Onlyfans is a social media platform like Instagram or TikTok with over 130 million members worldwide. Unlike those, however, it allows the display of explicit, even pornographic, content. Users of the app must be at least 18 years old.
In 2021 and 2022, the popularity of the app has grown more and more. It is used by many American celebrities such as rapper Cardi B, Disney star Bella Thorne and actor and musician Tyler Posey. German celebrities like Laura Müller and Michael Wendler as well as Georgina Fleur can also be found on Onlyfans.
What kind of content can be found on Onlyfans?
In principle, legal content of any kind can be offered. However, Onlyfans, unlike most other apps, also allows erotic and pornographic content. However, artists from many other industries can be found, such as:
- Musician
- Fitness Influencer
- successful gamers
- Cosplay artist
- Models
- Beauty Influencer
- Travel Blogger
These artists entice particularly interested fans with especially exclusive content or a private exchange.
How Onlyfans works as a company
The operating company behind Onlyfans is Fenix International Limited. It is based in London and little is known about it.
Onlyfans retains 20% of the revenue paid and pays out 80% to the artists. This means that Onlyfans does away with intermediary exclusive rights marketers such as film studios, which allows artists in the porn industry full control over the content they show.
In August 2021, Onlyfans announced it would ban “sexually explicit behavior” on the platform from October 2021 due to conflicts with business partners such as banks. Many customers and artists then indignantly announced that they wanted to leave Onlyfans, so the operator rowed back and explicitly allowed erotic and pornographic content again.
Onlyfans tries to avoid saving the content separately. Nevertheless, pornographic content is usually leaked on porn portals in a very short time.
How Onlyfans works for customers
Users are referred to as fans at Onlyfans. There is no subscription on Onlyfans that gives fans access to the content of all profiles. Rather, you can only subscribe to individual profiles and view their content. These profiles are either paid or free of charge. The operators of the profiles decide on this (and on the amount of the fee).
The creation of an account is initially free of charge. A credit card must be deposited as verification, but debits are only made once a subscription has been taken out.
How does Onlyfans work with subscriptions?
Profiles can be free and ask for a $5 tip for their content. Paid profiles set their own price. This can vary from $4.99 to $49.99. There are promotions and term discounts that reduce the cost for fans.
How does Onlyfans work with payment?
Subscriptions are handled via a monthly fee. However, some profiles also offer the purchase of bundles, with which one takes out a subscription for several months at once and pays a lower fee.
PayPal is not approved as a payment method because, according to its usage policy, it does not support “certain sexually oriented materials and services.” Customers can use one of the following means of payment:
- Paysafecard
- Instant bank transfer
- Credit card
- Giropay
- the site’s internal credit (“wallets”)
How Onlyfans works for artists
Artists can generate revenue on Onlyfans in a number of ways. They don’t have to offer erotic content or even show their face. However, the content should be entertaining and engaging.
- Free profile
A free profile can be useful if someone is still unknown and wants to generate followers. Fans will hardly be willing to subscribe if they cannot estimate what content will be shown to them. A free profile can generate revenue via tips (in the amount of $5), for example. - Live streaming
Free profiles can offer live streams. The entrance fee is at least $5. This is especially suitable for artists who do live performances. - Monthly subscriptions
Of course, the most money is created with a high number of followers who sign up for monthly subscriptions. - Discount promotions and federal
Artists have the opportunity to offer reduced prices for their channel as part of promotions and long-term discounts. - Sell content via news
Profile owners have the ability to sell exclusive or custom content to their fans via direct messages (DMs). These can be PDF files, ebooks, photos, videos and even physical products, which are then sent to the respective fan. - Pay per view
With pay-per-view content, profile operators earn money from messages seen. This variant is suitable for attracting fans who do not want to commit to individual profiles but want to consume a broadly diversified offer.
Onlyfans how does it work with the prices?
Profile operators generally set their own prices. Monthly fees range from $4.99 to $49.99. Tips and live streaming start at $5 and pay per views at $3. Artists should keep in mind that Onlyfans retains 20% of the generated revenue and pays 80% to the artist.
How does Onlyfans work as a revenue source?
Onlyfans is suitable as a side income, but can also serve as a main job if the content is suitably attractive. Model and TV personality Blac Chyna is the highest-earning profile owner on Onlyfans. She earns $20 million a month from her profile. Top American earners have earnings between $5,000 and $10,000 a month on Onlyfans. Without greater awareness of the profile operator, the average earnings are about $150 per month.
