How to Get a TikTok Pro Account

Switching your TikTok to a Professional Account is one of the quickest ways to start taking your content strategy seriously. This simple, free change unlocks analytics and tools that can change how you understand and grow your audience. This guide walks you through exactly how to make the switch, what the new features do, and how to use them to level up your TikTok game.

What Exactly Is a TikTok Pro Account? (And Why It’s Now Two Accounts)

First, let’s clear up some confusion. What many people still call a "TikTok Pro Account" has actually been split into two separate options: a Creator Account and a Business Account. Both are free upgrades from a standard Personal Account and give you powerful Professional Tools, but they're tailored for slightly different goals.

Think of it as choosing the right tool for the job. You wouldn't use a hammer to turn a screw. Similarly, the account type you choose shapes the features you get, especially when it comes to things like analytics for brand-building or music options for viral trends.

So why make the switch from a Personal Account? Simply put, you can't grow what you can't measure. A Personal Account is great for consumption and casual posting, but it's like flying blind if you're trying to build a brand or audience. Upgrading to a professional account gives you a dashboard with all the vital stats you need to understand what's working:

• Performance Analytics: See who is watching your videos, where they're from, and when they’re most active on TikTok.
• Content Insights: Discover which specific videos are hitting the mark with stats on total playtime, average watch time, and traffic sources.
• Growth Tracking: Monitor your follower growth over time and see the direct impact of your content.
• Profile Tools: Add a clickable link to your website or other social platforms right in your bio (a Business Account feature a lot of people want).

How to Switch to a TikTok Business or Creator Account: Step-by-Step

Making the change from a personal profile to a professional one takes less than a minute. TikTok has made the process straightforward. Just follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Go to Your Profile

Open the TikTok app and tap the Profile icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.

Step 2: Access Your Settings

From your profile page, tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger" menu) in the top-right corner. This will open up your Settings and Privacy menu.

Step 3: Navigate to Your Account Options

In the "Settings and privacy" menu, tap on the first option, which is Account.

Step 4: Choose to Switch Account Types

Here, you'll see an option called Switch to Business Account. Tap it. If you're currently on a Business Account and want to try a Creator account, this is also where you'd see an option to "Switch to Creator Account."

Note: Generally, TikTok guides you towards a Business account first. If you want a Creator account, you may have to switch to Business first and then have the option to switch again to Creator. TikTok’s menus can vary slightly by region and update.

Step 5: Follow the On-Screen Instructions

TikTok will show you a few screens explaining the benefits of the pro account type you've selected. Tap Next to move through them.

Step 6: Pick a Category

You’ll be asked to choose a category that best describes your content or brand. This helps TikTok understand what kind of creator you are. Your options include everything from “Clothing” and “Beauty” to “Personal Blog” and "Gaming." Choose the one that fits best - don’t overthink it, as it doesn't dramatically change your account's function but does help with backend categorization.

Step 7: Add Your Contact Information (Optional)

Business accounts will prompt you to add an email address to your profile, giving brands or partners an easy way to get in touch. You can skip this step if you'd like and add it later in the "Edit Profile" section.

And that's it! You now have a TikTok Professional Account. You'll see a new "Business Suite" or "Creator Tools" option in your settings menu where your analytics can be found.

Creator vs. Business Account: Which One Should You Choose?

This is probably the most important decision you'll make after deciding to switch. The right choice depends entirely on your goals for the platform. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide.

The TikTok Creator Account: For Individuals and Influencers

The Creator Account is designed for individual users, content creators, artists, and influencers who want to grow their personal brand.

Key Features and Benefits:

• In-Depth Follower Analytics: Get detailed demographic data about your audience, including their gender, age, and location. You can also see a graph of follower activity showing the hours and days when your audience is most active.
• Creator-Focused Programs: Gain eligibility for programs like the TikTok Creator Fund and Creator Marketplace once you meet certain follower and engagement thresholds. These let you monetize your content directly or connect with brands for sponsored posts.
• Q&A Feature: Allows you to add a Q&A section to your profile where followers can submit questions for you to answer in future videos.

The Big Limitation: Commercial Sounds

The main drawback of the Creator Account is its limited access to trending audio. While you can still use many popular sounds, some chart-topping songs may not be accessible for use, as you're technically seen as a creator who might monetize content. For someone whose content depends on jumping on the day's biggest audio trend, this can occasionally be a constraint.

The TikTok Business Account: For Brands and Organizations

The Business Account is built for companies, brands, retailers, and anyone promoting a product or service.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Commercial Music Library: This is the headline feature. Business Accounts get access to a massive, pre-cleared library of over 1 million royalty-free songs and sounds. You never have to worry about copyright infringement, which is essential for any brand running ads or promoted posts.
• Clickable Bio Link: This is a massive plus. Business Accounts can add a clickable website link directly in their profile bio. It’s perfect for driving traffic to a product page, blog, or landing page.
• Ad Management Tools: Seamlessly integrate your profile with the TikTok Ads Manager to create and track campaigns.
• Business Creative Hub: Get inspiration from other successful business accounts and find content ideas tailored to your industry.

The Big Limitation: Fewer Trending Sounds

The flip side of the commercial music library is that Business Accounts cannot use most of the popular, trending sounds from artists due to copyright laws. If your strategy relies on lip-syncing to the latest Drake or Taylor Swift song, a Business Account is not for you. You must use audio from the commercial library.

Ultimately, the choice is simple. If you are an individual and trends are your lifeblood, go Creator. If you are a brand selling a product or need a non-expiring link in your bio, go Business.

How to Use Your New Features to Get More Views

Switching your account is just the beginning. The real growth comes from putting your new tools to work.

Step 1: Actually Read Your Analytics

Don’t just glance at the numbers. Turn them into action. Navigate to Settings and Privacy > Business Suite (or Creator Tools) > Analytics. Focus on these three areas:

• Follower Tab: Look at the "Follower Activity" chart. It shows you the times and days your audience is most online. Start scheduling your posts for an hour or so before this peak activity to give them time to gain traction.
• Content Tab: Sort your videos from the last 7 or 28 days by views, likes, or comments. What do the top videos have in common? Was it the format, the topic, the hook you used in the first three seconds? Make more of that.
• Overview Tab: Look at your Profile Views. If lots of people are watching your videos but almost nobody is clicking through to your profile, a weak call-to-action (or none at all) might be the problem. Try adding text overlays like "Follow for Part 2" or "Link in bio for the full list."

Step 2: Optimize Your Profile Like a Pro

Your profile is your digital storefront. Now that you have a professional account, give it a professional polish.

• Use Your Clickable Link Wisely (Business Accounts): Don’t just link to your homepage. Send people to a specific product, a free download, or a link-in-bio page that showcases all your important links. Update it regularly depending on your current campaign or focus.
• Write a Clear, Compelling Bio: Use your 80 characters to quickly explain who you are and what viewers can expect from your content. Use emojis to add personality and break up the text.

Final Thoughts

Upgrading to a TikTok Business or Creator account is a foundational step for anyone looking to build an audience or brand on the platform. By giving you access to analytics and specialized tools, it takes the guesswork out of content strategy and gives you a clear path toward tangible growth.

Once you've unlocked your analytics and started understanding what your audience wants, the next step is planning and scheduling that content consistently. At Postbase, we designed our visual calendar with video-first platforms like TikTok in mind, allowing you to see your entire content strategy at a glance. You can plan your videos weeks out, customize captions for each platform, and trust that everything will publish reliably, giving you more time to focus on creating great content instead of juggling apps. Check out Postbase to see how we make it simple.