honestly, if you're still looking for the "TikTok Creator Fund" in 2025, you're chasing a ghost.
The reality is that for most of us in the US, UK, France, and Germany, the old fund is dead and buried. It was replaced by something called the Creator Rewards Program. This isn't just a name change; it’s a total shift in how the app actually pays you for your time. While the old fund was famous for paying pennies—literally like $0.02 for a thousand views—the new system is actually putting real money in people's pockets.
What actually happened to the Creator Fund?
TikTok basically admitted the original fund didn't scale. When it launched in 2020 with $200 million, that sounded like a lot of cash. But then millions of people joined the platform. That pool of money stayed the same size while the number of people dipping their hands in it exploded. By 2023, creators were making basically nothing.
The TikTok Creator Rewards Program (which you might have known as the "Creativity Program Beta" last year) officially took over. Instead of a fixed pool of money, it uses a revenue-share-style model based on RPM (Revenue Per Mille).
The 2025 payout reality: Show me the money
If you're wondering about the numbers, they've jumped significantly. Most creators are seeing RPMs between $0.40 and $1.00 now.
Think about that. In the old days, 1 million views got you about $20. Today? That same million views could net you $400 to $1,000. Some niche accounts focusing on finance or tech are even reporting RPMs as high as $5.00 because their audience is more "valuable" to advertisers.
There's a catch, though. A big one.
Your videos have to be over one minute long. TikTok is desperate to compete with YouTube. They want you staying on the app longer, so they stopped paying for those quick 7-second loops. If it’s under 60 seconds, it’s not eligible for the main rewards program. Period.
Why you might be seeing "Zero" on your dashboard
I've seen so many people complaining that their views aren't "qualified." TikTok is getting really picky in 2025 about what counts. To get paid, a view has to:
- Be from the For You Feed (views from your profile or the "Following" tab don't count the same).
- Last at least 5 seconds.
- Come from a unique user (someone watching your video 10 times only counts as one qualified view).
- Not be a "Stitch" or "Duet."
They also introduced a new metric called the Additional Reward. Basically, if your video is high-def (1080p+), has great audio, and shows "niche expertise," they give you a bonus. They’re effectively ghosting low-effort content.
The 2025 Eligibility Checklist
Before you try to join, make sure you've actually checked these boxes. It’s a bit of a grind to get there.
- 10,000 followers: This is the hard floor.
- 100,000 views: You need these within the last 30 days.
- 18+ years old: They will ask for ID.
- Originality: If you're just reposting movie clips or other people's podcasts with subtitles, you'll get disqualified for "unoriginal content" faster than you can hit upload.
New rules you need to know about right now
TikTok rolled out some massive policy updates in late 2025 that are catching people off guard.
First, AI disclosure is no longer optional. If you use an AI voice or a generated background, you have to toggle the "AI-generated content" label. If you don't, and their system catches you, they’ll suppress the video or even boot you from the program.
Second, the commercial content toggle. If you’re even hinting at a product or getting a kickback, you have to disclose it. They are using AI to scan for logos and "buy now" language. If you're caught "stealth marketing," you lose your rewards for that month.
Is it actually worth it?
Kinda. It depends on your niche.
If you're a lifestyle creator making 3-minute vlogs, the Creator Rewards Program is a goldmine compared to what we had before. But if you're a comedian who specializes in 15-second skits, the platform is basically telling you to find another way to make money—like TikTok Shop Affiliate or Live Gifts.
🔗 Read more: Panera Bread New Era: Why the Menu Overhaul Is Making People So Angry
Actually, many creators in 2025 are making way more from the Shop than the Rewards program. You can tag a product in a 15-second video and make a 15% commission. For a lot of people, that beats waiting for 1 million "qualified" views.
Actionable Next Steps for Creators
- Audit your video length: Stop posting 58-second videos. Add a 3-second "outro" or a slow-motion clip at the end to push it over the 60-second mark so it qualifies for the Rewards Program.
- Check your "Qualified Views" in TikTok Studio: Look for the videos with high RPM and see what they have in common. Is it the topic? The search keywords?
- Use the "Search Insights" tool: TikTok now pays a premium for "Search Value." If your video answers a question people are actually typing into the search bar, your RPM will likely be higher.
- Diversify immediately: Don't rely solely on the Rewards Program. Set up your TikTok Shop Affiliate account and look into "Series" for paywalled content if you have a loyal following.
The "TikTok Creator Fund" might be a thing of the past, but the money is still there—you just have to play by the new, longer-form rules to get it.