Yes. Pinterest stopped paying creators through its Creator Rewards cash-bonus program on November 30, 2022. As of August 2026, Pinterest offers no standing pay-per-view or ad-revenue-share replacement; its current monetization guidance instead directs creators to affiliate links, product tagging, brand partnerships, and a limited-cohort Inclusion Fund.
Last verified: August 2026.
Did Pinterest actually stop paying creators?
Yes. Creator Rewards paid cash bonuses for completing goals such as publishing a set number of Idea Pins or reaching engagement targets, but Pinterest ended the program on November 30, 2022.
Pinterest’s original Creator Rewards shutdown notice is no longer live on its former page. TechCrunch provides secondary corroboration and reproduced Pinterest’s notice: “The Creator Rewards program will end on November 30, 2022. To all the creators who participated, thank you for your partnership.” Verified August 2026.
A dated August 2026 audit of Pinterest’s current creator monetization guide and Inclusion Fund announcement found no open, standing cash-bonus, pay-per-view, or ad-revenue-share replacement for Creator Rewards.
How does Pinterest creator income work in 2026?
Pinterest’s current tools help creators connect with shoppers, merchants, affiliate programs, and brands. With the exception of limited Inclusion Fund grants, Pinterest does not directly pay creators through these routes.
| Way to earn on Pinterest | Who pays you | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Creator Rewards | Not available | Ended November 30, 2022; no open replacement was documented as of August 2026 |
| Affiliate links | The affiliate program or merchant | Commission terms come from the program the creator joins, not Pinterest |
| Product tagging and Shopping | The retailer or creator’s own store | Product Pins direct users to an external purchase destination |
| Brand partnerships | The brand | Collaborations, gifted products, or UGC deals are arranged with the company |
| Pinterest Inclusion Fund | Pinterest through a grant | Limited, application-based cohort offering funding and training rather than ongoing per-post pay |
Pinterest states that it “does not facilitate payment for monetization programs like product tagging, affiliate links or brand partnerships” in its creator monetization guide, verified August 2026.
For a broader comparison of creator-business costs, see creator platform fees compared.
What are the current ways to make money on Pinterest?
Pinterest’s August 2026 creator guidance identifies four practical routes, but none operates like the former Creator Rewards cash-bonus program:
- Affiliate links: Creators can tag Pins with links from programs they have already joined, such as Amazon Associates, ShareASale, or a retailer’s affiliate program. Pinterest says creators “need to join an affiliate program before using the tags,” because the affiliate program—not Pinterest—sets and pays the commission.
- Product tagging and Shopping: A product sticker can connect a Pin to the creator’s store or an external retailer where the purchase occurs.
- Brand partnerships: Creators can negotiate paid collaborations, product-only deals, UGC arrangements, giveaways, or event invitations directly with brands.
- Traffic to an owned site or store: Creators can use linked Pins to send visitors to a destination they control and monetize there on their own terms.
These routes are documented in Pinterest’s creator monetization guide, verified August 2026. The guide states that Pinterest does not facilitate payment for product tagging, affiliate links, or brand partnerships.
Is the Pinterest Inclusion Fund the same as getting paid to post?
No. The Pinterest Inclusion Fund, formerly called the Creator Fund, is a limited-cohort grant and training program rather than an ongoing payment for publishing Pins.
The 2026 round marked the fund’s sixth year. Applications opened July 21, 2026, and closed August 4, 2026, according to Pinterest’s Inclusion Fund announcement, verified August 2026.
Selected emerging creators receive grants, coaching, and training. The program primarily serves creators who are newer to Pinterest or come from underrepresented backgrounds, but it is not continuously open, does not accept everyone, and does not provide standing per-post or per-view payments.
What can creators do without an affiliate program or brand deal?
Affiliate income requires acceptance into another company’s program, while brand income depends on securing an agreement with a brand. Neither route guarantees payment from the people who already follow a creator’s boards. The Inclusion Fund serves only a selected cohort during a limited application cycle.
What do Pinterest’s own tools support?
Pinterest’s monetization guidance supports links that take users to affiliate products, retailers, creator-owned stores, and other external destinations. That link-out model means a creator can also direct interested visitors to a separate page offering direct interactions or services, subject to Pinterest’s applicable content and link policies.
How does FanBell fit that model?
FanBell is a separate direct-fan-payment option, not a Pinterest payment program. A creator can link visitors to paid private questions, personalized shoutouts, small creator services, tips, or project support.
FanBell has no follower minimum (how it works, verified August 2026), so eligibility does not depend on acceptance into an affiliate network, brand campaign, or Pinterest funding cohort. It is free to start with no monthly fee and charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays (pricing, verified August 2026). Stripe’s processing fees run separately from FanBell’s platform fee (pricing, verified August 2026), and payouts are handled through Stripe (how it works, verified August 2026).
This model can operate alongside affiliate links and brand partnerships rather than replacing them: Pinterest supplies a link-based discovery channel, while FanBell provides an external destination where an interested visitor can pay for a defined offer.
For related guidance, see how to monetize followers directly and the best platforms for direct fan monetization. Creators publishing style, home, or recipe boards can also review FanBell for fashion creators for an example of placing a paid offer alongside affiliate links.
Frequently asked questions
When did Pinterest stop paying creators through Creator Rewards?
Pinterest ended Creator Rewards on November 30, 2022. Pinterest’s original notice is no longer live, but TechCrunch reproduced the shutdown statement as secondary corroboration; verified August 2026.
Does Pinterest have a pay-per-view or ad-revenue program now?
No standing program was documented as of August 2026. Pinterest’s current creator monetization guide covers affiliate links, product tagging, and brand partnerships and states that Pinterest does not facilitate payment for those programs. An August 2026 audit of that guide and Pinterest’s current Inclusion Fund documentation found no native pay-per-view or ad-revenue-share program.
Is the Pinterest Inclusion Fund an ongoing payment for posting?
No. It is a limited, application-based grant, coaching, and training program. Pinterest’s 2026 Inclusion Fund announcement identifies that round as the program’s sixth year and gives a fixed application window of July 21 through August 4, 2026; verified August 2026.
Can Pinterest followers pay a creator directly?
Pinterest’s August 2026 creator monetization guide does not document a built-in tipping or direct fan-payment feature. Creators can instead link to an external service such as FanBell, which has no follower minimum (how it works, verified August 2026) and charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays (pricing, verified August 2026).
Ready to give your Pinterest traffic a direct way to pay you instead of waiting on an affiliate check? Create your free FanBell page and set up your first paid offer in minutes.
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