What is the main source of compensation for Malaysian content creators?

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Free products or gifts are the main source of compensation for Malaysian content creators.
Around 70 per cent of nearly 500 Malaysian content creators surveyed said free products or gifts are their main form of compensation. The MYCreator Pulse Report 2026 also found that free products make up 46 per cent of creators income sources, compared with 43 per cent from direct cash payments.
Seven in 10 creators rely on in-kind compensation
The study reported that 70 per cent of content creators identified free products or gifts as their primary compensation. This means the most common payment type was non-cash, tied to items or perks received in exchange for producing content.
Free products account for a larger share than cash
In the same findings, free products represented 46 per cent of overall income sources for content creators. Direct cash payments accounted for 43 per cent, placing free products slightly ahead as the largest single income source category.
The survey covered 489 creators across follower tiers
The online study was conducted by Vase.ai between May 11 and 21 and polled 489 content creators. It included five follower tiers: nano (1,000 to 3,000 followers), micro (3,000 to 50,000), macro (50,000 to 250,000), mega (250,000 to 500,000), and alpha (500,000 and above).
Awareness and filing rates were low, even with frequent gifts
The report also said almost 45 per cent of creators were unaware that free products, gifts, hotel stays, and vouchers received for content are classified as taxable income in Malaysia. It further found that only 34 per cent had filed income tax, even though many were receiving in-kind compensation as their main pay.

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What is the main source of compensation for Malaysian content creators?

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