You post on social media and want to know how much you could earn? Here’s a clear comparison of native ad revenue offered by the main platforms, taking into account ad CPM, average production time, and eligibility requirements.
Which social network pays the most?
How much does social media monetization pay?
Summary
You post on social media and want to know how much you could earn? Here’s a clear comparison of native ad revenue offered by the main platforms, taking into account:
- ad CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions),
- the average production time needed to create content,
- and eligibility requirements to get monetized.
Native monetization: what is it?
This article focuses on free monetization for fans through ads built into the platform. No subscriptions, no donations, no sales. Just your content and the revenue generated by the views it gets.
We are not talking about paid premium programs for your fans offered by the platforms.
Revenue by platform: the 2026 comparison
It’s hard to find exact monetization figures for each platform. Amounts vary by country, audience, content quality, and market conditions.
The amounts below are estimates of revenue paid back to creators, based on field feedback and recent observations. They are not a guaranteed payout.
| Platform | Estimated revenue / 1k ad impressions | Content format | Monetization criteria and notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happew | $2 to $7.5 (Community plan) up to ~ $20 (Individual plan) | Images Text Videos | Community plan: monetization from sign-up, with no conditions and no limits. Individual plan: offered after reaching a large volume of traffic. Same monetization for all formats. Unlockable content for your fans. |
| YouTube | $1 to $7 | Videos | Have at least 1 000 subscribers. Have more than 4 000 watch hours in the last 12 months or 10 000 000 Shorts views in the last 3 months. Long-form vs short-form monetization differs. |
| Twitch | $2 to $5 | Streaming | Affiliate program required. |
| Snapchat | ~ $2 | Videos | Monetization by selection. Spotlight only. |
| TikTok | $0.1 to $1.5 | Videos | Have at least 10 000 followers. Have 100 000 views in the last 30 days. Monetization depends on video quality. |
| $1 to $3 | Videos | Have at least 10 000 followers. Have 60 000 minutes viewed across all videos in the last 60 days. Eligible country required. Application + verification required. | |
| X (Twitter) | $0.5 to $1.5 | Images Text Videos | Be subscribed to X Premium (around $8 / month) or a higher tier plan. Have 500 premium subscribers. Have at least 5 000 000 impressions over the last 3 months. Have your identity verified. |
| $0 | — | No large-scale native ad monetization for creators (classic posts). | |
| $0 | — | No native ad monetization revenue share for creators. | |
| Discord | $0 | — | No native ad monetization revenue share for creators. |
| $0 | — | No native ad monetization revenue share for creators. | |
| $0 | — | No native ad monetization revenue share for creators. |
Our take
When discussing native monetization on social platforms, production time matters. A YouTube video can offer a higher CPM, but it often requires hours of filming, editing, and post-production. In contrast, simpler formats can be produced much faster… but usually for lower revenue.
Another key factor is access to monetization. Some platforms impose unclear or complex criteria, and these criteria vary by country. Publishing isn’t enough: you also have to tick the right boxes.
In this landscape, Happew stands out with a more direct and accessible approach:
- Immediate monetization from sign-up, with no conditions or eligibility thresholds
- Ability to monetize images, text, or videos freely
- Ads are chosen by users and do not interrupt content viewing
- Fans can access content without an account or sign-up — anonymity is respected
- Reduced production time thanks to lightweight formats
- Interactive experience through unlockable content
Depending on your creator profile, resources, and goals, you can choose among these platforms to monetize your content without charging your fans.
Conclusion
The “best” platform rarely depends on CPM alone: stability, eligibility, fan-side friction, and production time matter just as much. The key is choosing a model that fits how you create and your pace.