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TikTok Subscription (2026): How It Works, the Monthly Bonus Test and Sub-Only Rules

TikTok Subscription lets followers pay a monthly fee for a creator's sub-only videos, a Subscriber badge, custom stickers and perks the creator designs. As of November 2026, the creator receives 70 out of every 100 of the revenue share after app store fees, and a bonus that's re-tested every month can lift that to 90 out of every 100.

Everything on this page comes from TikTok's Creator Academy guide to Subscription, which showed "Last updated Aug 18, 2026" when I checked. TikTok can change any of it, so treat the figures as a snapshot.

What a subscriber gets for the fee

PerkWhat the fan getsWhat it asks of you
Exclusive contentSub-only videos, or special notes only subscribers can seeRegular posts made just for them
Subscriber badgeA Subscriber badge next to their name when they commentNothing to set up; it helps you spot paying fans and reply to them first
StickersUp to 35 personalised stickers to use in DMs and group chatsDesigning and uploading them
Customisable perksThings like voting on your next video topic, a follow back or a collabDelivering what you promise, every month

Custom perks can be built from scratch or picked from TikTok's templates. Creator Academy's own tip is to keep it realistic and only promise what you can deliver. That's the right instinct: a perk you forget to honour costs more goodwill than one you never offered.

How the creator gets paid

Subscribers pay a monthly fee that you set and can change later. App store fees come off first, and your share is worked out on what's left. That's the line people skim past: the creator's 70 out of every 100 isn't a share of the price the fan sees, it's a share of the revenue after app store fees.

As of November 2026, the default price tier is $5.99, and you can choose from options ranging from $2.99 to $99.99 per month. The tiers are listed in US dollars, but fans pay in their local currency, so exchange rates and taxes change what each person ends up paying. TikTok also says it keeps the final say on Subscription prices.

Your monthly rewards show on your account, and you'll need a payment method set up to collect them. The payout side is covered in how to get paid on TikTok, and what TikTok pays creators puts Subscription next to the other ways TikTok pays.

The monthly bonus test

The extra 20 out of every 100 is where the detail sits. To be eligible, Creator Academy says you must:

  1. Have over 10k followers.
  2. Have over 100k video views during the last calendar month.
  3. Stick to TikTok's Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.
  4. If you've never published a sub-only video, post your first one in this calendar month.
  5. If you have published sub-only videos before, post at least three valid sub-only videos in this calendar month.

Eligibility is evaluated each month. So it isn't a badge you earn once and keep. A quiet month, a dip in views or only two sub-only posts, and you're back on the base share for that month. TikTok also tells creators to watch their in-app notifications for details of when the bonus opens to them, so don't assume it's live on your account the day you join.

Rules for sub-only posts

This is the part that changes how you make content. Creator Academy lists these limits:

RuleWhat it means in practice
No DuetsA sub-only post can't sit side by side with someone else's video
No StitchesYou can't build a sub-only post on a clip from another creator
No sticker creationsSticker creations are out for sub-only content
Copyright-free sounds onlyThe licensed tracks you'd use on a public post are out; personal accounts can use TikTok's Unlimited Sounds Library
Original contentUnoriginal, low-quality or advertising content makes an account or post ineligible

Two of these matter most for business accounts. The advertising rule means a sub-only feed that turns into product promos won't qualify. And the sound rule means a trending track you'd happily use on a public post can't go on a sub-only one, so plan your audio before you film.

How to join Subscription

As of November 2026, the route is:

  1. Go to your profile and tap the menu.
  2. Tap TikTok Studio, then the Monetization tab.
  3. Scroll to Monetization Programs and select Subscription.
  4. Tap Join Subscription and follow the eligibility steps you're shown.

Once you're in, you manage it from your profile: tap Subscription just below your bio to open the Subscription Management page, where you change settings and add perks. Subscribers can cancel at any time, so the monthly figure will move.

The guide doesn't say which countries Subscription is open in, so the Monetization tab in your own app is where you'll find out.

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Subscription or Super Fan

They're separate programmes, and people mix them up. Both give fans extra benefits and content, but Super Fan is exclusive to TikTok LIVE, while Subscription is built around sub-only posts, badges and perks on your regular content. If live streaming is your main format, going LIVE on TikTok is the better place to start.

Is TikTok Subscription worth it?

I'd start Subscription only if you can make at least three sub-only videos every month, because that's the rhythm the bonus asks for once your first one is out, and it's what paying fans will expect anyway. I'd leave the price on the default tier at first and see who joins before you move it.

If you're under 10k followers, the base share is still there, but skip planning around the bonus until you're clearly over both thresholds. And skip Subscription altogether if your best-performing posts lean on Duets, Stitches or trending sounds: none of those can go behind the paywall.

If you're a creator or a brand weighing up paid memberships on TikTok, that's the kind of social media strategy I help with. I run AI training and workshops for teams, and help businesses with AI enablement and workflow automation, so the busywork runs itself and people get time back. Most of that work is with SaaS marketing teams and small businesses. Here's how we can work together.

If you want the full set, start at the TikTok Help: 19 Guides to Views, Pay, Freezing Fixes, Followers and TikTok Shop.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a TikTok subscription cost?

As of November 2026 the default tier is $5.99, and creators can choose from options between $2.99 and $99.99 per month. Fans pay in their local currency.

What share of the fee does a creator keep?

70 out of every 100 of the revenue share after app store fees, rising to a maximum of 90 out of every 100 with the monthly bonus.

Who qualifies for the TikTok Subscription bonus?

Creators with over 10k followers and over 100k video views last calendar month who follow the rules and post enough sub-only videos that month. Eligibility is checked monthly.

Can I use trending sounds in sub-only videos?

No. Sub-only posts can only use copyright-free sounds. Personal accounts can use TikTok's Unlimited Sounds Library.

Is TikTok Subscription the same as Super Fan?

No. They're separate programmes, and Super Fan is exclusive to TikTok LIVE.

Published and maintained by the Lilach Bullock team, covering marketing, AI and business growth.
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