Wonder how to make money with TikTok Live Gifts? These virtual gifts let your viewers show their support during live streams, and you can turn them into real cash. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how they work, how much they’re worth, who can receive them, and how to boost your earnings.
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What are TikTok LIVE Gifts?
TikTok Live Gifts are virtual items that viewers can buy and send to creators during live streams. They’re a fun way for fans to show support while interacting in real time. When someone sends a gift, it pops up on the screen as a special animation, giving the sender a quick moment of recognition.
For creators, these gifts are a great way to make money. Each gift is converted into Diamonds, which can later be cashed out as real money.
The gifts range from simple options like a “Rose” (1 coin) to high-end gifts like “TikTok Universe” (34,999 coins). The more gifts you receive, the greater your opportunity to turn your TikTok live sessions into a real income stream.
TikTok regularly updates the gift catalog with new and exciting options to keep both creators and viewers engaged, so you can check it for more updates.
How to Qualify for TikTok Live Gifts?
However, not everyone on TikTok can receive Live Gifts. You’ll need to meet a few key requirements first. Here’s what it takes to unlock this feature:
- Be at least 18 years old (or 19 in South Korea) to be eligible for Live Gifts.
- Have at least 1,000 followers.
- Your account must be at least 30 days old.
- You must have posted at least one public video within the past 30 days.
- Community guidelines compliance – Your account must be in good standing with no recent violations.
- Geographical availability – Live Gifts must be available in your region.
- Exclusion criteria – Government, politician, and political party accounts cannot receive Diamonds through Live Gifts.
By meeting these requirements, TikTok ensures that only active and responsible creators can earn through Live Gifts, making the platform safer and more rewarding.
How does TikTok LIVE Gifts work?
After you meet all these above criteria, turning on Live Gifts is easy with 3 steps:
- Open the TikTok app and go to your Profile.
- Tap Settings and Privacy, then select Creator Tools.
- Find LIVE Gifts and switch it on.
To also enable receiving Gifts on your other videos, follow the same steps and select Turn on Video Gifts in Step 3.
Once LIVE Gifting is activated, you’ll see gifts popping up during your live video as viewers appreciate your content. After the stream, check your TikTok LIVE summary for the total number of gifts received.
Finally, earn your money! Exchanging Diamonds for cash is not allowed, as per TikTok’s policy. Users cannot buy, transfer, or sell Diamonds to others.
However, creators can withdraw Diamonds by linking a PayPal account, with the rate determined by TikTok based on various factors, including the number of Diamonds.
When you reach the $100 minimum in Diamonds, you can withdraw your earnings by following this instruction:
- Open the TikTok App and go to your Profile page.
- Access Creator Tools: Tap the Menu (☰) in the top-right corner and select Settings and Privacy > Creator Tools.
- Select LIVE Gifts – Tap LIVE Gifts to see your Diamond balance.
- Withdraw Earnings – Choose Withdraw and follow the prompts. TikTok currently processes withdrawals through PayPal or other supported payment methods.
Note:
- TikTok may take a few business days to process your payment.
- To avoid issues, ensure your PayPal account is verified and matches your TikTok account details.
- You can track your earnings and withdrawals in the LIVE Gifts dashboard.
How much are gifts on TikTok worth?
So, how much money can you actually make from TikTok Live Gifts? Estimating the worth of TikTok gifts can be difficult due to the multiple conversions involved.
- Coins to Diamonds: When a viewer buys and sends a gift, it’s valued in coins. TikTok then converts these coins into Diamonds for creators. Typically, you’ll receive 50% of the coin value in Diamonds. For instance, if you get a Galaxy gift (1,000 coins), you’ll earn about 500 Diamonds.
- Diamonds to Cash: Once you accumulate enough Diamonds, you can cash them out as real money through PayPal or other supported payment methods. TikTok usually requires you to have at least $100 in earnings before you can withdraw.
It’s worth noting that TikTok takes a portion of the revenue as a service fee. So, while viewers may spend a certain amount on gifts, the actual payout to you will be a bit lower.
Imagine you receive 10 Galaxy gifts (1,000 coins each). That adds up to 10,000 coins, which converts to 5,000 Diamonds. At $0.005 per Diamond, you’d earn approximately $25.
So, to reach the $100 cash-out minimum, you’d need about 20,000 Diamonds.
Note: Currently, TikTok mandates a minimum withdrawal amount of $100 and restricts users from withdrawing more than $1,000 per day.
5 Tips to Maximize TikTok Live Gift Earnings
As an expert in maximizing TikTok LIVE Gifts and earning money on the platform, here are five tips to enhance your audience engagement and boost your earnings:
Acknowledge Every Gift in Real-Time
Always acknowledge gift senders by name since it makes them feel valued and encourages others to join in. This personal touch builds loyalty and keeps givers coming back.
For larger gifts like a Lion or TikTok Universe, go bigger like:
- Offer a personal thank-you video for the top gifter.
- Pin their username on your live for extra recognition.
Create Gift Milestones and Incentives During Your Live
Set goals during your stream and reward viewers when you hit them. Also, encourage them to send gifts by turning them into fun, interactive challenges to keep them entertained while motivating them to send more gifts. For example:
- “Send a Galaxy gift, and I’ll do a dance of your choice!”
- “If we reach 5,000 coins, I’ll reveal an embarrassing story!”
Schedule and Promote Gift-Focused Livestreams
More viewers mean more gifts; therefore, build anticipation by sharing your live schedule.
For example, you can do so by announcing special “Gift Nights” where you offer exclusive content in exchange for gifts. Then, share the date and time on your TikTok Stories, Instagram, and even pinned videos with caption like:
- Pinned TikTok videos (“Join me Friday at 8 PM—I’ll answer any question if you send a Galaxy!”)
- Instagram Stories with countdown stickers.
Reward Top Gifters with Exclusive Perks
Encourage bigger gifts by offering unique rewards such as:
- The top gifter of the night gets a follow-back or private thank-you message.
- Feature the top 3 gifters in your next TikTok post.
- Regular high gifters could win exclusive content or a shout-out in your next video.
Use CTAs with Urgency
Create urgency by offering time-sensitive perks during your live. For instance:
- “The first person to send a Lion in the next 5 minutes gets a private shout-out!”
- “If we get 3 Galaxy gifts by the end of this live, I’ll release an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip!”
>>> Read more: All about TikTok Live Stream Shopping that you need to know
Frequently Asked Questions about TikTok Live Gifts
- Why can’t I send gifts on TikTok?
- TikTok has an age restriction on sending gifts to protect younger users from scams. If you’re too young to send gifts, you can support creators by sharing their content.
- Is there a limit to how much I can earn from TikTok Live Gifts?
- Technically, there’s no upper limit to how much you can earn. However, as mentioned above, TikTok restricts daily withdrawals to $1,000 USD. You can continue cashing out as long as you maintain a minimum balance of $100.
- When can I send gifts on TikTok?
- You can send gifts during a creator’s live videos but not on uploaded posts. Going live more often can help you earn digital awards.
- Can I get a gift refund?
- No, TikTok’s policy states all sales are final, and gifts cannot be refunded. Be sure to double-check before sending a gift.
- How to buy TikTok LIVE Gifts?
- It’s easy. First, you need to buy coins, the app’s virtual currency. Here’s how to buy coins:
- Open TikTok on your device.
- Go to Settings, tap on Balance.
- Choose Recharge and select the coin bundle you want.
- Then, tap the gift icon in a video’s comment section or during a live video, then select Recharge and your desired package.
In addition to the fixed prices, TikTok allows custom purchases within the app. If you want to buy more than 17,500 coins, you can choose a custom amount, up to a maximum of 2,500,000 coins, currently priced at $26,500.
Note: Coins and reward points cannot be refunded or converted to real-world currency. Only diamonds can be converted to cash.
Final word
The TikTok LIVE gifts program might seem complex, but now you understand it better. Just remember, coins and gifts are non-refundable, so use them wisely. Best of luck in earning diamonds and becoming an internet sensation if you decide to pursue it. Stay creative and enjoy the process—it’s challenging to captivate audiences, so have fun with it!
