As an entrepreneurship consultant, I‘ve been fascinated by the rapid emergence of OnlyFans as a major player in the creator economy. In just a few short years, OnlyFans has shaken up the world of content creation and fan monetization.
Let‘s take a data-driven deep dive into OnlyFans statistics around users, creators, engagement, revenue, and more to fully understand its current position and future potential.
By the Numbers: Key OnlyFans User Demographics
- Over 200 million registered users
- 500,000+ new users per day
- 35% female, 65% male
- Largest age groups:
- 25-34 (41%)
- 18-24 (28%)
- 35-44 (17%)
- Top countries:
- United States (47%)
- United Kingdom (10%)
- Canada (7%)
OnlyFans has experienced exponential growth since launching in 2016, reaching over 200 million users as of 2023. Growth surged during the COVID-19 pandemic as people spent more time online looking for entertainment.
While OftenFans is still male-dominated, the user base is more diverse than many assume. OnlyFans appeals to younger millennials and Gen Z, but over 50% of users are 35 and older.
The United States accounts for almost half of OnlyFans‘ traffic, but the platform sees significant usage across English-speaking countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia.
These demographics demonstrate OnlyFans‘ potential to expand beyond its adult content roots into the mainstream.
Distribution of Creator Earnings on OnlyFans
- Top 1% of creators earn 33% of all revenue
- Top 10% earn 73% of all revenue
- Top 50% earn 95% of all revenue
- Average monthly earnings per creator: $180
The vast majority of earnings on OnlyFans accrue to the top creators. The top 1% of accounts earn a staggering 33% of all the revenue on OnlyFans.
Expand this out to the top 10% and you‘re looking at over 70% of all earnings. The bottom 50% of creators on the platform account for only 5% of revenue.
On average, creators earn about $180 per month. But a few top performers like Bella Thorne have earned over $1 million in a single day. The earning potential is highly concentrated for those who can build a large following.
For most creators, OnlyFans serves as a side hustle rather than a full-time job. Creators spend an average of 9 hours a month on OnlyFans-related activities.
OnlyFans Company Revenue and Growth Figures
- $2 billion revenue in 2021, up 5x from 2020
- Has paid out over $3 billion to creators total
- Takes 20% cut of all creator revenue
- Valuation grew 4x to $4 billion after $1.2B funding round
Propelled by the pandemic, OnlyFans revenue grew by an immense 500% between 2020 and 2021. Overall they‘ve paid out over $3 billion to creators since starting.
Like other creator platforms, OnlyFans takes a cut of creator earnings – around 20%. This revenue share model helped the platform raise significant funding and reach a valuation of $4 billion.
Investor interest remains strong despite some stigma around OnlyFans‘ porn association. Their revenue growth is hard for investors to ignore.
Adult Content on OnlyFans
- Over 90% of OnlyFans creators produce adult content
- Over 80% of OnlyFans revenue attributed to adult content
- OnlyFans gained fame as a platform for porn performers
While OnlyFans increasingly markets itself as an all-purpose creator platform, adult content remains its bread and butter.
Industry estimates attribute over 80% of OnlyFans revenue to adult content. Over 90% of creators on the platform focus on producing adult content.
OnlyFans gained popularity as a way for porn performers to monetize content. The site became known as a destination for porn and has grown this niche audience to over 200 million users.
However, OnlyFans also appeals to creators seeking more control over all types of content, especially exclusives.
Traffic Sources and Engagement Metrics
- Global Alexa rank: #209
- 6 minutes avg visit duration
- 177 million monthly visits
- 14% search traffic, 22% via social
- Top social referrers: Twitter, Reddit
For a relatively new platform, OnlyFans quickly became one of the most-visited sites online. Users spend an average of 6 minutes per visit, showing OnlyFans‘ ability to retain visitors‘ attention.
In line with being a paid platform, OnlyFans doesn‘t rely heavily on search traffic. Referrals from social media (especially Twitter and Reddit) and direct visits account for most of their traffic flow.
The Future of Subscription Fan Platforms
OnlyFans changed the game by empowering creators to monetize content directly from subscribers. Their rapid growth shows the massive earning potential for those who build a loyal audience.
While OnlyFans enjoys first-mover advantage, new competitors are emerging such as Fansly, JustForFans, and others. However, OnlyFans‘ brand recognition and content variety will be hard for competitors to rival.
As the platform experiments with new content formats like livestreaming and expanded messaging, they could expand beyond their niche adult market. But for now, porn pays the bills. The future remains bright for OnlyFans as it fundamentally transformed how creators connect with fans.
