Three Counts, Three Different Signals
Likes, comments and shares all count people reacting to a post. They are not the same reaction, and each one is worth a look of its own.
TikTok's own reference describes them plainly: likes are the "Number of likes for the video", and comments the "Number of comments on the video".
Shares: Someone Else Should See This
TikTok counts shares as the "Number of shares of the video". A share means a viewer wanted a particular person to see it.
That takes more effort than a like, so a post shared more than usual is often one worth repeating. What a good TikTok share rate looks like goes further.
Comments: People Had Something to Say
Comments show a post started a conversation. A question, a strong opinion or a relatable moment usually draws them.
Read the comments themselves too. They often tell you what to make next.
Likes: The Quickest Reaction
A like is the easiest thing to give, so most posts collect more likes than anything else. That makes likes a broad signal rather than a sharp one.
TikTok says that "For most users, user interactions, which may include the time spent watching a video, are generally weighted more heavily than others." So reactions matter, and each one tells you something different.
Compare Them Per 1,000 Views
A post with ten times the views will usually collect more of everything. Raw counts mostly tell you which post was seen most.
Counting each reaction for every 1,000 views takes the size away, so you see which posts people really responded to.
See All Three for Every Post
TikTok Performance shows each post's shares, comments and likes against your own usual, on Growth and above.
How to tell if your TikTok did well puts all three together.
From results to your next post: TikTok Performance turns your recent posts into one lesson for the next one. Plan another like this, and the idea lands in your Content Calendar.
Frequently asked questions
A share usually says more, because someone chose to show the post to another person. A like is quicker and costs the viewer less.
A post with more views collects more of everything. Counting per 1,000 views lets a small post and a big one compare fairly.
Plan another like your most shared video. In TikTok Performance, one tap puts it in your Content Calendar.
See how every TikTok did, compared with your own
Connect TikTok and each video and photo post gets a plain verdict against your own, and one lesson for your next post. TikTok Performance is on Growth and above.
Start free · TikTok Performance is on Growth →