TikTok vs YouTube Shorts: What's Best for Monetization?

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The battle for short-form video is intensifying! Attention spans are shorter now, and video platforms are vying to grab attention with bite-sized, bite-worthy content. 

Two of the biggest contenders in this space are TikTok and YouTube Shorts. 

Both have enthralled millions of creators eager to demonstrate their skills, engage users, and most crucially, make money.

But if you're a creator who wants to make money from your passion, you've probably asked yourself:

Which is more profitable TikTok or YouTube Shorts?

Let's debunk and help you decide where your time, energy, and creativity should go.

What TikTok and YouTube Shorts Are About?

Let's have a brief recap of what these apps are all about before we enter the money battle.

TikTok:

Originally launched in 2016 (launched overseas in 2018), TikTok is the force behind today's short video boom. 

The platform allows users to post and share between 15 to 10-minute long videos, but the retro and most infectious videos are usually between 15 to 60 seconds.

TikTok thrives on its super-personalized algorithm-driven "For You Page" (FYP) experience that can turn even the most premature creator overnight viral. 

YouTube Shorts:

To counter the success of TikTok, YouTube Shorts launched in 2020 as YouTube's sole short-form video feature. 

Shorts allow creators to upload vertical videos up to 60 seconds in length, and the platform brings Shorts right into YouTube's massive ecosystem so creators can monetize their current channels with short-form content too.

YouTube Shorts has caught on quickly, especially due to its guarantee of discoverability and the reputable monetization system from YouTube.

Monetization Strategies: TikTok vs YouTube Shorts

Alright, now that you have the background, let's get to the questions that matter: How do creators make money on these platforms?

#1 Creator Fund vs Ad Revenue Sharing:

TikTok: The Creator Fund

TikTok launched its Creator Fund to reward creators for popular content. 

You are eligible if:

  • You are over 18 years of age.
  • You have at least 10,000 followers.
  • You've earned over 100,000 video views in the past 30 days.

Advantages:

  • Easy cash once you hit the threshold.
  • Passive income on performance videos.

Disadvantages:

  • The income is minimal. On average, creators have reported earning around $0.02 to $0.04 for every 1,000 views.
  • The fund is not adjustable, i.e., the larger the number of people qualifying, the lower each person earns.

YouTube Shorts: Ad Revenue Sharing

YouTube, already renowned for its liberal AdSense policy, introduced monetization of Shorts in 2023. 

To qualify for revenue sharing, creators must:

Join the YouTube Partner Program (1,000 subscribers and 10 million Shorts views in 90 days).

Advantages:

  • Revenue is shared on ads displayed between Shorts, not from a finite pool.
  • Payouts are generally higher and more long-term sustainable than TikTok's.

Disadvantages:

  • Stricter entry point 10 million views is a high standard for emerging creators.
  • Shorts revenues are shared, so your portion can still be based on ad performance.

#2 Brand Sponsorships and Influencer Marketing:

Both platforms offer enormous potential for brand sponsorships and influencer collaborations.

TikTok:

TikTok creators typically earn brand collaborations through its Creator Marketplace or by negotiating directly with brands. 

The more niche your content and the more engaged your audience, the greater your rates.

Why TikTok Excels:

TikTok's viral process has the ability to turn overnight creators into influencers.

Brands love TikTok for its authenticity, especially among Gen Z and young millennials.

YouTube Shorts:

YouTube Shorts creators also attract brand deals, especially if their content is professional, polished, and in a niche that is niche. 

Brands pay more on YouTube, given the platform's history of long-term evergreen content.

Why YouTube Shines:

Brands trust creators on YouTube more because there is a longer history of videos on YouTube.

YouTube creators can package long-form videos and Shorts into larger deals.

#3 Affiliate Marketing:

Both sites are wonderful to market affiliate products, but they work differently.

  • TikTok: Typically relies on product placement directly or CTA in captions or bio links. Since TikTok does not allow clickable links in video captions, conversions often depend on bio links or third-party landing pages.
  • YouTube Shorts: You can include clickable links inside your video descriptions, which can boost your affiliate conversion rate.

Winner

YouTube Shorts, simply because clickable links are allowed straight on the platform.

#4 Merch and Product Sales:

Engaged audience creators can also sell their own merchandise, products, or digital downloads.

  • TikTok: TikTok provides integration with Shopify and a TikTok Shop for eligible creators, with the ability to easily tag products on products within videos.
  • YouTube Shorts: YouTube integrates with platforms like Teespring, Shopify, and Spreadshop, allowing creators to display merch below their videos.

Who Wins?

It’s a tie. Both platforms make it easy to integrate merchandise and product sales into your content strategy.

Longevity and Sustainability:

Another key factor in the monetization debate is how sustainable your income can be.

  • TikTok videos are bound to go viral overnight but won't endure long. Once your video's algorithm time is up, traffic typically dies down.
  • YouTube Shorts leverages YouTube's powerful search engine, which causes your videos to continue bringing in views and revenue months or even years from now.

Winner:

YouTube Shorts, due to the compatibility with YouTube's search and recommendation video algorithms.

Audience and Demographics:

Knowing your audience is crucial for monetization.

  • TikTok's audience is younger, mostly teenagers and young adults. If your audience is interested in Gen Z humor, dance challenges, or youth culture, TikTok can't be beat.
  • YouTube Shorts has a wider age range, from children to elderly adults, and is preferred for educational, tutorial-style, and entertainment content.

Depending on your audience, either platform can be more lucrative.

Platform Stability:

One of the secret facts about TikTok is the platform's political risk. 

Some governments, especially in the U.S. and Europe, have complained regarding data privacy to the point that they threatened to ban the app in specific regions.

YouTube, owned by Google, is more stable, commonly accepted, and less vulnerable to regulator bans or restrictions.

Winner:

YouTube Shorts, because of its long-term stability and worldwide appeal.

In conclusion Both TikTok and YouTube Shorts offer excellent opportunities for creators to earn money. 

The “better” platform depends on your personal goals:

  • If you’re aiming for quick viral fame, youth-oriented content, and brand deals, TikTok is still an incredible place to start.
  • If you’re thinking about long-term income, stable ad revenue, and cross-platform opportunities, YouTube Shorts is the smarter bet.

For both best worlds? Clever creators are using both platforms repurposing and recreating content to generate maximum visibility, audience building, and income streams.

In the end, consistency, creativity, and audience building are the real indicators of success, no matter what platform you use.

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