TikTok is reportedly testing a paid, ad-free version of its app – theverge.com

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An Android Authority report indicates the shortform video platform is testing a new way to make money.
An Android Authority report indicates the shortform video platform is testing a new way to make money.
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TikTok users might be able to pay not to see a deluge of ads in the future.
Android Authority has screenshots of TikTok prompting users to select between staying on the free version of the app with ads or upgrading to an ad-free experience. According to the screenshot, some users have the option to pay $4.99 a month to not see ads.
A TikTok spokesperson confirmed the existence of the test to Variety. They said the feature is currently being trialed in one country outside of the US but that it may not expand more widely. However, they declined to confirm details like which country the limited-scale test is running in or how much TikTok is charging. The company did not respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
A test of an ad-free tier comes as TikTok is working aggressively to diversify where its money comes from. TikTok Shop, the platform’s in-app marketplace, has been moved to the main navigation bar for some users, and the company has been pushing ads and coupons, hoping to entice them to make a purchase. Already, the platform has struggled to moderate its Shop offerings — a review by Insider found users could purchase items banned by TikTok’s own rules, including homemade foods, sex toys, and vitamins.
Other platforms have exploded ad-free tiers as a way to make money. Elon Musk has said in the past that he wants to offer a “higher priced” subscription tier that shows zero ads on Twitter, now called X. That hasn’t happened yet, but the company says X Premium subscribers get “approximately 50 percent fewer ads” on their timelines. Reports indicate Meta may offer an ad-free version on Facebook and Instagram in the EU in response to regulators’ concerns about data privacy.
Update October 3rd, 3:35AM ET: Added TikTok’s confirmation that the test is taking place in one country outside of the US.
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