What is OnlyFans? | Mashable

Creation platform OnlyFans has changed the adult industry since its inception ten years ago. What started as a tip jar for bloggers has become an extremely important source of income for some porn performers, earning six figures a year, even in a single month. But should you post sexually explicit work on OnlyFans? Are you forced to exchange messages with strangers? Can you actually make money on the platform? What East OnlyFans, anyway?

We are here to answer your questions.

What is OnlyFans?

OnlyFans was launched in 2016 by British entrepreneur Tim Stokely. Its main goal is to help content creators and artists “monetize their content while developing authentic relationships with their fanbase.” This essentially means that the platform was created to allow users to post content behind a paywall, which fans must subscribe to in order to access it. Fans can also pay more to message and tip creators to get created-on-demand content specifically tailored to their interests and tastes.

If you look at OnlyFans promotional materials from 2016, you’ll notice that it was aimed at “safe for work” creators, like bloggers and YouTubers. This changed in 2018, when the majority of its parent company, Fenix ​​International Limited, was sold to American-Ukrainian entrepreneur Leonid Radvinsky. Radvinsky, who died in March 2026 at the age of 43, previously founded the porn site MyFreeCams. OnlyFans pivoted to porn after 2018 (despite any type of creator still being allowed on the platform), and its usage and name recognition exploded during COVID lockdowns.

While creators aren’t required to post explicit content on the platform (and in fact, Mashable interviewed one creator who makes six figures from OnlyFans without nudity), it’s what the platform is known for at this point. In 2021, OnlyFans announced that it would ban explicit content, only to reverse its decision days later due to backlash.

How much money can creators make from this?

It depends on the type of content you produce, your reach, and a whole host of other variables, but creators can earn anywhere from a few hundred dollars a month to a few thousand. In 2023, the average OnlyFans creator only made $1,300 a year from the platform, but Mashable interviewed creators who made millions. Last year, current OnlyFans CEO Keily Blair said the platform had paid out $25 billion to creators since 2016.

But if you think OnlyFans is “easy money,” think again. Last year, Mashable interviewed different creators about the work that goes into building a successful OnlyFans, including investing in camera equipment, hiring help, and getting your name out there.

How do I subscribe to creators?

You don’t need to be a creator to use the platform. In fact, it is powered by users who do not publish on the platform. To subscribe to creators, simply create an OnlyFans account, go to the homepage and find someone you are interested in. Check out their subscription levels and decide what type of plan or offer you want to pay for. You can also tip the creator any amount you want, or pay for individualized posts and content with a la carte posts ranging from a few dollars to over $100, depending on the creator.

And if you have a friend who has started posting on OnlyFans and you want to support them, there are ways to do that too, from subscribing to their pages to offering emotional support.

This article was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2026.