2025 Creator Economy Statistics: How Software Drives Earning

Forget waiting for the perfect job offer — today’s creators are launching businesses from their bedrooms. A new wave of Gen Z entrepreneurs is turning skills into income at record speed. 

What’s powering this shift? Software. Platforms for content creation, video editing, e-commerce, and social media management have become essential. These tools don’t just support digital ventures — they enable them, helping creators scale faster, automate smarter, and monetize more creatively than ever before.

According to Whop’s 2025 Online Earnings Report, millions of creators are monetizing their expertise by selling digital products, launching paid communities, and offering niche services.

This article provides you with the latest creator economy statistics, so you know where it’s heading and how to stay ahead. 

The creator economy at scale: Market growth and momentum

Millions of creators are turning digital products, community memberships, and content monetization into serious income streams. But behind every sale or paid shoutout lies software that powers their creativity and workflows.

• The creator economy is now a $250B+ industry, projected to hit $480B by 2027. 
  
• About 4% of creators earn over $100,000 annually (the “professionals”), indicating huge potential for growth in monetization. 
• 95% of marketers plan to increase or maintain creator budgets in 2025. 
  
• Side hustlers report earning an average of $1,215 monthly, though the median is just $400. 
• 92% of marketers say sponsored content outperforms organic content posted on their own accounts. 
• 70% of creator revenue comes from brand deals.

The data paints a clear picture: creator income may still be uneven, but the momentum is undeniable. As brand deals dominate revenue and marketers double down on creator partnerships, software continues to unlock new earning pathways. This shift reflects a broader redefinition of value, where influence, creativity, and digital infrastructure now drive real economic outcomes.

What’s driving Gen Z to turn passion into profit?

According to YouTube’s Culture and Trends Report 2024, a staggering 83% of Gen Z consider themselves to be “creators”. For Gen Z, side hustles go far beyond just making ends meet; they’re about purpose, autonomy, and building something of their own. 

This generation is chasing independence, creativity, and control over their time. Rather than a backup plan, Gen Z looks at building something from scratch as their goal. Whether it’s a passion project or a scalable business, side hustles are their path to a future that reflects their values and ambitions.

• 8.7% of Gen Zs who are active in online side hustles are already earning a five-figure salary. 
  
• Gen Z earns an average of $102 per hour through online side hustles, five times higher than the average earnings for young professionals. 
  
• Top motivations of Gen Z include being their own boss (49%) and pursuing a passion (42%).  
  
• Nearly two-thirds of 18-35-year-olds have started or plan to start some type of side venture on top of their day job.  
  
• The top 4% of Gen Z online earners make more than the average U.S. salary for their age bracket. 
• In fact, 83.3% of Gen Zers either have a side hustle or know someone who does, making it a near-universal trend.

That drive is translating into digital dollars. Gen Z is tapping into everything from gaming streams to social media and online coaching to diversify their income. Here’s how:

• Around 14.1% of young digital hustlers are streaming video games to earn side income. 
  
• About 1 in 10 young hustlers (10.5%) are actively using clipping videos to earn money.  
  
• 44% use social media as their main marketing tool; 32% say it's key to their business success.  

And unlike previous generations, they aren’t limited by location, capital, or gatekeepers. If there's Wi-Fi and a laptop, there’s a way to monetize.

How does software power digital side hustles?

The rise in the creator economy is largely software-driven. From designing content to launching digital products and monetizing audiences, software is the invisible infrastructure behind modern side hustles. According to Whop and supporting industry data, creators are building income stacks powered by mobile-first tools and AI workflows.

• Nearly 63% of content creators regularly use AI-assisted scriptwriting tools to speed up video scripting
• The surge in creator monetization on short-form video platforms has contributed to a 1.2% increase in the projected CAGR of the video editing software market.
• Over 130,000 creators use Payhip to sell digital products such as ebooks, online courses, coaching programs, and memberships.
• Canva is widely used in the creator economy for designing educational content, social media posts, and digital products. Over half of its users are Gen Z and millennials.

Software is an enabler of creativity, independence, and monetization, not just utility. The fastest-growing software categories empowering these hustles include:

• Content creation software: For editing, design, and publishing.
• Social media management tools: For scheduling, analytics, and distribution.
• E-commerce platforms: For product sales, checkout flows, and storefront management.
• Video editing software: For cutting, effects, and storytelling.
• Influencer marketing platforms: For discovery, collaboration, and campaign tracking.

Creators are not just using these tools — they’re influencing how future SaaS platforms evolve. Lots of marketers use AI tools to streamline content workflow.

What challenges are creators facing in today’s content economy?

Being a creator might sound like a dream gig (flexible hours, creative freedom, and no boss), but the reality is more complex. Content creators are navigating a rapidly changing digital landscape filled with fierce competition, time pressures, and mental health struggles. Behind the glamor of social feeds, the creator economy comes with significant hurdles that many hustlers are learning to manage on the go.

• Only 46% of creators say they’re finding success in the creator economy today, and 58% still struggle to monetize their work.
• Even when earnings come in, 68% are unsatisfied with their income. 
• 45% of aspiring content creators cite lack of knowledge and time as their biggest barriers to entry.
• Nearly 43% say balancing creative work and monetization is a challenge in itself. 
• Burnout is a growing concern, with 41% of creators struggling to maintain a consistent content schedule. 
• Top earners aren’t immune; 32% of high-performing creators say growing their audience is a core worry.  
• Only 46% of creators’ time is spent on actual content creation; the rest is consumed by distribution, marketing, and administrative tasks.
• 64% of creators say growing their audience is their top challenge in an increasingly saturated digital space. 
• Three-quarters of creators experience stress or anxiety because of their content creation activities.
• Despite these struggles, the passion remains strong: only 2% of content creators say they regret their career choice. 

Still, the drive to create remains unshaken. Despite challenges like content theft, limited bandwidth, and constant pressure to grow, creators continue to push forward. They are driven by passion, autonomy, and the possibility of turning creativity into lasting opportunity. The creator economy may not be easy, but for most, it’s still worth the hustle.

What’s next: AI and the future of creator-led income

Creators’ approach to income, work, and entrepreneurship is reshaping the economic landscape. As AI becomes even more embedded in creative workflows, it’s set to revolutionize how content is produced, tasks are automated, and efficiency is achieved, enabling creators to scale faster and unlock entirely new income streams in the evolving digital economy. Here’s how:

Embracing AI in daily work:

• Nearly 80% of Gen Z professionals (ages 18–21) utilize AI tools for over half of their work tasks. 
• 59% of creators are using AI tools to streamline workflows and improve monetization strategies. 
• 23% use AI to curate products or analyze audience data. 
• 25% of Gen Z delegates more than half of their work to AI tools, yet many remain apprehensive about potential job displacement. 
• 19% of all creators use AI consistently in their content routines. 
• 34% use AI to automate follower engagement. 
• 40% of Gen Z uses AI at least once a week, contrasting with 50% of Boomers who do not use AI at all. 

AI usage and spending patterns:

• The Technology and IT sectors lead in AI adoption, with 63% of respondents using AI extensively. 
• A significant 73% of survey participants aged 18–30 personally pay for AI tools, while those over 30 tend to rely on company-funded tools. 

As AI tools continue to mature, creators are uniquely positioned to benefit, not only by streamlining content production but also by building sustainable, diversified income streams. The key will be balancing automation with authenticity.

Final thoughts: Are creators reprogramming the workforce?

Absolutely. Creators are leading economic change by leveraging side hustles as legitimate career paths, using software like Second Nature, and embracing flexibility as a baseline, not a perk. With a natural affinity for tech and a strong sense of independence, they are rewriting the rules of how, where, and why we work.

Crucially, AI is becoming an integral part of their hustle stack. From content creation and automation to streamlining research and task management, AI tools are allowing creators to work smarter and scale faster.

Creators are proving that software + hustle + AI = opportunity. Their approach is reshaping how we define success, education, and entrepreneurship. And as they continue to build digital-first careers, the ripple effects will reach across industries, redefining what it means to work, earn, and grow in the AI-powered age.

Ready to level up your creative hustle stack? Explore G2’s most popular AI tools to automate smarter, work faster, and create more.