Adapted by:
Javier Márquez
WriterI've been in media for over a decade, but I've been marveling at the possibilities that technology brings us much longer. I believe we live in a world where the digital revolution is changing everything and that Xataka is the best place to write about it.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
It began as an alternative to Patreon. It ended up dominating adult content on the internet. OnlyFans has broken molds, faced vetoes, and withstood scrutiny from banks, governments, and tech companies. Yet it has paid its creators more than $20 billion. The platform has challenged the rules of the digital market—and now it’s trying to transform itself without losing its essence.
What OnlyFans has done is no small feat: It has professionalized a historically informal sector and turned it into a profitable industry without depending on the App Store or Google Play. OnlyFans has done what few digital platforms have—turned free adult content into a billion-dollar revenue stream. The numbers are impressive: The platform billed $6.6 billion in 2023 alone.
Behind that figure is a key business decision. OnlyFans has stayed out of major app stores. Why? Because joining them would mean giving up an additional 30% of each payment to Apple or Google. If the platform operated through these stores, it would have to split up to 50% of each payment with two intermediaries. The downside of that decision is less visibility. The upside is total independence and protection of its business model.
Of course, growth hasn’t been the only concern. In 2021, under pressure from banks, the platform announced a ban on explicit content. A massive backlash from users and creators forced OnlyFans to reverse course. Since then, the company has tightened verification controls, diversified financial partnerships, and worked to reposition itself as a platform for all kinds of creators.
But can it succeed? The brand still carries strong associations with adult content—a financial advantage, but also a reputational challenge. Although OnlyFans launched OnlyFans TV, a sex-free video platform with cooking shows, talk shows and workouts, and has attracted musicians, comedians and athletes, many creators still feel the weight of the stigma. Some hesitate to link themselves to the brand for fear of losing sponsors.
Will this reinvention be enough? Can OnlyFans become a mainstream platform like Patreon without losing its identity? Few platforms have sparked as much debate, revenue, and transformation as this one.
Image | charlesdeluvio (Unsplash)
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