Meta owns three of the biggest creator platforms in the world: Facebook, Instagram and Threads. Together they reach billions of people every month. For creators, that is an enormous opportunity, but it also creates confusion. Which program pays for what? Which one should you apply for first? Do you need separate applications for each app? And what happened to all the older programs you used to hear about?
This guide brings everything together in one place. Think of it as a map of Meta’s creator economy. We will walk through every major Meta creator program, what it pays for, who can join, how to apply and how to combine several programs into one stable income. Whether you are just starting with a few hundred followers or already have a large audience on TikTok or YouTube, you will find a clear path here.
The Meta Creator Program Map
Meta’s creator programs fall into four broad groups:
- Ad revenue programs, where Meta shares money from ads shown around your content
- Fan-funded tools, where your audience pays you directly
- Growth and bonus programs, where Meta pays to attract or reward creators
- Brand partnership tools, where businesses pay you for sponsored content
All Major Programs at a Glance
| Program | Platform | How you earn | Typical entry bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook Content Monetization | Share of ad revenue from Reels, videos, photos, text | Around 5,000 to 10,000 followers plus watch time | |
| Facebook Stars | Fans send paid Stars (about $0.01 each) | 500 followers for 30 days | |
| Facebook Subscriptions | Facebook Pages | Fans pay monthly | Around 10,000 followers or strong return viewers |
| Creator Fast Track | Guaranteed monthly payments for established creators | 100,000+ followers on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube | |
| Instagram Subscriptions | Fans pay monthly | Commonly 10,000 followers | |
| Instagram Gifts | Fans send gifts on Reels | Commonly 5,000 followers | |
| Instagram Badges | Instagram Live | Fans buy badges during Lives | Commonly 1,000 followers (varies) |
| Threads bonus programs | Threads | Invite-only performance bonuses | By invitation |
| Creator Marketplace | Facebook and Instagram | Paid brand collaborations | Varies by market |
Thresholds vary by country and change over time, so always treat these as benchmarks. Your own Professional Dashboard shows your real status.
What Happened to the Older Programs?
If you remember In-Stream Ads, Ads on Reels, Reels Play and the Performance Bonus on Facebook, you are not imagining things. They existed. On August 31, 2025, Meta retired them as standalone programs and replaced them with the unified Facebook Content Monetization program. Ads still run in videos and Reels, but the earnings now flow through one program instead of several.
On Instagram, earlier bonus programs for Reels were paused or ended in many markets. Instagram now focuses more on fan-funded tools such as Subscriptions, Gifts and Badges, plus brand partnerships.
Why Meta Keeps Changing Its Programs
Meta is competing hard with TikTok and YouTube for creators. It experiments with bonuses, guaranteed payments and new tools, then keeps what works and retires what does not. For creators, the lesson is simple: build a strong, original audience first. Programs come and go, but a loyal audience moves with you from one opportunity to the next.
Facebook Creator Programs in Detail
1. Facebook Content Monetization
This is Meta’s main ad revenue program on Facebook. It pays creators a performance-based share of ad revenue from Reels, longer videos, photos and text posts.
Who it suits: Video and Reels creators, educators, entertainers and information Pages with steady reach.
Common requirements in 2026:
- Facebook Page or Professional Mode profile
- 18 or older, in an eligible country
- Around 5,000 to 10,000 followers
- Around 600,000 minutes viewed in the last 60 days, as reported by many creators
- Original content and clean account standing
How to apply: Build to the thresholds, then check Professional Dashboard > Monetization. When the invitation or Get started button appears, accept the terms and set up payouts.
Earnings: Creators commonly report RPMs between $1 and $10 per 1,000 views, with finance and tech content reaching US or UK audiences earning more, and entertainment in lower-cost regions earning less.
2. Facebook Stars
Stars lets fans send you virtual Stars on Lives, Reels, videos and posts. Each Star is worth about one US cent to you.
Who it suits: Live streamers, gamers, community builders and beginners.
Requirements: 500 followers for 30 consecutive days, 18 or older, eligible country and compliance with Meta’s monetization policies.
How to apply: Go to Professional Dashboard > Monetization > Stars, accept the Stars terms and complete payout setup.
3. Facebook Subscriptions
Subscriptions let loyal fans pay a monthly fee for exclusive posts, subscriber-only Lives, badges and private groups.
Who it suits: Educators, coaches, niche experts and creators with devoted audiences.
Common requirements: A Facebook Page, around 10,000 followers or 250 return viewers, strong engagement or watch time in the last 60 days, 18 or older, eligible country.
How to apply: Open Monetization > Subscriptions, apply, set your price tier and list your benefits.
4. Creator Fast Track
Creator Fast Track is Meta’s program to attract established creators from other platforms to Facebook. Reports on the launch described guaranteed monthly payments for creators who bring their audiences over: creators with at least 100,000 followers on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube could receive $1,000 a month, and those with over one million followers could receive $3,000 a month, for posting their Reels on Facebook over a three-month period. Participants also received boosted reach for their Reels.
Who it suits: Creators with an established following elsewhere who are new to Facebook or returning after a long break.
Typical requirements:
- A large following on another major platform (100,000+ followers)
- Original Reels that you own
- A Facebook Page or Professional Mode profile in good standing
- Availability in your country
How to apply: Look for Creator Fast Track in Meta’s creator resources or your Professional Dashboard. Availability, amounts and terms can change and may differ by country.
5. Branded Content and Creator Marketplace
Brands can pay you directly for sponsored posts. Meta’s branded content tools let you tag brand partners with a “Paid partnership” label, and Creator Marketplace helps brands discover creators.
Who it suits: Any creator with an engaged, niche audience.
Requirements: A clean Page, consistent posting and brand-safe content. Brands decide their own follower requirements.
How to use it: Turn on branded content tools in your Professional Dashboard, keep a media kit ready and always label paid partnerships.
Facebook Programs Compared
| Program | Paid by | Stability | Best starting point for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Content Monetization | Advertisers via Meta | Medium | Creators with reach |
| Stars | Fans | Low to medium | Beginners and live hosts |
| Subscriptions | Fans monthly | High | Creators with superfans |
| Creator Fast Track | Meta | High for three months | Established creators from other apps |
| Brand deals | Brands | Irregular | Niche creators |
Instagram Creator Programs
Instagram works a little differently from Facebook. Instead of one big ad revenue program, most Instagram income comes from fans and brands. To use any of these tools, you need a Creator or Business account (switch in Settings > Account type and tools).
Instagram Subscriptions
Fans pay a monthly fee to access subscriber-only Stories, Reels, Lives, posts and broadcast channels. Creators commonly report needing around 10,000 followers, being 18 or older and living in an eligible country.
How to apply: Go to your Professional Dashboard > Subscriptions, set up your price and benefits, then promote it to your audience.
Instagram Gifts
Viewers can send Gifts on your Reels, and you earn money from them. Creators commonly report a requirement of around 5,000 followers, plus age and country eligibility.
How to apply: Turn on Gifts from Professional Dashboard > Gifts and enable it on your eligible Reels.
Instagram Live Badges
During live streams, viewers can buy badges that highlight their comments. It works like tipping during a Live. Requirements vary, with lower follower thresholds reported than for Subscriptions.
Instagram Brand Partnerships
Instagram’s partnership tools let brands find you and let you label sponsored posts with “Paid partnership”. For many Instagram creators, brand deals are the biggest income source.
| Instagram tool | How you earn | Commonly reported entry bar |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriptions | Monthly fan payments | Around 10,000 followers |
| Gifts | Fans send gifts on Reels | Around 5,000 followers |
| Live Badges | Fans buy badges in Lives | Lower thresholds, varies |
| Brand partnerships | Sponsored content | Set by brands |
Threads Creator Programs
Threads is Meta’s text-based conversation app, connected to your Instagram account. Meta has run invite-only bonus programs on Threads that reward eligible creators for posting and engagement. These bonuses are not open for everyone to apply to. Instead, Meta sends invitations to eligible creators, usually through a notification in the app or on Instagram.
How to increase your chances:
- Post original text content regularly
- Start genuine conversations and reply to others
- Keep your linked Instagram account in good standing
- Check your Threads and Instagram notifications for invitations
Because Threads bonuses change frequently and are invitation-based, check your in-app notifications rather than relying on any fixed list of requirements.
How to Apply to Meta Creator Programs: General Steps
Every Meta program follows a similar pattern. Master this once and you can apply to any of them.
- Set up the right account type. Page or Professional Mode on Facebook; Creator or Business account on Instagram.
- Complete your profile. Photo, bio, category, contact details and a clear niche.
- Secure your account. Turn on two-factor authentication in Accounts Center.
- Check Account Status. Resolve any removed content or restrictions.
- Grow with original content. Post consistently in one niche.
- Open the Professional Dashboard. Check the Monetization section for eligibility.
- Accept the terms. When a tool becomes available, read and accept its specific terms.
- Set up payouts. Add your bank or PayPal details and your tax form (usually W-8BEN outside the US).
- Verify your identity. Upload a clear government ID if asked.
- Track and optimise. Review which content earns the most, and make more of it.
Accounts Center Makes It Easier
Meta’s Accounts Center links your Facebook, Instagram and Threads accounts. Linking them helps with shared settings, security and sometimes payout setup across apps. Make sure only accounts you personally own are linked.
Which Meta Program Should You Start With?
Your starting point depends on where you are today.
| Your situation | Best first program | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Under 500 followers | Focus on growth and original content | Unlock Facebook Stars |
| 500 to 5,000 followers | Facebook Stars, Instagram Live Badges | Build toward Gifts and Content Monetization |
| 5,000 to 10,000 followers | Instagram Gifts, brand collaborations | Push for Content Monetization |
| 10,000+ followers | Content Monetization, Subscriptions | Add brand deals |
| 100,000+ on TikTok or YouTube, new to Facebook | Creator Fast Track, where available | Join Content Monetization |
Building a Stacked Income
The most successful Meta creators do not rely on a single program. A typical stack might look like this:
- Content Monetization for steady ad revenue
- Stars during weekly Lives
- Subscriptions for superfans
- Two or three brand deals a month
- Instagram Gifts on Reels
If one source dips, the others keep your income stable.
Documents You Need for Meta Programs
| Document | Used for |
|---|---|
| Government-issued photo ID | Identity verification across programs |
| Bank account in your own name | Receiving payouts |
| SWIFT/BIC or routing code | International transfers |
| W-8BEN (non-US) or W-9 (US) tax form | Tax reporting |
| Current address | Payout and tax records |
| Verified email and phone | Account security |
Meta typically pays monthly, around the 21st, once your balance passes the payout threshold, commonly $100.
Why Creators Get Rejected From Meta Programs
- Unoriginal content, including reposts and compilations
- Community Standards violations in recent months
- Unsupported country for a particular program
- Not enough followers, views or engagement
- Fake followers or engagement schemes
- Copyright claims on music or clips
- Misleading content or clickbait
- Incomplete or mismatched payout details
- Under 18
- Wrong account type, such as a personal Instagram account instead of a Creator account
If you are rejected, read the reason in your dashboard, fix the issue, request a review where available and keep building with original content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need separate applications for Facebook and Instagram? Yes. Each program has its own eligibility and terms, even though Accounts Center links your accounts.
Is Creator Fast Track still open? Availability, payment amounts and terms can change and may vary by country. Check Meta’s creator resources and your dashboard for the latest status.
Can I join Meta creator programs from Nigeria or South Africa? Some tools, such as Stars, are more widely available. Others roll out gradually. Your dashboards on each app show what is open for you.
Which Meta program pays the most? For most creators with strong reach, Content Monetization and brand deals bring the largest amounts. Subscriptions offer the most predictable income.
Can I earn on Threads? Threads bonuses have been invite-only. Keep posting original content and watch your notifications for invitations.
Do I pay tax on Meta earnings? Meta collects tax forms and may withhold tax in some cases. You must also report income under your own country’s laws.
Final Thoughts
Meta’s creator ecosystem is bigger than any single program. Facebook offers ad revenue, Stars, Subscriptions and Creator Fast Track. Instagram offers Subscriptions, Gifts, Badges and brand partnerships. Threads adds occasional invite-only bonuses. Each has its own rules, but they all reward the same things: original content, real engagement and a clean account.
Start with the program that matches your current audience size, set up your payouts early and add more income streams as you grow. Programs will keep evolving, but creators who build a loyal audience will always have a place to earn.
Meta updates program names, requirements and availability often. Always confirm the latest details in your own Professional Dashboard on each app.