YouTube vs TikTok: Which Platform Pays African Creators Better?

Blessing Olamide
May 28, 2025

Africa’s digital creator economy is experiencing rapid growth and many creators are transforming their creativity into possible income streams. The pressing question for many African Creators is “Should I prioritize YouTube or TikTok to earn better?”

Both YouTube and TikTok enjoy popularity and offer significant opportunities, yet how they pay creators differs to a great extent. While YouTube promises structured, ad-based revenue, TikTok leans heavily on creator funds, live gifting, and viral brand partnerships. However, for African creators, accessing these monetization features can sometimes be complex and limited.

This article breakdown how each platform compensates creators, their income potential, monetization options, and real experiences to help you choose wisely.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

How African Creators Make Money on YouTube and TikTok
What African Creators Are Actually Earning: Data, Stories, and Real Examples.
Key Challenges African Creators Face on Both Platforms
Where Should African Creators Focus Their Efforts?

How African Creators Make Money on YouTube and TikTok

There are multiple monetization opportunities on YouTube and TikTok, but the available options and ways African creators earn vary across African countries. Here are various ways both platforms pay African creators;

YouTube Monetization for African Creators

YouTube Partner Program (YPP): This is the primary revenue source on YouTube. Creators must reach 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours within the past 12 months to qualify. Once accepted, they earn money from ads displayed on their videos.
Channel Memberships and Super Chats: Fans can financially support creators through monthly memberships or live stream donations.
Brand Partnerships and Sponsorships: Many creators secure paid deals with brands to promote products or services.
YouTube Shorts Fund: This is a newer program that rewards creators for popular short-form videos, though it is still evolving.

TikTok Monetization for African Creators

TikTok Creator Fund: This pays creators based on video views and engagement, but this program is currently not available in many African countries.
Live Gifts and Diamonds: Viewers can send virtual gifts during live broadcasts, which creators can convert into real income.
Brand Collaborations: Influencers often partner with brands for sponsored content and product promotions.
TikTok Creator Marketplace: This is a growing platform where brands and creators connect for collaborations, though access remains limited for some African creators.

Key Challenges for African Creators

Monetization features like the TikTok Creator Fund are limited or unavailable in many African countries.
Payment systems used by these platforms, such as PayPal or direct bank transfers, are not always accessible to African creators, posing withdrawal challenges.
Despite these limitations, many African creators successfully generate income by combining platform monetization tools with external brand partnerships and alternative revenue streams. Discover how African creators monetize despite platform restrictions.

YouTube vs. TikTok for African Creators: Comparing Earnings Potential

When it comes to actual earnings, the choice between YouTube and TikTok depends on a creator’s content style, audience size, and location. Both platforms offer income opportunities, but YouTube tends to be more consistent and structured, especially for creators based in Africa. Let’s break it down by monetization potential, earnings per 1,000 views (Cost Per Mille), and real-life African case studies.

YouTube for African Creators: Higher CPM, but More Demands

YouTube offers more structured monetization through its YouTube Partner Program (YPP). Once you meet the threshold—1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours—you can earn through ads, memberships, Super Chats, and affiliate links.

Average CPM in Africa: Cost Per Mille is a key metric used to measure the amount advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions on videos. While creators in countries like the U.S. earn $10–$20 CPM, African creators often report $2–$5 CPM depending on their niche and audience demographics.
- Kenyan tech YouTuber Eric Okafor shared in a 2023 interview:
  
  He stated that for videos targeted at the U.S. and U.K., his CPM is around $7. But when his views come from Nigeria or Kenya, he gets around $3 per 1K views. Read more.
Earnings Breakdown:
An African creator with 100K views from a mostly local audience might most likely earn $200–$400, while the same views from the U.S. audience could pull in $500–$800.
Case Study – Ghana: YouTuber Wode Maya reportedly earns $10,000 monthly, largely due to brand partnerships and a global subscriber base. Read more.
Brand Deals:
Shank Comics, a Nigerian comedy creator, supplements ad revenue with sponsored content from brands like MTN and Boomplay, sometimes earning more from a single brand deal than a month’s ad revenue.

TikTok for African Creators: Fast Growth, But Lower Earnings Per View

TikTok monetization for African creators isn’t as straightforward. The TikTok Creator Fund is unavailable in many African countries, meaning most creators earn via live gifting, brand deals, and affiliate marketing.

Live Gifting & Sponsorships:
South African influencer Moghelingz (Banele Ndaba) uses a mix of sponsored videos, TikTok live gifts, and brand ambassadorships (Fanta, Telkom SA) to make money. While he has not publicly confirmed an exact income, based on his engagement and brand deals, he is estimated to earn between $2,000–$3,000 per month from all combined revenue streams.
Per-View Payouts:
TikTok pays about $0.02–$0.04 per 1,000 views in countries with Creator Fund access. But in Nigeria, Ghana, or Kenya (where the fund isn’t active), creators rely on sponsored content.
Case Study – Ghana:
TikTok star Asantewaa revealed she earns up to GH₵10,000+ ($800+) per month, primarily from brand promotions and acting gigs driven by TikTok fame.
Case Study – Nigeria:
Streamer Peller shared on a podcast that he makes ₦20 million ($13,000) per week through TikTok Live sessions, using his following to drive virtual gift revenue.

When looking for structured income with higher earning potential per view, YouTube is the stronger platform, especially if to attract global audiences. However, if content is highly engaging and short-form, TikTok’s rapid virality and brand deal potential could quickly build your influence and open monetization doors.

Where Should African Creators Focus Their Efforts?

YouTube or TikTok, where should African creators really invest their energy? The truth is there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but there are some clear insights.

YouTube offers higher and more predictable earnings through ad revenue, especially for creators who can grow global audiences or specialize in niche content (e.g., tech, education, documentaries).
TikTok gives creators faster growth, easier virality, and better access to brand deals, especially in entertainment, dance, lifestyle, and humor—but its monetization tools are still limited in many African countries.
African creators face unique challenges like limited access to creator funds, currency devaluation, and lack of local brand partnerships—but many are still building successful income streams through smart content and consistency.

If as a creator you’re just starting out, TikTok can help you build visibility and grow a fanbase quickly. But if you’re serious about sustainable income, learning the ropes of YouTube’s monetization system is a must. The smartest choice is a hybrid strategy, use TikTok for reach and virality, and YouTube for long-term revenue.

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