How to Get Paid for Instagram Views in 2025: Real Creator Earnings Guide ‣ Rupa blog

Did you know that Instagram users watch over 140 billion Reels every day worldwide? That’s mind-blowing! But will Instagram pay you when people view your content?

The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Instagram doesn’t pay per view like YouTube , but creators can tap into multiple ways to make money on the platform in 2025. Brands see for every dollar they spend on Instagram marketing , which makes it a goldmine for creators who understand monetization.$5.78 in returns

Instagram’s engagement rate of 3.5% beats all other social platforms substantially. Facebook sits at 1.3%, X at 1.8%, and TikTok at 1.5% . These numbers, combined with almost two billion users worldwide , create amazing earning opportunities even for smaller creators.

We talked to successful creators and analyzed recent data to show you how to make money on Instagram in 2025. You’ll learn everything from Instagram Gifts (each Star is worth $0.01 USD) to affiliate marketing (81% of brands use it) . These proven strategies will help you turn your Instagram presence into steady income.

Does Instagram Pay for Views in 2025?

Want to make money from Instagram views? The truth might catch you off guard. Instagram’s monetization framework is different from YouTube, which pays content creators directly based on video views.

Understanding Instagram’s monetization model

YouTube pays per view, but Instagram doesn’t work that way [1]. Users don’t get compensated when ads run on their photos or videos [1]. The platform takes a different approach to help creators earn money.

Instagram creators can make money through:

Performance-based initiatives – Programs like the Reels Play Bonus let eligible creators earn money based on their Reels’ performance [2]
Brand partnerships – Direct collaborations with companies looking for influencer marketing [2]
Subscription models – Creators can offer premium content to paying followers [3]
Affiliate marketing – Creators earn commissions through product recommendations [2]

Meta (Instagram’s parent company) reported ad revenue of about USD 71 billion in 2024 [3]. In spite of that, creators don’t get any money just because people view their content.

Why views alone don’t generate income

Instagram’s business model explains why it doesn’t pay directly for views. The platform puts Facebook ads on people’s posts and keeps all the ad revenue [1]. This is different from YouTube’s model that shares ad revenue with creators.

Instagram values engagement more than raw views. Brands have found that followers can be artificially inflated, which makes engagement rates more valuable [1]. The average social media user on Facebook or Twitter has an engagement rate of only 0.5-1.0%, but Instagram users average around 3% engagement [1]. These higher rates make Instagram attractive to creators and advertisers.

The Instagram influencer market is worth about USD 17 billion, and brands sponsor at least 5 posts each week [3]. This shows where the real money lies – not in views, but in the influence those views represent.

What counts as a ‘view’ on Instagram

Since August 2024, “views” have become the main way to measure performance across all content types—including Reels, photos, and Stories [4]. Understanding what makes up a “view” matters a lot.

Videos and Reels need at least 3 seconds of watch time to count as a view [4]. Someone who watches an Instagram video again adds another view, as long as they watch for 3 seconds each time [4].

Instagram has some key rules about counting views:

Self-views don’t count – Your own views of your Reel aren’t counted [4]. This stops creators from gaming their numbers.
Story views don’t transfer – Watching a Reel in an Instagram Story doesn’t count toward that Reel’s views [4]. Content needs direct views.
Algorithm verification – Machine learning helps spot real views versus bot activity [4]. This matters because creators build their strategy around these numbers.

Creators can expect USD 1000 to USD 1500 per million views through Instagram’s monetization programs [5]. These numbers change based on engagement, region, and content type.

Looking beyond Instagram’s unpredictable monetization? You might want to try creating digital products to vary your income streams.

Instagram Gifts: Earn from Reels Engagement

Image Source: CapCut

Want to earn money directly from your Reels engagement? Instagram Gifts could be your solution. This feature makes shared content creation more rewarding by letting your audience support you financially. You could call it a tipping system for creators who make engaging Reels.

How the Gifts feature works

Instagram Gifts serves as a direct monetization tool that lets followers and non-followers show their appreciation through virtual gifts on your Reels [3]. The “Send gift” button appears at the top of your Reels after you activate this feature. Viewers can purchase and send virtual gifts right there [6].

Meta’s in-app currency, Stars, powers the whole system. Your viewers buy Stars to send gifts on your content [3]. You alone can see the gifts you receive, so you retain control over your earnings information [3].

Instagram designed this feature to help creators “get support from fans who love their content and earn money” [2]. Your engagement transforms into real revenue without creating special content just for monetization.

Remember that Instagram Gifts and Facebook Stars operate as separate systems—your Facebook Stars balance won’t work for sending gifts on Instagram [3].

Eligibility and setup

Instagram Gifts isn’t available to everyone right away. Here are the requirements you need to meet:

Have a professional Instagram account
Be 18 years or older
Have at least 500 followers
Set up a payout account on Instagram
Comply with Instagram’s community guidelines and Gift Creator Terms
Avoid content that mainly focuses on children
Be located in a country where Instagram Gifts is available [6][3]

The feature has become accessible to more people across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, most European countries, Japan, Brazil, India, and several others [3].

Setting up Instagram Gifts becomes easy once you meet the requirements:

Open the Instagram app and go to your profile
Tap “Professional Dashboard”
Under “Your Tools,” find and tap “Gifts”
Select “Allow Gifts on Reels” [2]

You’ll see who sent gifts even before completing your payout setup. However, earnings won’t arrive until you finalize your payout account [3].

How much you can earn per gift

Instagram Gifts uses a simple earnings structure—you get used in gifts sent your way USD 0.01 for every Star [2][2][3]. To cite an instance, a gift worth 100 Stars earns you USD 1.00 [2].

Your payments arrive about 60 days after the month ends [1]. Complete the payment enrollment process within six months of accepting the Instagram Gifts Creator Terms. Missing this deadline means losing all earned funds [1].

The Professional Dashboard helps track your earnings easily. Tap “See all” under the Gifts section to view both monthly and total gift earnings [3].

Instagram takes its share when viewers buy Stars. This percentage changes based on Stars pack size [3]. Mobile platforms also take about 30% of the Stars pack price as in-app purchase fees—Apple for iOS or Google for Android [3].

Creators who want steady income beyond platform features might want to learn about selling digital products directly to their audience.

Subscriptions: Build Recurring Income from Followers

Image Source: Grynow

Looking to earn steady income without chasing views? Instagram Subscriptions might be just what you need. Creators can now generate monthly revenue by sharing exclusive content with their biggest fans.

What Instagram Subscriptions offer

Instagram Subscriptions give creators a direct way to make money from their most loyal followers. The feature launched in 2022 lets you share premium content with paying subscribers each month [7]. The numbers speak for themselves – by April 2024, Instagram had over 2 million creator subscriptions [7].

The subscription model has several exclusive content formats:

Subscriber Stories – Stories visible only to subscribers, marked with a distinctive purple ring
Subscriber Lives – Live broadcasts exclusively for paying followers
Subscriber Posts/Reels – Feed content only subscribers can access
Subscriber Chats – Private messaging with up to 30 subscribers simultaneously [7]
Subscriber Broadcast Channels – One-to-many messaging tool for updates [7]
Subscriber Social Channels – Multiple exclusive channels with up to 250 participants [7]

Subscribers get a purple badge next to their username that shows up in comments and DMs [4]. This special recognition builds community and exclusivity that many followers value deeply.

Setting up your subscription model

You’ll need to meet these eligibility requirements to start:

Being at least 18 years old
Having a minimum of 10,000 followers
Residing in an eligible country
Following Instagram’s content monetization policies [7]

The setup process is simple:

Go to your profile and tap “Professional Dashboard”
Select “Set Up Subscriptions” then “Next”
Accept the Instagram Subscriptions Terms of Use
Set your monthly price and payout account
Tap “Publish” and then “Done” [7]

Your followers will get a notification within 3 days after you enable subscriptions, but you can notify them right away if you prefer [4].

Monthly pricing options range from USD 0.99 to USD 99.99 [7]. You can pick any amount based on your content’s value, audience size, and the work you put in. Creators keep 100% of subscription revenue from Instagram Live purchases, minus taxes and fees [8].

Best practices to retain subscribers

Success with subscriptions comes down to consistency and value. Take Indonesian creator Fuji – they built a community of 24,000+ subscribers in under six months and earn about USD 10,000 monthly by sharing exclusive behind-the-scenes content and personal takes [5].

Regular income needs strong retention. Here are some proven strategies:

Create a clear value proposition – Know exactly what exclusive content you’ll deliver each month [5]
Maintain consistent posting schedules – Creator Azizah earns roughly USD 11,000 monthly from 4,000+ subscribers by posting 5-7 Stories daily and going live between twice weekly and once monthly [5]
Make use of subscriber promotions – Give your next five subscribers 50% off or offer a free month when they try to cancel [7]
Stay connected with subscribers – Answer comments, give shoutouts, and put subscriber questions first [5]
Let subscribers guide your content – Creator Mail says, “My subscribers are very active DM-ing and requesting what content they want to see” [5]

Many creators also use platforms like to create digital products like courses or memberships. This gives them another income stream that doesn’t depend on social platforms.Rupa.pro

Your personality and talent will make Instagram Subscriptions work best for you. Instagram puts it well: “Your fans love you for a reason, so focus on ideas that are uniquely you and can’t easily be found elsewhere” [4].

Affiliate Marketing: Get Paid for Product Recommendations

Instagram influence can generate income through affiliate marketing when you recommend products to your followers. This strategy helps you earn commissions from purchases made through your endorsed items. The revenue stream proves more reliable than depending on unpredictable platform features.

How affiliate links work on Instagram

Affiliate marketing on Instagram lets you promote products and earn a commission from sales through your unique tracking link or promo code [9]. Here’s how it works:

You promote a product you genuinely like
Include your trackable affiliate link or discount code
Followers make purchases through your link
You earn a commission—either a flat fee or percentage of the sale

Instagram limits clickable links in captions, but you have several effective placement options:

Instagram Stories: Use the Link Sticker (available to all accounts) [9]
Instagram Bio: Use link aggregators like Linktree or Beacons [9]
Instagram Reels: Direct viewers to your bio link [9]
Instagram DMs: Share direct affiliate links when followers ask for recommendations [9]

Your earnings depend on three key factors: your niche (tech, beauty, wellness typically pay higher), engagement quality (not just follower count), and the specific affiliate program’s commission structure [9].

Top affiliate programs to join

These high-performing affiliate networks can maximize your Instagram monetization:

Amazon Associates — The world’s largest ecommerce platform offers varied commissions across product categories () with a 24-hour cookie window that extends to 90 days if items are added to cart 1% to 20% depending on category[1].

Rakuten Advertising — Named best affiliate network for 11 consecutive years, it offers thousands of programs across finance, travel, and retail niches with automatic URL conversion technology [1].

ShareASale — Programs span 39+ niches and 260+ new merchants join monthly. This network suits Instagram affiliates in fashion, food, and lifestyle sectors [1].

CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction) — Major brands flock here to connect advertisers with over one billion customers monthly. Publishers earn over $1.8 billion in annual commissions [1].

ClickBank — Digital product promotion thrives here with over 4,000 vetted products. Some commissions reach up to 50% [9].

Tips to increase conversions

Personal recommendations influence 89% of consumers [2]. Your authenticity becomes your greatest asset. These proven strategies will boost your affiliate performance:

Maintain genuine credibility — Your affiliate income grows with transparency (57% of consumers value it), integrity (51%), and consistency (44%) [2].
Balance promotional content — People follow creators for entertainment (56%), education (53%), and inspiration (46%)—not just sales pitches [2].
Position products as solutions — Products that clearly solve problems drive 24% more sales [2].
Show authentic product usage — Product demonstrations influence 35% of buying decisions. Real product usage makes content authentic to 57% of consumers [2].
Offer exclusive deals — Large discounts motivate 30% of consumers, exclusive offers attract 29%, and perks like free delivery influence 25% [2].

Tools like help creators break free from platform limitations. You can complement affiliate marketing by creating and selling your own digital products to your audience.Rupa.pro

Note that honesty builds audience trust and ensures regulatory compliance. Always disclose your affiliate relationships whether you promote affiliate offers or sell your own digital goods [10].

Instagram Badges: Monetize Your Live Sessions

Looking to make money from your Instagram Live sessions? Instagram Badges let your viewers support you financially during streams. This feature opens up a new revenue stream for content creators in 2025.

What are badges and how they work

Think of badges as virtual tips that viewers can buy while you’re streaming live. Your supporters get a heart icon next to their username in comments. This visual marker stays visible throughout your broadcast [18].

Badges come in three tiers:

One heart: USD 0.99
Two hearts: USD 1.99
Three hearts: USD 4.99 [18]

Badge buyers get special perks. Their comments stand out with highlighting. People who purchase multiple badges see their profile photos glow in the comments section. Their questions also appear first in your video feed, which gives them priority attention [18]. Viewers can buy multiple badges worth up to USD 250 in each live session [19].

Tips to increase badge purchases

Here are some proven ways to boost your badge earnings:

Build excitement before you go live. Let followers shape your content through Story polls. This creates anticipation and gets them invested early [19].

Keep mentioning badges during your stream. New viewers join throughout and won’t know about this support option unless you tell them. A pinned comment about badges helps keep this option visible [7].

Give your live sessions clear targets. Simple goals like “Help me reach 50 badges today!” create a sense of community and boost participation [19].

Thank your supporters right away. Instagram notifies you about badge purchases immediately. Showing appreciation creates positive energy that motivates others to join in [7].

Real creator earnings from badges

Creators get the full badge amount minus platform fees [18]. Instagram doesn’t take a cut from badge revenue now. However, Google and Apple take around 30% for in-app purchases [19].

You’ll receive payments after earning USD 100. The money usually arrives within 1-7 business days [19]. You need a payout account through your Professional Dashboard to access these funds [18].

Some creators want income beyond platform features like badges. Tools like help you create and sell digital products straight to your audience. This gives you complete control over your revenue streams.Rupa.pro

Badge eligibility requires you to be 18+, have a professional account, maintain 10,000+ followers, and follow Instagram’s Partner Monetization Policies [18].

Selling Digital Products Through Reels

The creator economy keeps evolving, and selling digital products through Instagram Reels gives you a path to income you can fully control. Digital products help you make money from your expertise directly instead of depending on platform algorithms or brand deals.

Types of digital products that sell well

E-books stand out as the most popular digital products and currently generate for some creators approximately 70% of income[20]. They don’t take much effort to create but give great value to your audience.

Online courses are another way to make good money. These detailed learning experiences can teach anything from technical skills to personal development [21]. Online courses let creators turn their knowledge into products they can sell again and again [4].

Other profitable digital products include:

Printable art (wall art, planners, invitations) [21]
Templates (contracts, résumés, media kits) [4]
Website themes and fonts [4]
Photo editing presets—increasingly popular in the influencer era [4]

Using Reels to promote your products

Reels work great for product promotion because they show both your personality and expertise. Your promotional videos should be short tutorials or teasers that highlight specific benefits of your digital product [22].

Make your message clear and brief so viewers know exactly why they need your product [22]. Add a strong call-to-action that points users to your bio link, Instagram Shop, or a “swipe up” option [22].

Your content will reach more potential customers when you use relevant hashtags that match your niche and add trending audio or challenges where they fit [22]. This helps your promotional content find people interested in your type of digital product.

Tools to create and deliver digital goods

Good tools will make your digital products look professional. Scrivener or Adobe InDesign work well for e-books [21]. Platforms like Teachable or Thinkific are great for online courses [21].

Canva and Adobe Illustrator remain the go-to choices for visual products like printable art [21]. Pick tools that suit your skill level and match what your product needs.

Your e-commerce platform can connect to Instagram Shop so you can tag products right in your Reels [22]. This makes buying easy for your audience.

New creators can start with Rupa AI to create a mini course – it’s the simplest way to launch a creator online business. The AI Product Generator quickly turns your existing content into a well-laid-out course outline, which helps solve the blank-page problem many creators face.

User-Generated Content (UGC): Get Paid Without Posting

Making money from your Instagram skills is possible by creating content for others. UGC (User-generated content) creation has become a great way to earn money. You can create authentic, relatable content for brands without posting it on your personal account.

What is UGC and how it works

User-generated content includes photos, videos, reviews, and testimonials created by people instead of brands. UGC creators produce authentic, relatable content that brands use in their marketing campaigns [5]. The main difference from influencers is that UGC creators make content for brands to share [5]. This is a vital point – you don’t need many followers to succeed [23].

How to pitch brands as a UGC creator

Research your target brands really well. Learn about their values, products, target audience, and who they’ve worked with before [24]. Create a compelling pitch that shows your unique value and best work through a portfolio [24].

Direct outreach through email or social media works well. You can propose creating content for agreed payment [5]. Finding clients is also possible through platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Collabstr, and Billo [5][23].

Pricing your UGC packages

UGC rates vary based on your experience:

Beginners: USD 50-150 per video [25]
Mid-level creators: USD 150-300 per video (average rate: USD 212) [8][25]
Premium creators: USD 300-500+ per video [25]

Extra charges apply for extended usage rights (30-50% of base rate), raw footage access (40% more), or whitelisting permissions [8].

Creators who want steady income beyond client work can use tools like to create and sell digital products directly to their audience.Rupa.pro

Conclusion

Instagram views won’t pay you directly, but they are definitely your gateway to multiple revenue streams in 2025. We’ve taken a closer look at seven proven ways to turn your Instagram presence into steady income, whatever your follower count.

Making money on Instagram needs smart planning beyond just view counts. Top creators mix different approaches. They use Gifts and Badges for quick cash while building longer-term income through subscriptions or digital products.

The platform keeps changing, but one fact stays true: having different income sources protects your business from algorithm changes and platform updates. Smart creators build income streams they fully control instead of depending only on Instagram’s features.

On top of that, turning your knowledge into digital products is the most reliable path forward. Tools like make it easy to turn your content into courses or challenges without any tech headaches. This approach lets you keep direct customer relationships, whatever happens with Instagram’s algorithms.Rupa.pro

Note that your earning potential depends on being consistent, authentic, and connected with your audience – not just follower numbers. Even creators with smaller followings can earn good money with the right mix of income streams.

Pick one money-making method from this piece to start. Once you’re skilled at it, add more income streams slowly. Here’s the best part: these methods work together. Your sponsored posts make your digital products more credible, and your affiliate recommendations make your subscriptions more valuable.

Your Instagram trip means more than chasing views. It’s about creating real connections that bring steady income. You now have everything you need to turn these connections into reliable revenue streams for years ahead.

Key Takeaways

Instagram doesn’t pay directly for views like YouTube, but offers multiple monetization pathways that smart creators are leveraging to build sustainable income streams in 2025.

• Diversify beyond views: Combine Instagram Gifts ($0.01 per Star), subscriptions ($0.99-$99.99/month), affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts for maximum earning potential.

• Quality over quantity matters: Engagement rates (Instagram averages 3.5%) are more valuable than follower count—even nano-influencers (1K-10K followers) can earn $10-100 per sponsored post.

• Create your own products: Digital products like courses and e-books provide the most sustainable income since you control the entire revenue stream independent of platform changes.

• UGC offers immediate income: User-generated content creation pays $50-500+ per video without requiring a large following—perfect for beginners seeking quick monetization.

• Build recurring revenue: Instagram Subscriptions and digital product sales create predictable monthly income, protecting you from algorithm changes and platform dependency.

The key to Instagram monetization success isn’t chasing viral views—it’s building authentic connections with your audience and strategically combining multiple income streams that you can control and scale over time.

FAQs

Q1. How can creators monetize their Instagram content in 2025? Creators can monetize Instagram through multiple methods including Instagram Gifts, subscriptions, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, selling digital products, and creating user-generated content (UGC) for brands. While Instagram doesn’t pay directly for views, these strategies allow creators to leverage their audience and content to generate income.

Q2. What are Instagram Gifts and how do they work? Instagram Gifts is a feature that allows viewers to send virtual gifts to creators during Reels. Each gift is purchased using Stars, with creators earning $0.01 per Star. This provides a way for fans to directly support their favorite content creators financially.

Q3. How much can influencers earn from sponsored posts on Instagram? Earnings from sponsored posts vary widely based on follower count and engagement rates. Nano-influencers (1K-10K followers) can earn $10-100 per post, while mega-influencers (500K+ followers) may charge $10,000 or more. Mid-tier influencers (50K-100K followers) typically earn between $500-5,000 per sponsored post.

Q4. What are Instagram Subscriptions and how do they benefit creators? Instagram Subscriptions allow creators to offer exclusive content to paying followers for a monthly fee. Subscribers get access to exclusive Stories, Lives, Posts, Reels, and chat features. This provides creators with a recurring revenue stream and helps build a more engaged community of core supporters.

Q5. How can creators sell digital products through Instagram? Creators can promote and sell digital products like e-books, courses, templates, and presets through Instagram Reels and Stories. By linking to an external e-commerce platform or using Instagram Shop, creators can turn their expertise into sellable products. This offers a way to generate income that’s not dependent on Instagram’s algorithms or features.

How to Get Paid for Instagram Views in 2025: Real Creator Earnings Guide