Two ways to measure engagement
By followers is the number most brands ask for, because it shows how much of your audience interacts. By views is fairer for TikTok and Reels, where many viewers don't follow you. Always say which one you mean, because they can differ a lot.
Example: 695 interactions on a post, with 25,000 followers and 8,000 views, is 2.78% by followers and 8.69% by views.
What is a good engagement rate?
It depends on the platform and your size. A 2026 study of creators by IQFluence found these medians by followers for accounts with 10,000 to 100,000 followers:
| Platform | Median engagement (micro creators) |
|---|---|
| 0.97% | |
| TikTok | 0.62% |
| YouTube | 0.29% |
Buffer's 2026 analysis of 52 million posts measured engagement by reach instead, which runs much higher. Its medians, used here when you enter views:
| Platform | Median engagement by reach |
|---|---|
| 6.2% | |
| 5.6% | |
| 5.5% | |
| TikTok | 4.6% |
| Threads | 3.6% |
| X | 2.5% |
Engagement rates fall as accounts grow, so a 3% rate is excellent for an account with a million followers but ordinary for one with 2,000. Compare yourself with creators of a similar size in your niche, and watch your own trend over time.
Next steps
Brands use engagement to set prices, so take your numbers to the sponsorship rate calculator next.
Frequently asked questions
Do views count as engagement?
No. Engagement counts actions: likes, comments, shares and saves. Views are used as the denominator for engagement by views.
Why is my TikTok engagement by followers so high?
TikTok shows your videos to many people who don't follow you, so interactions can be large compared with your follower count. Engagement by views is the better measure there.
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