What is TikTok?
TikTok is a video sharing app owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. It launched in 2016 and quickly became popular with Generation Z users due to its focus on creating and sharing short form videos. According to Investopedia, “TikTok allows users to create, watch, and share 15-second videos shot on mobile devices. The app features an array of effects that users can add to their videos, which range from filters to background music” (https://www.investopedia.com/what-is-tiktok-4588933).
TikTok is best known as a platform for viral video challenges, where users recreate and riff on dances or sketch comedy bits. The app makes it easy for users to participate in these viral challenges by providing lists of trending sounds and hashtags. As noted by Influencer Marketing Hub, “TikTok has a massive and highly-engaged user base which is very important for viral content” (https://influencermarketinghub.com/what-is-tiktok/). This has allowed many videos to quickly amass millions of views and likes.
Overall, TikTok has firmly established itself as one of the most popular social apps with Generation Z through its focus on bite-sized, entertaining video content.
Is TikTok Free to Download?
Yes, the TikTok app is free to download on both iOS and Android devices. The app can be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store for iOS devices and the Google Play Store for Android devices. There are no upfront costs to download the TikTok app and create an account.
TikTok is a popular social media app that allows users to create and share short videos set to music. The app is especially popular with teenagers and young adults who use it to showcase their creativity through singing, dancing, comedy, and more.
While the TikTok app is free to download, it does offer some additional paid features which we’ll explore later. But the core TikTok experience of creating, viewing, and engaging with short form videos is available for free on both major mobile platforms.
Does TikTok Have Paid Features?
Yes, TikTok offers some paid features and services to enhance the app experience. The main paid offerings are:
In-app Purchases for Coins
TikTok has an in-app currency called “Coins” that can be purchased and then used to buy virtual gifts to send to creators you like. Prices for Coins range from $0.99 for 100 Coins up to $99.99 for 10,000 Coins.1 Gifting virtual items is a way fans can support and reward content creators on TikTok.
TikTok Premium Subscription
TikTok Premium is a paid monthly subscription that provides an enhanced experience. Benefits include being able to download videos to watch offline, view content without any ads, get access to exclusive creator content and stickers, and more.2 TikTok Premium costs $6.99/month in the United States.
How Does TikTok Make Money?
TikTok generates revenue through several methods:
The main way is through in-app purchases. Users can purchase virtual currency called “Coins” that can be used to purchase gifts and emojis to send to creators during live streams. Coins range in price from $0.99 for 100 coins to $99.99 for 10,000 coins. TikTok takes a cut from all in-app purchases.[1]
TikTok also generates revenue from advertising. Like other social media platforms, businesses can pay to promote ads that appear in users’ feeds or before videos play. Major brands like Coca-Cola, Amazon, and Google have advertised on the platform.[2]
Finally, TikTok allows popular creators to make money through TikTok LIVE. Fans can send virtual gifts to streamers during live broadcasts, and TikTok shares a portion of the profits with the creators. This incentivizes top talent to keep creating engaging videos.
In summary, TikTok relies on in-app purchases, advertising, and its live streaming feature to generate revenue.
[1] https://bmtoolbox.net/stories/tiktok/
[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-06-28/how-does-tiktok-make-money-app-relies-on-a-few-main-ingredients
Does a Free TikTok Account Have Limitations?
Yes, there are some limitations with a free TikTok account compared to upgrading to TikTok Premium. The main limitations are:
Can’t buy coins or gifts – TikTok has an in-app currency called “coins” that can be used to buy virtual gifts to send to creators during live streams. Free users cannot purchase coins, only view and receive gifts.1
Limited analytics data – Free accounts get basic analytics like views, likes, comments, etc. Premium provides more detailed audience and engagement analytics.
No ad-free experience – Free users will see ads. Premium provides an ad-free viewing experience.2
Overall the free experience provides full access to all core TikTok functionality like creating/posting videos, but lacks some advanced features reserved for Premium subscribers.
What are the Benefits of TikTok Premium?
TikTok Premium offers several benefits over the free version of the app, including:
No Ads – One of the biggest perks is the removal of ads from the platform. Users will no longer see any banners, popups or video ads interrupting their experience. This allows for uninterrupted viewing and scrolling.
View Analytics Data – Premium provides access to analytics like total plays, comments, likes and more. This data can help creators understand what type of content resonates best with their audience.
Post Longer Videos – Standard TikTok videos max out at 3 minutes, but with Premium that limit increases to 10 minutes. This allows more flexibility for content creators to post lengthy videos.
In summary, TikTok Premium provides an ad-free experience, valuable analytics data, and the ability to share longer videos. These features create an enhanced experience for users looking to get the most out of TikTok.
How Much Does TikTok Premium Cost?
TikTok Premium is currently priced at $6.99 per month in the United States when paid monthly. The cost can be lower if you pay for an annual subscription upfront. For example, paying for a full year reduces the monthly cost to around $4.99. TikTok Premium pricing varies somewhat depending on your country and payment method. In some regions it may cost the equivalent of $2.99, $3.99 or up to $9.99 per month when paying monthly.
According to https://www.androidauthority.com, during initial testing phases the monthly cost was $4.99 in the US, but this was subject to change upon full rollout. Factors like country-specific pricing, local economic conditions, and demand can cause the monthly Premium fee to fluctuate over time and between regions.
The key takeaway is that an ad-free TikTok Premium subscription currently runs about $6-7 monthly in the United States if paying month-to-month. But the exact price a user sees may vary.
Is a Premium Subscription Worth it?
Whether a TikTok Premium subscription is worth it largely depends on your usage and goals on the platform. For casual users who just want to browse videos, the free experience is likely sufficient. However, TikTok creators and power users may find the paid features more useful.
Some key benefits of a TikTok Premium subscription include:
- Ad-free viewing – this removes ads from feeds and videos for uninterrupted browsing.
- More analytics – Premium provides more in-depth analytics for your own videos to better understand performance.
- More edit features – additional video editing options and tools for creators.
- Exclusive stickers and effects – Premium subscribers get access to an expanded sticker and filter library.
- Music library – a larger collection of licensed music to use in videos.
For creators and influencers, these expanded features can be well worth the monthly subscription cost. It allows them to take their content quality to the next level and better understand their channel analytics. But for casual viewers, the free TikTok experience is likely sufficient.
According to some Reddit users, the paid promotion capabilities also don’t seem overly effective for the cost. So the value depends heavily on how much you would utilize the expanded creative features as a content creator.
What About TikTok for Business Accounts?
TikTok offers business accounts that allow brands, companies, and creators to set up a professional presence on the platform. Signing up for a TikTok business account is free at business.tiktok.com.
With a TikTok business account, you get access to professional tools and analytics like: audience insights, content performance metrics, lead generation capabilities, and more. This helps brands optimize their strategy and promote their products/services effectively on TikTok.
While a TikTok business account is free, there are paid advertising options available to further amplify reach and results. TikTok Ads Manager enables businesses to create and manage ad campaigns with targeting capabilities and built-in budgets. There are various ad formats to choose from like In-Feed Video Ads, Brand Takeovers, and TopView.
Paid advertising unlocks additional opportunities for businesses on TikTok to get their brand and content in front of relevant audiences at scale.
Conclusion
The popular video sharing app, TikTok, offers most core features without charge. Users can download the app, create an account, watch videos, follow creators, like and comment on videos, and create their own videos and effects all for free.
While the TikTok app itself does not cost anything, the company does offer some paid subscription options that give users access to additional features. TikTok Premium provides an ad-free viewing experience, the ability to download videos, and access to creator tools and effects. There are also paid services for business accounts to help brands connect with users.
However, none of the paid TikTok features are required to have an enjoyable experience on the platform. The main functionality is available for free, allowing you to join the TikTok community without spending any money.
