X Creator Revenue Sharing Has Ended: What Original Content Rewards Means for Brands
X retired Creator Revenue Sharing on 7 September 2026 and replaced it with Original Content Rewards. What changed, what the new eligibility bar measures, and what it means for brand partnerships.
X stopped accepting new members to Creator Revenue Sharing on 7 August 2026 and retired the programme on 7 September 2026. Its replacement, Original Content Rewards, pays for original posts rather than for any post that drew impressions. If you are vetting X creators, a creator's past 'revenue sharing' status no longer tells you much on its own.
Quick answer
Creator Revenue Sharing paid eligible X creators a share of ad revenue. It closed to new enrolments on 7 August 2026 and ended on 7 September 2026. X's replacement, Original Content Rewards, was reported to require an X Premium subscription, at least 500 verified followers and 500,000 Home Timeline impressions from verified users in the previous 90 days, and it rewards original work such as reporting, analysis and self-made photos, video and graphics. Existing members had to apply again. Check X's help centre for the current terms, because thresholds and countries change.
What changed
| Creator Revenue Sharing (ended) | Original Content Rewards (from 8 September 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Closed to new enrolments 7 August 2026; retired 7 September 2026 | Replacement programme; existing members re-apply |
| Subscription | Premium, Premium Business or Premium Organizations | X Premium tier (as reported at launch) |
| Impressions bar | 5 million organic impressions in 3 months | 500,000 Home Timeline impressions from verified users in 90 days (as reported) |
| Followers | 500 verified followers | 500 verified followers (as reported) |
| What is rewarded | Ad revenue tied to engagement on eligible posts | Original content: reporting, analysis, self-made media and commentary with original value; reposts and re-uploads excluded |
X said the old programme's incentives were misaligned. The new rules aim to stop paying for recycled content, which matters to brands because it shifts creator incentives toward original work.
What this means for brand partnerships
- Treat platform payouts as a creator income source, not as a vetting signal. Neither programme measures whether a creator's audience matches your customer.
- Expect more original commentary and analysis from creators who want to qualify for the new rewards, which can suit B2B and expert-led campaigns.
- Don't rely on a media kit that cites 'revenue sharing' eligibility; ask for current audience data and recent post performance instead.
- Keep disclosure rules separate: a creator earning platform rewards still has to label paid brand content as advertising.
For the fuller creator evaluation, see how to find X influencers and creators for your brand.
Platform payout status tells you a creator is active on X. It doesn't tell you whether their audience is your audience.