How to Make Money on BiliBili
You can make money on BiliBili through the Creator Incentive Program, fan charging, live stream gifts, brand sponsorships, and affiliate sales. Its earning structure centers on five main streams: the incentive program, fan charging, live gifts, brand deals, and ecommerce affiliate marketing. The base incentive payout is modest, so most successful creators stack several streams together.
One honest caveat before you start. Bilibili relaunched its international app in August 2026, and creator monetization for overseas users is still described as in development and not fully live internationally. This guide is based on current reporting as of October 2026, and I flag which figures are reported estimates rather than official numbers.
What Is Bilibili and How Does It Work?
Bilibili is a video platform based in Shanghai, often described as China's answer to YouTube. It started in 2009 as a community built around anime, comics, and games, and it has grown into a broad video site with live streaming, a creator economy, and a very loyal young audience.
The platform works like most video sites. You upload videos or go live, viewers watch, like, comment, and follow you, and the algorithm decides who sees what. Two things set Bilibili apart. First, it has a feature called bullet comments, where viewer messages scroll across the video in real time. This makes watching feel like a shared event. Second, it rewards community engagement heavily. Likes, coins, favorites, and shares matter as much as raw views.
Creators on Bilibili are called uploaders, or UP hosts. If you have ever heard someone say "I'm an UP host," that is simply a creator on the platform.
What Can You Watch on Bilibili?
Bilibili is much more than anime. Popular categories include gaming, animation, music covers, technology reviews, science explainers, vlogs, food, fashion, education, and long form documentaries. Study with me videos and tutorial series also do well because the audience likes learning content.
The user base skews young and curious. The company has pitched its audience to creators as young, affluent, and well educated. For a creator, that means niche topics can find a real audience. A detailed video about a hobby, a gadget teardown, or a language lesson often performs better on Bilibili than a generic entertainment clip.
The recently relaunched international app mixes Chinese and international content in a single feed, according to coverage of the launch. Reports also say the global and Chinese versions carry the same content.
Can Everyone Use Bilibili?
Mostly yes, with some practical limits. Bilibili was never blocked outside China, but signing up used to be hard. Creators outside China previously had to upload a passport or other identity documents to comply with real name rules. That barrier has now been removed on the new app. Signing up now requires only an email address or a phone number.
Availability still varies by region. The international app is currently limited to select regions, and it launched first on Android, with iOS in development. Another report notes that Bilibili's official international website lists Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, and Malaysia outside Greater China. If your country is not on the official list, you may still be able to download the app, but features, payments, and support can differ. Always check the current app store listing and Bilibili's official pages before you invest time.
Language is the other limit. Most viewers and comments are in Chinese. You do not need to speak Chinese to upload, and Bilibili offers an automatic Chinese translation feature in the creator dashboard, but expect a learning curve.
How Does Bilibili Monetization Work?
Bilibili uses a mix of income streams rather than one ad share system like YouTube. Here are the main ones.
- Creator Incentive Program. This is the core payout system. Your videos earn points, and points convert to cash.
- Fan charging. Viewers can support a creator directly, similar to a membership or tip.
- Live stream gifts. During a live broadcast, viewers send virtual gifts that convert into earnings.
- Brand sponsorships. Brands pay creators for sponsored videos, often through Bilibili's own marketplace.
- Affiliate and ecommerce links. Creators earn commissions by promoting products.
Foreign creators can register, upload content, and reportedly access the incentive program, fan charging, and live gifts. Still, the international side is moving fast, and one report says revenue sharing, virtual gifting, and a creator marketplace for international users are promised but not yet finalized. Treat any guide that promises guaranteed international payouts with caution, including this one.
On the scale of the whole platform, the numbers are large. One summary of Bilibili's earnings reports says more than 3 million creators earned income on the platform in 2025. That tells you the creator economy is real. It does not tell you what a new overseas creator will earn.
Does Bilibili Pay for Views?
Not directly. Bilibili does not pay a flat rate per view. Payouts are calculated from a blend of watch time, completion rate, likes, comments, shares, and favorites. Videos earn incentive points that are converted into cash monthly.
This has a practical meaning. A video with 10,000 views and strong completion and engagement can outearn a video with 50,000 views that people abandon after ten seconds. Bilibili wants viewers who stay, react, and come back.
You may see a figure floating around online of about $0.70 per 1,000 views. That number should be treated carefully. One source describes it as a reported estimate rather than a guaranteed or published rate, and it is not confirmed whether it applies to international creators. Do not build a business plan on it.
There is also a cap to know about. One source states that cash payouts from the incentive program have been capped at RMB 2,000 per month, roughly $278, since March 2024. Another notes that many successful creators treat the program as a small early bonus rather than their main income source. That is sound advice.
Does Bilibili Pay Creators?
Yes, and in several ways. The question is how much, and the honest answer is that it varies widely.
Third party estimates for 2026 are inconsistent. One source suggests that growing creators typically earn $100 to $500 per month across all streams, and established creators $500 to $2,000 per month. Another claims a range of $200 to $5,000 per month. These are estimates from creator guides, not audited figures from Bilibili, and the gap between them shows how uncertain the data is. Beginners should plan on small earnings at first.
Eligibility is also not fully transparent. Bilibili does not publish a universal follower or view threshold for the incentive program, and eligibility depends on content quality and compliance. Some guides mention around 1,000 followers and about 100,000 total views as a commonly cited entry point, but that is community reported, not official.
Here is a realistic path for a new creator:
- Month one to three: build a catalog of original videos and learn what your audience finishes watching.
- Month three to six: earn small incentive points, grow followers, and start live streams if your niche suits it.
- After six months: pitch brands, add fan charging, and consider affiliate products that fit your audience.
Your timeline will differ. The point is that income tends to arrive in layers, not all at once.
Bilibili Downloader: What You Should Know
Many people search for a Bilibili downloader because they want to save videos for offline viewing. Here is what matters.
First, Bilibili has its own offline caching feature inside the app. This is the safest way to watch without a connection. Cached videos usually stay inside the app and are not exported as normal files.
Second, third party downloader tools exist, but they carry risks. Downloading and reposting someone else's video can violate copyright law and Bilibili's terms. If you upload a downloaded video as your own, you risk having your account penalized and, more importantly, you harm the original creator. Bilibili also prioritizes original content in its monetization system, so reposted material is unlikely to earn.
Third, many downloader websites are full of intrusive ads, and some bundle unwanted software. If you must use any tool, stick to personal viewing and avoid installing anything you do not trust.
If you are a creator, the rule is simple. Keep your own original files safe, and only publish content you own or have permission to use. Copyright has already become a concern as the platform courts international creators, according to coverage of the relaunch.
Common Bilibili Monetization Mistakes
Most beginners lose time on the same few errors. Avoid these.
Reposting content from other platforms without checking rights. If you own the video, uploading it to Bilibili can be smart. If you do not, you are asking for trouble.
Chasing views instead of retention. Because payouts depend on completion and engagement, a clickbait title that makes people leave quickly can hurt you.
Ignoring the audience. Bilibili viewers expect more than a copy of a Western video. Add Chinese subtitles or a translated title and description, and understand local references.
Relying on one income stream. With the incentive program capped, depending on it alone is a weak plan.
Trusting guarantees. Be careful with any course or guide that promises specific monthly income. The international program is still developing, and official terms can change.
Skipping the rules. Bilibili has community guidelines and content standards. Breaking them can cost you eligibility.
Quitting too early. A new channel on any platform needs consistent uploads before results show.
How Can Businesses Use Bilibili?
Businesses can use Bilibili to reach a young Chinese speaking audience that is hard to reach elsewhere, since YouTube remains blocked in mainland China.
There are three practical approaches.
Run an official brand channel. Publish product demos, tutorials, behind the scenes content, and customer stories. Educational content fits the platform well.
Work with creators. Sponsored videos by trusted uploaders often outperform direct brand posts. Bilibili's domestic brand platform, called Sparkle in English coverage, connects advertisers with creators. For international users, a marketplace for connecting with brands for sponsored content was described as in development.
Advertise on the platform. Bilibili sells ads across its video and live products. Terms and availability for foreign companies should be confirmed directly with the platform.
Before you commit budget, test with a small campaign. Measure completion rate, comments, and follower growth, not just views. Also confirm any legal, tax, and advertising requirements that apply to your business and the markets you target.
Bilibili Monetization Tips and Tricks
These habits give you the best chance to make money on BiliBili over time.
Pick a clear niche. Bilibili's community loves depth. A channel about one subject, such as budget PC builds or Japanese cooking, grows faster than a general channel.
Hook viewers in the first ten seconds. Say what the video delivers, then deliver it. Since completion rate matters, tighter videos often win.
Encourage real engagement. Ask a specific question, invite viewers to share their experience, and reply to comments. Do not beg for likes in an annoying way, because viewers notice.
Use bullet comments to your advantage. Look at where viewers react the most and learn what moments they enjoy. Then make more of those moments.
Localize your content. Translate titles, descriptions, and subtitles. If your English is strong and your Chinese is not, use the translation tools in the creator dashboard and ask a native speaker to review key videos.
Go live when it makes sense. Live gifts can become a meaningful income stream, especially for gaming, music, and chat based content. Start with a regular schedule so fans know when to show up.
Cross promote carefully. Mention your Bilibili channel on other platforms and use your existing audience, but make sure the content is original and you own it.
Track your numbers. Use the Creator Center to see which videos have strong completion and engagement, then repeat the pattern.
Build brand deals gradually. Once you have steady viewers, create a simple media kit with your audience data and sample videos.
Stay current. Because international features are still rolling out, check Bilibili's official announcements regularly for changes to payouts, regions, and eligibility.
Estimate Your Own Earnings
Now that you know how to make money on BiliBili, the next step is putting numbers to your own plan. Try the Bilibili Money Calculator to estimate what your views and engagement could be worth. Treat the result as a rough guide, not a guarantee, since actual payouts depend on your content, audience, region, and Bilibili's current rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we earn money from Bilibili?
Yes. Creators can earn through the Creator Incentive Program, fan charging, live stream gifts, brand sponsorships, and affiliate sales. The base incentive payout is capped and modest, so most creators combine several streams. International monetization is still developing, so check the current rules for your region before you plan around income.
Can I monetize my content on Bilibili in Pakistan?
It is uncertain. Pakistan was not listed among the established international markets on Bilibili's official international website in recent reporting, and the international app has been described as limited to select regions. You may be able to sign up with an email address or phone number, but monetization features and payout options for your country may not be available yet. Confirm the current terms in the app and on Bilibili's official pages, and verify how payments would reach you before you invest heavily.
Can I earn money by just watching videos?
No. Bilibili does not pay regular viewers for watching. Earnings come from creating content, hosting live streams, working with brands, or promoting products. Be wary of apps or websites that claim to pay you for watching Bilibili videos, since many are scams or data harvesting schemes.
Is Bilibili legal in China?
Yes. Bilibili is a legally operating company based in Shanghai and is publicly listed. It follows Chinese regulations, including content moderation rules. This means creators must follow its community guidelines, and content that breaks local rules can be removed.