TikTok Introduces Subscriptions for Large Creators

TikTok is introducing its subscription options for creators, allowing more users to have a paying audience beyond just Live videos. Initially launched in 2022 for Live creators, TikTok has now opened up subscriptions for non-Live creators as well, creating more opportunities for monetisation on the platform.

What are TikTok Subscriptions?

TikTok describes its subscription service as a way for creators to offer their most dedicated followers special access to exclusive perks, all for a monthly fee. These perks can help creators foster deeper connections with their fans by creating a more personalised and engaged community.

Creators can customise their subscription packages across three pricing tiers, and offer a range of benefits, including:

• Private Communication Channels: These allow subscribers exclusive access to direct interactions with creators, whether through chats, comments, or messages.
• Exclusive Content: Creators can share videos, live streams, and notes that are only visible to paying subscribers.
• Community Identifiers: Subscribers can showcase their loyalty with unique stickers and badges that evolve over time, adding a visual distinction in comments and on their profiles.
• Customised Perks: TikTok offers a variety of pre-designed perks like performance requests, shoutouts, and Discord roles. However, creators can also design their own perks specifically tailored to their community.

Who Can Access This Feature?

To be eligible for TikTok subscriptions, creators must meet several criteria: they need to be 18 years or older, have an account in good standing, and boast at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days. This means the subscription feature is aimed primarily at larger accounts that already have a solid presence on the platform.

While TikTok’s subscription model opens doors for new ways to connect with fans, it’s also a strategic move to address a core challenge: monetising short-form video content. With competition from platforms like YouTube and Instagram, TikTok is working to ensure that creators not only have a space to engage deeply with their audience but also have a way to generate income from their content.

As TikTok rolls out this expanded subscription feature to eligible creators over the coming weeks, it will be interesting to see how it impacts the way creators build and engage with their communities—and whether this will help TikTok keep pace with other platforms offering more robust monetisation tools for creators.

For TikTok creators looking for more ways to engage their fanbase and monetise their efforts, this subscription expansion offers a promising new avenue.