Which Social Media Platform Pays the Most in 2025?
In 2025, content creators aren’t just posting online for fun. They’re running the show as their own social media managers, business owners, creative directors, customer support, web designers, sales teams, and more. Many are turning their creativity into full-time work, building communities, and earning real income from their posts.
But with so many platforms to choose from, one question keeps coming up: Which social media platforms actually pay content creators the most?
Let’s walk through what creators are earning today, what it takes to qualify, and how to make money from the content you already enjoy making.
The Quick Answer: Which Platforms Pay the Most in 2025?
YouTube still leads when it comes to ad revenue from long-form content, with TikTok’s newer Creator Rewards Program not far behind, followed by Instagram. While Snapchat, X, and Facebook do offer some payouts, most creators on those platforms rely more on brand partnerships or community support to earn money.
That said, how much you can earn as a content creator depends on more than just the platform. The type of content you create and how well it fits with a platform’s format and audience plays a big role. If you’re thinking about monetizing your content, it’s worth considering not only how each platform pays, but also your audience, your goals, and what kind of content you enjoy producing.
What is The Best Way To Make Money on Social Media?
That’s an easy one, make quality content! That’s it. There are many social media monetization methods, as you’ll see later in this article, but all of them depend on creating quality content that your followers engage with.
Analyzing your social media content performance is the key to keeping your audience interested, and that’s what Metricool is here for.
Factors That Influence How Much Social Media Platforms Pay Creators
Knowing what influences your social media earnings can help you make smarter choices and boost your income. Here are the main things that make a difference:
1. Platform Differences
Each platform has its own way of paying creators. YouTube shares ad revenue and offers memberships, while TikTok mostly pays through creator funds and live gifts. Instagram and Facebook focus more on brand deals and influencer partnerships. Payment methods also vary with some platforms paying based on ad views, others reward engagement or have fixed creator funds.
2. Niche and Content Type
The topic you create around makes a big difference. Niches like tech, finance, and beauty usually attract higher-paying advertisers and better sponsorship offers compared to broader or more casual topics. Video content often pays better than images or text, especially when it’s high quality and professionally made.
3. Audience Size and Demographics
While having more followers or subscribers usually means you have more earning opportunities, the type of audience you have matters too. Brands want to reach specific groups, so your audience’s age, location, and spending habits affect how much they’re willing to pay to advertise to them.
4. Engagement Rate
A smaller but highly engaged audience can be more valuable than a large but inactive one. Likes, comments, shares, and watch time all show how involved your followers are, and this often affects how much brands and platforms pay. Brands and platforms often look at engagement rates to decide how much to pay, because engagement shows that your followers trust you and are interested in what you share. Higher engagement can also help your content reach more people, increasing your earning potential.
5. Location
Where you live impacts your earnings. CPM rates and brand budgets tend to be higher in countries with strong advertising markets like the U.S., U.K., or Canada. Creators elsewhere might earn less for the same content.
6. Previous Brand Collaborations and Sponsorships
Your track record with brands matters when it comes to how much you can charge for sponsorships or partnerships. If you have a history of successful campaigns, good engagement stats, and positive feedback, brands are more likely to offer better deals.
Sponsorship and partnership payments can come as flat fees, per post rates, commissions, or a mix of these. Established creators usually have more room to negotiate better rates and terms so building relationships with brands over time can open doors to higher-paying opportunities.
7. Consistency and Content Volume
Consistency is key when it comes to growing your earnings. Both platforms and brands prefer creators who stick to a regular posting schedule because it keeps your audience engaged and helps build momentum. Sharing frequent, high-quality content can grow your following and open doors to more sponsorships and ad revenue. Since posting often takes time and effort, using tools like Metricool’s scheduling feature can help you plan and automate your content calendar. This way, you maintain a steady flow of posts without feeling overwhelmed, allowing you to focus on creating quality content.
8. Platform and Algorithm Changes
Social media sites often change their algorithms and rules around monetization. Staying flexible and adjusting your strategy based on these updates can help you maintain steady earnings so keep an eye on platform announcements and trends ito be a successful creator.
9. Trust and Authenticity
Authenticity with your audience makes a difference in how much support you get. When your followers trust you, they’re more likely to engage with your content, recommend you to others, and support you directly through memberships, donations, or live-stream gifts. Brands also look for creators who have genuine connections with their audience because those partnerships feel more credible. Being honest about sponsored content and keeping your voice real helps build long-term loyalty, which supports sustainable earnings.
What are Creators Earning on Social Media in 2025?
YouTube: The Highest Earnings for Creators
If you’re looking to make serious income from your content, YouTube still leads the way. Long-form videos generate the highest payouts, mainly thanks to ad revenue. YouTube shares 55% of ad income with creators, and for viewers in the U.S., CPMs (cost per 1,000 impressions) average around $10. In high-paying niches like tech, finance, and business, CPMs can climb to $20 or more.
That typically translates to $5 to $15 per 1,000 views, though some creators report even higher rates depending on their niche and audience. For example, personal finance channels often see CPMs around $12, while content specifically focused on making money online—such as affiliate marketing or side hustle strategies—can hit CPMs of $20 or more.
YouTube’s Partner Program (YPP) makes all this possible, offering creators a variety of ways to earn once they meet the eligibility requirements.
Here’s a breakdown of how creators make money on YouTube in 2025:
AdSense Revenue
Most YouTubers earn money by allowing YouTube to display ads on their videos. YouTube then shares a percentage of ad revenue based on RPM (Revenue Per Mille), a metric that calculates earnings per 1,000 views. RPM varies depending on the country, content length, and topic, but according to analyzify.com, the average RPM in 2024 was $3 for long-form videos and $0.05 for YouTube shorts.
Super Chats & Stickers
Super chats and stickers allow your audience to pay to have their messages or animations displayed in the live chat of your video. The viewer decides how much they want to pay (from $1 to $500), and creators receive 70% (before taxes).
Super Thanks
While Super Chats are for live videos and premieres, Super Thanks are available for regular video plays. Apart from that, Super Thanks are similar, allowing viewers to pay for their comments and animations to be highlighted.
Channel Memberships:
YouTube channel memberships allow you to offer exclusive content and features to members who choose to pay monthly. You can create different membership tiers and you’re free to decide prices and offerings of each level.
YouTube Shopping
YouTube Shopping allows creators to sell products through their content. You can tag your products in your videos or pin them to livestreams.
YouTube BrandConnect
This option allows you to find brand partners to collaborate with on content. With BrandConnect, Google finds brands that share characteristics with yours and highlights them to you, then it’s up to you to build the bridge!
To Qualify for YPP
To start monetizing YouTube you need to be a part of the YouTube Partner Program. This lets creators earn money through ads, memberships, fan funding, and product sales. Once you’re accepted, you’ll also get access to monetization tools, YouTube’s Creator Support team, and revenue sharing from ads on your videos.
You can apply for YPP once you meet either of these requirements:
- 1,000 subscribers
- 4,000 public watch hours in the last year
- Or 10 million Shorts views in 90 days
While Shorts help creators grow faster, they still earn far less than standard long-form videos. If your goal is to make a steady income from YouTube, focusing on full-length videos is still your best bet.
TikTok: Better Rewards for Longer Videos
TikTok has stepped up its creator monetization game especially if you’re posting longer, high-quality videos. With the Creator Fund now gone, the TikTok Creator Rewards Program rewards eligible users who post videos at least 60 seconds long, paying between $0.40 to $1.00 per 1,000 views. That’s a big jump from the pennies-per-thousand-views model TikTok used before.
To earn through this program, TikTok evaluates your content based on four factors: originality, watch time, engagement, and search value. The better your content performs across these points, the more you can earn.
You can also earn on TikTok through:
- Live Gifts and Tips: Viewers can send you virtual gifts or direct tips during live streams, which you can exchange for real cash.
- TikTok Shop: Sell your own products or promote affiliate items with shoppable videos, livestreams, or a built-in storefront.
- Creator Marketplace: Partner with brands for paid collaborations through TikTok’s official influencer marketing platform.
- Subscriptions: Offer exclusive perks to paying fans like special content, badges, or direct interactions.
To join the Creator Rewards Program, you need:
- At least 10,000 followers
- 100,000 views in the last 30 days
- A TikTok account based in a supported country like the U.S., U.K., or Canada
If you want to earn at the higher end, stick to original, engaging content that keeps people watching beyond a quick scroll.
Facebook: Strong Revenue Opportunities
Facebook has rolled out a new Content Monetisation program that makes it easier for creators to earn from a variety of formats including videos, Reels, photos, text posts, and Stories. Instead of juggling different programs, creators can now opt into one system that combines in-stream ads, Ads on Reels, and the Performance Bonus. This simplified setup also comes with one unified dashboard for tracking performance and earnings.
You’re eligible to earn through Facebook if:
- You have at least 10,000 followers
- Your content meets Meta’s monetization guidelines
- You’re based in a supported country
To check if your Page qualifies, go to:
- Meta Business Suite
- Select your Facebook Page
- Go to Monetization
- View your eligibility
Ways to Earn on Facebook:
There are a few different ways to earn on Facebook, and most creators use a mix of them depending on what kind of content they share.
1. Video and Reels Ads
Facebook places ads before, during, or after your videos and shares the revenue. Your earnings depend on engagement as well as the type and placement of the ad. In order to earn ad money from your videos, you need to have at least 10,000 Page followers.
2. Fan Subscriptions
Offer exclusive perks to followers for a monthly fee. This could include behind-the-scenes content, subscriber-only groups, or discounts on merch. Every paying subscriber gets a badge next to their name when they comment.
3. Live Stars
During livestreams, viewers can send you virtual Stars that convert into real income. You earn $0.01 per Star. This now applies to regular videos, posts, photos, and Reels as well.
4. Brand Collaborations
Through the Brand Collabs Manager, creators can connect with companies looking to partner for sponsored content. Facebook helps match you with brands that fit your audience and style.
Bonus: Content Monetisation Beta
Facebook is also testing a new monetization beta program, currently invite-only, that rewards creators based on overall content performance across formats. If you’ve been earning through previous programs, this transition should feel seamless. Invitations are rolling out throughout the year, but you can express interest in joining early.
Overall, Facebook paid creators $2 billion in the last year, and the platform continues to expand how and where you can earn. Whether you’re posting Reels, livestreaming, or running a fan-supported page, there are plenty of ways to turn your Facebook presence into income.
X (Twitter): Earnings From Premium Engagement Only
X now pays creators a share of Premium subscription revenue, but payouts depend on engagement from other Premium users. It no longer pays based on impressions or reply views.
Some creators report earning between $2.50 and $10 per 1,000 Premium followers per month. It’s far from predictable, and there’s no official RPM.
To qualify:
- X Premium subscriber
- 500+ followers
- 5 million impressions in 90 days
This model works for accounts that generate high engagement from verified users, but not for those relying on casual viewers.
Instagram’s Creators Lab is a helpful hub for tips, tools, and best practices and it outlines five main ways to make money on the platform. Whether you’re posting Reels, going live, or offering exclusive content, there are several ways to earn directly from your audience or through brand partnerships.
The Creators Lab also encourages you to connect with other creators, price your work fairly, and use your earnings to grow your content. Here’s how you can start earning on Instagram:
Creator Marketplace
Like YouTube BrandConnect, Instagram Creator Marketplace connects creators with brands. This allows you to earn money by highlighting brands you love through your content and sharing them with your followers. If you have a creator account, you can add up to 10 branded content interests to your profile, so potential brand partners can find you.
Badges
If you regularly go live on Instagram and attract a lot of viewers, badges are a great earning option for you. During your live video, Viewers can show their support by purchasing badges that appear as hearts in the live chat. Badge prices range from $0.99 to $4.99.
Gifts
Instagram gifts are only available for Reels. They’re virtual tokens of appreciation that fans can buy to support your content. Instagram has different gift options to choose from with creators receiving $0.01 per star.
Bonuses & Ads (Direct Instagram Payout)
Instagram is currently testing two direct payout options for creators.
First, there’s an invite-only bonus program available in the US and South Korea. If selected, you’ll receive a limited-time bonus offer that applies to up to 150 pieces of content. The more views your content gets, the higher your payout. It’s designed to reward creativity and reach.
Second, ads in your profile feed are being tested with a small group of eligible creators in the US, Canada, Japan, and South Korea. This works similarly to Reels ads, with Instagram placing ads in your feed and sharing revenue. If you’re eligible, you’ll get a notification via email and in the app. To participate, you’ll need a professional account, meet Instagram’s monetization policies, and set up your business and payout information.
Subscriptions
If you’ve got a loyal following that loves engaging with your content, subscriptions are a great regular income stream. Subscriptions allow you to set your own prices for exclusive content. You can create subscriber lives, stories, chats, posts, reels and subscriber promotions.
Twitch
With the platform’s focus on its primary niche, gaming, Twitch has many monetization methods that you can take advantage of. Here are the main ones:
- Subscriptions: There are 3 different subscription options you can offer your followers:
- Subs – A normal subscription where views play from $4.99 to $24.99 a month for access to exclusive benefits that you can decide and change as you wish.
- Gifted Subs – Twitch viewers also have the option to gift a subscription to another user. This often works as a gateway to your content, allowing your fans to help bring in more viewers.
- Prime Gaming – Amazon Prime subscribers receive one free Twitch channel subscription per month, which they can use to support your content.
- Bits: Bits are animated emotes that your viewers purchase to show their support for your content during live streams. As a creator, you receive $0.01 per Bit.
- Sponsorships: These are brand collaboration opportunities that allow you to earn money by promoting something for a third party. Twitch doesn’t currently have a marketplace for brands to easily find you, so don’t be afraid to do some outreach to find the right partners for your content.
- Ads: Twitch allows you to create your own ads in collaboration with your sponsors and decide where to include them in your videos. This gives you the freedom to strategically place ads and ensure the best viewing experience for your followers. The suggested guidelines include not front or back-loading your ads, running shorter ad breaks with no more than 1 minute of ads per hour, and having 15 minutes between ad breaks.
Snapchat
Snapchat’s Creator Hub lists the following ways to make money on the platform:
- Revenue Share Programme: Snapchat rewards creators for content shared on stories with the Revenue Share Programme. To be eligible you must have more than 50,000 followers, post consistently (25 times per month), and achieve one of Snapchat’s engagement benchmarks relating to views or view time.
- Paid Partnerships: You can also post sponsored content on Snapchat as long as you include a “Paid Partnership” label on your picture or video. If you have achieved Snap Star status (lucky you!), you can opt into sharing your profile metrics with Snap’s brand partners to attract more potential sponsors. You can find this option in the app’s profile settings.
LinkedIn doesn’t currently offer direct monetization through the platform. However, as it is a professional social network, you can still make money via LinkedIn, if not on the platform itself.
- Professional Content Partnerships: Great for industry leaders and professionals sharing insightful content.
- Services Marketplace: You can offer your professional services on Linkedin by advertising on the Services Marketplace.
- LinkedIn Learning: If you’re an expert in a professional field you can create courses for sale on Linkedin Learning.
Tips to Increase Your Income from Social Media
Consistency and Quality Content
Regular, high-quality content builds trust and audience loyalty. Whether you want to earn directly through your content or attract brand sponsors, consistent quality content is your gateway to unlimited earnings!
The best way to be sure that your content is hitting the mark is to analyze it. Metricool offers analytics for your social media content across all major platforms with a FREE account. You can measure your clicks, views, impressions and interactions in one dashboard, which you can then use to tweak your content strategy until it works.
Make Platform-Appropriate Content
Make sure the content you’re posting is a good fit for the platform you’ve chosen. Different social media platforms have different audiences and tendencies so it’s important that your content matches. For example, Snapchat has a younger audience, so content is generally fun and lighthearted, whereas LinkedIn content usually has a more professional focus (it can still be fun, everybody likes fun!). So don’t be afraid to adapt your content ideas for each platform for maximum engagement and earnings.
Engage with Your Audience
Active interaction has been proven to increase retention and growth on social media. Creating a strong relationship with your followers is a great way to show brand partners how impactful your content is, and how willing your audience is to actively participate, which is perfect for ads. If you receive tips and donations during live streams, don’t forget to say thank you!
Be Transparent with Your Audience
Every social media platform that offers monetization lists transparency as one of the terms and conditions for creators to follow. Even if they didn’t community is all about trust, so be honest with your audience and let them know when you’ve been paid to promote something.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
While some people are still “faking it till they make it” on social media, the most successful creators are the ones who keep it real. If you want your followers to give you money, asking directly is the most effective way to make that clear. Just don’t overdo it by being too pushy or shaming followers who don’t donate, subtle reminders work best.
Collaborate and Network
Partner with other creators or influencers to cross-promote and co-create content. Collaboration helps you reach new audiences who already trust the person you’re teaming up with. You can also attend industry events, online or in person, to meet brands, form partnerships, and stay up to date on what’s working for other creators.
Diversify Your Income Streams
Don’t limit yourself to just one way of earning. Whether you’re on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or another platform, combining multiple income streams is one of the smartest ways to build consistent revenue.
Alongside ad revenue and brand partnerships, consider affiliate links, fan subscriptions, tips, and selling your own digital products like Ebooks, templates, courses, coaching sessions, or presets. Whatever fits your niche, offering your own products off-platform gives you full control over pricing and profit. It also helps you build something sustainable that doesn’t rely on algorithms or ad budgets.
Final Verdict: What is the Highest Pay Social Media Platform in 2025?
While YouTube is a strong leader in ad revenue, platforms like Instagram and TikTok offer huge opportunities through brand partnerships and fan support. The best platform for earning depends on your content, audience, and approach.
Instead of focusing only on which platform pays the most per view, think about how you can take advantage of the different monetization options available. Tools like Metricool can help you plan, schedule, and analyze your content across platforms, so you can make smarter decisions and boost your earnings over time.
