How to make Money with OnlyFans: What You Need to Know!
- Paul von SheX
- Aug 14
- 7 min read
Over the past few years, OnlyFans has become one of the most well-known adult social media platforms. The platform allows content creators to generate income through exclusive content and direct fan interaction. But how can you make money with OnlyFans, and which strategies lead to success?
In this article, you’ll learn everything important about monetisation on OnlyFans – from basic earning opportunities and realistic income figures to proven strategies for long-term success. Whether you’ve already gained some experience or are completely new to this field, here you’ll find practical tips and valuable insights. The platform offers various monetisation options, which we’ll examine in detail.
How Do You Make Money on OnlyFans?
How does OnlyFans actually work in detail? The platform offers various monetisation models that you can strategically combine to make money on OnlyFans. Success depends not only on the quality of your content but equally on your ability to skilfully utilise different sources of income and build a loyal community.
Subscription Model and Recurring Revenue
The core of OnlyFans lies in monthly subscriptions. You set a price between $4.99 and $49.99 that your fans pay to access your regular content. OnlyFans retains 20 percent of the earnings, while 80 percent goes to you. This model creates predictable, recurring income and is especially valuable for building a stable revenue stream. However, why this should only represent a small portion of your revenue will be explained in the next section.
The Right Pricing Strategy for OnlyFans
A common misconception with OnlyFans is that a high subscription price is necessary to earn a lot. In reality, most of the money is made in the chat. Successful creators therefore use a so-called funnel system – a sales strategy in which you first attract many customers with a low-priced offer (low subscription price) and then guide them toward higher-value purchases (expensive videos in the chat).
This is how the funnel system works on OnlyFans:
Low subscription price = Many new subscribers come in
More subscribers = More fans can send you messages
More chats = More sales opportunities for exclusive content (up to $200-500 per video!)
Recommended price: Maximum $12.00 per month
The formula is simple: the lower the subscription price, the more open chats. Especially at the beginning, low prices fill your chats and create opportunities for sales. If you later receive too many chat requests, you can raise the price to regulate the volume. Leaving messages unanswered means direct loss of revenue – this is where an OnlyFans agency like SheX can immediately help and convert open chats into income.
Insider Tip: A common beginner's mistake made by female creators is revealing too much in the feed. But why should a fan pay you $200-500 for a video in the chat if they already see everything much cheaper in the feed? Therefore, the golden rule applies: show just slightly more in the subscriber feed than on Instagram or TikTok – at most a photo without a bra (which should also be priced!). Exclusive content is sold exclusively via chat.
Pay-per-View and Premium Content
Pay-per-view content (PPV) perfectly complements the subscription model. Here, you offer exclusive videos, photos, or personalised messages for a separate fee. This strategy is especially suitable for explicit or highly specific content that goes beyond the regular subscription. Occasionally, you can place PPVs in the feed, although they are generally intended for chat.
Tips and Live Streams
Tips form another important revenue stream. Your fans can voluntarily send you money – whether as appreciation for your work or as a reward for special interactions. Many successful creators use tip menus that clearly outline available extras, such as faster response times or content bundles. You can also charge for individual user requests – so-called “custom requests” – via tips.
Insider-Tipp: Ask the fan to send the tip before you process their request. This protects you from time-wasters who ultimately don’t pay.
Live streams open up additional earning opportunities through direct interaction with your community. During the broadcast, fans can send tips or pay for special requests. While direct communication does create a stronger bond between you and your fans, it should only be used occasionally to underline your authenticity, as your time is more valuably invested elsewhere.
How Much Money Can You Make with OnlyFans?
The earning potential on OnlyFans varies greatly and depends on various factors. Realistic expectations, continuous content creation, and strategic chatting are crucial for long-term success. Many beginners underestimate the time and energy required to build a profitable account, while others completely overestimate the platform’s potential.
The average income on OnlyFans is around $180 per month. This figure shows that not everyone automatically earns large amounts. While male creators typically earn between $85 and $160 per month on average, female creators often achieve higher earnings, although the exact differences depend on the industry and strategy.
However, the platform’s top earners clearly demonstrate its enormous potential: international stars like Blac Chyna, Bella Thorne, Bhad Bhabie, or German personalities like Katja Krasavice earn seven- to eight-figure sums monthly. Bhad Bhabie, for example, is said to have earned one million dollars in just six hours.
For beginners, monthly revenues between $1,100 and $5,400 are realistic goals if they consistently work on their strategy. Advanced creators can certainly reach $10,800 to $54,000 per month, while professionals with an established reach and professional management can even achieve six-figure monthly revenues.
It is important to understand that these earnings do not happen automatically. They require strategic planning, continuous content creation, active community management, and often professional support with marketing and account management. It is not uncommon for newcomers to earn between $2,200 and $5,400 – sometimes even over $10,800 – within the first few months if they work with a strong OnlyFans agency.
Making Money with OnlyFans – Tips and Best Practices
Successful monetisation on OnlyFans requires more than just uploading content. Here are proven strategies that make the difference between moderate and exceptional success. Most successful creators follow certain fundamental principles that show how to earn money successfully on OnlyFans while continuously adapting to new trends.
Content Days and Script Strategy
Instead of recording individual photos or videos every day, plan dedicated content days. Pay attention to your natural cycle so that you feel comfortable during the shoot. Then produce 3 to 5 scripts in one go to create content in advance.
What is a script? A script consists of several photos and videos in the same look – meaning the same outfit and setting. The script follows a clear structure: start with suggestive but clothed images or short teaser videos. The content then gradually escalates to explicit videos (e.g. masturbation or sex). You’ll find more about this in the next section.
Pricing Strategies and Upselling
Well-thought-out pricing strategies build directly on your content scripts. To truly generate revenue, you apply specific strategies tailored to each individual fan – just like our chatting team does every day. The entry point is either a short catchy message or an inexpensive photo or teaser video priced between $3 and $10. This conversation opener is called a hook.
Once the fan bites, you gradually increase the prices – adapted to their interest and budget. If there is sufficient demand, you create personalised custom requests, which should cost between $100 and $400. The key point: pay-per-view content must always offer real value and be fairly priced to keep the fan loyal. The rule here is: loyalty before profit.
Effective strategies for higher earnings include:
Tiered pricing models for different content levels
Time-limited offers and discount campaigns
Bundle deals for multiple premium content items
Personalised offers based on fan preferences (custom requests.
Working anonymously is also possible, but it greatly reduces the chances of success. Some creators do earn considerable amounts without showing their face, by focusing on other parts of the body or using creative approaches such as cosplay – but this is more the exception. Anonymity can be achieved in particular through the so-called no-face approach, where content is created without showing the face, or through AI face swap, where the face is replaced with an AI-generated one. However, both approaches involve a very high level of effort and are not always worthwhile.
Marketing and Building Reach
Marketing outside of OnlyFans is essential for growth, as OnlyFans – unlike 4based and Maloum – does not have an internal discovery feed. Users can only find you if you promote your account externally. The best platforms to use are Instagram and TikTok to draw potential fans to your OnlyFans profile. You can easily recycle TikToks on Instagram. Just make sure to remove the watermark and metadata beforehand, as you won’t get any reach otherwise.
Reddit and X (formerly Twitter) also offer very good opportunities for organic growth and promotion – especially since Reddit is adult-friendly and provides numerous niche communities, while X is excellent for networking with other creators.
However, note: for beginners, these platforms are only partially recommended. They require a lot of hands-on experience to be used effectively. Without the necessary know-how, it’s easy to waste time there without achieving measurable results. Cross-promotion with other creators through shoutout-for-shoutout (SFS) arrangements can be effective but should definitely be done strategically to avoid harming your account.
For content production, it's best to model what works for large female creators and copy it 1:1. Large OnlyFans agencies like SheX can create an optimised content plan for you that reduces your time investment, significantly increases virality, and still feels authentic to you. There are also a number of technical hacks you won't be able to implement without insider knowledge.
In any case, it’s important that you comply with the respective community guidelines and find creative ways to promote your OnlyFans page without violating platform rules. If your account does get suspended or you’ve been shadowbanned, get in touch with us – we can help you restore your account.
Successfully Getting Started on OnlyFans
Making money with OnlyFans is definitely possible, but it requires a strategic approach, patience, and often professional support. The platform offers a wide range of monetisation opportunities, from subscriptions and pay-per-view content to tips and live streams.
While the average earnings are around $180 per month, motivated creators can reach four- to five-figure monthly revenues with the right strategy. Anyone who wants to earn money successfully with OnlyFans needs consistency, strategic chatting, and viral marketing.
However, many creators quickly realise that managing all aspects can be time-consuming and overwhelming. SheX Agency has established itself as a leading OnlyFans management agency that helps creators reach their full potential. With authentic chat management, strategic marketing, content recycling across five platforms, and guaranteed growth, SheX enables creators to focus on sleeping, travelling, and living — while the professional team takes care of everything else.