How to Check if a TikTok Account Is Monetized

Trying to figure out if a TikTok account is actually making money can feel like you're searching for a secret that isn't publicly shared. That's because, for the most part, it is. But while there’s no big Monetized badge you can look for, there are dozens of clues hidden in plain sight. This guide will show you exactly what to look for, turning you into a detective who can spot the signs of monetization, whether you’re analyzing competitors or getting ideas for your own creator journey.

Understanding TikTok's Monetization Ecosystem

First, it's good to know that creators on TikTok don’t just earn money one way. Monetization is a patchwork of different programs, partnerships, and features, and successful creators often combine several streams of income. Checking for monetization isn't about finding a single "on" switch, it's about identifying which of these income streams an account is actively using. The main ones include the Creativity Program Beta, brand sponsorships, TikTok LIVE gifts, and TikTok Shop commissions.

Method 1: Spotting Clues for the Creativity Program Beta

The TikTok Creativity Program Beta is one of the platform's primary monetization tools. It replaced the old Creator Fund and is designed to reward creators for making high-quality, longer-form content. It pays for qualified views on videos that are over one minute long. Since creators don’t announce their dashboard earnings, you have to look for indirect evidence.

What to Look For:

• Consistent Long-Form Videos (Over 60 Seconds): This is the single biggest indicator. Is the creator consistently publishing videos that are longer than one minute? Accounts focused on the Creativity Program will almost exclusively post longer content because anything shorter isn't eligible for payment. If an account you follow suddenly pivoted from 15-second clips to 1:05-long videos, it's a strong sign they've joined or are trying to qualify for the program.
• High Audience Retention Tactics: Because the program rewards *qualified views*, creators have to keep people watching. Look for specific storytelling techniques designed to hook viewers until the very end. This could be a "storytime" video that reveals the conclusion in the last few seconds, a tutorial that saves the final result, or captions like "wait for it" or "the ending is worth it." These are all strategies to maximize watch time, which directly impacts their potential earnings.
• Engagement Bait in Captions and Comments: Pay attention to their descriptions and pinned comments. Are they actively encouraging repeated viewing or asking questions that spark long comment threads? Phrases like, "Did you spot the hidden item?" or "Watch it again to see if you catch the mistake" are designed to keep users on the video longer, increasing the odds that a view becomes "qualified."

While you'll never see their payment dashboard, seeing a creator heavily focus on these strategies is a powerful sign they are earning income through the Creativity Program Beta.

Method 2: Identifying Brand Partnerships and Sponsored Content

Brand deals are one of the most visible and profitable ways for creators to make money. This is where a company pays a creator to feature their product or service in a video. Luckily, an FCC policy makes spotting these much easier than digging for Creativity Program clues.

How to Find Sponsored Posts:

• The "Paid Partnership" Label: The most obvious giveaway is a disclosure label. TikTok's policy requires creators to disclose paid promotions. You'll see text like "Paid partnership," "Sponsored," or "Promotional content" displayed clearly on the video, usually near the creator's username. If you see this label, the creator was 100% paid for that video. No detective work is needed.
• Hashtags like #Ad or #Sponsored: In addition to the official label, you'll often see creators include disclosure hashtags like #Ad, #Sponsored, #BrandPartner, or #[BrandName]Partner in their captions. This is another clear-cut sign of monetization.
• Link in Bio and Discount Codes: Check their profile bio. Are there links managed by services like Linktree or Beacons? Click through and see what they're promoting. Often, you'll find affiliate links to products. Even more telling is a custom discount code, such as "Use TIKTOKER20 for 20% off at [Brand]." This is almost always evidence of a paid partnership. Companies provide these unique codes to track sales originating from that creator’s campaign.
• Direct Promotion Within Videos: Even without a label (though they definitely should have one), you can often tell if a product placement is a sponsorship. Is the product unnaturally front-and-center? Does the creator launch into a mini-commercial, listing off features and benefits and ending with a strong call-to-action like "click the link in my bio to get yours"? This structured promotion is very different from someone casually mentioning a product they happen to like.

Method 3: Checking for TikTok LIVE Monetization Features

Going LIVE offers another direct path to earning money on TikTok through features that let followers support creators with real money. You can check for signs of this by simply tuning into their live streams.

Clues from LIVE Streams:

• Virtual Gifts: The most common form of LIVE monetization is gifting. Viewers can purchase "Coins" and use them to send virtual gifts - like roses, pandas, or even digital yachts - which appear on screen. The creator receives a portion of this money in the form of "Diamonds," which can be converted to cash. If you join a creator's LIVE and see a steady stream of gift animations, and the creator is thanking people by name ("Thank you for the TikTok aniverse, Mike!"), they are actively monetizing their broadcast. Many also set up "Gift Goals" on-screen to encourage this.
• LIVE Subscriptions: See if there’s a "Subscribe" button on their LIVE. This is a monthly, recurring subscription that gives followers special perks like custom emotes, badges next to their name in the chat, and access to subscriber-only chats. If an account has this feature enabled, it’s a clear indication that they meet the eligibility requirements (such as follower count and engagement) and are monetizing their LIVE content.
• LIVE Shopping or "Showcasing" Products: Creators can also link products directly from TikTok Shop during their broadcasts. You might see a product pop up as a clickable banner on the screen while they demonstrate or review it. This is a form of affiliate marketing enabled through TikTok Shop.

Method 4: Finding TikTok Shop for Creator (Affiliate Links)

TikTok Shop has opened up a massive income stream for creators by seamlessly integrating eCommerce into the viewing experience. Creators can earn commissions by promoting products and driving sales, all without followers ever leaving the app.

Signs of TikTok Shop Monetization:

• The Shopping Cart Icon on Videos: Look for a small, orange shopping cart icon with the words "Product linked" or just the product name on their videos. This is a direct affiliate link. If you tap it, you are taken to the product page within TikTok Shop. If a creator’s video has this link, they are trying to earn commission from any sales it generates.
• The "Showcase" Tab on Their Profile: Go to the creator's main profile page and look at the tabs just above their video grid. Alongside tabs for their own videos, likes, and playlists, you might see a shopping bag icon. This is their "Showcase." It’s a dedicated storefront where they curate and feature all the products they recommend from TikTok Shop. If an account has a Showcase tab, they are an active TikTok Shop affiliate. Simple as that.

Method 5: Monetization Beyond the App

Keep in mind that for many top-tier creators, TikTok is just one part of a much larger business ecosystem. They use their massive TikTok following as a top-of-funnel tool to drive traffic to other platforms where they monetize in different ways.

External Monetization Signals:

• Driving Traffic to Other Platforms: Check their link in bio for a YouTube channel link. Most long-standing YouTubers monetize through AdSense, channel memberships, and affiliate marketing. A TikToker with a large, active YouTube presence is almost certainly monetizing there.
• Selling Their Own Products or Services: The "link in bio" can also lead to their own offerings. This might include:
  • Merchandise: Branded clothing, accessories, or other physical goods.
  • Digital Products: Ebooks, presets, templates, or online courses.
  • Services: Coaching, consulting, or other freelance offerings.
• Exclusive Content Communities: Some creators direct their followers to platforms like Patreon or Fanfix, where hardcore fans can pay a monthly fee for exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, or one-on-one communication. This creates a predictable, recurring revenue stream built on the back of their TikTok fame.

Looking at these external platforms is often the final piece of the puzzle. An account might not be focused on the Creativity Program or TikTok Shop, but if they're driving hundreds of thousands of followers to a website selling their own course, you can be sure they have a smart monetization strategy in place.

Final Thoughts

In the end, you don't need access to anyone's analytics to get a clear picture of whether they are monetizing their TikTok account. By looking for the tell-tale signs - from the length of their videos and paid partnership labels to TikTok Shop showcases and links in their bio - you can piece together their strategy and learn what works.

We know that once you understand the content strategies that monetized creators are using, the next step is applying those lessons to your own account. Building a consistent, high-performing content calendar is fundamental. At Postbase, we designed our visual calendar to help you plan your content across all your platforms, so you can spot gaps and schedule everything in one go. And because we built our tool for the short-form video era, scheduling your TikToks and Reels is seamless, not an afterthought. This helps you stay consistent and focus on creating great content that will get you closer to your own monetization goals.