Expert Corner

How OnlyFans Works & Ways to Make Money | App & Legal Guide

Jun 20, 2025 | By Kailee Rainse

OnlyFans is a subscription-based social media platform where creators can share exclusive content with their subscribers or fans. Users pay a monthly fee to access a creator’s content, and creators can also earn through tips and pay-per-view messages.

The platform is known for giving creators significant control over their earnings taking a 20% commission. OnlyFans is more than just the attention-grabbing headlines. Behind the scenes, it's a mix of social media and online selling, where creators are in full control. The platform lets them earn money by sharing content directly with their fans.

What Is OnlyFans?

OnlyFans Launched in 2016, it gained popularity for influencers, creators. fitness experts, musicians, chefs, and other creators.

OnlyFans is a website where people share special content with their fans for a monthly fee. It’s like social media but helps creators earn money by offering exclusive photos, videos, and messages. While many people know it for adult content, lots of creators also share things like fitness tips, music, and art. Creators decide what to share and how to make money.

Most creators on OnlyFans are influencers—people with lots of followers—and they usually sell original content, often adult or sexual in nature. By 2021, OnlyFans had paid over $4 billion to creators and had more than 170 million users and 2 million creators. Creators share revealing content that some might find sensitive or harmful.

The site’s slogan is “Make your influence pay" meaning creators use their followers to earn money. Fans usually pay between $5 and $50 each month to see this exclusive content. The price and type of content vary depending on the creator. Some share simple selfies while others post more explicit photos or videos.

How Does OnlyFans Work?

OnlyFans lets creators share photos, videos, and messages with their fans. Fans pay a monthly subscription fee to see this exclusive content. Creators can set their own prices and decide what to share. Fans can also send tips or pay extra for special content. Creators use OnlyFans to connect directly with their followers and make money from their work.

The platform takes a small cut of what creators earn. OnlyFans can create an account on their official website and begin earning by uploading your content. You decide how much to charge for your work. Fans pay a monthly subscription to see your paid content. OnlyFans keeps your content safe by stopping people from sharing it outside the site. If someone tries to take screenshots or record videos, they can be banned.

The platform has strict privacy rules to protect creators because they are the heart of the business. If someone breaks these rules, OnlyFans has a special team that handles reports and takes action against them. OnlyFans’ business model is better than companies like Airbnb or Uber because creators can share content with many fans at the same time. For example, one selfie can be seen by 10 fans or 1,000 fans, while Airbnb hosts or Uber drivers can only serve one group at a time.

Platforms like OnlyFans and Clubhouse help people make money and grow their popularity on social media, which is why more people are joining. If you want to build your own social media site, start with a simple version that has the basic features, and then add more advanced features based on what users want.

How To Earn With OnlyFans

Before you can start earning on OnlyFans, you need to add your payment details, verify your account, and set your subscription price. After that, you can make posts and choose to keep them private for paying fans only.

  • Create Your Account: Sign up on OnlyFans and set up your profile.
  • Share Your Content: Upload photos, videos, or messages that your fans will want to see.
  • Set Subscription Prices: Decide how much fans will pay each month to access your content.
  • Offer Extras: You can earn more by sending special paid messages or selling pay-per-view content.
  • Engage with Fans: Talk to your subscribers through messages to keep them interested and loyal.
  • Promote Yourself: Use social media or other platforms to find new fans and grow your audience.

Who Uses OnlyFans?

OnlyFans is used by many different people. Mostly, creators like influencers, artists, fitness coaches, and musicians share special content with their fans. Many creators use it to earn money by offering exclusive photos, videos, or messages. Fans are people who want to see this content and support their favorite creators by paying a monthly fee.

While the site is known for adult content, many use it for other things like fitness tips, cooking, music, and art. OnlyFans is a place where you can find trainers, writers, artists, and chefs sharing their work. But that’s only part of the story. Along with sex workers and amateur adult content creators, who post videos and photos and chat with fans, OnlyFans lets people share content that other social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok don’t allow. More than half of OnlyFans’ users are from the U.S., with many others from the UK and Canada.

Some TV stars like Erica Mena, Safaree Samuels, and Chad Johnson also use the platform. It’s important to know that not all creators sell adult content. For example, the musician The-Dream used OnlyFans to share his new album and connect with fans, encouraging them to create dance videos for his songs.

  • Cardi B – Musician
  • Amber Rose – Internet personality
  • Tana Mongeau – Influencer
  • Bella Thorne – Actress
  • Jordyn Woods – Internet personality
  • Blac Chyna – Reality TV star
  • Dorinda Medley – Reality TV star
  • Larsa Pippen – TV personality and former wife of an NBA legend
  • Bhad Bhabie – Internet personality
  • Farrah Abraham – Reality TV star
  • Aaron Carter – Musician
  • Tyga – Musician

Is OnlyFans illegal

No, OnlyFans is not illegal. It is a legal subscription-based website that people can use. However, some content, like sexual or adult material, about obscenity or sharing explicit content. So while the platform itself is legal, what you post on it must still follow the laws of your country.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

  • Platform Legality: OnlyFans is a legal website and is not banned.
  • Content Legality: Using the site is legal but posting adult or pornographic content might go against laws about obscenity and sharing explicit material.
  • Creator Responsibilities: Creators must follow both laws and OnlyFans rules. This includes paying taxes and making sure all content is shared with proper consent.
  • User Responsibilities: Users should also be careful. Sharing someone’s content without permission or doing anything illegal on the platform can lead to legal trouble.

Conclusion

OnlyFans is a legal platform that lets creators earn money by sharing special content with their fans. While it is well-known for adult content, many people also use it to share fitness tips, art, music, and more. The platform gives creators control over what they share and how much they charge. However, users and creators must follow local laws and OnlyFans rules especially when it comes to adult content. In short, OnlyFans can be a good way to earn money online, but it’s important to use it responsibly and legally.

FAQs

Is my content safe on OnlyFans?

OnlyFans tries to protect content, but no platform is 100% secure. Sharing content without permission is not allowed.

Do I have to pay to use OnlyFans?

Fans usually pay to follow creators. If you’re just browsing free pages, you may not need to pay—unless you subscribe.

Is it safe to use OnlyFans?

If you follow the rules and protect your information, it can be safe. But like any online platform, always be careful.

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