PostEaseThe short answer
Instagram Gifts let viewers support a creator by sending virtual gifts on their reels. Instagram’s Help Center says viewers buy stars and use them to send gifts, and Instagram pays the creator a monthly revenue share “equal to $.01 USD for every star received from fans.” Both followers and non-followers can send gifts, and only the creator sees which gifts they received.
To earn, a creator needs a professional account, at least 500 followers, to be 18 or older, and a payout account set up, among other conditions. Gifts are for reels; earning from Live videos uses a separate feature, badges.
Who can earn from gifts
Instagram’s eligibility list:
| Requirement | What Instagram says |
|---|---|
| Account | A professional account |
| Age | 18 or older |
| Followers | At least 500 |
| Policies | Meet the Partner Monetization Policies, and stay compliant with the Community Standards and Content Monetization Policies |
| Terms | Agree to the Instagram Gifts Creator Terms |
| Payout | A payout account on Instagram; without it you see who sent a gift but cannot receive the earnings |
| Location | A country where Gifts is available, such as the US, UK, India, Brazil, Japan, South Korea and much of Europe |
| Not eligible | Collaborative posts, and accounts that mainly post content focused on children |
How money moves
From Instagram’s help pages and the Gifts Creator Terms:
| Step | What happens |
|---|---|
| A viewer buys stars | Through the App Store or Google Play; Facebook Stars balances can’t be used on Instagram |
| They send a gift | From the reel: Comments, then the gift icon |
| You earn | $0.01 per star, minus deductions such as fraud, paid monthly |
| Small balances | Under $25, Meta may roll the payment over month to month |
| Enrollment deadline | Complete payment enrollment within six months of accepting the terms, or forfeit the payment |
What Meta keeps the right to do
The Creator Terms are plain that access is not guaranteed: Meta can change or restrict Gifts at any time, and Meta and advertisers “may block Gifts in connection with your Content for any or no reason.” Gifts you receive may also be shown publicly in your video, comments or profile. Instagram notes the feature may not be available in every location.
Gifts, badges and Facebook Stars
Meta runs several look-alike features. Gifts are for Instagram reels; badges are what viewers buy during Instagram Live; and Facebook Stars is a separate product on Facebook, with its own onboarding, whose balance cannot be spent on Instagram. The payout rate of one cent per star is the same idea on both apps, as our Facebook Stars entry explains.
Questions
How much do creators earn from Instagram Gifts?
$0.01 USD for every star received, paid monthly, minus deductions such as fraud. Payments under $25 may roll over to the next month.
How many followers do you need for Instagram Gifts?
At least 500, on a professional account, and you must be 18 or older and meet Instagram’s monetization policies.
Can I use my Facebook Stars to send gifts on Instagram?
No. Instagram says stars must be used on the app where they were bought.
What is the difference between Instagram Gifts and badges?
Gifts are sent on reels; badges are bought during Instagram Live videos.
Sources
- Instagram, How to earn money on Instagram Gifts, checked October 2026.
- Instagram, About gifts on Instagram, checked October 2026.
- Instagram, Send gifts on Instagram Reels, checked October 2026.
- Instagram, Instagram Gifts Creator Terms, checked October 2026.