If you’re anything like me, you probably spend a lot of time on TikTok. If you’re using the app for social media marketing, that time goes up even more. But if you’re using the same account for both purposes, you may want to ask yourself: what if you’re not using the right type of account for your needs?

There are two types of TikTok accounts: Personal (which used to be called Creator) and Business. Each account type has its pros and cons and suits particular needs differently. 

If your goals involve going viral on TikTok, for example, both accounts would work well since you can use Analytics to figure out what’s working. But if you want to advertise or track audience metrics in greater detail, you’ll need to upgrade from a Personal account to a Business TikTok profile. 

Confused? This guide shares the difference between both TikTok account types and how to choose the right one for your TikTok goals.

TikTok Personal (Creator) account

This account will suit you better if you’re a TikTok creator who mainly sees yourself as an influencer or entertainer. 

What is a TikTok Personal account?

A TikTok Personal account, now called a Creator account, is the default account type for new accounts. You don’t need to do anything special to get this account other than download the app and sign up. You get limited access to your TikTok analytics, access to commercial-use sounds, and tools for helping you with content creation. 

Read more: How to use TikTok: tips and tricks for creators

Advantages of a TikTok Personal account

A few unique advantages exist to having a Personal TikTok account instead of a Business one. Let's take a look at them:

• Direct monetization opportunities. Personal accounts (if eligible) get full access to TikTok’s Creator Next program, which includes the Creator Fund, Creator Marketplace, Video Gifts, LIVE Gifts, and Tips. These native monetization options make it easy to earn money on TikTok with a Personal account. 
• Access to the TikTok Creator Marketplace. While this is technically within the Creator Next program, the Creator Marketplace is the official place for brand and creator collaborations. It’s an essential feature for influencers who monetize their account with brand collabs.
• Creative flexibility and tools. While both account types can host TikTok live streams, only Personal accounts get access to the monetization options available there. Personal accounts also don’t have the same limits Business accounts do for Duets and Stitches.

Because of these monetization and brand collaboration options, Personal accounts make the most sense for individual creators building an audience with their personal brand and TikTok content. 

Disadvantages of a TikTok Personal account

Of course, there are some disadvantages to using a Personal account for digital marketing:

• Limited monetization for small creators. To become eligible for the Creator Fund within the Creator Next program on a Personal account, you need to have at least 10k followers and 100k video views in the previous 30 days (and be at least 18 years old, located in the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, or Italy.
• Algorithm dependency for visibility. Since you don’t have access to advertising (except for the limited Promote option) with a Personal account, brand awareness depends on the TikTok algorithm picking up your videos and showing them to more people.
• Vulnerable to platform changes. Since businesses use ads to build up their online presence, they can be platform-agnostic. However, individual TikTok users and creators who rely on the platform are vulnerable to any changes it makes, including potential TikTok bans in your country.
• No website link in your TikTok bio. Personal TikTok accounts don’t get to add a website link to their bios, which means you’re limited in building your audience outside of the TikTok platform. This drawback can be an issue if you plan to build an “owned” audience, such as an email list.

TikTok business account

If you’re a content creator with a personal brand, or a business using TikTok to promote products, TikTok business accounts offer the features you need.

What is a TikTok Business account?

A TikTok Business Account is packed with management tools and features to help brands manage their TikTok activity. It helps you build your business brand on the platform, manage brand activities, and engage with your audience.

Business accounts are public by requirement (which seems like a no-brainer), and you get TikTok’s business suite of tools such as analytics, Creator Studio, advertising, and more. All of these are designed to improve your social media strategy and grow your business and its brand on the platform.

Benefits of a TikTok business account

There are several benefits of having a Business account that you don’t get with a Personal account on TikTok, which include:

• Customized advertising. One of the most significant differences between the two account types is access to in-app advertising. If you’re a product-based company, a Business account is crucial for customized advertising to your audience—55% of people who use TikTok say the app helps them discover new products and brands, and ads are a huge part of that.
• Business Creative Hub. Another big difference from Personal Accounts is that you can access the Business Creative Hub, which allows your brand to use royalty-free Commercial Sounds from its Commercial Music Library, the Video Showcase (which helps you find trending sounds and videos), and the Business Content Guide.
• Enhanced credibility. A considerable part of building an audience anywhere is trust and credibility. With a Business Account, you tell your audience that you’re a serious business entity—which also helps frame how they engage with you on the app.

• Access to lead gen tools. With a TikTok Business account, you get to add a website link in your bio, as well as business contact information and TikTok Shop for native ecommerce (in selected markets, which can integrate with Shopify)—another great feature for companies that sell products online.

The advantages of using TikTok for business might sway you towards this account type.

For example, with 50M followers, TikToker Kris HC appears to use a Business account since she can use the bio link to generate leads for collaboration opportunities. In this case, her bio links out to a Linktree page, which includes links to her shop, business inquiries, her other social accounts, a Spotify playlist, and an affiliate link.

Drawbacks of a TikTok Business account

While Business account features may tempt content creators and small businesses, you might run into a few drawbacks that you’ll need to consider before making the switch:

• Cost of advertising. TikTok ads can be pretty costly for individual creators and small businesses. Studies show that the average CPM (cost per 1000 views) on TikTok was $10; hashtag challenges cost around $150k per week, brand takeovers $50k per day, and branded filters around $80k per day. The platform also has a minimum investment of $500.
• The learning curve for ad creation. Let’s say you have the budget to include advertising in your TikTok marketing strategy. It can still be a steep learning curve to start advertising on the platform. All video content on the TikTok app is vertical, so you’ll need to learn how to best use this format in your ads.
• Lots of competition. TikTok feeds used to be relatively ad-free, but not anymore. It feels like there’s an ad in every other video, which tells us there’s a lot of competition for ad space now compared to years before. Finding your target audience and affording the cost of advertising to them may prove quite tricky.
• Limited access to Sounds, Duets, and Stitching. Business accounts are only licensed to use Commercial Sounds from the Commercial Music Library (or create their own sounds). Your Business account can’t duet or stitch Personal Account videos if they’re using non-commercial sound clips, but you can add your own royalty-free music outside of the TikTok editor. 
• No access to Creator Programs. With a Business Account, you miss out on monetization programs like the TikTok Creator Fund or TikTok Creator Next. 

The benefits often outweigh the negatives for businesses to use Business accounts, especially if you’re using the platform to sell products. Still, that balance will likely tip in the favor of Personal accounts if you don’t need ads or lead gen tools. 

TikTok Business account vs. Personal: How to choose

While TikTok does allow you to switch between each account type, it’s best to figure out the right one for you beforehand and stick with it.

Here’s a brief summary of your options:

• Personal TikTok accounts: This account is best for public figures, such as individual creators or those who use a personal brand, and want to make the most of TikTok’s monetization options. 
• Business TikTok accounts: This account is best for businesses that don’t use a personal brand strategy, need greater advertising options, and more detailed analytics for tracking KPIs and metrics.

Weigh the pros and cons of each account and determine which has the most benefits for you despite their cons. For example, bigger creator accounts may benefit from advanced analytics and advertising options, but you miss out on native monetization. 

Create and edit TikTok videos like a pro

No matter which account type you end up choosing, you’ll still want to make the best content you can. Creating professional quality videos for TikTok can be as easy as using software like Descript to help you create and edit your videos like a pro.

Descript offers a purpose-built TikTok video editor to help you:

• Edit TikTok videos like you’d edit a Google Doc
• Fix audio mistakes with Overdub 
• Remove your video background with green screens 
• Convert your video’s aspect ratio to TikTok’s vertical format
• Add visual effects like animated text, slow motion, keyframe animation, and transitions to TikTok videos 

The best part? If you get stuck, Descript also has a library of tutorials to help you refine your video editing skills and bring out your inner movie director. 

Take a free tour today and see why thousands of creators rely on Descript to make world-class TikTok videos.

TikTok Business vs. Personal account FAQs

Is it better to have a Business or Creator account on TikTok?

The best TikTok account depends on your goals: a Business account provides detailed analytics and access to TikTok Ads Manager, which are vital to marketing strategies and understanding audience behavior. For influencers and content creators seeking to build and monetize their audiences, Creator accounts offer the Creator Fund, Creator Marketplace, and additional content tools.

Is there a downside to switching to a Business account on TikTok?

If you switch to a Business account on TikTok, you lose access to the Creator Fund, which is only available to Creators. Additionally, some users believe that Business accounts receive less organic reach than Creator accounts, since TikTok might prioritize user-generated content over commercial content.

What is the difference between a Creator account and a Business account?

Creator accounts let content creators interact with their communities, including Q&A functionality for live streams and simpler analytics, which are perfect for building personal brands. Business accounts offer analytics and paid ads, so they can market and promote on the platform.

Does a Business account on TikTok get more views?

There's no evidence that a Business account on TikTok receives more views than others. Views are mostly influenced by TikTok's algorithm, which prioritizes content quality, user engagement, and relevance. Business accounts have paid ads, but organic reach depends more on content resonance with the audience than account type.