How to Leave the TikTok Creator Fund

Considering the leap and leaving the TikTok Creator Fund? It's a bigger move than you might think, and you're not alone in thinking about it. This guide gives you the full picture: a clear, step-by-step tutorial on how to leave the fund, the strategic reasons why so many creators are doing it, and exactly what comes next for monetizing your content.

What is the TikTok Creator Fund (and Why Would You Leave It)?

First, a quick refresher. The TikTok Creator Fund was launched in 2020 as a way for the platform to pay creators for their most successful videos. Based on a dynamic pool of funds, creators would earn a small amount of money based on views, engagement, and other factors. It was a groundbreaking move at the time, but as the platform has grown, its limitations have become more apparent.

For many creators, what was once a source of excitement has become a point of frustration. If you're on the fence, here are the most common reasons creators are opting out.

Reason 1: The Payouts Are Often Disappointingly Low

This is the big one. While getting paid anything for your videos is a great concept, the reality is that Creator Fund payments are often minuscule. Many creators report an RPM (revenue per mille, or earnings per 1,000 views) of just $0.02 to $0.04. This means a video with one million views - a massive achievement for most - might only earn you $20 to $40.

When you put that against the hours spent brainstorming, filming, and editing, the return on investment can feel incredibly low. For many, the effort required to make viral content simply isn't justified by the pennies the fund provides.

Reason 2: The Widely Held Belief that the Fund Suppresses Views

Walk into any creator forum or Discord server, and you'll find this debate raging. A large number of creators are convinced that once they join the Creator Fund, their overall reach and the velocity of their viral videos slow down. While TikTok has officially stated that joining the fund does not impact your video performance, the anecdotal evidence from countless creators is hard to ignore.

The theory is that TikTok has less incentive to push a monetized video to the widest possible audience since it costs them money. Whether this is true or just a widespread correlation bias, many creators leave the fund hoping to break through a perceived "glass ceiling" on their views and reach a larger audience, which can be far more valuable in the long run.

Reason 3: To Join the More Lucrative Creativity Program

This is probably the most strategic reason to leave the Creator Fund today. TikTok is phasing out the old fund in favor of the newer, more promising Creativity Program (previously known as the Creativity Program Beta). This new program is structured differently and rewards creators significantly more, with some reporting RPMs up to 20 to 30 times higher than the original fund.

However, there are a few catches:

• Videos must be longer than one minute.
• It focuses on high-quality, original content.
• You cannot be in both the Creator Fund and the Creativity Program at the same time.

To be eligible to apply for the Creativity Program, you must first leave the Creator Fund. For serious creators looking to make a substantial income from TikTok-native monetization, this is a necessary step.

Reason 4: Shifting Focus to Higher-Value Monetization Methods

The Creator Fund pays for views. That's it. But savvy creators know that true long-term income comes from other sources, like brand deals, affiliate marketing, and selling their own products or services. For these methods, the quality of your followers is far more important than the quantity of fleeting views.

By leaving the fund, creators shift their mindset. Instead of chasing viral trends for a few dollars, they focus on creating content that builds a loyal, trusting community. A highly-engaged audience of 10,000 followers who love your niche is often more valuable to a brand than a disengaged audience of 100,000 who just saw one funny video.

Before You Leave: A Quick Checklist

Once you leave, there's no going back. The decision is permanent. Before you make the final click, run through this quick checklist.

• Check Your Current Balance: Go to your Creator Fund dashboard. Do you have any pending payments? You need a minimum balance (usually $10) to withdraw funds via PayPal. Make sure you cash out anything you've earned before leaving.
• Understand It's Final: This can't be stressed enough. For the original Creator Fund, this is a one-way door. You will not be able to rejoin it later if you change your mind.
• Assess Your Eligibility for the Creativity Program: If moving to the new program is your goal, double-check the eligibility requirements first. You typically need at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days. You don't want to leave the fund only to find out you can't join the new program yet.

How to Leave the TikTok Creator Fund: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to make the move? The process itself is surprisingly simple and only takes about 30 seconds. Here's exactly what you need to do.

1. Open the TikTok App and Go to Your Profile.
2. Tap the "Profile" icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
4. Access the Settings and Privacy Menu.
5. Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger menu") in the top-right corner of your profile page.
7. Select "Creator Tools."
8. This option is near the top of the menu and is where all your monetization and creator features are located.
10. Tap on "Creator Fund."
11. Under the "Monetization" section, you'll see the option for the Creator Fund. Tap it to open your dashboard where you see your earnings.
13. Find the Settings within the Dashboard.
14. Once you're on the Creator Fund dashboard, look for the three dots (...) in the top-right corner and tap them.
16. Select "Leave Creator Fund."
17. A small pop-up menu will appear, and at the bottom, you'll see a red-text option to "Leave Creator Fund."
19. Confirm Your Decision.
20. TikTok will show you a final confirmation screen. It will remind you that the decision is irreversible and ask if you're sure you want to proceed. Tap "Leave" one last time.

And that's it! You have officially left the TikTok Creator Fund.

What Happens Next? Life After the Fund

So you've left the fund. Now what? Here’s what you can expect to happen immediately and in the coming weeks.

First, don't panic if you still see a trickle of money coming in. Earnings are often delayed, so you will continue to be paid for any eligible views your videos received before you left the fund. All new videos you post from this point forward will not generate any income from the Creator Fund.

Now for the big question: Will your views actually go up? There's no guarantee. Some creators report an immediate and dramatic increase in reach, while others notice no difference at all. The best approach is to stop obsessing over analytics for a few weeks and focus on a consistent posting schedule. Your success will always depend more on your content quality and strategy than on being in or out of a fund.

With the fund behind you, it's time to lean into a more proactive monetization strategy. This is where the real work - and real opportunity - begins.

Beyond the Fund: Smarter Ways to Monetize Your TikTok

Leaving the Creator Fund isn't the end of your monetization journey - it's the beginning of a more mature, diversified one. Here are the primary income streams successful creators focus on.

1. Apply for the TikTok Creativity Program

If you meet the eligibility criteria (18+ years old, 10k+ followers, 100k+ views in the last 30 days), this should be your first priority. The Creativity Program is designed to reward higher-effort content, specifically videos that are longer than one minute. This format is great for storytelling, tutorials, deep dives, and other content that builds a stronger connection with your audience. The payouts are substantially higher, making it a viable primary income source for many.

2. Land Brand Deals and Sponsorships

This is where top-tier creators make the majority of their income. Brands will pay good money for a creator to feature their product in a video. Leaving the Creator Fund allows you to focus on building an audience that a brand would want to get in front of. How do you get started?

• Define Your Niche: Know who your audience is and what they care about. This makes you more attractive to relevant brands.
• Create a Media Kit: A simple one-page PDF with your stats (followers, engagement rate, audience demographics) and contact info is essential.
• Engage with Brands You Love: Genuinely use and tag products you believe in. Often, the best partnerships start organically.
• Use the TikTok Creator Marketplace: This official platform connects creators with brands looking for partnerships. Make sure your profile is polished and up-to-date.

3. Use Affiliate Marketing

With affiliate marketing, you earn a commission on every sale made through your unique link or discount code. This works incredibly well if you frequently recommend products or services. Think Amazon Storefronts, software tools, or clothing brands.

You can "Link in Bio" tools to house all your affiliate links and direct your viewers there from your videos. It's a less intrusive way to monetize that feels authentic when you're promoting things you actually use.

4. Sell Your Own Products or Services

Don't just build an audience, build a community of customers. Your TikTok platform is the perfect sales funnel for your own offerings:

• Digital Products: E-books, templates, presets, or online courses.
• Physical Products: Merchandise, art, handmade goods, or a new product line.
• Services: Coaching, consulting, graphic design, personal training, or other freelance work.

This is the ultimate form of creator monetization because you are in complete control. Your income isn't dependent on views or brand budgets - it's dependent on the connection you've built with your audience.

Final Thoughts

Leaving the TikTok Creator Fund is a simple process, but it's a strategic decision that signals a shift toward building a more sustainable creator business. By moving away from chasing views for pennies, you open yourself up to far more lucrative and stable income streams like the Creativity Program, brand sponsorships, and direct sales.

No matter which monetization path you choose, consistency is everything. Executing a solid social media strategy - planning content, creating consistently, and posting on schedule - is what turns a hobby into a business. We know that juggling content across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts can get chaotic, which is why we built Postbase with a clean visual calendar and rock-solid scheduling designed for short-form video. It helps you keep that momentum going without the headache, so you can focus on building your brand and audience.