Today, do you make more money on Twitter/X or on TikTok?
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The creator monetization landscape shifted dramatically in 2025, with Twitter/X and TikTok implementing major changes to their payment structures that fundamentally altered how creators earn money on each platform.
Based on current data from verified creator earnings and platform analytics, Twitter/X now outperforms TikTok for creators with smaller, highly engaged audiences, while TikTok dominates for viral content and e-commerce integration. And if you need to fast-track your growth on X, check all our cheatsheets.
Summary
Twitter/X revolutionized creator payments in 2025 with its enhanced revenue sharing program, paying up to $8.50 per million verified impressions while requiring only 500 followers to start earning. TikTok evolved its Creator Fund into the Creator Rewards Program, offering $0.40-$1.00 per 1,000 views but demanding higher view thresholds for meaningful income.
| Follower Tier | Twitter/X Monthly Earnings | TikTok Monthly Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| 10K Followers | $250-$600 (Ads: $50-100, Subscriptions: $200-500) | $100-$300 (Creator Fund: $10-20, Brand deals: $50-200, Live gifts: $20-50) |
| 50K Followers | $1,500-$3,000 (Ads: $200-400, Subscriptions: $800-1,500, Brand deals: $500-1,000) | $500-$1,500 (Creator Fund: $50-100, Brand deals: $200-800, Live gifts: $100-300) |
| 100K Followers | $3,000-$6,000 (Ads: $400-800, Subscriptions: $1,500-3,000, Brand deals: $1,000-2,000) | $1,500-$4,000 (Creator Fund: $100-200, Brand deals: $800-2,000, Live gifts: $200-500) |
| 500K Followers | $10,000-$25,000 (Ads: $1,000-2,000, Subscriptions: $5,000-10,000, Brand deals: $2,500-12,500) | $5,000-$15,000 (Creator Fund: $500-1,000, Brand deals: $2,000-5,000, Live gifts: $500-1,500) |
| 1M+ Followers | $20,000-$50,000+ (Ads: $2,000-4,000, Subscriptions: $10,000-25,000, Brand deals: $5,000-25,000) | $15,000-$100,000+ (Creator Fund: $1,000-2,000, Brand deals: $5,000-50,000, Live gifts: $1,000-5,000) |
| CPM Rates | $5.00 overall, $8-12 finance niche | $2.97 overall, $4-6 finance niche |
| $1K/Month Threshold | 10,000-25,000 followers needed | 20,000-100,000 followers needed |
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How much do creators earn monthly by follower count on Twitter/X versus TikTok?
Twitter/X creators consistently outperform TikTok creators in the 10K-500K follower range, primarily due to X Premium's subscription model and higher CPM rates for verified impressions.
A creator with 50K followers on Twitter/X can realistically earn $1,500-$3,000 monthly through X's diversified monetization system. The breakdown includes $200-400 from ads revenue sharing, $800-1,500 from subscriptions, and $500-1,000 per sponsored post. This compares favorably to TikTok's $500-1,500 range, where earnings rely heavily on brand partnerships since the Creator Rewards Program only generates $50-100 monthly at this tier.
The revenue gap widens significantly for smaller creators. Twitter/X creators with 10K followers can earn $250-600 monthly, while TikTok creators at the same level typically make $100-300. This difference stems from Twitter/X's lower entry barrierā€”requiring only 500 followers to start monetizingā€”versus TikTok's 10,000 follower minimum for direct platform payouts.
However, the tables turn at mega-influencer levels. TikTok creators with 1M+ followers can earn $15,000-$100,000+ monthly, with top performers commanding $5,000-50,000 per brand partnership. Twitter/X creators at this tier typically cap at $20,000-50,000 monthly, though they enjoy more predictable income streams through subscriptions.
What are the main monetization models and their average earnings on each platform?
Twitter/X operates on three primary revenue streams that creators can stack for maximum earnings potential.
Ads Revenue Sharing pays creators $8.50 per million verified impressions, with a 97% revenue share until $50,000 lifetime earnings. The minimum payout threshold is just $10, making it accessible for smaller creators. Creators need X Premium ($8-11/month) and 5 million impressions in 3 months to qualify.
X Subscriptions allow creators to keep 88-97% of subscription fees, with successful creators averaging $7 per subscriber monthly. The model requires 2,000+ premium followers and generates the highest per-follower revenue of any social platform. Top creators earn $10,000-25,000 monthly through subscriptions alone.
Brand Partnerships follow a $10 per 1,000 followers baseline, with finance and tech niches commanding 2-3x premiums. High-value B2B creators with specialized expertise can charge $50,000-$100,000 for consulting packages, leveraging Twitter/X's professional audience.
TikTok's monetization centers on the evolved Creator Rewards Program, paying $0.40-$1.00 per 1,000 views compared to the old Creator Fund's $0.02-$0.04 rate. The platform keeps 50% of total value, requiring 10,000+ followers and 100,000+ monthly video views for eligibility.
What are the CPM rates and conversion rates by creator niche on both platforms?
CPM disparities between platforms reveal why Twitter/X creators in professional niches significantly outearnt their TikTok counterparts.
| Content Niche | Twitter/X CPM | TikTok CPM | Conversion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance/Business | $8-12 | $4-6 | Twitter/X: 0.77%, TikTok: 3.4% |
| Technology | $7-10 | $3-5 | Twitter/X: 0.9%, TikTok: 2.8% |
| Lifestyle | $3-6 | $2-4 | Twitter/X: 0.6%, TikTok: 4.1% |
| Fitness | $4-8 | $3-5 | Twitter/X: 0.8%, TikTok: 3.7% |
| Education | $5-9 | $3-6 | Twitter/X: 1.2%, TikTok: 3.2% |
Twitter/X's overall CPM of $5.00 substantially exceeds TikTok's $2.97, but conversion patterns favor different content types. Finance creators on Twitter/X benefit from professional audiences willing to invest in high-ticket services, while TikTok's younger demographic drives impulse purchases in lifestyle and fitness niches.
How many followers and views does it take to generate $1,000 monthly on each platform?
The path to $1,000 monthly reveals stark differences in platform accessibility and scaling requirements.
Twitter/X offers three distinct routes: Ads Revenue Sharing requires approximately 120 million verified impressions annually, equivalent to 25,000-50,000 engaged followers posting consistently for 12-18 months. The Subscription route needs 150-200 paying subscribers at $7 monthly, achievable with 15,000-25,000 followers within 6-12 months. Brand partnerships provide the fastest path, requiring 1-2 sponsored posts monthly at $500-1,000 each, accessible to creators with 10,000-20,000 followers within 3-6 months.
TikTok's requirements are substantially higher across all monetization channels. The Creator Rewards route demands 25-50 million monthly views, requiring 100,000-500,000 followers over 18-24 months. Brand partnerships need 2-5 sponsored posts monthly at $200-500 each, requiring 20,000-50,000 followers over 6-12 months. Live Gifts require 50,000+ highly engaged followers dedicated to regular live streaming over 12-18 months.
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What does the content-to-sale conversion funnel look like on both platforms?
Conversion funnels reveal why Twitter/X excels for high-ticket B2B sales while TikTok dominates impulse e-commerce purchases.
Twitter/X B2B Conversion Funnel: Starting with impression to profile click at 2-5%, then profile click to email signup at 15-25%, email to consultation booking at 10-20%, and consultation to sale at 20-40%. The overall conversion rate ranges from 0.6-2.5%, but deal values of $5,000-$100,000 make this highly profitable for consultants and coaches.
Twitter/X Direct Product Sales: Follow a more traditional e-commerce pattern with impression to click at 1-3%, click to landing page at 80-90%, and landing page to purchase at 2-8%, yielding overall conversions of 0.02-0.24%.
TikTok E-commerce Funnel: Optimized for impulse buying with view to profile visit at 5-10%, profile to link click at 10-20%, and link click to purchase at 2-5%. Overall conversions of 0.1-1.0% work well for lower-priced consumer products.
TikTok Brand Awareness Funnel: Builds long-term relationships through video view to follow at 2-5%, follow to multiple video views at 30-50%, and multiple views to action at 5-15%, creating overall long-term conversions of 0.3-3.75%.
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How much do top creators earn from premium platform features and revenue sharing?
Platform revenue sharing reveals the true earning potential for mega-creators who maximize native monetization features.
Twitter/X Premium Revenue Sharing: The platform generated $16.5 million in monthly subscription revenue at its November 2024 peak, with approximately 2 million X Premium subscribers. Creators retain 88-97% of subscription fees, with minimum payouts of $50 for subscriptions and $10 for ads. Premium users receive 30% higher visibility in feeds and reply prioritization, creating compound advantages for subscribed creators.
TikTok Revenue Sharing: Live Gifts operate on a 50/50 split between platform and creator, with top performers earning $2,000-$35,000 per live show. The Creator Rewards Program evolved from paying $0.02-$0.04 per 1,000 views to $0.40-$1.00, representing up to 25x improvement in direct platform payouts.
Geographic restrictions significantly impact TikTok's Creator Fund availability, while Twitter/X operates globally. This gives Twitter/X creators worldwide access to monetization features that remain limited on TikTok in many regions.
What audience behavior differences affect monetization on both platforms?
Audience demographics and purchasing behavior create distinct monetization opportunities that favor different creator strategies.
Twitter/X Audience Characteristics: 27% of US users are college graduates, with 51% earning over $70,000 annually and 27% making over $100,000. This highly educated, high-earning audience responds well to premium offerings, making it ideal for high-ticket coaching ($2,000-$20,000 monthly programs), consulting services ($200-$1,000/hour), and professional development courses ($500-$5,000).
TikTok Audience Characteristics: Over half the user base consists of Gen Z and Millennials, with higher engagement rates but lower individual purchasing power. This demographic drives success in e-commerce integration, impulse buying through TikTok Shop, and lifestyle product partnerships. They respond well to authentic, entertainment-first content that seamlessly integrates product recommendations.
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How has monetization potential evolved on both platforms throughout 2025?
Major algorithm and policy changes throughout 2025 fundamentally shifted monetization dynamics on both platforms.
Twitter/X Algorithm Updates: Premium users now receive 30% higher reach, creating a significant advantage for paying subscribers. The platform shifted to video-first content prioritization, similar to TikTok, while implementing niche clustering that distributes content within topic-specific communities. External link penalties reduced reach for posts driving traffic off-platform, forcing creators to rely more heavily on native monetization.
Monetization Impact on Twitter/X: Premium subscription growth increased 27% in November 2024, while ad revenue declined 4% in 2025. This shift toward subscription-based creator economy benefits content creators over advertisers.
TikTok Algorithm Updates (May 2025): Keyword optimization in comments now boosts visibility, while the algorithm prioritizes content reaching new audiences. Optimal video lengths shifted to 5-7 seconds for quick content and 27-35 seconds for retention, with the first 15 seconds becoming critical for distribution.
TikTok Monetization Evolution: Creator Rewards expanded to higher payouts in select markets, with increased focus on live streaming monetization. Stricter content guidelines now affect monetization eligibility, requiring creators to maintain brand-safe content standards.
Which content niches are currently overperforming financially on each platform?
Niche performance data reveals where creators can maximize earnings based on platform-specific advantages and audience preferences.
- Finance and Business (Twitter/X): Commands premium CPMs of $8-12 and attracts high-value consulting clients. Creators with specialized knowledge in trading, cryptocurrency, or business strategy charge $5,000-$50,000 for speaking engagements and $200-$1,000 hourly for consulting.
- Technology and SaaS (Twitter/X): Benefits from professional audience seeking software solutions and technical expertise. Average deal sizes range from $50,000-$100,000 for B2B services.
- Beauty and Fashion (TikTok): Leverages visual content and impulse buying behavior. Top creators earn $10,000+ per brand partnership with makeup and fashion brands.
- Fitness and Wellness (TikTok): Drives high engagement rates and affiliate marketing success. Creators promote supplements, workout programs, and health products with 5-20% commission rates.
- Education and Tutorials (Both Platforms): Performance varies by complexity. Twitter/X favors professional development content, while TikTok excels with quick, actionable tips.
What should creators expect for monetization evolution in 2026?
Creator economy projections indicate continued growth with platform-specific adaptations that will reshape monetization strategies.
Market Growth Projections: The creator economy reached $191.55 billion in 2025 and is projected to hit $234.65 billion in 2026, representing 22.5% growth. With over 500 million creators worldwide, competition will intensify while monetization opportunities expand.
Twitter/X 2026 Outlook: Major shift toward creator subscriptions over advertising revenue, with AI integration enhancing content creation tools. Premium tier expansion will introduce additional monetization features, while the platform focuses on building sustainable creator income over viral growth.
TikTok 2026 Outlook: E-commerce integration will deepen with expanded TikTok Shop features and live commerce growth. Creator Fund evolution promises higher payouts and expanded eligibility, making the platform more attractive for professional creators.
Creator Preparation Strategies: Successful creators will need multiple revenue streams, with the average successful creator maintaining 5+ income sources. Platform independence through owned audiences (email lists, websites) becomes critical, while business and marketing skills matter as much as content creation ability.
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Where does Twitter/X clearly outperform TikTok in monetization efficiency?
Twitter/X dominates in high-value B2B transactions and direct sales scenarios where audience quality matters more than quantity.
High-Ticket B2B Sales: Documented cases include clients generating $1 million annually with under 10,000 followers through high-value consulting. Average deal sizes of $50,000-$100,000 for specialized services demonstrate the platform's professional audience value. The conversion advantage comes from audiences with higher purchasing power and decision-making authority.
Direct Sales and Information Products: Course sales at $500-$5,000 price points convert well, while coaching programs ranging from $2,000-$20,000 monthly find ready buyers. Newsletter subscriptions for premium content at $10-100 monthly generate consistent recurring revenue.
Thought Leadership Monetization: Speaking fees of $5,000-$50,000 per event are common for established Twitter/X creators. Consulting rates of $200-$1,000 per hour reflect the platform's credibility for expert positioning. Book deals and media opportunities flow more readily from Twitter/X presence than other social platforms.
Where does TikTok clearly outperform Twitter/X in monetization potential?
TikTok excels in viral reach, e-commerce integration, and youth market penetration that drives different but equally lucrative monetization opportunities.
Creator Fund Direct Payouts: Improved rates of up to 25x higher per view than Twitter ads make viral content immediately profitable. The $0.40-$1.00 per 1,000 views provides more predictable income than Twitter's ad sharing, with lower barriers to reach payout thresholds.
Brand Deal Volume and Virality: Content can organically reach 10+ million views, creating massive brand exposure value. Brand deal rates of $10,000+ per post for 1M+ followers exceed Twitter/X rates. Unmatched access to Gen Z consumers makes TikTok essential for youth-focused brands.
E-commerce Integration: TikTok Shop enables direct in-app purchasing without external links. Product virality can generate thousands of unit sales from a single video. Higher conversion rates for consumer products capitalize on impulse buying behavior, with creators earning 5-20% affiliate commissions.
The platform's algorithm prioritizes engaging content over follower count, allowing smaller creators to achieve viral reach and monetization success faster than follower-dependent platforms.
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Conclusion
The 2025 creator monetization landscape clearly favors different creator types on Twitter/X versus TikTok, with success depending on audience targeting, content type, and monetization goals.
Twitter/X dominates for professional creators, B2B services, and high-ticket offers, while TikTok excels for viral content, e-commerce, and youth-oriented products. The most successful creators in 2026 will leverage both platforms strategically, using Twitter/X for authority building and high-value sales, while utilizing TikTok for reach, engagement, and e-commerce integration.
Sources
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- X Help - Creator Revenue Sharing
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