Every November I morph into a spreadsheet-wielding, coffee-fueled lab rat—three phones on deck, all eyes on Q4 revenue. In 2025 I ran a controlled experiment across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, using the same niche (tech gear and creator tools) and identical content themes (gift guides, “best under $50” lists, upgrade rundowns). Here’s exactly what landed in my bank account—and which platform I’d back if holiday posts had to pay my rent.
FTC Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. I earn commissions on qualifying purchases. Some posts include sponsored content and brand partnerships; all compensation is disclosed per deal.
Methodology
- Timeframe: Nov 20–Dec 31, 2025; earnings recorded in USD.
- Revenue types: ad RPMs, memberships, live gifts, subscriptions, affiliate commissions, brand deal fees.
- Net vs. gross: all figures shown are net of platform cuts (YouTube ads 45% cut, TikTok live gifts ~50% cut, Instagram subs/Reels ~30% cut).
- Affiliate tracking: commissions logged via retailer dashboards; payouts confirmed after return windows closed (by Jan 15, 2026).
- Brand deals: fees recorded on receipt of payment, net of any agency or management commissions.
Summary of Net Earnings (Nov 20–Dec 31, 2025)
- YouTube (ads + memberships + live): ~$3,110 from featured video & one Q&A live (long-form & Shorts contributed beyond that).
- TikTok (Creator Rewards $1,600 + Live Gifts $3,400 + small brand deals $800): $5,800 total.
- Instagram (Reels bonuses ~$200 + Subscriptions $1,450 + Affiliate sales $11,000): $12,650 total.
YouTube: The Q4 Workhorse
Mid-November RPMs began climbing quietly, then spiked after Black Friday. During the experiment my long-form RPM sat between $3.20–$7.50 per 1,000 views, peaking at $8.10 in a finance-adjacent video. One “10 Creator Gadgets Under $50” guide (dropped pre-Cyber Monday) generated:
- ~310,000 views
- Avg. $6.60 RPM (≈$2,000 ad revenue)
- +96 new members at $4.99/mo (≈$330 net)
A 90-minute live on Dec 22 brought in another $780 via Super Chats/Super Thanks. By month’s end YouTube comprised roughly 70% of my creator income, thanks to predictable ad payouts, memberships, and occasional live bumps—though each 12–15-minute upload still cost 10–20 hours of work.
TikTok: Live-Driven Lightning Strikes
TikTok’s Creator Rewards hovered around $0.40–$0.80 RPM for 60+-second clips. One 1.8M-view video earned ~$1,000. But the real jackpot was live shopping:
- Dec 19 “Last-Minute Amazon Setup Upgrades” Live (90 min): ~$2,300 net in gifts
- Smaller Christmas Live (45 min): ~$800 net
Overall TikTok delivered $5,800: $1,600 in rewards, $3,400 from live gifts, $800 via brand slots. Feels like gambling—unpredictable feed money vs. very lucrative live sessions.
Instagram: Commerce Over Views
Reels payouts were negligible (~$200 for 5.8M views). But subscriptions and shoppable content changed the game:
- Subscriptions: grew from ~260 to ~430 at $4.99/mo, netting ~$1,450.
- Affiliate sales via link stickers and product tags: ~$11,000 in commissions.
Instagram itself paid the least per view, but as a shopping funnel it quietly out-earned platform bonuses. It’s less “ad revenue” and more “digital storefront.”
Key Takeaways
- YouTube = steady, math-friendly backbone (ads + memberships + live features).
- TikTok Lives = high-variance but potent holiday gift spikes.
- Instagram = low direct payouts, powerhouse affiliate and subscription engine.
If you want predictable Q4 cash, build your foundation on YouTube long-form, layer on TikTok Lives for burst income, and use Instagram as your commerce playground.