TikTok started as a place to have fun, but it is now a real income source for Malaysian creators and small businesses. The catch: TikTok does not pay you just for posting, and some of the most talked-about programmes are not open in every country.
This guide covers how to earn money on TikTok in Malaysia, which methods are actually available here, what each one needs, and which “get paid to watch” offers to avoid.
Which TikTok monetisation methods are available in Malaysia?
TikTok Shop affiliate, LIVE gifts, Subscriptions and brand deals are the realistic options for Malaysian creators. Creator Rewards Program (pay per view) is limited to selected countries, so confirm it in your own app before counting on it.
| Method | Available in Malaysia? | Requirements | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| TikTok Shop affiliate | Yes | Enable via TikTok Studio > TikTok Shop for Creator > Enable Affiliate; Affiliate Link works regardless of follower count | Pokde, Dec 2024 |
| LIVE gifts | Yes (gifting is global) | 18+ to send or receive Gifts; follow Community Guidelines, no soliciting gifts | TikTok Newsroom |
| Subscription | Check in-app | 18+ and at least 1,000 followers (TikTok’s published LIVE Subscription criteria) | TikTok Newsroom |
| Creator Rewards Program | Selected countries only; check Creator tools | 18+, 10,000 followers, 100,000 views in last 30 days, account in good standing | TikTok Newsroom |
| Brand deals / sponsored posts | Yes | No fixed minimum; disclose paid partnerships | Agreed directly with brands |
| Paid “watch TikTok” apps | Not recommended | n/a | European Commission |
Best for beginners: TikTok Shop affiliate. Not for beginners: Creator Rewards, which needs a large, active audience.
Can you earn money by watching TikTok videos?
Not reliably. TikTok has run limited reward campaigns, but there is no standing programme in Malaysia that pays you to scroll, and third-party “paid to watch TikTok” apps are a common scam pattern.
- In July 2022, TikTok ran a referral rewards campaign for selected users in Malaysia, paying RM55 or RM65 per referral (first 10 only) if the new user watched for at least 30 minutes a day for ten days in a row (Gizchina). It was invite-only and time-limited.
- TikTok Lite’s “Reward to Watch” points feature was suspended in the EU in April 2024 and permanently withdrawn in August 2024 after the European Commission raised concerns about addictive design (European Commission).
- Any app that asks for a joining fee, a “deposit to unlock earnings”, or your banking login in exchange for watching videos should be treated as a scam.
If you want real income from TikTok, it comes from creating content, selling or promoting products, not from watching.
What are the 12 ways to earn money on TikTok?
You can earn from TikTok through platform programmes (Creator Rewards, LIVE gifts, Subscriptions, TikTok Shop) and off-platform deals (brand sponsorships, merch, consulting). Earning TikTok money isn’t limited to just posting videos on the TikTok app. There are many different ways and opportunities you can look into to expand your TikTok income!
If you’re wondering how, we list out 12 different ways on how to monetize TikTok.
1. Join the Creator Rewards Program (formerly Creator Fund)
Source: TikTok
The old TikTok Creator Fund has been replaced by the Creator Rewards Program, which pays creators for qualified videos.
To join, TikTok says you must be 18 or older, have at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 views in the last 30 days, and have a personal account in good standing in a country where the programme runs.
TikTok does not publish a country list we could verify, so the honest answer for Malaysian creators is: open TikTok Studio, go to Creator tools, and check whether Creator Rewards Program appears. If it does not, put your effort into the methods below.
2. Partner with a Brand or Influencer
https://www.tiktok.com/@msyanamustaffa2/video/7236296072723713282
Collaborating with brands or fellow Malaysian influencers can open the doors to substantial earnings on TikTok. Brands often seek partnerships with creators who align with their products or services.
These collaborations can involve sponsored posts, product reviews, or even long-term ambassadorships.
To attract brands, ensure your content aligns with your niche, and that your engagement rates are high.
Building a strong personal brand and reaching out to potential partners can help you establish profitable relationships.
3. Collect Tips from Your Fans
Source: Yogabyangela
Fans can buy Coins and send you Gifts on your videos and LIVEs. TikTok converts Gifts you receive into Diamonds, which can be withdrawn as money. Both sender and receiver must be 18 or older (TikTok Newsroom).
Engage with your audience and create a supportive community to encourage tipping.
TikTok’s rules forbid asking for gifts or offering rewards for gifting, so focus on being worth supporting rather than begging for gifts.
4. Sell Merch to Fans
Lim Guan Eng also wear le, you still don’t want to penangonebettermeh #limguaneng #wabikongtv
If you’ve built a loyal following on TikTok, consider selling merchandise related to your brand or content.
Whether it’s custom T-shirts, phone cases, or mugs, merchandising allows you to monetize your fan base while promoting your unique style.
Print-on-demand services such as Printful let you sell without holding stock, or you can list your own products through TikTok Shop Malaysia.
This can be a lucrative endeavor if your followers are enthusiastic about your content and love your branding.
5. Collect Virtual Gifts from TikTok Lives
https://www.tiktok.com/@meowidolla/video/7265904294375836936
Hosting livestreams on TikTok can be an interactive and profitable way to engage with your audience.
During these live sessions, viewers can send you virtual gifts as tokens of appreciation. The more engaging your livestream, the more likely you are to receive gifts.
To maximize your earnings during livestreams, interact with your viewers, respond to comments, and create engaging content that encourages gifting.
TikTok shares a portion of the revenue generated from virtual gifts with you.
Related: How to Go Live on TikTok
6. Earn Through Affiliate Programs
Source: TikTok Shop
Affiliate marketing on TikTok involves promoting products or services and earning a commission on sales generated through your referral links.
If you’re wondering how to become TikTok affiliate, choose affiliate programs on TikTok Affiliate Malaysia that align with your niche and resonate with your audience.
By learning how to affiliate TikTok, you can craft authentic and compelling content to showcase the benefits of the products or services you’re promoting.
Disclose your affiliate relationships transparently to build trust with your followers.
In Malaysia, you join from your profile: TikTok Studio > TikTok Shop for Creator > Enable Affiliate. TikTok Shop’s Affiliate Link feature, launched in Malaysia in December 2024, lets creators promote TikTok Shop products outside the app as well, regardless of follower count, and TikTok Shop says it has over two million local affiliate creators (Pokde).
7. Use TikTok Ads to Drive Traffic
Source: Wordstream
TikTok offers a self-service advertising platform that enables you to create and run ads to promote your products, services, or even your TikTok account itself.
By strategically targeting your audience based on demographics, interests, and behaviors, you can drive traffic to your TikTok profile or external websites.
Using TikTok ads can be particularly beneficial if you have a business or personal brand you want to expand and need some TikTok small business ideas.
By investing in ads, you can reach a wider audience and potentially attract more followers and customers.
8. Offer Subscriptions or Exclusive Paid Content
Source: Business Insider
TikTok’s own Subscription feature lets fans pay monthly for perks such as subscriber-only videos, badges and emotes. TikTok’s published criteria for LIVE Subscription are 18+ and at least 1,000 followers (TikTok Newsroom). You can also offer exclusive content off-platform through services like Patreon.
These subscription-based services allow you to charge a monthly fee for access to premium content, behind-the-scenes footage, or personalized shout-outs.
To succeed with this strategy, you’ll need to create content that resonates with your paying subscribers.
Offer them something unique and valuable to keep them engaged and subscribed over the long term.
9. Join TikTok Referral Campaigns (When Offered)
Source: Screen Rant
TikTok occasionally runs referral campaigns where you earn rewards for inviting new users. In Malaysia, a 2022 campaign paid selected users RM55 or RM65 per qualifying referral, capped at 10 (Gizchina).
These campaigns are invite-only and come and go, so only trust offers that appear inside the official TikTok app.
10. Create Sponsored Content for a Service or Product
https://www.tiktok.com/@soimjenn.official/video/7238551639223749895
Much like partnering with brands or influencers, you can monetize your TikTok account by creating sponsored content for various products or services.
Businesses are constantly on the lookout for influencers who can authentically promote what they offer to a wider audience.
When considering sponsored content, make sure it aligns with your niche.
Authenticity is key to maintaining trust with your audience while earning income through sponsorships.
11. Offer Consulting Services
Replying to @oshelias256 how to get more followers on tiktok? Here is simple thought process that you need to consider. What kind of value are you providing in order to go viral. #tiktokguru #kionzchan #MCNMY23 #tiktokmarketing #tiktoktips #marketing #tiktoktutorial #howtogoviral
If you have substantial expertise in a particular field, you can consider offering consulting services to others looking to grow their TikTok presence.
Many businesses and individuals are willing to pay for guidance on content strategy, audience engagement, and TikTok marketing.
Market your consulting services through your TikTok profile and other social media channels. Showcase your expertise and the results you’ve achieved to attract potential clients.
12. Be Careful With “Paid to Watch” Apps
Source: Business Insider
You will see apps and ads claiming to pay you for watching TikTok videos. At best they pay small amounts in vouchers; at worst they are scams that ask for a deposit or your bank details.
Even TikTok’s own watch-to-earn feature in TikTok Lite was permanently withdrawn from the EU in 2024 (European Commission). Treat watching as entertainment, not income.
How do you get paid more on TikTok? 5 tips
Consistent, authentic content posted when your audience is active earns more than chasing every programme. Making money on TikTok isn’t just about following a bunch of strategies. It’s also about being real and captivating on the platform.
If you’re curious about how to authentically earn cash from TikTok, here are five must-know tips to help you make the most of your time and effort:
Show Your True Self
Nak komen, komen lah benda baik baik…
♬ original sound – Ceddy – CEO of Makan Makan – Ceddy – CEO of Makan Makan
Authenticity is the cornerstone of the success of TikTok. Audiences are drawn to creators who are genuine, relatable, and unapologetically themselves.
Whether you’re sharing your passions, talents, or life experiences, be true to who you are.
Trying to mimic someone else’s style or persona can be tempting, but it often leads to ingenuine content that fails to connect with viewers.
Don’t be afraid to embrace your uniqueness, quirks, and imperfections – they make you stand out and resonate with your audience!
Be Transparent
Trust is crucial on TikTok, especially when you’re monetizing your presence.
Be transparent with your audience about any paid partnerships, sponsored content, or affiliate marketing you engage in. Disclose these relationships clearly and honestly.
Transparency not only builds trust but also strengthens your credibility as a content creator. Your audience will appreciate your honesty and may even be more inclined to support your sponsored endeavors.
Stick With Your Style
As you experiment with various content strategies, don’t lose sight of what makes your TikTok account unique.
Whether it’s your humor, creativity, or storytelling ability, your style is what sets you apart.
Consistency in style and content can help you retain and grow your audience.
Continuously refine your approach, but stay true to the elements that define your TikTok persona. Your style is your brand, and it’s what keeps viewers coming back for more.
Learn From Successful Creators
https://www.tiktok.com/@khairulaming/video/7275615462279400706
TikTok is teeming with successful creators and TikTok influencers who have mastered the art of engaging content and monetization. Study their content, observe their strategies, and learn from their experiences.
Pay attention to creators in your niche and see what works for them. Don’t hesitate to engage with their content, ask them questions about their experience, and seek advice.
Building relationships within the TikTok creator community and other TikTok influencers can be invaluable in your journey to monetization.
Post at the Right Time
Timing matters on TikTok. Find out when your audience is most active on the platform by analyzing their activity – and optimize your posting schedule based on the best time to post on TikTok Malaysia.
From there, you can post your content during peak hours, which can help it reach a wider audience and increase engagement.
Consider also trying trending challenges and hashtags when planning your content schedule. Jumping on board with popular trends can really amp up your visibility and attract new followers who are all about the current topics. It’s worth a try!
How can a business make money from TikTok?
For businesses, TikTok earns money through sales: TikTok Shop, creator partnerships and ads that send buyers to your products. TikTok’s audience skews young, and users respond to content that feels genuine and entertaining.
Users on the platform are drawn to content that feels genuine, relatable, and entertaining.
To monetize effectively, align your marketing approach with the platform’s authenticity and entertainment culture.
Create content that resonates with your target audience’s interests and preferences.
Here’s where One Search Pro’s social media marketing team can make a difference in your TikTok journey. Our services are all about helping you turn your love for TikTok into some serious cash.
We know exactly what makes the TikTok crowd tick and how to navigate the ever-changing content scene. Whether you’re a newbie entrepreneur or running a small business, we can help you grab your viewers’ attention and turn that into engagement and money-making opportunities.
Subscribe to us today to learn how you can grow your social presence and unlock the full potential of your TikTok account, and let’s embark on a path to not only do what you love but also help you grow and hit your business goals!
Frequently asked questions
Does TikTok pay for views in Malaysia?
Not automatically. Views only earn money through the Creator Rewards Program, which needs 18+, 10,000 followers and 100,000 views in the last 30 days, and is limited to selected countries. If it does not appear under Creator tools in TikTok Studio, it is not available to your account. Most Malaysian creators earn through TikTok Shop affiliate, LIVE gifts and brand deals instead.
Can you earn money by watching TikTok videos?
Not in any reliable way. TikTok has run time-limited reward and referral campaigns, but its TikTok Lite watch-to-earn programme was permanently withdrawn from the EU in 2024 after regulators raised addiction concerns. Treat third-party apps promising cash for watching TikTok as high risk.
How many followers do you need to earn money on TikTok?
It depends on the method. TikTok Shop Affiliate Link in Malaysia works regardless of follower count. LIVE Subscription originally required 1,000 followers, and Creator Rewards Program requires 10,000. Brand deals have no fixed minimum; brands look at engagement and niche fit.
Cara monetize TikTok di Malaysia?
Cara paling mudah ialah sertai TikTok Shop Affiliate (TikTok Studio > TikTok Shop for Creator > Enable Affiliate) dan dapatkan komisen jualan. Pilihan lain ialah hadiah LIVE dan Subscription (umur 18 tahun ke atas) serta kerjasama berbayar dengan jenama. Creator Rewards Program hanya ada di negara terpilih.
Do you have to be verified to make money on TikTok?
No. The blue tick is not a requirement for any TikTok monetisation programme. Age, followers, account standing and your country matter more.