The content creator dilemma:
Start on TikTok or YouTube?
TikTok pitch: “Viral potential! Easy to start! Short videos! Algorithm favors new creators!”
YouTube pitch: “Better monetization! Loyal audience! Evergreen content! Long-term income!”
The truth: TikTok offers easier entry but terrible monetization ($0.01-$0.04 per 1,000 views). YouTube pays better ($2-$10 per 1,000 views) but requires 1,000 subs + 4,000 watch hours before any income. Both trap you creating content 40-80 hours weekly for poverty wages.
First – This Is Important…
Before we dive into TikTok vs YouTube, let me be upfront: if your goal is making money online without creating endless content—there’s a business model that beats both platforms.
Click here to see the business model that beats content creation
After testing both platforms and burning thousands of hours on content, I’ve found the most reliable path is local lead generation: building websites that rank for local services, then renting lead flow to businesses for $500-$2,000 per month.
Why is this better than TikTok or YouTube?
- No content creation required – Build sites once vs creating videos forever
- No algorithm dependency – Google search is stable vs viral lottery
- Better monetization – $500-$2K/month per site vs $0.01-$10 per 1K views
- Predictable recurring revenue – B2B monthly payments vs hoping videos pop off
- Actually passive – 2-10 hours/month vs 40-80 hours/week creating content
- No waiting for monetization – Earn immediately vs 6-18 months building to requirements
I’ll explain why throughout, but if escaping the content treadmill appeals to you, understanding platform limitations matters.
Click here to see the business model that beats content creation
Understanding TikTok: Easy Entry, Terrible Monetization
TikTok offers low barrier to entry—record short videos on your phone, post, hope algorithm pushes them viral.
The TikTok appeal:
- 15-60 second videos (easy to create)
- Algorithm favors new creators initially
- Potential to go viral quickly
- No subscriber requirements to get views
Sounds great until you try to monetize.
The TikTok Monetization Reality
TikTok Creator Fund pays:
- $0.02-$0.04 per 1,000 views (terrible)
- Need 10,000 followers + 100K views in 30 days to qualify
To make $3,000/month:
- At $0.03 per 1K views: Need 100,000,000 views monthly
- That’s 3.3 million views DAILY
- Or 1 billion views annually
Most creators never reach these numbers.
Alternative monetization:
- Brand deals: Need 50K-100K+ followers
- Affiliate links: Need massive engaged following
- Selling products: Requires building separate business
Primary income isn’t from TikTok itself—it’s from what TikTok traffic can drive.
The Content Creation Treadmill
To maintain momentum:
- Must post 1-3 videos daily (algorithm favors consistency)
- Each video: 1-3 hours (ideation, filming, editing)
- 10-25 hours weekly creating content
Stop posting for a week? Views drop 50-80%.
The algorithm doesn’t care about your past success—only recent content performs.
For context on making money on TikTok, understanding these monetization realities saves wasted effort.
Understanding YouTube: Better Monetization, Longer Road
YouTube offers better monetization but requires significant time investment before earning anything.
The YouTube appeal:
- Better ad revenue ($2-$10 per 1K views vs TikTok’s $0.02-$0.04)
- Evergreen content (videos can rank and earn for years)
- More loyal audiences
- Multiple revenue streams (ads, sponsorships, memberships)
The catch? Monetization requirements and time investment.
The YouTube Monetization Requirements
YouTube Partner Program requires:
- 1,000 subscribers minimum
- 4,000 watch hours in past 12 months (or 10M Shorts views)
Average timeline: 12-18 months posting consistently
Until then: $0 revenue despite 40-80 hours weekly creating content.
After monetization:
To make $3,000/month:
- At $5 RPM: Need 600,000 views monthly
- At $10 RPM: Need 300,000 views monthly
- Requires 100-300 videos uploaded typically
Most channels never reach 300K monthly views.
The Production Time Investment
Per long-form video:
- Research/scripting: 3-5 hours
- Filming: 2-4 hours
- Editing: 4-8 hours
- Thumbnail/optimization: 1-2 hours
- Total: 10-19 hours per video
2 videos weekly = 20-38 hours of production
Plus time learning equipment, software, optimization strategies.
TikTok vs YouTube: Side-By-Side Reality
| Factor | TikTok | YouTube | Lead Generation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monetization Rate | $0.02-$0.04 per 1K views | $2-$10 per 1K views | $500-$2K/month per site |
| Monetization Requirements | 10K followers + 100K views/30 days | 1K subs + 4K watch hours | None (immediate) |
| Time to Monetize | 3-6 months | 12-18 months | 3-6 months per site |
| Content Creation Hours | 10-25 hrs/week | 20-40 hrs/week | 0 hrs/week (after build) |
| Content Longevity | Days-weeks | Months-years | Years (once ranked) |
| Views Needed for $3K/month | 100M/month | 300K-600K/month | N/A (B2B revenue) |
| Algorithm Dependency | Extreme | High | None (Google search) |
| Revenue Stability | Very low (viral dependent) | Low (view dependent) | High (recurring B2B) |
| Scalability | Limited by content output | Limited by content output | Unlimited (build more sites) |
Both platforms trap you creating content forever. Lead gen builds once, earns repeatedly.
Why Most TikTok Creators Fail
Despite viral potential, TikTok has fundamental problems:
Problem 1: Terrible monetization makes it nearly impossible to make real money from views alone.
Problem 2: Content lifespan measured in days. What goes viral today is forgotten tomorrow.
Problem 3: Must post daily to stay relevant. Algorithm punishes inconsistency.
Problem 4: Platform can ban accounts without appeal, destroying months of work.
Why Most YouTube Creators Fail
Despite better monetization, YouTube challenges:
Problem 1: 12-18 months unpaid work before monetization. Most quit before reaching requirements.
Problem 2: Massive time investment per video (10-19 hours) limits output.
Problem 3: Algorithm changes can tank views overnight. Years of work affected by updates.
Problem 4: Must upload 2-4 videos monthly minimum to maintain momentum.
Those exploring how to make money on YouTube should calculate actual time investment vs potential earnings.
What Actually Works: The No-Content Model
Here’s what neither platform delivers:
Income without creating endless content.
Lead generation accomplishes this:
- Build 5-15 page website per site
- Rank on Google (3-6 months)
- Generate 10-30 leads monthly
- Rent to business ($500-$2,000/month)
- Maintenance: 2-5 hours/month
The fundamental difference:
TikTok/YouTube: Create content forever for view-based income
Lead gen: Build once, earn recurring income without new content
Real Numbers: 12-Month Comparison
TikTok Path (12 months):
- Videos created: 360-1,080 (1-3 daily)
- Hours invested: 520-1,300 hours
- Views: 5M-50M (if successful)
- Income: $1,000-$2,000 total (at $0.03 per 1K)
- Effective hourly: $0.77-$3.85/hour
YouTube Path (12 months):
- Videos created: 50-100
- Hours invested: 500-1,900 hours
- Views: Not monetized yet typically
- Income: $0 (still building to requirements)
- Effective hourly: $0/hour
Lead Generation Path (12 months):
- Sites built: 10-15
- Hours invested: 400-800 hours
- Income: $6,000-$15,000/month by month 12
- Effective hourly: $90-$450/hour
Lead gen delivers 100x+ better hourly rates than TikTok, infinite times better than YouTube (which pays $0 first year).
The Strategic Choice
The question isn’t “TikTok or YouTube?”
The question is: Why create content for platform revenue at all?
TikTok: Easy entry, terrible pay ($0.02-$0.04 per 1K views), must post daily forever
YouTube: Better pay ($2-$10 per 1K views), 12-18 months unpaid work first, must upload weekly forever
Lead generation: Build sites once, earn $500-$2K/month recurring per site, 2-10 hours/month maintenance
If you love creating content as hobby: Post on both platforms for reach, monetize elsewhere
If your goal is income, not fame: Build lead gen assets instead
The Bottom Line
TikTok offers easy entry but poverty wages ($0.02-$0.04 per 1K views requires 100M monthly views for $3K). YouTube offers better monetization but 12-18 months unpaid work before first dollar. Both require 20-40+ hours weekly creating content forever.
Neither delivers what most want: Predictable income without endless content creation.
Lead generation builds digital assets that generate recurring B2B income without creating new content weekly. You build once, earn for months or years with minimal maintenance.
Stop choosing between two platforms that trap you in content creation forever. Build assets that create income without daily videos.
Click here to see how lead generation beats both platforms for income without the content treadmill.
Mark is the founder of MarksInsights and has spent 15+ years testing online business programs and tools. He focuses on honest, experience-based reviews that help people avoid scams and find real, sustainable ways to make money online.