Today, do you get a better conversion rate on TikTok or on Threads?
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TikTok significantly outperforms Threads in conversion rates and monetization metrics across all industries in 2025.
While TikTok drives 3.4% organic conversion rates and generates $89 average order values, Threads remains primarily a community engagement platform with minimal direct sales capabilities. TikTok's algorithm prioritizes commerce-driven content, making it the clear winner for creators focused on revenue generation.
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Summary
TikTok dominates Threads across all key performance indicators, with organic conversion rates 15 times higher and significantly better engagement metrics. TikTok's commerce-focused ecosystem drives substantially more revenue per user, while Threads excels primarily in professional networking and community discussions.
| Metric | TikTok Performance | Threads Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Organic Conversion Rate | 3.4% (beauty/fashion up to 5%) | No significant conversion data available |
| Average Likes per Post | 3,092 (9× higher than Instagram) | 395 (significantly lower engagement) |
| Comments per Post | 66 (+73% year-over-year growth) | 24 (text-focused discussions) |
| Bio Link CTR | 0.84% (education: 1.2%) | 0.3-0.5% (limited commerce features) |
| Average Order Value | $89 (beauty: $156) | No commerce data available |
| Bot Traffic Impact | 8-12% fake engagement affects ROI | Lower bot presence, authentic discussions |
| Primary Audience | Gen Z/Millennials, impulse buyers | Professionals, B2B networks |
What's the current conversion rate from post to sale on TikTok versus Threads in 2025?
TikTok delivers 3.4% organic conversion rates while Threads shows virtually no direct sales conversion data.
TikTok's paid advertising achieves 0.46% conversion rates, but organic TikTok Shop campaigns consistently outperform with 3.4% average conversion rates. Beauty and fashion niches reach up to 5% conversion rates due to visual product appeal and impulse buying behaviors.
Threads lacks meaningful conversion benchmarks because the platform prioritizes community engagement over direct commerce. Most Threads users treat it as a professional networking space rather than a shopping destination. The platform's text-focused format doesn't naturally lend itself to product showcasing or immediate purchase decisions.
TikTok's algorithm actively promotes commerce-friendly content, especially videos featuring products in use or demonstrating clear value propositions. The platform's integration with TikTok Shop creates seamless purchase pathways that Threads simply doesn't offer.
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How many likes and comments do posts typically receive on each platform by niche and account size?
TikTok generates 3,092 average likes per post compared to Threads' 395 likes, while comments favor TikTok with 66 versus 24 per post.
TikTok's engagement rates vary dramatically by niche, with food and drink nano-influencers achieving 14.98% engagement rates. Fashion accounts average 2.51% engagement, while educational content maintains strong performance at 9.23-9.5% engagement rates.
Account size significantly impacts performance on both platforms. Nano-influencers (1K-10K followers) on TikTok often achieve higher engagement percentages than mega-influencers due to intimate audience connections. Micro-influencers (10K-100K) represent the sweet spot for brands seeking authentic engagement.
Threads engagement concentrates on meaningful conversations rather than viral metrics. The platform's algorithm rewards thoughtful discussions and professional insights, making raw like counts less relevant than comment quality and thread longevity.
Comment growth on TikTok shows remarkable momentum with 73% year-over-year increases, indicating stronger community interaction compared to Threads' more reserved commenting culture.
What are the current engagement rates by content category on both platforms?
Education content leads TikTok engagement at 9.23-9.5%, while food and drink content achieves 6-8% engagement rates.
| Content Category | TikTok Engagement Rate | Threads Engagement Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 9.23-9.5% (highest performing category) | Data not available |
| Food & Drink | 6-8% (nano-influencers: 14.98%) | Limited food content performance |
| Fashion | 2.51% (visual appeal drives engagement) | Professional fashion discussions only |
| Finance | 3-4% (educational finance content) | Higher engagement for professional insights |
| Parenting | 4-5% (relatable content performs well) | Community support discussions |
| Fitness | 3.5-4.5% (workout demonstrations) | Professional wellness advice |
| Technology | 2-3% (quick tips and reviews) | In-depth technical discussions |
What are the bio link and story link click-through rates on each platform?
TikTok achieves 0.84% average bio link CTR, with education content reaching 1.2%, while Threads delivers 0.3-0.5% CTR.
TikTok's bio link performance varies significantly by content type and audience intent. Educational content generates the highest CTR at 1.2% because viewers actively seek additional learning resources. Entertainment content typically achieves lower CTR around 0.6% as users prioritize immediate consumption over external exploration.
Threads' lower CTR reflects its discussion-focused environment where users prefer staying within platform conversations. Professional content and industry insights drive the higher end of Threads' CTR range, while casual posts struggle to motivate external clicks.
TikTok's story equivalent (posted videos with links) performs better than traditional bio links because creators can directly call-to-action within video content. This creates more natural transition points compared to profile-based links.
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How much fake engagement affects each platform and impacts real conversions?
TikTok experiences 8-12% bot traffic that reduces conversion effectiveness by 15-20%, while Threads maintains lower but more authentic engagement.
Bot presence on TikTok particularly impacts beauty, fashion, and tech niches where artificial engagement inflates metrics without corresponding sales. These fake followers create misleading performance indicators that don't translate to actual revenue, making accurate ROI calculation challenging for brands.
Threads benefits from Meta's sophisticated bot detection systems and its professional user base that naturally discourages fake engagement. The platform's emphasis on meaningful conversations rather than viral metrics reduces incentives for artificial engagement.
TikTok's bot problem manifests in sudden like spikes, generic comments, and followers with incomplete profiles. Smart creators monitor engagement quality through comment authenticity and conversion tracking rather than relying solely on vanity metrics.
Real conversion impact shows that accounts with high bot percentages experience 20-25% lower actual sales despite appearing more popular, making organic growth strategies more valuable long-term.
What are the typical paid promotion costs and CPA across industries?
TikTok CPA ranges from $15-45 across industries, while Threads lacks comprehensive paid promotion data due to limited advertising features.
TikTok advertising costs vary dramatically by industry targeting. E-commerce brands typically pay $20-30 CPA, while B2B services reach $35-45 CPA due to longer sales cycles and higher customer lifetime values. Beauty and fashion brands often achieve lower $15-25 CPA thanks to impulse purchasing behaviors.
Threads currently operates without robust advertising infrastructure, making direct CPA comparisons impossible. Most Threads promotion occurs through organic content and influencer partnerships rather than traditional paid advertising.
TikTok's auction-based system creates cost fluctuations based on competition and timing. Peak shopping seasons (November-December) increase CPA by 40-60%, while summer months offer more affordable acquisition costs.
Industry benchmarks show TikTok delivers competitive CPA compared to other social platforms, especially for visual products and younger demographics where the platform excels.
How do full funnel metrics compare between organic and paid strategies?
TikTok's full funnel shows 12% reach, 5.5% engagement, 0.84% CTR, and 3.4% conversion for organic content.
| Funnel Stage | TikTok Organic | TikTok Paid | Threads Organic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reach Rate | 12% (algorithm-dependent) | 8-15% (targeting-dependent) | 5-8% (conversation-focused) |
| Engagement Rate | 5.5% (highly variable by niche) | 3.2% (lower organic feel) | 3-4% (discussion-based) |
| Click-Through Rate | 0.84% (content-dependent) | 1.2% (optimized targeting) | 0.3-0.5% (limited commerce) |
| Conversion Rate | 3.4% (TikTok Shop integration) | 0.46% (external landing pages) | No significant data |
| Cost Efficiency | High (only content creation costs) | Medium ($15-45 CPA) | High (organic networking) |
| Audience Quality | High (interest-based algorithm) | Medium (targeting accuracy) | Very High (professional intent) |
| Scale Potential | Very High (viral possibility) | High (budget-dependent) | Medium (niche audiences) |
How do audiences differ between platforms in demographics and buying behavior?
TikTok attracts 67% Gen Z and Millennial users focused on entertainment and impulse purchases, while Threads draws 45% professionals seeking industry discussions.
TikTok's audience skews younger with 43% aged 18-29 and demonstrates strong impulse buying tendencies. These users respond to visual product demonstrations, trending sounds, and creator recommendations. Average session duration reaches 95 minutes, providing extensive exposure time for purchase consideration.
Threads users exhibit more deliberate consumption patterns, spending time reading full posts and engaging in thoughtful discussions. This demographic prefers researched purchases and values peer recommendations over entertainment-based content.
Buying behavior diverges significantly between platforms. TikTok users make faster purchase decisions (average 2.3 touchpoints) while Threads users require more consideration time (average 5.1 touchpoints before purchase). TikTok excels at introducing new products, while Threads better serves complex service explanations.
Geographic distribution shows TikTok's global reach versus Threads' concentration in English-speaking markets, affecting international business expansion strategies.
Which platform drives more conversions for different monetization models?
TikTok dominates affiliate marketing with 4.2% conversion rates and digital product sales at 6.1%, while Threads excels in B2B service lead generation.
Affiliate marketing thrives on TikTok due to authentic creator endorsements and seamless shopping integration. Beauty, tech, and lifestyle affiliates consistently achieve 4-6% conversion rates through product demonstration videos and honest reviews that feel organic to viewers.
Digital product sales perform exceptionally well on TikTok, with courses, templates, and digital tools achieving 6.1% average conversion rates. The platform's young audience actively seeks skill development and productivity solutions, making educational digital products particularly successful.
Service-based businesses find mixed results on TikTok but stronger performance on Threads for high-consideration purchases. Professional services like consulting, coaching, and B2B solutions benefit from Threads' discussion-oriented environment where expertise demonstration occurs naturally.
Physical product e-commerce heavily favors TikTok, especially for items under $100 where impulse purchasing dominates decision-making. Threads users typically research extensively before purchasing physical products, making conversion cycles longer.
Where do users spend more money and what's the average order value?
TikTok users generate $89 average order value with beauty purchases reaching $156, while Threads lacks comprehensive spending data.
TikTok's commerce ecosystem drives significant spending through impulse purchases and creator influence. Beauty and fashion categories achieve the highest AOV at $156 and $134 respectively, while lifestyle products average $89. The platform's visual nature and social proof mechanisms encourage higher-value purchases.
Seasonal spending patterns on TikTok show 40% higher AOV during holiday shopping periods, with Black Friday generating peak performance. Users respond strongly to limited-time offers and creator discount codes, driving urgency-based purchasing.
Threads users demonstrate spending primarily on professional development, software tools, and B2B services rather than consumer products. However, comprehensive spending data remains limited due to the platform's non-commercial focus.
TikTok's shopping features enable direct product discovery and purchase without leaving the platform, reducing friction and increasing order values compared to external link-dependent platforms like Threads.
How have platform metrics evolved throughout 2025?
TikTok's algorithm updates in 2025 prioritized longer-form content and increased commerce integration, while Threads expanded to 275 million users with enhanced real-time features.
TikTok's major algorithm shift in March 2025 began favoring content over 60 seconds, significantly impacting creator strategies. This change improved engagement rates for educational and tutorial content while reducing performance for quick entertainment clips. Commerce-focused updates integrated TikTok Shop more seamlessly, boosting conversion rates by 23%.
Threads experienced rapid user growth throughout 2025, reaching 275 million active users by mid-year. Platform improvements focused on real-time conversation features and professional networking tools, attracting more business users but maintaining limited commerce capabilities.
Engagement patterns shifted as TikTok users began preferring authentic, unfiltered content over highly produced videos. This trend improved conversion rates for genuine product reviews while reducing effectiveness of overly polished advertising content.
Both platforms saw increased focus on community building, but TikTok monetized these communities more effectively through creator funds and shopping integrations.
What trends will shape social selling on both platforms in 2026?
TikTok will expand live shopping features and UGC integration while Threads may introduce commerce tools to compete in the social selling space.
TikTok's 2026 roadmap emphasizes live streaming commerce, allowing real-time product demonstrations and instant purchasing. User-generated content integration will enable brands to automatically feature customer videos, creating authentic social proof that drives conversions.
Artificial intelligence enhancements will personalize shopping experiences on TikTok, predicting user preferences and surfacing relevant products within content feeds. These AI-driven recommendations are expected to increase conversion rates by 35-40%.
Threads may launch shopping features in late 2026 to compete with TikTok's commerce dominance. Professional service providers and B2B companies could benefit significantly from Threads' trusted environment combined with transaction capabilities.
Creator monetization will evolve on both platforms, with TikTok introducing enhanced affiliate tracking and Threads potentially developing professional service marketplaces for consultants, coaches, and freelancers.
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Conclusion
TikTok clearly dominates in conversion rates, engagement metrics, and revenue generation, making it the superior choice for creators focused on monetization in 2025.
While Threads excels in professional networking and meaningful discussions, its limited commerce features restrict direct revenue opportunities compared to TikTok's comprehensive shopping ecosystem.
Sources
- Lebesgue TikTok Ads Benchmarks
- Shopify Social Media Conversion Rate
- AmzScout TikTok Shop Statistics
- Social Insider Benchmarks
- Adam Connell Threads Statistics
- Brandwatch TikTok Engagement Rate
- Exploding Topics TikTok Demographics
- Sprout Social Demographics
- TikTok World 2025
- Business of Apps TikTok Cost
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