For many TikTok creators, having a Personal/Creator account will be all they ever need. For others, TikTok will eventually turn into a business venture rather than something they do for casual entertainment. In that case, they may consider switching to a TikTok Business account. The question is, which one would be the best fit? Although the choice may seem obvious for creators who are getting serious about TikTok, there are actually pros and cons to each option. Here’s how the two types of accounts measure up.
Comparing the Personal/Creator vs. Business TikTok accounts
The TikTok Business account isn’t just a Personal account with more bells and whistles; there are actually a few key differences that should be considered before switching over.
Features of the Personal/Creator account:
- Best for most public figures, content creators, and general TikTok users
- Can be set to a public or private profile
- Can become a verified account
- Includes access to all sounds
- Includes access to Promote feature (ads)
- Includes access to analytics (only in the app)
- Is free to use
Features of the Business account:
- Best for businesses, brands, or personal brands
- Can only be used as a public profile (can’t be set to private)
- Can become a verified account
- Includes access to only commercial sounds
- Includes access to Promote feature (ads)
- Includes access to analytics (downloadable)
- Is free to use
Pros and cons of the TikTok Personal/Creator account
The Personal account is the default account type on TikTok; unless they specifically choose another type of account, this is what users get when they sign up. You may be wondering what you’ll get if you sign up for a Business account, but you should also know what you could be missing out on if you stop using a Personal account.
- Pro: you can access certain TikTok development programs
Creators with a Personal account can choose between several different programs if they meet the criteria. These include the Creator Fund, which pays qualifying users for making videos, and Creator Next, which helps creators monetize their efforts as they grow their followings.
- Pro: you can set your account to private
There are all kinds of reasons to set your TikTok account to private. Even if you don’t normally prefer it, it’s nice to have the option. With a Personal account, you can switch to “private” whenever you feel like it.
- Pro: you’ll have access to a wider variety of sounds
Since the average TikTok user doesn’t have to worry about copyright strikes, they can use any audio they want. This includes everything from video game soundtracks to Lizzo’s latest hit, and has implications beyond just enjoying more options. Many of these non-commercial audios turn into TikTok trends, which someone with a Business account wouldn’t be able to participate in.
- Con: you’ll have fewer options for making money
Unlike Business accounts, Personal accounts can’t be linked to Shopify sites. This means that products can’t be sold directly to TikTok followers, which can potentially be a solid revenue stream for dedicated creators.
- Con: you’ll only get limited analytics data
You’ll be able to view limited analytics if you’re on the app, but you won’t be able to download it. Plus, you’ll only be able to see the past 60 days, which could make it hard to identify long-term trends or analyze your brand’s performance.
Pros and cons of the TikTok Business account
This type of account is for businesses, or TikTok creators who want to focus on developing their brand in a more formal sense.
- Pro: you can link to your website
This might sound like a small feature, but it has the potential to drive a lot of traffic to a website or ecommerce site.
- Pro: you can access the Creator Marketplace
This is a platform that’s meant to promote collaborations between creators and brands on TikTok. It helps creators find brand sponsorships, make connections with other creators, and more. There are also learning opportunities, which can help you improve your account so that brands will be more likely to choose you as a partner.
- Pro: you can use the TikTok Shop feature
If you have a Shopify site, you can link it to your TikTok account and sell directly on the platform – no need to redirect your followers to an external site.
- Con: you’ll only be able to use Commercial Sounds
Since businesses have to follow copyright laws, you’ll only be able to use audios that have been cleared for commercial use.
- Con: you won’t be able to join TikTok’s development programs
The Creator Fund and Creator Next programs are only available to people with Personal accounts, so you won’t be able to benefit from them.
At what point do you need to make a decision?
That’s the best part – you don’t really have to make a decision. You can switch from one type of account to another in a matter of seconds, and see if you like the new one better. If not, simply switch back and enjoy the familiar features of your original account type.
For some creators, the main reason why they’d switch to a Business account is to have more options for revenue streams. After all, that’s what business is all about – making money. For most (even influencers), having a Personal account is more than enough.
Do you need a certain number of followers to have a Business account?
Not at all – you can get a TikTok Business account with 0 followers. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to stay at 0 for long. Plenty of creators with Business accounts get their start by when buying TikTok followers from sites like TikCeleb, and then using that to spur organic growth. Having a decent following adds legitimacy to any business on TikTok, and is important for potential customers to take them seriously. Buying followers may not be a 1-to-1 substitute for organic followers, but it can definitely accelerate the success of any TikTok account when done correctly.
Whatever type of account you have on TikTok, just remember that there’s plenty of room for experimentation. Pay attention to what you like and don’t like, and don’t forget to have fun!