To get free samples on TikTok Shop, you need to have made at least one sale through TikTok Shop in the last 120 days. Then you can request a product from a seller in the affiliate product list, wait for the seller to approve it, and post a video or a 10-minute LIVE with the product link within 14 days of it arriving.
If you haven't made a sale yet, there's a second route TikTok calls Refundable Samples. You buy the product yourself, and TikTok refunds it once your content drives the number of sales the seller asks for. That's the way most new affiliates get started.
Free samples vs refundable samples
| Free Samples | Refundable Samples | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can get them | Creators with TikTok Shop sales in the last 120 days | All eligible affiliate creators |
| Seller approval | Needed | Not needed |
| How you get the product | Seller sends it at no cost | You buy it, then get a full refund if you hit the goal |
| What you must do | Post within 14 days of receiving it | Drive the seller's sales goal within 120 days |
| Typical goal | Content with the product link | Sellers usually ask for 1 to 3 orders |
| Counts against your free sample limit? | Yes | No |
The rule that catches people out, according to TikTok's September 2026 guide: overdue free samples no longer free up your limit on their own. A sample you haven't posted about keeps using a slot until you post. Miss a deadline and you can find yourself unable to request anything new.
How to request a free sample
- Open TikTok Shop's affiliate area in the app (Creator Center or the product list, depending on your version).
- Find a product you'd honestly use and that suits your audience.
- Tap to request a free sample and confirm your delivery details.
- Wait for the seller to approve, reject or let the request lapse.
- Track it in Manage Samples, which shows approved samples, which ones still need content and how that content performed.
How to use refundable samples
- Find a product with the Order refundable sample button.
- Pick size or colour, add your address and complete the purchase. Most coupons still apply.
- Make your video or LIVE and attach the product link so sales are tracked to you.
- Hit the seller's sales goal. The refund goes through after the 30-day return period for each qualifying order ends.
TikTok suggests aiming to hit the goal within the first 90 days, because sales made near the end of the 120-day window may not clear the return period in time. You can post several videos about the same product, and every sale through your link counts.
What sellers look at before approving
- Whether your content fits their product. A skincare brand wants skincare creators.
- Your past sales through TikTok Shop.
- Whether you post on time. Late or missing posts lower your standing with TikTok and sellers.
- How your previous sample videos performed, which sellers can see.
Mistakes that cost you samples
- Requesting lots of products you'll never film. Each unposted sample ties up your limit.
- Forgetting the product link. Without it, sales aren't credited to you.
- Posting a video that's private or deleted soon after. Keep it public.
- Trying to get a refundable sample of a product you've already requested free. TikTok won't allow both at once; clear one first.
If affiliate selling is new to you, start with how the TikTok Shop affiliate programme works, and learn what GMV means on TikTok Shop, because it's the number sellers will judge you on.
Making sample videos that sell
Sellers approve creators whose videos lead to orders, so the video matters as much as the request. A simple structure that works for most products:
- Show the product in the first two seconds, in your hand or in use.
- Say who it's for and the one problem it solves.
- Demonstrate it, rather than just describing it.
- Be honest about anything you didn't like. Viewers trust balanced reviews more.
- Point to the product link and tell people where to tap.
A LIVE also counts, as long as it runs for at least 10 minutes with the product link attached. LIVEs suit products that need explaining, such as gadgets or skincare routines, because viewers can ask questions while you demo.
Keeping track so you never miss a deadline
Use Manage Samples as your to-do list. It shows which samples are approved, which have arrived and which still need content. I'd add the 14-day deadline to your calendar the day each parcel arrives. Missing deadlines is the fastest way to lose access, and with overdue samples now holding onto your limit, one forgotten parcel can block new requests.
Is it worth it?
Samples are a good way to build an affiliate catalogue without spending on stock, but they're not free in time. Each one means filming, editing and posting to a deadline. I'd treat every request as a small job: only take it if you'd be happy to recommend the product, and if your audience is the kind of people who'd buy it. A handful of well-matched samples will do more for your sales record than a pile of random parcels, and that record is what decides how many samples sellers approve next time.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
My advice
If you're brand new, use refundable samples on two or three products you'd buy anyway. One good sale unlocks the free route for the next 120 days. After that, only request what you'll film that week. Samples are a deal with the seller, and creators who deliver on time get approved again and again.
Frequently asked questions
Can new creators get free samples on TikTok Shop?
Free samples need a TikTok Shop sale in the last 120 days. New creators can start with Refundable Samples, which don't need seller approval.
How long can I take to post after getting a TikTok Shop sample?
TikTok asks you to post free-sample content within 14 days of receiving the product.
Does a TikTok LIVE count for a sample?
Yes. A public short-form video or a LIVE of at least 10 minutes with the product link counts.
Do refundable samples count against my free sample limit?
No. TikTok says refundable samples don't count against your free sample request quota.
What happens if I miss the posting deadline for a free sample?
The sample keeps using a slot in your free sample limit until you post, and repeated late posts can mean fewer sample approvals in future. Post as soon as you can, even if you're late.
