TikTok has exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the most downloaded and used social media apps worldwide. But does using TikTok actually cost money? Or is the app free to download and use?
TikTok is a short-form video app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. On TikTok, users can create, edit, and share 15-60 second videos showing themselves lip-syncing, dancing, doing comedy sketches, and more. The app uses sophisticated algorithms to determine which videos to show each user based on their interests and engagement.
In this article, we’ll answer the key question: does downloading TikTok cost money? We’ll look at the costs associated with downloading the app itself, making in-app purchases, upgrading to a TikTok Pro account, paid advertising options, and more. By the end, you’ll know whether TikTok requires any payment or if you can use the platform 100% free.
Downloading the TikTok App
The TikTok app can be downloaded for free on both iOS and Android devices. On an iPhone or iPad, you can download TikTok from the App Store. Simply search for “TikTok” in the App Store, and tap “Get” to download it. There is no cost to download the TikTok app itself on iOS devices (source).
For Android devices, TikTok can be downloaded for free from the Google Play Store. Search for “TikTok” in the Play Store, and tap “Install” to download the app. Like on iOS, there is no cost to download TikTok on Android (source).
The TikTok app itself is free to download on both major mobile platforms. The app does offer in-app purchases which are optional for users.
In-App Purchases
TikTok offers various in-app purchases that users can make on the platform. The primary in-app purchase on TikTok is coins, which are a virtual currency that can be used to send gifts to creators during live streams on TikTok Live (Source). TikTok coins start at 99 cents for 65 coins, and users can purchase larger quantities at increasing prices. Sending gifts to creators helps support them financially and shows appreciation for their content.
Another in-app purchase available on TikTok is TikTok Premium, which provides an ad-free viewing experience. For $6.99 per month, TikTok Premium subscribers can watch videos without any advertisements interrupting their feed. This provides an upgraded experience for heavy TikTok users who want to avoid ads (Source). In 2021, in-app purchases like coins and TikTok Premium made up the bulk of TikTok’s massive revenue from the app.
TikTok Pro Account
TikTok offers a Pro account option that unlocks additional analytics and features not available with a standard TikTok account. The TikTok Pro account does not cost anything to access and switch to currently. It is free for any users that meet the eligibility requirements set by TikTok (Must be 18+, Have at least 10k followers) [1].
Some of the key features unlocked with a TikTok Pro account include:
- Advanced analytics like demographics data and traffic sources
- Ability to download videos in HD quality
- Longer video length limit of 10 minutes instead of 3 minutes
- Verification badge to confirm authenticity as a creator
While the TikTok Pro account is currently free, TikTok may eventually switch to a paid subscription model in the future like other social platforms have done. However, at this time no monthly fee is required to upgrade an account to Pro status.
Paid Advertising
TikTok offers paid advertising options for businesses and influencers looking to reach a wider audience on the platform. There are a few ways to pay for promotion on TikTok:
Promoted videos allow you to boost existing organic videos to reach more of your current audience or expand to new audiences. The cost for promoted videos starts at around $10 per day and increases based on factors like audience size, engagement rate, and length of promotion.[1]
In-feed native video ads play between organic TikTok videos in a user’s For You feed. These video ads can cost between $10 – $20 per 1,000 impressions depending on targeting and engagement.[2]
Brand takeovers allow advertisers to exclusively showcase their brand on the launch screen when users open the TikTok app. Pricing starts around $50,000 for a 6-hour takeover.[3]
Overall, paid advertising on TikTok can cost anywhere from a few dollars per day up to several thousand for branded partnerships and takeovers. The platform offers flexible options at various price points for businesses of all sizes looking to engage the TikTok audience.
Verdict
To restate the main question – does downloading TikTok cost money? The short answer is no, downloading the TikTok app itself does not cost anything. The app is free to download on both iOS and Android devices.
As summarized in the sections above, while the app itself is free, there are optional in-app purchases available. You can pay for things like TikTok Coins to send digital gifts to creators or subscribe to TikTok Premium for an ad-free experience. There is also the option to upgrade to a TikTok Pro account for more analytics, though this is not required.
You can use TikTok completely free if you choose not to make any in-app purchases. The core functionality of creating and sharing short videos is available without spending any money. The only potential cost is if you choose to pay for additional features.
In conclusion, while TikTok offers paid extras, downloading and using the app itself does not require any payment. The core TikTok experience of viewing and sharing videos is free for anyone to access.
Free Alternatives
While TikTok itself is free to download, there are other apps like TikTok that provide similar short form video social media experiences for free. Some popular free alternative apps to consider include:
- Triller – Triller allows users to create and share short music videos. It has many of the same features as TikTok.
- Vigo Video – Vigo Video is another app for creating and sharing short videos set to music. It provides filters and effects for videos.
- Firework – Firework focuses on sharing short videos in a feed. Users can add music and effects to videos.
- Likee – Likee, previously known as Like Video, is a short video creation and sharing app similar to TikTok.
These apps provide comparable short-form video social networking experiences to TikTok without any cost to download and use. They can serve as free alternatives for those looking for the core functionality of TikTok.
Paid Alternative
Triller is a popular short-form video app similar to TikTok that offers premium paid plans for additional features. While TikTok is free to use for basic functionality, Triller has a subscription service called TrillerPlus that unlocks extra capabilities.
For $7.99 per month or $49.99 per year, TrillerPlus gives users options like downloading videos without a watermark, creating longer videos up to 10 minutes, zero ads, exclusive live events and content, unlimited edits on uploaded videos, and profile customization features like verified badges and extra analytics (Source).
As an alternative paid short-form video service, Triller competes directly with TikTok by offering advanced tools and a broader range of features for their subscription plans. However, TikTok remains the more popular app globally in terms of active users and content, while providing a robust free experience.
Pros and Cons
There are both advantages and disadvantages to using a free platform like TikTok compared to a paid alternative. Here is an overview of some of the key pros and cons:
Pros of Using TikTok
Some benefits of using TikTok include:
- Completely free to download and use the basic features
- Huge existing user base with over 1 billion monthly active users
- Powerful algorithm that can quickly pick up on trends and boost videos to a large audience
- Fun and easy-to-use video creation tools
- Allows everyday users to go viral and gain a large following
Cons of Using TikTok
Some downsides of using TikTok compared to paid platforms include:
- Limited analytics and insight into audience data and engagement
- Fewer tools for serious content creators compared to paid platforms
- Less control over reach and visibility
- Privacy and security concerns due to data sharing with Chinese parent company
Pros of Paid Platforms
Benefits of using a paid platform like YouTube, Vimeo, etc. include:
- More advanced analytics to track views, traffic sources, audience demographics, etc.
- Ability to monetize content through ads, affiliate marketing, etc.
- More control over distribution and audience targeting
- Access to advanced video editing tools and capabilities
- Perceived as more professional
Cons of Paid Platforms
Some potential drawbacks of paid platforms include:
- Monthly fees for access to full suite of tools
- Smaller existing audience you need to build from scratch
- Less chance of going viral as an unknown creator
- More competition from established professional creators
Conclusion
To recap, the main question was: does downloading TikTok cost money? The answer is no, downloading and using the basic TikTok app is completely free. There are no fees or charges associated with creating an account, downloading the app, uploading videos, or watching other users’ content.
While the app itself is free, there are some additional paid features available within TikTok for users who want access to more advanced options. These include the TikTok Pro account subscription, in-app purchases like digital gifts and coins, and paid advertising capabilities. However, none of these are required to enjoy the core TikTok experience.
In conclusion, TikTok does not cost any money to download and start using right away. The hugely popular app allows anyone to create, share, view, and engage with short form videos totally free of charge. There are optional paid upgrades available, but they are not necessary to get full enjoyment from the platform. I invite readers to download the app and experience TikTok firsthand if you haven’t already.
