TikTok allows creators to make money in several ways, such as selling their merch and putting out sponsored content. That said, gifts from their audiences usually make up a large part of their earnings. If you like to contribute often, the cost of buying coins can quickly build up. Luckily, there are a few ways to reduce the amount you pay for TikTok coins, and we’ll cover these below.
Important: There are plenty of websites that claim to give away TikTok coins for free, or at a vastly reduced rate. These are not legitimate, and we strongly recommend avoiding them. We’ll discuss these shady platforms in more detail a little later.
How to make TikTok coins cheaper with a VPN
You may not realize it, but companies often have different pricing from one country to another. TikTok is no exception, charging although it does buck trends by actually offering some of its lowest prices (at the time of writing ) to users in the US. In other words, Americans traveling abroad can just use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to avoid paying more for the same amount of coins.
Follow these steps to pay as little as possible for TikTok coins:
- First off, you’ll need a VPN that can reliably evade detection. We recommend NordVPN although Surfshark and ExpressVPN are great options as well.
- Download the VPN app onto your PC and sign in. These steps will also work on mobile, but you’ll have to use the TikTok website, not the app, to get the lowest price.
- Connect to a server in a country where TikTok coins cost less. In the US, you can get 70 Recharge coins for $0.74 (roughly £0.59 GBP or €0.69 EUR).
- Visit TikTok’s website and navigate to the coin purchase page. If the page loads but you don’t see any coin bundles, clear your cookies and cache. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, try a few different VPN servers until you find one that works.
- Select your preferred amount, log in, and complete the purchase. Note that there’s minimal benefit to buying in bulk – you’ll only save a dollar or so even with the most expensive bundle.
- When you’re done, you can disconnect the VPN and browse TikTok as normal. We’d recommend keeping it active though, since VPNs offer plenty of security benefits.
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Are there any other ways to get a discount on TikTok coins?
Due to the random nature of currency fluctuations, users in certain countries may be able to save a few cents on TikTok coins if they buy at just the right time. However, this is generally more trouble than it’s worth, and could just as easily see you spend more than you normally would.
The quickest, easiest way to cut the cost of Recharge coins is to buy them on the TikTok website. That’s because TikTok’s app uses a third-party payment processor on the mobile app, and this company also takes a cut, which leads to prices being higher. In fact, you’ll save between 25 and 30 percent this way, while receiving the exact same number of coins.
Is it possible to get TikTok Recharge coins for free?
If you’re an adult, you can sign up for the TikTok Rewards program. This grants you points for things like watching ads, taking part in competitions, and getting your friends to sign up. Once enough points have been accumulated, you can exchange them for gift cards or cash, which can then be spent on coins. Gathering enough points is a slow process but if you use the app often enough, the rewards program is a good way to get coins for things you’d be doing anyway.
Because TikTok is so popular, it’s a prime target for scams. There are hundreds of sites that claim they can get you thousands of dollars worth of Recharge coins at a fraction of their usual cost. Needless to say, these are designed to trick you out of your money. Worse still, they may even install malware on your device, or ask you to login with your TikTok details so that the site owner can steal your account and access any payment information you may have saved.
Can I get Recharge coins cheaply using a free VPN?
TikTok’s coin purchase page automatically changes the currency based on your location. The site seems to check more than just your IP address, though. That’s a problem since, in our experience, free VPNs tend to struggle against even the most simple forms of VPN-detection.
There’s also no guarantee that the service you’re using is secure. We’ve noticed a worrying trend of malicious apps masquerading as VPNs, and even legitimate free providers tend to request far more permissions than are really necessary. If you’re unlucky, you might even end up with a service that outright lies about the kind of logs it keeps.
Instead of taking this chance, we recommend sticking to reputable no-logs VPNs, ideally ones that have been independently-audited. Most (including NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN) offer a money-back guarantee, allowing you to just sign up, buy TikTok coins at a discounted rate, and cancel for a full refund.
Will TikTok ban me for changing my location with a VPN?
Using a VPN isn’t specifically forbidden anywhere in TikTok’s Terms of Service or Community Guidelines. In other words, it’s extraordinarily unlikely that you’ll get into trouble simply for having a VPN active. Further, the platform’s Coins policy doesn’t mention regional pricing at all, so buying coins at a discounted rate is entirely above board (at the time of writing).
Now, TikTok does reserve the right to ban or suspend accounts (or limit access to features like coins and virtual gifts) if you repeatedly breach the rules. So long as you’re not harassing anyone, abusing the report system, or uploading objectionable content, there’s no reason to worry.
What are TikTok coins for?
Coins are TikTok’s in-app currency. Once purchased, they can be exchanged for virtual gifts, like roses, cars, or animals. Users can then send these gifts to their favorite creators. TikTok then pays the creator half of the gift’s value, effectively allowing fans to support them directly, similar to a Twitch donation or a YouTube Super Chat.
What else can I do with a VPN?
One of the great things about VPNs is that they’re extremely versatile and have a number of different uses. For instance, their encryption helps keep your online activities hidden from snoopers, which allows you to avoid ISP throttling and browse safely in countries with strict digital censorship. These days, there are even VPNs with automatic ad-blocking and malware-detection built-in, which makes it easier than ever to protect yourself from online threats.
The other main advantage is that VPNs can make it seem like you’re in another location. This is great for accessing region-locked streaming services as you travel, hiding your real IP address while torrenting, or beating an IP ban on your favorite online game.