Turn passion into profit with Printify
Wondering how to make money on Instagram? The platform offers many opportunities for content creators, influencers, and businesses to earn money and grow their presence. Whether you’re setting up an online store, using sponsored posts, or tapping into influencer marketing, it provides the tools to turn your creativity into profit.
In this guide, we’ll cover 14 proven ways to make money on Instagram in 2025, helping you explore the best options for your brand or business.
Yes, you can definitely make money on Instagram. It’s the third most popular social network worldwide, after Facebook and YouTube, with around two billion global users in 2025.
Instagram’s audience is particularly active compared to other social media platforms. As of early 2025, Instagram’s average engagement rate per post across all industries is 3.5%, significantly higher than Facebook’s 1.3%, X’s 1.8%, and TikTok’s 1.5%.
Almost two-thirds of Instagram’s users are under 34, making the platform especially attractive for marketing to an engaged, young audience.
To start making money on Instagram, you need to set up an Instagram Creator account or a Business account.
Choose a Creator account if you’re an influencer, artist, or public figure looking to showcase your personal brand. Opt for a Business account if you’re a company or entrepreneur looking to promote products, services, or run paid advertising.
To set up your account:
Monetizing with an Instagram Creator or Business account offers:
To receive earnings from monetization features like Gifts, Badges, and subscriptions, set up a payout account through your Professional Dashboard. You’ll need to provide bank, personal or business, and tax info. Make sure everything is accurate – updates can be difficult later.
The Instagram app offers a variety of monetization tools to help creators and businesses generate income – whether through Instagram Reels, subscriptions, or partner programs – letting you tailor your strategy to your audience and goals.
Here are 14 proven ways to start making money on Instagram in 2025.
Sponsored posts let you collaborate with brands that align with your audience, content, and overall brand identity.
You earn by sharing posts highlighting a sponsored brand’s product or service – often based on your follower count and engagement rate.
To get started:
When working with a brand, make sure your sponsored content feels genuine. Highlight the product’s relevance to your audience and balance sponsored and organic content.
Affiliate marketing is a commission-based advertising partnership for content creators. Instagram users can earn by promoting products through unique affiliate links.
Partner with brands to promote their products or services in your bio or Stories with a trackable link. Like sponsored posts, affiliate relationships should align with your niche and target audience’s values.
Before you can start monetizing content as an affiliate marketer, many programs require you to have at least 1,000 Instagram followers.
To monetize your audience with affiliate marketing:
Affiliate links usually have a 30-day commission window from click to sale. Earnings depend on how well your audience responds to the product, so only advertise what’s relevant to your brand.
Use a unique promo code to encourage followers to purchase by offering discounts or special deals. This can increase both engagement and conversions.
To join the Printify Affiliate program, read our Terms of Service and apply.
Selling your own products on Instagram Shop is one of the most profitable ways to generate income while building your brand.
With Instagram’s shopping tools, you can offer a seamless buying experience, engage your audience, and monetize your content with minimal effort. You also have full control over your product listings and can set your own pricing to match your brand strategy and profit goals.
Instagram does have its own shopping feature, but it’s managed through the Facebook Commerce Manager.
To start selling on Instagram, first set up a Facebook Shop:
Once you have a Facebook Shop, you can start linking and promoting products on Instagram.
If you don’t want to invest a lot of money upfront in a retail business, use a print-on-demand platform like Printify to design and sell products with zero inventory and streamlined order management.
To sell custom Printify merchandise on Instagram and link it to your Facebook Shop, you’ll need to set up through one of our supported eCommerce platforms. See all Printify integrations.
Instagram’s subscription feature lets creators offer exclusive content to Instagram followers for a monthly fee.
This can include behind-the-scenes content, personalized messages, early access to new releases, and subscriber-only posts.
Paid subscriptions are ideal for creators with a loyal following who want access to premium content. Note: You’ll need at least 10,000 followers and a Professional account to access this feature.
How to earn money from Instagram by offering subscriptions:
Promote the value of your subscription in your regular posts, highlighting the unique perks paying subscribers will enjoy. This method can generate steady income and further strengthen your connection with dedicated followers.
Instagram Gifts let creators earn money based on the number of Stars they receive from viewers. Each Star is worth $0.01, allowing creators to monetize their short-form video content through audience engagement.
To be eligible, you need to follow Instagram’s monetization policies, which include content and engagement requirements.
Here’s how to earn on Instagram by monetizing Reels:
Instagram Reels are highly discoverable, and with consistent posting, you can reach many viewers, leading to higher engagement and increased earnings.
Collaborate with businesses to create content promoting their products or services on your Instagram page. These relationships can be one-off campaigns or long-term deals where you serve as a brand ambassador, featuring the brand in your Instagram content.
To start:
Long-term brand partnerships are often more lucrative than one-off sponsored posts and build deeper connections with the brands. They often offer free products you can review, advertise, or place organically in your content.
Brands value long-term collaborations as they build trust and a consistent presence within a niche, helping both parties profit from a shared target audience.
Join Instagram’s Creator Marketplace to connect with brands looking for influencers. Once you’re eligible (Business and Creator accounts with solid engagement), brands can discover and reach out to you directly. Optimize your Creator profile by showcasing your niche, follower count, and past collaborations.
Offering digital products on Instagram like prints, artwork, music, eBooks, an online course, or design templates is easy to scale independently with zero inventory or shipping concerns.
Here’s how to make money on Instagram selling digital products:
This method is a fantastic way to generate passive income since digital products can be sold multiple times with little effort.
Creating and selling branded merchandise is an excellent way to earn money on Instagram while building stronger connections with your audience. Whether it’s apparel, accessories, or stickers, merch helps turn your followers into loyal fans.
Here’s how to start:
Merch not only generates income but also reinforces your visual identity. With the right designs and consistent branding, you can turn your dedicated Instagram page into a personal storefront.
Wondering how to make money through Instagram Live? Followers can support you directly with Instagram Live Badges during your streams.
To start earning with Live Badges:
This feature is available to US-based creators. You must be over 18 and have at least 10,000 followers on an Instagram Business account.
Wondering how to get paid on Instagram using your skills and talents? The platform is a powerful place to offer things like consulting, coaching, photography, or design.
To promote what you offer:
Use Instagram’s built-in call-to-action buttons to encourage bookings or consultations directly from your profile. This method works well for freelancers and independent business owners.
Selling secondhand items on Instagram is a simple way to earn money and declutter. Use your Instagram page to showcase what you’re offering, whether it’s clothes, electronics, or home goods.
Post clear photos, include prices and item details in captions or Stories, and use location and niche hashtags to attract interested buyers. For added trust, highlight buyer testimonials or offer local pickup options.
Webinars and workshops provide value to your followers while generating income. Offer paid sessions on topics relevant to your niche, from social media marketing to fitness training. You can also use third-party tools like Zoom, Eventbrite, or Teachable to manage registrations and host your sessions.
To host paid webinars:
Promote the event through Instagram Stories, Reels, and posts. Use countdown stickers and reminders to build anticipation, and offer special packages or discounts to encourage signups.
Instagram audiences are great for crowdfunding. Create projects on platforms like Patreon or GoFundMe to receive financial support in exchange for perks and exclusive content.
To start crowdfunding:
This is a good choice for funding art projects, charitable causes, or new products like games or media while building a sense of community around the work.
Keep your audience updated on your progress and celebrate milestones to maintain interest.
If you’re an expert in social media marketing, content creation, or strategy, offer your services as a social media manager to other businesses or favorite creators. Instagram already serves as a portfolio for your work.
To start offering marketing services:
Social media manager services are in high demand, especially for smaller businesses aiming to grow their online presence – with the potential to develop into a full-time career.
Ready to turn your Instagram into a business?
Start creating and selling custom products with Printify – no inventory, no upfront costs. Design your merch, connect your store, and reach your audience directly through Instagram.
Sign up for free and start building your brand today.
Yes. Instagram offers monetization features like Instagram Gifts (Stars), subscriptions, and badges that allow eligible creators to earn directly through the platform. You can also earn through external brand deals, affiliate marketing, and selling products.
Beginners can start by joining affiliate programs, selling digital or pre-owned products, or offering services. You don’t need a massive following – having a focused niche and an engaged audience is more important.
Instagram doesn’t pay directly based on views. Instead, creators earn through Stars (valued at $0.01 each), Instagram subscriptions, or external brand collaborations. The key is to build an engaged audience that supports your content through these monetization features, rather than relying on view count alone.
To monetize your Instagram, switch to a Business or Creator account and explore income streams like affiliate marketing, brand partnerships, product sales, and subscriptions. Use Instagram’s tools to track your performance and access monetization options.
There’s no fixed number, but most affiliate programs and brand deals require at least 1,000 engaged followers. Even accounts with a few thousand followers can earn if they have strong engagement and a clear niche.
Instagram’s large, engaged user base, advertiser-friendly policies, and eCommerce features make it ideal for brand promotion and influencer marketing.
If you’ve been wondering how to make money on Instagram, this guide has outlined proven strategies – from selling products and creating sponsored content to promoting services and offering paid subscriptions. Now it’s your turn to put these methods into action and grow your income on Instagram.
The post How to make money on Instagram: Complete guide for 2025 appeared first on Printify.
