COVID-19 made people habituated to social media, and due to its usage, people have become familiar with the terms "digital creator"," content creator", or" influencer."

And chances are, you've thought of them as the same thing.

Honestly, we did too.

But the truth is: they are in different positions.

Content creator is the broad umbrella. Under it sit digital creators and influencers, each with a different focus and purpose.

Every digital creator and influencer is a content creator- but not every content creator is an influencer.

That's where the confusion usually begins.

To clear things up, we have written a blog on digital creator vs influencer. 

Here, we will also tell you how each one works, earns, and creates impact, and where content creators fit into the bigger picture.

Let's start by untangling it all

First, Know the Basics of a Content Creator

As we have said, "content creator" is the umbrella term. 

It means, anyone who creates content online—literally anyone—is a content creator.

That includes:

• The TikTok dancer is doing the latest trend

• The LinkedIn guy posting motivational quotes over stock footage

• Your aunt shares recipes on Facebook

• MrBeast is lowering yachts for views.

It's a job title that basically means "I make stuff and put it online." No gatekeeping.

However, here are the types of content creators you will see:

1. Digital Creators: Digital creators focus on creating valuable digital assets such as templates, courses, eBooks, design files, or UGC for brands. Their work is often skill-based, and they can earn without having a massive audience by selling or licensing what they create.

2. Influencers: Influencers make money by using their audience's trust and reach. They mostly make content to promote brands, products, or services through sponsorships, affiliate links, and sponsored partnerships. Their earning power depends heavily on engagement and follower loyalty.

3. Bloggers: Bloggers are those who write in-depth articles, guides, and personal stories on social media, websites, or other platforms. People find their content through search engines or email newsletters. They use SEO and newsletters to grow their audiences, and most bloggers earn from ads or affiliate links. It's slow at first, but it builds up.

4. Vloggers/YouTubers: They are focusing on long-form content like tutorials, reviews, or daily life on YouTube. They emphasize storytelling and editing skills, earning from ads, sponsorships, and memberships.

5. Podcasters: Podcasters are those who make audio content and host talks, interviews, or solo episodes on sites like Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and others. They get people really interested and make money through sponsorships and premium subscriptions.

6. Social Media Influencers: Personalities on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, or other platforms sharing lifestyle, fashion, or trends to influence purchases. Most of their income comes from brand deals because influencers’ posts can push people to buy. 

7. Streamers: Streamers are people who stream live from different sites, such as Twitch, YouTube, gaming channels, or chat rooms. These interactions keep people coming back, and they monetize through donations, subscriptions, and platform rewards.

8. Educators/Course Creators: These creators teach specific skills or knowledge through tutorials, courses, workshops, or explainer videos. They often operate on platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, or course platforms and earn through course sales, memberships, or consulting.

9. Graphic Designers/Visual Artists: Creators of images, infographics, or digital art shared on Pinterest, Instagram, or other platforms. They make money from printing, stock sales, or commissions, and they care about how things look.

Now, Let's Know, What's A Digital Creator?

A digital creator is someone who leads with creativity.

They build things like videos, designs, tutorials, templates, courses, animations, podcasts and all, you just have to name it. Their goal is to make content that educates, entertains, or solves a problem. 

The audience follows them for the content first and the person second. 

Think of a digital creator as the modern version of a filmmaker, writer, or musician who happens to distribute on digital platforms instead of Netflix.

The Influencer?

An influencer, on the other hand, leads with connection. 

They focus on building trust, personality-driven content, and community engagement. 

Their power comes from relatability and the ability to motivate their audience to take action- whether it's trying a product, joining a challenge, or following a trend.

The audience follows them for the person first, and whatever their status comes in second.

Quick Overview of Digital Creator vs Influencer

So, the real words are:

• If the person disappeared tomorrow but the videos stayed valuable, that's a digital creator.

• If the person disappeared and nobody cared about the old posts anymore, that's an influencer.

However, here's a side-by-side that makes all crystal clear of content creator vs digital creator vs Influencer

If you think you are short on time, this video may help you better.

Digital Creator vs Influencer: Who Delivers Better Results for Brands?

When brands look for partners today, the big question isn't just "Who has more followers?” 

It's "Who can drive real results?" And that's where the difference between digital creators and influencers becomes clearer.

Digital creators shine when a brand needs high-quality content that makes it look good. It's like product demo videos, lifestyle shots, UGC-style reviews, or educational reels that simplify complex products. 

Their value lies in creativity and craftsmanship. If a brand wants content that looks great and aligns perfectly with the brand's voice, creators often deliver the best results.

Influencers, on the other hand, are built for reach and impact. Their strength lies in community trust. When they recommend something, followers pay attention because there's already a relationship in place. 

Influencers can spark trends, drive quick traffic, boost brand awareness, and create buzz far faster than creators. For campaigns that rely on visibility or social proof, influencers usually win.

So who wins for brands?
Well… it depends on the goal.

• If a brand wants high-converting content to fuel ads and long-term campaigns, digital creators typically deliver greater ROI.

• If the goal is awareness, buzz, and social traction, influencers often outperform with their built-in communities.

So, it's not about who's "better" at the end of the day; it's about which one fits with the brand's strategy.

And if the mix is right, the results can change the game.

Earnings Breakdown: Influencer vs Digital Creator

When it comes to making money online, both digital creators and influencers have plenty of opportunities- just in slightly different ways. 

Here's how Digital Creators Make Money

Digital creators earn money in a way that's a lot more predictable than most people think. 

They don't rely on brand deals or the number of followers they have to make money. Instead, they make money from the work they do.

Their income is tied to skills, creativity, and the digital assets they build- many of which can be sold repeatedly without extra effort.

But most digital creators start with something simple, like a template, a preset pack, or a small user-generated content project. But once they get the hang of it, they usually find other ways to make money.

Here are some of the most common ways digital creators earn:

• Selling digital products: This includes templates, e-books, presets, printable kits, Notion templates, and more. Just create once, sell endlessly; this is usually their biggest long-term revenue source.

• UGC (User-Generated Content) projects: Brands pay them to create photos or videos that the brand uses for ads or marketing.

• Paid Creative Services: Things like video editing, graphic design, branding kits, or product photography.

• Online courses or workshops: Teaching what they know, which can be a good way to make money once they have a lot of students.

• Licensing their work: Licensing their work means selling the rights to use their music, images, graphics, or other digital assets.

• Subscription-based content: Memberships, communities, or monthly resource packs for loyal followers.

The beauty of being a digital creator is the flexibility; you can earn from multiple sources without relying on algorithms or constant posting. 

Your creativity, not the number of followers you have, determines how much money you make. And once you have a good portfolio, brands and customers will come to you.

Meanwhile, The Ways of Influencers Make Money

Influencers earn money in a completely different way from digital creators. Influencers' monetization power is their audience's trust and attention. 

Brands pay them not for a deliverable, but for the influence they hold over their followers. And once an influencer builds a strong, engaged community, the earning opportunities open up fast.

Most influencers start out small, with a free PR package or a low-paying alternative. But if they keep posting, find a clear niche, and get their followers to participate, their revenue may expand very quickly.

Here are the most common ways influencers make money:

• Brand sponsorships (their most significant income source): Brands pay influencers to show off their products in posts, stories, reels, or videos. The amount they pay depends on how many followers they have, how engaged they are, and what niche they are in.

• Affiliate marketing: Influencers earn a commission every time someone purchases through their tracking link. This works really well for influencers who have a lot of trust from their followers.

• Paid collaborations & shoutouts: Smaller businesses often pay influencers to promote products through dedicated mentions, giveaways, or collaborations.

• Platform monetization: Influencers can get money from YouTube AdSense, TikTok Creativity Program, Instagram Reels bonus (when available), and Facebook ad revenue. These earnings vary, but can stack up over time.

• Selling their own merchandise or digital products: Once influencers get famous enough, they often launch merch, presets, or digital guides; though this is usually secondary to brand deals.

• Event appearances or guest features: Some influencers make money by going to events, hosting seminars, or being the "face" of a campaign.

Essentially, influencers get paid for visibility. The stronger their personal brand, the more brands pay to be part of it. 

While income can fluctuate with reach and algorithm changes, top influencers can earn more from a single campaign than some creators earn in a month. 

How to Become a Content Creator (Digital Creator + Influencer) in 2026

Becoming a content creator isn't about going viral overnight- it's about being intentional. The tools are becoming more innovative, the competition is more brutal, and audiences can spot fake value instantly.

So, let's talk less and get to the actual roadmap.

Step 1: Identify the Purpose & Pick A Niche

Every content creator needs to identify a specific purpose related to their content. That reason should motivate them to keep creating content.  

So, in this case, you should ask yourself: 

• What is the reason behind wanting to become a creator?  

• What are the hobbies or topics that interest me?  

• What is the purpose of creating content for people?  

After identifying your purpose, the next step is to select a specific niche. 

A niche is a particular topic or area that you're genuinely interested in and have knowledge or experience in.

How to do that?

1. Brainstorm a few ideas from your life/experience. 

2. Validate them with free tools like Google Trends for search volume, Reddit/TikTok searches for pain points, and social media for visibility, and review whether people are complaining about this.

Then, go to a specific enough topic that you could own the conversation and assume a large enough potential audience.

Once chosen, commit hard for 6 months. No pivoting every week.

However, if you face the hustle to find a niche, here is a list of examples of niches for both digital creators and influencers:  

• Personal finance

• Business

• Travel on a budget  

• Plant-based recipes  

• Fitness for beginners

• Home entertainment  

• Digital marketing for small businesses  

These are the topics that you might be genuinely interested in, and that can keep you engaged for a long time. 

Step 2: Understand Your Target Audience

You can start by getting clear on your audience's basics: 

• Who are they? 

• What do they want? 

• What's getting in their way?

Think about the problems they're trying to fix. Notice the type of content they already like, save, or comment on. That's a big clue.

• If you create content, those everyday struggles often turn into great product ideas.

• If you're an influencer, ask yourself why people trust you. Is it for honest advice? Inspiration? Or just good entertainment?

The easiest way to figure this out? Listen.

Read the comments. Check your DMs. Scroll through Reddit, and watch what similar creators are posting. Pay attention to the same questions popping up again and again.

When your content starts answering those questions, things will start getting clicked. 

This engagement gives your audience a natural feeling, your posting will feel easier, and your message will feel clear. You'll know what to post, how to say it, and why it matters. 

And in a crowded digital space, this kind of relevance turns casual viewers into loyal followers.

Step 3: Choose the Platforms

When choosing a platform, you need to match the type of content you're creating. 

Are you selling digital products, making tutorials, or offering design assets? You have to know the things.

However, you can consider platforms like Etsy, EzyCourse, Gumroad, or Teachable for sales. 

If you're focused on visual content, Instagram or Pinterest might be your best friend, while Facebook and YouTube are also great for educational or entertaining videos.

To make a better start, invest time in one platform rather than spreading yourself too thin across many. 

Don't worry! Once you master the ins and outs of one platform, you can continually expand into others.

Here's a complete walkthrough of choosing the best platform to sell online.

Step 4: Strategize Your Content & Consistently Create it

Digital creators should focus on showing their skills in action- behind-the-scenes workflows, tutorials, product breakdowns, or problem-solving content.

Influencers, on the other hand, should plan content that builds trust and connection, such as honest reviews, personal experiences, trends, or daily routines.

Then, create a basic content plan. You can set up a content calendar. By doing that, you can easily visualize your upload schedule. 

To track your progress, you can use spreadsheets or even free platforms like Notion, Trello, and Airtable.

However, here's a sample weekly schedule you can follow:  

• Monday: Plan and script content.  

• Tuesday: Record video or podcast.  

• Wednesday: Edit and design.  

• Thursday: Post content.  

• Friday: Engagement and Analytics. 

Finally, when it comes to creation, don't overthink it. 

Use the tools you have, group your content together when you can, and try to get a little better with each post.

Algorithms change, but one thing stays the same: content that helps, entertains, or inspires will always win. 

So, keep creating, keep learning, and let your strategy evolve as you grow.

Step 5: Optimize Content for Each Platform

Creating good content is only half the job; how you present it on each platform matters just as much.

You can start by crafting your content according to each platform's strengths. Every platform has its user preferences and style. Make sure your content works well with your platform. 

Small details make a big difference. For example:  

• Instagram: Use hashtags, stories, reels, and carousels  

• YouTube: Use titles, thumbnails, and playlists that are good for SEO.  

• TikTok: Short, fast-paced videos with popular music in the background 

• Podcasts: written ads for social media, clear opening and closing remarks 

But to do a good optimization, you need to pay attention to platform-specific details like captions, hashtags, keywords, thumbnails, and posting time. These help platforms understand your content and show it to the right people.

So the summary is, digital creators should optimize product pages and links, while influencers should focus on clear CTAs that guide followers to engage, click, or buy.

Step 6: Monitoring the Content Performance

As we all know, growth doesn't happen by accident; it happens by learning. Regularly check your numbers to see what's working.

Start by looking at the basics: views, engagement, saves, shares, click-throughs, and watch time. These numbers show how people interact with your content. 

Digital creators should pay close attention to which posts drive product clicks or sales, while influencers should focus on engagement quality and audience growth(not just likes).

But don't obsess over every metric. Instead, look for patterns.

• What type of content gets more visibility and engagement?

• Which topics keep people watching longer? 

• Which posts fall flat? 

Over time, these insights help you refine your strategy and double down on what actually resonates.

Don't know how to make creative content? Here's a simple guide for you: 10 Ways to Create Engaging Content

Finally, Step 7: Monetize Your Content

After building consistency, trust, and engagement, it's time to turn your efforts into income. 

For digital creators, monetization often starts with selling what you already know or create. This could be digital products, services, or brand collaborations where your skills are the main asset. 

Influencers, on the other hand, typically monetize through brand partnerships, affiliate links, and sponsored content. 

Here are some examples of what you can sell:

• Digital products like (Notion templates, Lightroom presets, Procreate brushes, sample packs, Canva templates, e-books, mini-courses

• Memberships/communities (Patreon, Discord, Circle, Mighty Networks, Skool)

• Courses, platforms, software, and tools are being sold 

• One-time paid workshops or masterclasses

• Micro-campaigns (10–50k followers) can routinely pay $2k–$15k per post if your audience demographics are razor-sharp.

• Long-term ambassador deals (3-12 months) are where the real money lives ($10k–$50k+/month retainers) if you're in beauty, tech, finance, or fitness niche.

• Creator-led brands are exploding: Turn your aesthetic into a Shopify store (skincare, streetwear, coffee, productivity tools- doesn't matter). 

Note: We have created this guide based on our own experiences, or you can check our detailed guide: How to Become a Content Creator with No Experience

But if you intend to have a video guide, here's one to help you out.

Examples of Successful Digital Creators and Influencers

To really understand what's possible as a digital creator or influencer, let's look at some of the biggest names in the space today. 

These people have not only built massive audiences but also turned their content into real income and business success.

1. Ali Abdaal (Digital Creator)

• From junior doctor to $6M+/year creator business (2025 revenue publicly shared).

• Revenue: YouTube (2.8M subs) + $4.5M from online courses + Notion templates + Productivity Lab membership + book deal + sponsorships.

• Masterclass: Built a real company around his personal brand without ever chasing “influencer” vibes.

2. Khaby Lame (Influencer)

• Forbes' Highest-Paid Creator 2025: $42 million

• Net worth ~$150–$200M. 

• Makes $750k–$2M per sponsored post. 

• Has long-term deals with Netflix, Hugo Boss, and Xbox worth eight figures total.

3. MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) - Digital Creator + Influencer

• Total 2025 Earnings $85 million

• Total Followers (All Platforms) 634 million

• $700M–$1B valuation on his businesses (2026 estimate).

• Revenue streams: Beast Burger + Feastables chocolate (hundreds of millions) + YouTube ad revenue (~$600M total views/month) + brand deals that pay $5M– $10M per video.

4. Emma Chamberlain (Digital Creator + Influencer)

• Chamberlain Coffee 2025 revenue $85 million (reported by The Information, March 2026)

• Still pulls $800k–$1.5M per luxury brand deal (Cartier, Louis Vuitton, etc.).

• Total net worth ~$60–70M at only 24 years old.

Which One Should You Become? Creator, Influencer, or Both?

There's no "better" option between being a digital creator or an influencer. There's only the option that fits you.

• If you love building things- products, systems, ideas, or skills that can live beyond a single post, then the digital creator path may feel more natural. 

• On the other hand, if you thrive on connection, storytelling, and influencing opinions, the influencer route offers visibility, brand partnerships, and fast-moving opportunities (powered by audience trust).

But yes, here's a precaution: if you want to wake up rich in 2026, the only wrong answer is being a "pure influencer" first. 

Why?

Being an influencer in 2026 is like being a pro athlete who never invested a single paycheck. Yeah, you might make $50k in a weekend… but one injury (like an algorithm change, brand breakup, or cancellation) makes you broke with nothing to show for it.

The quiet millionaires you know, or who are in example, are all doing some version of both, with one unbreakable rule: They became creators first. Influencers second.

They built something they own (a course, a template shop, a membership, a coffee brand, a tech review empire) and then used their influencer-level attention to pour rocket fuel on it.

So, which are you going to be? Digital creator vs influencer? Tell us in the comments.

And if you are ever a digital creator and want to sell your digital products, EzyCourse is here to help. Check it out to know the benefits.

Here are Some FAQs About Digital Creator vs Influencer

1. Are influencers and creators the same thing?

Answer: No, that's not correct. There is a difference between influencers and creators. Content creators make things, while influencers try to get people to make decisions, often by promoting brands. However, both are types of content creators.

2. Which is better, a digital creator or a blogger?

Answer: In 2026, digital creators are better. Bloggers mostly get their traffic and money from Google. Digital creators have their own audience and products on multiple platforms, which leads to higher and more stable income.

3. What is the difference between a content creator and an influencer?

Answer: A content creator makes new things like videos, blogs, or designs. An influencer uses their credibility and audience to sell things or change people's minds. All influencers make content, but not all content creators are influencers.

4. Who earns more: digital creators or influencers?

Answer: Earnings vary based on niche, audience, and strategy. Influencers often earn more upfront through brand deals, while digital creators can build scalable, long-term income through products and assets. Both can be highly profitable when done strategically.

Top-tier influencers get paid more for each deal, between $500,000 and $10 million. The richest people in both groups (MrBeast, Emma Chamberlain, MKBHD, and Ali Abdaal) are actually digital creators with audiences that are as big as those of influencers.

5. What platforms are best for digital creators and influencers?

Answer: Digital creators do best on sites that have a lot of content and a community, like Facebook, YouTube, Twitch, Substack, and Mighty Networks. Influencers do best on sites that have short, trend-driven content, like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and X.