OnlyFans runs a subscription platform where adult content creators—from cam performers to porn stars to amateur models—sell direct access to their photos, videos, and live streams. Launched in 2016, it became the go-to alternative to traditional porn studios and cam sites, letting creators keep a much bigger cut (80%) of their earnings. The platform paid out
$5.8 billion to creators in 2024, cementing its spot as one of the biggest players in the adult creator economy.
The platform’s had its share of regulatory headaches. It now requires
compulsory criminal record checks for US creators, and it’s been added to
Italy’s new age verification list alongside Pornhub and Chaturbate. Meanwhile, competitors like Hidden are positioning itself as
TikTok-style alternatives run by sex workers itself. Despite the competition and regulatory scrutiny, OnlyFans remains massively profitable, with rumors of
an $8 billion sale circulating in 2024.