Is OnlyFans profitable (according to Reddit)?

OnlyFans has upended the world of adult entertainment, allowing Creators to take their earnings into their own hands.

We’ve all heard the success stories of Creators who are making tens of thousands per month, but what’s the reality of being an OnlyFans Creator?

Is the platform really as profitable as it seems? 

We scoured Reddit to bring you insights from real Creators that reveal the truth behind the platform's potential for profit.

The reality of OnlyFans earnings

Like in many fields, Creators' earnings from OnlyFans vary widely.

Some Creators make more than enough to live off, while others can barely make ends meet. Let’s see what Redditors have to say about how much they earn on OnlyFans. 

The high earners

Some Creators have found impressive levels of success on OnlyFans that exceed what most people can make at a regular 9-to-5 job.

But these examples are exceptions, not the rule. 

One Redditor, Splitpeasoupsnsuch, shared how their journey has progressed, saying, "i started doing OF in february of 2020 and was making anywhere from 1k-5k a month and now i'm averaging 18k-22k!"

Another Creator, Ourkinkycrusades, reported similar success:

"I made $21k last month, due to recently adding in sexting and audio (just more interaction, really). Before that, I would be in the 15k range." 

Squishytomata shared their approach:

"$20k+ a month all together (around $16k-$17k on onlyfans and $5k on fansly) i don't push PPV super hard or do sexting, dick rates, etc. so it's mostly from subscriptions."

For some, the profits reach even higher levels.

Redditor Oaeg writes:

"Last month I had my best ever being at 0.06% of top Creators on OF, and I earned around 80k. But usually I'm around 0.1% earning 40-60k."

While these numbers are definitely the exception, they show that it’s possible to earn big on OnlyFans.

The middle ground

Many Creators fall into a middle category, earning enough to support themselves but not achieving the eye-popping figures of top earners.

These Creators often report more modest, but still significant, incomes.

For instance, JessDoesntMess shared that she makes, "$5K a month on average - i show everything! My page is mostly solo if that matters."

This level of earnings, while not in the top tier, still represents a substantial income for many.

Another Creator, Esm11111, reported similar earnings:

"Around 3k a month. I show everything, I'm an exhibitionist, so I enjoy it! Like everything, it's got its pros, cons, ups and downs. I have a decent vanilla job, so i don't need to do OF. It's a nice little side hustle."

Clara_dee offers some insight into the platform's earning potential, saying:

"I use a bunch of different adult sites, and together they add up to a decent living. But on Onlyfans specifically, I hover around top 5-10%. In my experience, if your rank is 5% you're making about $2500 a month, and 10% you're making about $1000 a month. So 90% of Creators on OF are not making a living wage from that alone."

For many Creators, profitability on OnlyFans increases with experience.

As they learn to navigate the platform, refine their content, and build a fan base, their earnings often grow.

Accidentw8ing2happen shared their journey, saying that they have made.

"About 3k and 4k USD for the last 2 months, we'll see if I keep that going as an average. It was always under 1k for 6 the months before that."

This experience shows the potential for growth over time as Creators gain experience and build their presence on the platform.

These middle-ground earners often expressed how important it is to put in the hard work.

As Verified Creator Goldieandherplumber explained:

I started last November and made $800. Made $1000 in December and since January have made between $2,500-$3,000 every month on OF.

The strugglers

While there are lots of success stories out there, it’s important to acknowledge that the average OnlyFans Creator makes less than a living wage. 

Redditor Greenstrawberry_ shared, "I've made $208 this month. My highest earning month was November when I made $337. I've been doing this since March. It's not easy for everyone."

Similarly, EmpressZarina expressed frustration with their low earnings, saying "I made about $100 my first month. Idk how everyone gets such high numbers." Achillesisagod has a similar experience saying, "I make less then 100 a month, I post consistently."

Redditor Owiviaah sheds some light on the reality of average earnings on OnlyFans, saying that they only make $100 a month, “I only promoted a little bit back during the pandemic and I’ve kept the same 5 fans around for the last few years. I never promote it but I don’t see the point of deleting it either. It usually says I’m in the top 43% so there’s definitely a huge chunk of us who barely make anything!”

The experiences of these Creators prove that success on OnlyFans is far from a guarantee, even if you put in the work. 

Factors that influence your OnlyFans income

Since incomes on OnlyFans vary so widely, you’re probably wondering what makes some people rise to the top, and others struggle to make it.

Based on these Redditors’ experiences, here are some of the key elements for success:

1. Content quality and consistency

While it might seem like simple advise, it’s probably the most important: you should be producing high-quality content and posting it on a regular basis.

As Goldieandherplumber's experience shows, if you’re consistent, your account (and earnings) will grow over time. 

2. Finding a niche

One of the biggest factors that impact your potential earnings on OnlyFans is whether you’re able to tap into a niche.

It’s hard to stand out when there are so many Creators on the platform, but once you find your audience by highlighting what makes you unique, you’ll likely have more success. 

3. Engagement and interaction

Creators like Ourkinkycrusades explained how increased interaction with fans can increase your earnings.

Offering personalized content like sexting and audio messages can help you seriously boost your income.

Looking to streamline and automate your fan interactions? Infloww is an OnlyFans automation tool that make engaging with your fanbase so much easier. 

4. Marketing and promotion

OnlyFans doesn’t make it easy for Creators to get discovered by users, so you have to promote yourself outside the platform.

If you have a strong presence on social media platforms like Twitter (X), Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit, you’ll be more likely to grow your fanbase on OnlyFans. 

As Mskyliepowers said, "It helps to have an amazing mentoring group to be a part of that really knows the ins and outs of the hard work it takes to be successful in this business."

5. Time and effort investment

The most successful Creators often treat OnlyFans like it’s a full-time job and invest lots of time and effort into content creation, fan interaction, and promotion.

This level of commitment can be what separates the high earners from the Creators who can’t make a significant profit. 

Many Creators report that the longer they’re on the platform, the more they see their earnings soar.

It takes time to build up a fanbase, and you may have to be patient before you start bringing in the big bucks. 

Maintaining your mental health

Being an OnlyFans Creator can be tough on your mental health, especially if you’re relying on it to make a living. It can have a mental and emotional toll to constantly create content, especially when it’s so intimate. 

FloraJinora says:

I've been doing SW since July 2018, Onlyfans since Nov 2019 and i've had all kinds of ups and downs. At my peak during 2021-2022 i'd make anywhere from 2.5k - 3.5k a month on OF alone, but since April 2023 i haven't made more than 1k on OF, but i was burning out for a while and so was one foot in the game regrettably.

Is OnlyFans still profitable in 2025?

With more and more competition on the platform, many Creators wonder if it’s still possible to be possible on OnlyFans in 2025. 

The landscape is definitely more challenging for many Creators, but Redditor That-slooty-indian shared some recent success: "Started OF/Fansly 2.5 months ago. Steady growth since. For June a little over 3k on my paid OF (~130 subs)." Similarly, Mskyliepowers shared, "I started doing OF Jan 2025 and by March hit $8k and had my first $10k+ month in June."

Sexylipsmilf started her OF journey in 2025 and says, “Am making about 1k a month, only been doing OF for a few months so am really pleased with it so far”.

Mskyliepowers says, “I started doing OF Jan 2025 and by March hit $8k and had my first $10k+ month in June.

Is OnlyFans profitable?

Based on the experiences shared by Reddit users, the answer to whether OnlyFans is profitable is…it depends.

Some Creators report life-changing earnings, but many others aren’t able to make a viable income on the platform. While there’s definitely potential for high profits, it’s far from a guarantee. 

When it comes down to it, it’s important to have realistic expectations and be willing to put in the effort.

If you treat your content creation journey like a serious business venture, you’re more likely to be successful.