TikTok (with Douyin) becomes first app to reach $6B in annual consumer spending

Reuters

San Francisco/New York, February 24, 2025 – In a significant milestone for the creator economy, TikTok - together with its Chinese counterpart Douyin - generated $6 billion in in-app purchase (IAP) revenue in 2024, making it the first non-game app to achieve this feat in a single year.

The figures, reported by app intelligence firm Sensor Tower, underscore TikTok’s growing dominance in the global digital marketplace.

According to the report, TikTok posted a record high of $1.9 billion in gross IAP revenue during the fourth quarter of 2024, a quarterly total that only YouTube and Google One’s subscription service have surpassed among non-game apps on an annual basis. With its $6 billion in annual IAP revenue, TikTok more than doubled the earnings of any other app or game during the same period - while Monopoly GO, the runner-up, generated $2.6 billion.

Sensor Tower noted that this achievement represents a substantial year-over-year increase for TikTok, up from $4.4 billion in 2023. Although TikTok ranked second by downloads in Q4 2024 - trailing Instagram and followed by WhatsApp, Facebook, and Temu - its impressive revenue figures highlight its strong monetization strategy.

The report’s comparisons take into account both TikTok and Douyin, which, despite sharing the same corporate parent in ByteDance, offer distinct user experiences. While TikTok caters to an international audience with a focus on short-form video content, Douyin operates under stricter controls in China and places a heavier emphasis on e-commerce.

In the United States, TikTok has recently made a comeback on app stores after an executive order from President Donald Trump delayed an impending ban over national security concerns - a decision that could be extended if necessary.

TikTok’s revenue success is fueled by its vibrant creator ecosystem, where users purchase virtual gifts for their favorite creators. These gifts can be cashed out as fiat currency, with TikTok retaining 50% of the proceeds. The milestone follows previous achievements, including TikTok’s historic $10 billion total consumer spending in 2023, further cementing its role as a key player in the evolving digital and creator economies.

As the platform continues to expand its global reach, the impressive IAP revenue figures not only reflect its popularity among users but also highlight its potential to reshape digital commerce and content monetization worldwide.

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