Best Ways to Earn Money from Instagram Reels
How Do People Earn Money from Instagram?
Instagram Reels in 2025 and Beyond
Instagram has transformed from a photo-sharing app into a full-fledged business platform. With over 2.4 billion active users as of early 2025 and more than 500 million users engaging with Reels daily, Instagram Reels has become one of the top tools for creators to earn money online.
With Meta (Instagram’s parent company) investing heavily in short-form video content. So, creators are now being rewarded for engaging, original, and trending Reels. Whether you’re a content creator, influencer, small business, or just someone with a smartphone and creative energy. Just making Instagram Reels can be a real money-maker.
In this guide, we’ll cover how people are actually earning money from Instagram Reels. And what strategies work best for you? And also, how can you get started right away?
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Best Ways to Earn Money from Instagram Reels
1. Instagram Reels Play Bonus Program (Currently Retired)
Meta launched the Reels Play Bonus Program under its $1 billion creator fund in 2021. It is to encourage original short-form video content. This program allowed creators to earn bonuses based on the views their Reels received.
However, as of mid-2023, the Reels Play Bonus Program has been paused in most regions. While it was a great revenue source. Now, Meta is now focusing on ad revenue sharing and other monetization tools instead.
Key Takeaway: Reels Play Bonus is no longer the main earning tool, but Instagram now offers newer monetization options.
2. Earn Through Instagram’s Ad Revenue Sharing
In 2024, Meta expanded its Ad Revenue Sharing program to Reels. This means that if your Reels contain ads (in the form of overlay ads or reels ads), you can earn money based on how well your videos perform.
To qualify:
- You must be part of the Instagram Partner Program.
- Follow Instagram’s monetization policies.
- Maintain engagement and viewership on your Reels.
Earnings Example: Creators can earn anywhere from $100 to $1,000+ per month, depending on views and ad engagement.
Pro Tip: Use trending audio, captions, and original content to increase the chances of your Reels being monetized.
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3. Brand Sponsorships and Paid Collaborations
This is one of the most popular and profitable ways people make money on Instagram.
Brands are always looking for influencers who can promote their products to an engaged audience. If you have a solid follower base (even micro-influencers with 10K–50K followers). Then, you can start receiving paid partnership opportunities.
Ways to get brand deals:
- Join influencer marketing platforms like Aspire, Upfluence, or Heepsy.
- Add your contact/business email to your bio.
- Use hashtags and trends relevant to your niche.
- Reach out directly to brands via DM or email.
Realistic Earnings:
- Micro-influencers (10K–50K followers): $50–$500 per Reel
- Mid-tier influencers (50K–500K followers): $500–$5,000 per Reel
- Top influencers: $10,000+ per collaboration
4. Promote Your Own Products or Services
Instagram Reels is a great place to promote your business. Whether you’re selling:
- Handmade products
- Online courses
- eBooks
- Consulting services
- Art or design work
You can create short, engaging Reels that showcase your products and lead people to your website or shop.
Tip: Use Instagram Shopping or integrate your store with platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or WooCommerce for a smoother buying experience.
5. Affiliate Marketing on Reels
This is a passive income method where you earn a commission for every sale made through your affiliate link.
How it works:
- Join affiliate programs (Amazon Associates, ShareASale, CJ Affiliate, etc.)
- Pick products that match your niche.
- Create Reels demonstrating or reviewing the product.
- Add your affiliate link in your bio or Instagram Story (for accounts with link access).
Note: Instagram doesn’t allow clickable links in Reels captions. Always direct users to your bio link or Instagram Stories (if you have 10K+ followers or a professional account).
Income Potential: $100 to $10,000+ per month depending on your traffic and conversion rate.
6. Selling Digital Products or Paid Content
Creators are increasingly using Instagram Reels to drive sales of digital products, like:
- Presets
- Templates
- Online guides
- Paid memberships or exclusive content
- Notion dashboards
- Social media kits
Use your Reels to showcase how your product solves a problem, then drive traffic to your Linktree, Gumroad, or Payhip page.
Extra Tip: Combine this with email marketing for long-term earnings.
7. Use Instagram Subscriptions
Meta introduced Instagram Subscriptions for creators to offer exclusive content to followers for a monthly fee.
You can offer:
- Subscriber-only Reels
- Behind-the-scenes content
- Early access to Reels or tutorials
- Live chats and Q&A sessions
Subscription Price Range: $0.99 to $99.99 per month
Ideal For: Creators with a loyal following and niche content.
8. Partner with Other Creators or Influencers
Collaboration = visibility + growth.
By creating Reels with other influencers or complementary creators, you can:
- Tap into each other’s audiences
- Get brand deals together
- Split earnings from campaigns or product sales
Use the Instagram “Collab” tag to post the same Reel on both profiles, giving you double exposure.
9. Offer Services or Coaching Through Reels
If you’re skilled in:
- Fitness
- Cooking
- Design
- Marketing
- Language teaching
- Business coaching
You can use Reels to build authority, then convert your audience into clients.
For example:
- Share quick tips or tutorials
- Offer free value in each Reel
- Link to a booking page or consultation service
Best Tool to Use: Calendly, Linktree, or your own website for bookings.
10. Drive Traffic to YouTube, Blogs, or Paid Platforms
Use Instagram Reels to grow your other income sources like:
- YouTube channels (for AdSense revenue)
- Blogs (for display ads + affiliate)
- Patreon or Ko-fi (for fan donations)
- Courses or coaching
Think of Instagram Reels as your free marketing funnel. It gives you visibility and then redirects traffic to your primary earning platforms.
11. Grow a Theme Page and Flip It
You don’t need to be an influencer to earn from Instagram. Many people run theme pages (like travel, memes, pets) and earn by:
- Selling shoutouts
- Promoting affiliate products
- Eventually selling the page (Instagram page flipping)
Pages with over 10,000 followers in an active niche can be sold for $300 to $5,000+ depending on the engagement rate.
12. Create a Paid Course on Reels Growth
If you’ve mastered Instagram Reels and grown a good following, why not teach others?
Create a paid course or eBook covering:
- How to go viral
- Content creation strategy
- Editing tips
- Monetization techniques
Use Reels to market the course and include your course link in your bio.
13. Crowdfunding and Fan Support
You can ask your followers to support your work via platforms like:
- Buy Me a Coffee
- Ko-fi
- Patreon
Your Reels help build connection and show your value, while these platforms let people support you directly with donations or subscriptions.
Final Tips for Success on Instagram Reels
- Post Consistently: At least 3–4 Reels per week
- Use Trends: Trending audio and topics increase your chances of going viral
- High-Quality Video: Clear visuals and audio matter
- Strong Hooks: Grab attention in the first 2 seconds
- Hashtags: Use a mix of niche and trending hashtags
- Engage With Comments: Respond to build community
Conclusion on Best Ways to Earn Money from Instagram Reels: Make Reels, Make Money
Instagram Reels offers countless opportunities to earn money. Whether you’re a seasoned content creator or just starting out. From ad revenue to selling your own products, the platform rewards creativity, consistency, and smart strategy.
In 2025, the key is to treat your Reels as both entertainment and marketing tools. Focus on delivering value to your audience, and the money will follow—through sponsorships, sales, subscriptions, and more.
So, grab your phone, hit record, and start building your Reels-based income today!
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