DEEP DIVE

TikTok has created a brand new class of influencer – one that’s highly creative, predominantly young, and ridiculously underpaid. While the app’s most highly-rated creators might have millions of followers, or “fans”, they’re not making nearly as much green as YouTubers or Instagram influencers.

All that has the power the change. In September 2018, TikTok became the most-downloaded free app on the Apple App Store in the US, and also ranked first on Google Play over October. In light of recent viral meme trends and internet challenges, many of which sparked initially from TikTok, marketers are turning their attention towards the app and more importantly, its most popular influencers.

While TikTok has over 500 million monthly users, these 12 influencers have set themselves apart from the rest and currently rank as the Top 12 Most Popular TikTok Creators.

Loren Gray: (@lorengray) 30.8m fans

Loren’s 30+ million fans officially make her the most popular influencer in the TikTok community.

While she’s known best for her lip-syncing videos on the app, she has parlayed her internet success into an actual music career, releasing such tracks as “My Story” and “Kick You Out”.

Baby Ariel: (@babyariel) 29.6m fans

This Gen Zer, best known as “Baby Ariel,” is an American singer and social media influencer. After rising to fame on TikTok, Ariel signed to Atlantic Records and began releasing her own original music.

Ariel also recently made headlines as one of the “most influential people on the internet” according to Time.

Kristen Hancher: (@Kristenhancher) 22.6m fans

While Kristen launched her stardom by sharing videos of her singing and dancing on YouNow, she eventually moved to Musical.ly/TikTok and quickly became one of the app’s most most popular creators.

She’s also a YouTuber with nearly 1 million subscribers, best known for her beauty vlogging and style tips.

Jacob Sartorius: (@jacobsartorius) 20.4m fans

This teen singer and internet personality rose to fame via TikTok by posting lip-syncing videos.

He has since launched his own singing career and has been romantically linked to Stranger Things Actress Millie Bobby Brown.

Gil Croes: (@gilmhercroes) 18.0m fans

While Gil and his younger brother, Jayden Croes, share  a popular YouTube channel dubbed “CroesBros”, they have individually found TikTok fame.

Gil has channeled his internet fame towards modeling and acting. He was Aruba’s Social Media Star of 2015.

Flighthouse: (@flighthouse) 18.0m fans

Lead by 19-year-old CEO Jacob Pace and acquired by Create Music Group, this company is famous for sharing trending songs/remixes.

They also often collaborate with rising influencers or musical artists like James Charles and Billie Eilish.

Zach King: (@zachking) 16.4m fans

Before moving to TikTok, Zachary “Zach” King originally rose to fame on Vine with his “digital sleight of hand” magic tricks. His illusions won him YouTube’s NextUp Creators contest in 2013 as well as millions of followers across social media.

He’s taken his tricks to print and recently released his first children’s book.

Jayden Croes: (@jaydencross) 15.6m fans

Though his following might be less than that of his older brother, Jayden’s generated his own unique fandom on both TikTok and Youtube.

On their YouTube Channel, CroesBros, Jayden often plays multiple comedic characters and shows off his dancing chops alongside Gil.

The Dobre Twins: (@dobretwins) 15.6m fans

Lucas and Marcus Dobre-Mofid, known as The Dobre Twins, are the TikTok dynamic duo.

The Gen Z brothers rose to fame on Vine and later branched out to YouTube and TikTok. The dancers produce skits, pranks, gymnastic stunts and perhaps the most popular, lip-sync videos.

Liza Koshy: (@lizzza) 14.0m fans

Six years ago, Liza was a Vine star. Today, she’s one of TikTok’s top creators known for her comedic and lip-syncing videos.

Her work on YouTube has earned her multiple Streamy Awards and Teen Choice Awards.

Savannah Soutas: (@savvsoutas) 14.0m fans

This millennial mother of two got her start posting lip-syncing videos with her daughter Everleigh on TikTok. 14 million fans later, Savannah now makes YouTube videos with her husband, Cole, and daughters.

She also recently launched her own clothing boutique.

Annie LeBlanc: (@annieleblanc) 13.7m fans

The Gen Zer made her YouTube debut when she was four-years-old. She quickly rose to internet fame as one of the three siblings featured on the family vlog YouTube channel, Bratayley.

Annie’s known for her singing, acting, and gymnastics skills and in 2018, she signed a deal to create content with Nickelodeon.