If you haven’t heard it already: TikTok is here to stay. And whether you’re a business, content creator or individual user, it’s important to understand the differences between a TikTok Business vs. creator account. Do you know which type of TikTok account is going to be the best for your brand?
Both of these TikTok account types have different features and benefits—but which one will be best for you? We’ll address the pros and cons of each account type, then walk you through how to choose which account type you should use.
Let’s get started.
What is a TikTok Business Account?
A TikTok Business Account is a public, professional account that has access to TikTok’s entire marketing suite of tools. This type of account is ideal for brands and businesses who are looking to make a splash on the platform and create a cohesive marketing strategy.
Pros of a TikTok Business Account
Access to TikTok’s Business Suite. One of the biggest benefits of having a Business account is access to TikTok’s Business Suite. This includes access to:
- TikTok analytics regarding your profile, video, content and LIVE videos.
- TikTok ads and promoted videos to help get more people to discover your videos, navigate to your website and hopefully gain more followers.
- the Commercial Music Library of over 1 million commercially licensed songs and sounds. Brands can also create their own TikTok trends and sounds through the tools and resources available.
- the Business Creative Hub to view trending videos and for tips on best practices on creating content and strategy.
Having access to all of these features is a great way to monitor your performance and make sure your brand gets in front of the right audience.
Use of an ecommerce storefront. Another major perk—especially for ecommerce brands—is the ability to create your own TikTok store. Social shopping is the next generation of ecommerce, and with a TikTok store, you can highlight all of your products right on the app, making it extremely easy for customers to make a purchase. Followers can browse your products, then immediately check out through Shopify.
Ability to connect to Sprout Social. Simplify how you work across different platforms and apps by connecting all your accounts through a social media management tool like Sprout Social. TikTok Business Accounts can be connected to your Sprout account, making it easy to plan calendars, schedule content and monitor performance alongside the rest of your social media channels.
This makes social media management even easier, with the ability to manage all social accounts in a single Sprout dashboard.
Cons of a TikTok Business Account
While having a Business Account comes with a lot of perks, every rose has its thorn.
Limited library of sounds. Because brands have more legal loopholes to jump through, TikTok provides access to royalty-free, commercial sound clips to business accounts rather than the entire audio library.
This can limit the sound bytes your business can use, but it also gives you the opportunity to work to be even more creative with your video content. This is your silver lining! Plus, brands can always create their own sound bytes when making their own rendition of an ongoing TikTok trend.
Limited duet or stitching options. With this limitation on sound bytes, it means brands are also limited on which TikTok videos they’re able to stitch or duet. Any video with non-commercial audio cannot be stitched or dueted by a brand.
What is a TikTok creator account?
A TikTok creator account is also considered a personal account.
While TikTok used to have two types of professional accounts—Business or creator—that were separate from a personal account, they converted all creator accounts to a personal account in August of 2021.
Influencers are still able to partner with brands, become verified and grow massive followings, even with what’s considered a personal account.
Pros of a TikTok creator account (personal accounts)
Full access to the audio library. This is probably the biggest perk of having a TikTok creator account. You’ll have full access to popular songs, trending sound bytes and any other audio clip available in the app. Creators and influencers are able to utilize any available sound clip, as well as create their own.
Ability to stitch and duet. In addition, creator accounts can stitch or duet any video, giving them the ability to react to or add to stories of any other creator or brand video.
Access to TikTok analytics. Both types of TikTok accounts have access to analytics and performance insights. For creator or personal accounts to access analytics, they must post at least one public video. Because analytics aren’t limited to business accounts, like on other apps, this gives individual creators a leg up on their reach and engagement.
Potential to promote videos. Creator accounts also have access to the “Promote” option just like brands and Business Accounts do so that they can extend the reach of some of their videos—especially sponsored ones.
Eligibility to join the TikTok Creator Fund. Creator accounts can access the TikTok Creator Fund as a way to monetize their account and be incentivized for creating more awesome content.
Similarly, creator accounts can access the TikTok Creator Next Program, which allows TikTok users to accept monetary tips from their top followers.
Cons of a TikTok creator account (personal accounts)
Cannot add website to profile. TikTok Business Accounts can immediately add a website link in their bios, whereas creator accounts have to hit 1,000 followers before they’re able to add a link.
Native-only account management. Unlike the Business Account, creator accounts can’t connect to social media management tools like Sprout Social. Brands should stick with a Business Account, even if they aren’t able to access all sound bytes. This is especially because brands may face litigation if they are an actual business and use unlicensed music.
Deciding between a TikTok Business vs. creator account?
Before you start a new social media account on TikTok, you should have answered several questions, including: is my target audience on TikTok and will TikTok help me reach my social media goals?
As for which type of TikTok account you should create, TikTok wants to be extremely straightforward: businesses opt for a Business Account and creators stick to a creator or personal account.
However, sometimes it’s not that simple. There are perks to each one, and no account type can “have it all.” Which one should you go for?
Consider all of the pros and cons for each account type to see which one is really worth it. For example, as a business, it’s a bummer not to have access to the full sound library. But is it worth it to be at risk of litigation because you want to use a trending sound?
Once you’ve weighed all of the benefits versus the limitations, choose your account type and stick with it. Although TikTok lets you switch back and forth, it’s better to just stick with the account type you choose for the extent of your time on the platform.
Get started with your own TikTok account
Get started with your own TikTok account, whether it’s a Business Account vs. creator account—you’ll now know which account type is going to be the best option for you and your business.
To learn even more about how to get the most out of TikTok, check out our full guide to TikTok for business.
