1. Paid campaigns
An artist or brand pays creators to post Reels with their sound or about their product. On Sound.me you apply to daily paid campaigns in the app, post a Reel that follows the directions, and get paid from the views it gets in its first 72 hours.
2. Brand deals
A brand pays you directly to post about its product. See How to get brand deals.
3. Affiliate links
You share a link or code and earn a commission when someone buys. This works best when your Reels are about one topic.
4. Instagram's own programs
Instagram runs monetization programs that change often and depend on your country and account. Check Instagram's own page for what is open to you.
5. Your own products or services
Use Reels to send people to something you sell: a shop, bookings, a course, your music.
What paid campaigns actually pay
Sound.me publishes what creators received, net, per approved video in the 90 days to September 16, 2026, across TikTok, Reels and Shorts campaigns:
| Followers | Average per video | Largest single payout |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1K | $1.81 | $26 |
| 1K–10K | $2.04 | $289 |
| 10K–50K | $4.51 | $173 |
| 50K–250K | $17.62 | $420 |
| 250K–1M | $26.20 | $934 |
Pay also depends on your country. See Get paid by country. At small sizes this is pocket money per video. It adds up for creators who post steadily.
How to start with Sound.me
- Download the Sound.me app and link your Instagram account. It is free. You must be 18 or older.
- Apply to Reels campaigns and follow the directions. Keep the sound fully audible.
- Keep each Reel up for at least 60 days.
- Cash out via PayPal or Venmo from $5, or Stripe, Cash App or ACH from $20.