How Much Can You Make on OnlyFans?

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These days, it seems like everyone has an OnlyFans account. The subscription-based website soared in popularity following the Covid-19 pandemic and is only gaining more ground with each passing day. As of this writing, there are over 1.5 million creators on the platform posting racy content for their loyal fans. Although you don’t have to get naked or post explicit pictures and videos to be successful on OnlyFans, the platform is known best for its NSFW content. Some of the website’s top earners rake in three figures – every month!

Now, before you quit your day job and pursue this as your only source of income, there are a few things you should know. As with any online or business venture, these impressive results don’t happen overnight and they’re not a reality for everyone. Similar to making it in showbiz or as a professional athlete, it’s rare to make this much on a consistent basis. But that’s not to say that there aren’t plenty of ways to make money on OnlyFans whether it’s as a side hustle or supplemental income.

But how much can you realistically rake in? Keep reading to find out exactly how much you can make on OnlyFans and tips for increasing your income.

What is OnlyFans and How Does It Work?

OnlyFans is a social media content subscription website where creators can post pictures, videos, live streams, and other content that fans and followers pay to access. Many creators post free content to generate interest and attract fans but also post exclusive content that only paying customers can see. This is where the money’s at. With over 170 million registered users on the site, you have a captive audience ready and willing to pay for the unique and sexy content you create.

It’s easy to create an OnlyFans account and start posting content. Once you do, you’ll need to drum up interest in your page, engage with users, and gain subscribers in order to make money. This involves promoting your page on social media, responding to comments and inquiries, posting quality content consistently, and finding a unique angle that helps you stand out from the crowd. You can also check out this post for more tips and tricks from successful OnlyFans creators. 

Keep in mind that the top 1% of OnlyFans accounts make 33% of all the money on the site and the top 10% of accounts make 73% of the money. This basically means that if you want to make a steady income on OnlyFans, or even enough to quit your day job, you’ll need to rank pretty high on the popularity scale. While this isn’t impossible, it does take time, effort, patience, and a little bit of luck. It’s also important to note that many of OnlyFan’s top creators are celebrities or online personalities with model Blac Chyna, actress Bella Thorne, and rapper Cardi B topping the list. While you don’t need to be an A-list celebrity to make money on OnlyFans, most creators are well-known in other industries including fitness, modeling, or on YouTube.

How Much Money Can I Realistically Make on OnlyFans?

One thing that dictates how much money you can make on OnlyFans is the site’s subscription rates. The platform sets a minimum and maximum rate that you can charge, with the minimum being $4.99 per month and the maximum capped at $49.99 per month. Beginners usually charge a monthly fee at the lower end of the spectrum but as you gain a following and popularity both on and off the site, you can start charging more. 

You can also receive tips from especially satisfied customers starting at $5 and going up from there. Most tips are paid through the platform’s private messaging feature. This is also where you can engage with your fans one-on-one and create a more personalized experience for them. It’s this feature that many subscribers are looking for and willing to pay for. 

According to recent statistics, the average OnlyFans creator makes around $150 per month. While this may sound pretty low considering top creators bring in anywhere from $100,000 to $2 million on a monthly basis, these figures are based on a myriad of factors, including:

  • Who you are and who you know (celebrities, adult film stars, and verified social media influencers make more on OnlyFans than the average creator)
  • The amount of time you spend on your account (how often you post)
  • The type of content you’re posting (NSFW and adult content still reign supreme)
  • The quality and quantity of your content (the more you post the more likely people are to pay for access to your page)
  • Whether or not you engage with your fans and accept private messages and custom content requests (some creators go as far as to sell their personal items including lingerie, underwear, and other interactive experiences)

Even if you dedicate a majority of your time to building your OnlyFans account and following (and you’ll need to in order to be successful), there are other factors at play. OnlyFans keeps a portion of your earnings from both monthly subscriptions and tips so it’s important to factor these figures in when deciding on what to charge and how much money you can realistically make on the platform. OnlyFans keep 20% of all your earnings, which means you take home 80% of what you make. This is a common practice on these types of platforms and there’s really no way of getting around it. 

On a more positive note, if you can build a combined following of around 5,000 people across all your social media platforms you can earn anywhere from $750 to $3,750 per month on OnlyFans, even if only 1% to 5% of your followers subscribe to your page. This larger figure would require you to charge a higher subscription fee of around $14.99, which is more than most beginners can reasonably ask for when just starting out. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t eventually gain enough popularity to increase your membership rates. These figures also include tips, selling other items, and private messaging with clients.

Other Ways to Earn

While subscription fees, tips, and selling personal items are some of the easiest and most popular ways to make money on OnlyFans, they aren’t the only ones. Here are a few more ways to bring in extra cash with your NSFW content and magnetic personality.

Referrals

Do you have a friend, co-worker, or partner who you think would make a great OnlyFans creator? You can refer them to the platform and get a kickback. When the person you refer creates their own OnlyFans account, you’ll receive 5% of the referee’s profits. It’s important to note that this money comes from OnlyFans earnings, not from the new creator’s account (i.e. your friend). 

Some people argue this feature is controversial. When the OnlyFans referral program first started, you would continue to earn 5% for as long as the referee’s account was active and they were posting content. In an effort to save money, OnlyFans changed this rule in May of 2020. Now, you’ll only receive this 5% incentive for one year or until you earn $50,000 off your referral’s account, whichever comes first. 

PPV (Pay-Per-View) Content 

OnlyFans creators can post PPV content in addition to or instead of charging a subscription fee. As the name suggests, PPV content includes pictures and videos that users must pay to access. This is usually done on a one-time basis. Creators can upload content to their timeline but users have to pay a one-time, flat fee in order to access it.

Although you determine how much this fee is, OnlyFans has made recent changes to this payment structure as well, limiting how much you can earn. Before, PPV content was capped at $200. Now, you can only charge up to $50 for this exclusive content. OnlyFans has also put caps on private messaging and tips. Users won’t pay more than $100 for paid private messages and can only tip up to $100 at a time. According to the platform, these caps are only in place for the first four months. If you continue to post consistently and stay engaged, these caps double to the original limit of $200.

How Do I Get Paid on OnlyFans?

Now that you know what you can charge for the high-quality content you post on OnlyFans, you need to know how you get paid and access your earnings. During the registration process you’ll be asked to enter your banking information so that OnlyFans can send your earnings. This works the same way as popular payment apps like PayPal or Venmo. You’ll also have the option to receive automatic or manual payments. Automatic funds will be transferred directly into your linked bank account daily, weekly, or monthly. If you choose the manual option, you’ll have to complete a “Payout Request” form for the amount you’d like to withdraw with a minimum of $20. The average transfer takes two days to complete. 

For OnlyFans creators living outside the US, this process works a little differently. International bank transfers are the most popular method of payment for non-US residents. Although this process used to take up to 3 days, an update to the system in April of 2020 changed things for international creators. Now, you can use Direct Transfer Payments (OCT) for withdrawing funds from your OnlyFans account. This process is linked to VISA Direct and most transactions are complete within one business day.

More Tips for Boosting Earnings and Success

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and put in the work it takes to make money on OnlyFans, these tips for success can help boost your earnings so you get the most out of your efforts. 

Create Two Accounts

Most OnlyFans creators have two separate accounts – one that provides free content and another for paid subscribers. The first account acts like a teaser to draw viewers in, gain popularity, and generate interest. Use this account to showcase your personality and get your name out in the OnlyFans community. This is also where you can promote your subscription page. Let your fans know exactly what they can expect when they sign-up for your paid site.

For example, post a short video preview on your free account and entice fans to subscribe to your main account to see the full-length feature. Offer live streams on your paid account, private messaging, and other racy content that they won’t get on your free account. 

You can use your real name and identity for these accounts, an alias, or remain anonymous. If the latter suits your preference, click here to find out how it’s done. 

Utilize the Power of Social Media

With nearly 4 billion people using social media worldwide, if you want to get the word out about your OnlyFans account, you need to leverage this valuable online tool. Promoting your OnlyFans page on social media is a must for gaining interest and earning the big bucks. 

It’s recommended you create social media accounts specifically for this purpose. That way, your dear old grandma or potential employer aren’t seeing your racy posts or explicit comments from your followers. Focus on platforms like Twitter and Reddit which are more conducive to adult content. Facebook and Instagram are notorious for banning or shutting down accounts for neglecting the community guidelines or, seemingly for no reason at all. 

Post on these platforms consistently and drop teasers about what’s happening on your OnlyFans page. Then, direct your followers to your page by adding a link in your bio or in another approved place on the platform. 

Sell Personal Items and Custom Content 

The whole premise behind OnlyFans is that users want to get a look inside your personal life. The idea of seeing you at home, in bed, in the shower, or wherever else you decide to film and photograph yourself is extremely exciting and erotic. Your OnlyFans page gives people a behind-the-scenes look at your most intimate moments. The more personal you get, the more successful you’ll be. This doesn’t mean sharing personal details about yourself like your phone number or address. It’s more about creating a mysterious and magnetic persona that people are drawn to and want to know more about. 

What better way to give your fans a little piece of yourself than by selling your personal items? Naughty items like used panties, lingerie, and even sex toys are some of the best sellers and will bring in the most income. You can also sell experiences on OnlyFans. For example, a sexting or phone sex session, a customized video, or personalized photos. Negotiating a price for these items is completely up to you but remember, this price is capped at $50. However, if you remain consistent on the platform, after four months you can earn tips and earnings up to $200 for individual services.

Invest in the Best Equipment

When starting any new career, it takes money to make money. And while you don’t have to spend a ton of money to create a successful OnlyFans account (creating an account is completely free), it’s in your best interest to invest in some quality equipment before getting started. The good news is that all you need is some basic items to get started and churn out high-quality content that sells.

Most smartphone cameras are capable of taking some pretty impressive pictures and videos. Play around with your phone’s filters and lighting features to create sharp, well-edited content. Just avoid using too many filters or your content will look unauthentic. Most people are after natural beauty and find pleasure in the unedited version of your images. 

Speaking of lighting, a basic ring light can help reduce the appearance of shadows and highlight your best features. If you want to take hands-free photos and videos, you’ll need an inexpensive tripod with bluetooth capability so you can snap pictures from across the room, while posing on your bed, or from a myriad of other angles. They say variety is the spice of life so you’ll want to add plenty of variety to your OnlyFans content to keep your fans guessing and coming back for more.

Don’t Quit Your Day Job (Yet!)

Are you ready to give your 2 weeks notice and start making money selling NSFW content on OnlyFans? Before you quit your day job, it’s important to know just how much you can make on the platform and how. While some OnlyFans creators earn enough to make a living, it takes time, effort, and some finesse. Now that you have a better idea of just how much you can make and tips for success, you can get started launching your OnlyFans career.

Click here for more tips on getting started and check out these rookie mistakes to avoid. Happy posting!