TikTok vs YouTube Earnings — Which Platform Pays More?
📋 Table of Contents
YouTube pays significantly more per view than TikTok. YouTube creators earn $2-$12 per 1,000 views compared to TikTok's $0.50-$1.50. However, TikTok offers easier organic reach, making it faster to accumulate views.
Use our free TikTok Money Calculator to calculate your exact earnings based on views, country, and niche.
Earnings Breakdown
| Metric | YouTube | TikTok |
|---|---|---|
| Pay per 1K views | $2 – $12 | $0.50 – $1.50 |
| Organic reach | Moderate | Very High |
| Revenue streams | 5+ | 3-4 |
| Content lifespan | Years (evergreen) | Days to weeks |
| Monetization threshold | 1K subs + 4K hrs | 10K followers |
Which Should You Choose?
The best strategy is to use both platforms together. TikTok excels at rapid audience growth and viral discovery, while YouTube provides higher per-view revenue and long-term content value. Many successful creators repurpose their YouTube content as TikTok clips to maximize reach.
Our Analysis
YouTube is the clear winner for direct ad revenue. However, TikTok's viral potential means a new creator can reach millions of people within weeks, something that typically takes months or years on YouTube. The smartest approach is using TikTok to build an audience and funneling them to YouTube for monetization.
Calculate Your Own Earnings
These are general estimates based on average CPM data. Your actual earnings depend on your specific audience, content niche, and engagement rates. For a personalized estimate, try our TikTok Money Calculator with real CPM data adjusted by country and niche.
Try Our TikTok Calculator
Want to see exactly how much you could earn? Use our free TikTok Money Calculator with real CPM data adjusted by country, niche, and content type.
Calculate Your Earnings →Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by The Creator Paycheck Team
Our research team analyzes creator earnings data across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitch, and OnlyFans. We aggregate publicly available CPM data, creator earnings reports, and industry benchmarks to provide accurate, transparent income estimates for content creators worldwide.