How to Add Funds to a TikTok Ad Account

Running ads on TikTok is a fantastic way to reach new audiences, but your campaigns will grind to a halt without a topped-up ad account. This guide breaks down exactly how to add funds to your TikTok Ads Manager, explaining the different payment methods and walking you through the process step-by-step. We'll cover everything from manual top-ups to setting up automatic payments, so you can keep your campaigns running smoothly.

First, Understand Your Payment Options: Manual vs. Automatic Payments

Before you add a single dollar, you need to know how TikTok bills you. TikTok Ads Manager operates on two main billing systems: Manual Payment and Automatic Payment. The option available to you may depend on your region and business account status. Understanding the difference is important for managing your budget and campaign flow.

Manual Payments: The Pay-As-You-Go Method

Think of this as a pre-paid debit card for your ads. You add funds to your account before your campaigns start, and TikTok deducts the ad spend from that balance as your campaigns run. This is the most common method, especially for new accounts.

• Pros: You have complete control over your budget. You can never spend more than what you’ve deposited, which is great for preventing accidental overspending. It forces you to be mindful of your daily and lifetime campaign budgets.
• Cons: If your balance runs out, your ads stop running immediately. This can disrupt campaign momentum, harm your ad delivery optimization, and cause you to miss out on key engagement periods. You need to keep a close eye on your account balance to avoid interruptions.

Automatic Payments: The Post-Pay Method

With automatic payments, you link a payment method (like a credit or debit card) to your account, and TikTok bills you automatically after your ads have accrued costs. This functions more like a traditional utility bill or post-paid phone plan.

• Pros: Your campaigns run without interruption as long as your linked payment method is valid. This "set it and forget it" approach is ideal for agencies or businesses running continuous, long-term campaigns.
• Cons: There’s a higher risk of overspending if you aren't carefully monitoring your campaign budgets within Ads Manager. Since you’re not limited by a pre-paid balance, a misconfigured daily budget could burn through your finances faster than you intended. This option is not available in all countries or to all accounts.

Billing for automatic payments typically happens on a specific day of the month or when your ad spend reaches a set billing threshold (e.g., $50, $200, $500). TikTok will charge your card once you hit that amount, and then the threshold may increase over time as you build a payment history.

How to Add Funds Using Manual Payments (Step-by-Step)

If your account is set to Manual Payment, topping up your balance is a straightforward process. Here’s a breakdown of how to get it done.

Step 1: Log in to your TikTok Ads Manager

Navigate to the TikTok Ads Manager dashboard (ads.tiktok.com) and log in with your credentials. This is the central hub where you manage all of your advertising activities.

Step 2: Navigate to the Payment Section

Once you’re logged in, look at the top right corner of your dashboard. You’ll see your account icon or username. Click on it to reveal a dropdown menu and select "Payment". Alternatively, you might see a "Billing" or "Finance" option depending on your dashboard's layout. You can also often find a summary of your account balance right on the main dashboard page with a clickable "Add balance" button next to it.

Step 3: Click "Add Balance"

You’ll be directed to the payment page, which displays your current balance, payment history, and billing information. There will be a prominent button labeled "Add Balance" (or sometimes "Make a Payment"). Click it to begin the process.

Step 4: Enter Your Desired Amount

A pop-up window or new page will appear, prompting you to enter the amount you wish to add. Type in the amount, making sure to adhere to any minimum or maximum limits that TikTok may have in place for your region. Most regions have a minimum top-up amount, for example, $10 USD.

Step 5: Select Your Payment Method

Below the amount field, you’ll see the available payment methods. Select the one you prefer. TikTok supports various options, which can include:

• Credit or Debit Card: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, etc.
• PayPal: A secure and popular option for many marketers.
• Bank Transfer (Wire Transfer): Often used for larger deposits, but be aware that it can take several business days for wired funds to appear in your account.
• Region-Specific Payment Methods: Depending on your country, you might see options like Boleto (Brazil), GoPay (Indonesia), or others.

Step 6: Enter Payment Details and Confirm

If you choose a credit card, you'll need to enter the card number, expiration date, CVV, and billing address. For PayPal, you'll be redirected to log in to your PayPal account to authorize the payment. For a bank transfer, TikTok will provide you with their bank account details and a reference code that you must include with your payment for it to be properly credited to your account.

Double-check all the information you’ve entered. Once you’re confident everything is correct, click "Confirm," "Make Payment," or a similar button to finalize the transaction.

Step 7: Check Your Account Balance

For most payment methods like credit cards and PayPal, the funds should appear in your TikTok Ads Manager account almost instantly. Refresh the payment page, and your new balance should be reflected. If you used a bank transfer, remember it could take 3-5 business days, so don’t panic if it’s not there right away.

Congratulations, your ad account is funded and ready to go! Your paused campaigns will automatically resume, or you can start creating new ones.

How to Set Up Automatic Payments

If you're eligible for automatic payments and prefer that method, the setup is simple. Instead of adding a balance, you’re linking a permanent payment source.

Step 1: Access Payment Settings

Just like with manual payments, log in to your TikTok Ads Manager. Go to your account settings by clicking your profile icon and select "Payment" or "Account Settings" and then navigate to the payment management section.

Step 2: Add a Primary Payment Method

Instead of an "Add Balance" button, you’ll see an option to "Add Payment Method." Click on it. The most common option for automatic payments is a credit or debit card.

Step 3: Enter Your Card Details

Complete the form with your card number, expiration date, CVV, and associated billing address. Ensure this information is 100% accurate to prevent billing failures later on.

Step 4: Save as Your Primary Method

Save the card to your account. This will now become the default payment method that TikTok will charge whenever you hit your billing threshold or on your scheduled monthly billing date. It’s always a good idea to add a backup payment method as well, just in case your primary card has an issue (like expiring or being maxed out).

That's it. Your automatic payments are set up. Now, your main focus shifts from topping up your balance to closely monitoring your campaign spend within the Ads Manager to stay on budget.

Troubleshooting Common TikTok Payment Issues

Sometimes things don't go as planned. Here are a few common issues and what to do about them.

• Payment Declined: This is the most common problem. The reason is usually simple:
  • Incorrect card details: Double-check the card number, CVV, and expiry date. A single typo will cause a decline.
  • Insufficient funds: Make sure the card or bank account has enough money to cover the payment.
  • Bank blocked the transaction: Sometimes, a bank's fraud detection system may flag a large, unexpected online payment. You may need to call your bank to pre-authorize the transaction to "TikTok For Business."
• Funds Not Appearing (Bank Transfer): Patience is key here. Bank transfers are not instant. Wait at least 3-5 business days before getting concerned. If the funds still don’t show up, contact TikTok For Business support and provide them with a proof of payment and the reference code you used. The most common error here is forgetting to include that unique reference code with your wired payment.
• Page Freezing or Not Loading: Sometimes, technical glitches happen. Try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, using a different browser (like Chrome or Firefox), or temporarily disabling ad blockers to see if that resolves the issue.

Final Thoughts

Managing the financial side of your TikTok advertising is fundamental to your success. Whether you prefer the tight control of manual payments or the convenience of automatic billing, funding your account is a simple process that unlocks the potential for your campaigns to reach millions.

While funded ads generate reach, building a strong brand still hinges on your organic content strategy. Having a robust plan for the organic TikTok videos, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts that support your paid campaigns is essential. That's where we wanted to make life easier. We built Postbase because we were tired of wrestling with outdated tools for today's video-first social landscape. It gives you one central calendar to plan and schedule all your social content, taking the chaos out of staying consistent while your ad campaigns do the heavy lifting.