The short answer
Which one is for you?
- Starting from zero? Fansly. Its For You page and tags help new fans find you.
- Already have a following? OnlyFans is the name your fans already know.
- Want both? Lots of creators run both, plus a cam site.
- Either way: you'll verify your ID, and anyone else in your content has to be verified too.
Side by side
We only list a number after checking it on the company's own pages. OnlyFans blocks the tools we use to check its pages, so where we couldn't confirm something, we say so instead of repeating figures from other blogs.
| Fansly | OnlyFans | |
|---|---|---|
| How fans find you | For You page, profile tags, hashtags, suggestions | Mostly your own promotion |
| When earnings unlock | 7 days after you earn them | Check OnlyFans' terms |
| Lowest payout minimum | $20 (Paxum, Cosmopayment, local bank) | Check OnlyFans' terms |
| Single item prices | $1.00 to $499.99 | Check OnlyFans' terms |
| Creator verification | ID, selfie with ID and sign, short video | Check its current steps |
| Co-performers | Verified and signed consent, every time | Check its current steps |
| Creator referrals | 5% of their sales for a year, then 1.5% | Check OnlyFans' terms |
Getting found: Fansly's big difference
The hardest part of any subscription site is getting the first fans. This is where the two differ most.
Fansly has built-in discovery. Its For You page shows fans posts from creators they don't follow yet. You choose which posts go there by ticking "Post to FYP" or adding #fyp. Locked posts need a free preview to appear. On top of that, you get:
- Profile tags: private labels that help Fansly match you with fans and show you in searches.
- Hashtags: public tags on your posts that show up in hashtag searches.
- Suggestions: Fansly suggests your profile automatically, based on your tags and content.
- Connections: you can link your Twitch and X accounts so their followers may see you suggested.
OnlyFans is mostly bring-your-own-audience. Most creators there find fans through social media, cam shows and word of mouth. That's not a bad thing if you already have a following: OnlyFans is the name most fans know.
If you're a cam model, this is where the two worlds meet. Your cam regulars are already your fans, so a subscription page gives them a way to support you between shows.
Getting paid on Fansly
Fansly's help center spells it out clearly:
- Seven-day hold: each payment unlocks exactly seven days after you earn it. Until then it shows as pending.
- Approval: most payout requests are approved within 48 hours.
- Arrival: standard methods take one to three business days. Crypto, Paxum and Cosmopayment usually arrive within 24 hours. International wires and crypto go out in batches every three days.
Minimum payouts depend on the method:
| Payout method | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Paxum, Cosmopayment | $20 |
| Local bank deposit (including US ACH and Canada) | $20 |
| SEPA (EU and UK) | $50 (requests from $20 send automatically after 14 days) |
| Crypto | $50 to $100, depending on the coin |
| SWIFT wire | $100 |
If you ask for less than the minimum, the request stays approved and goes out once your total reaches it.
For OnlyFans, check its terms and help center for the current payout share, minimum and timing before you sign up.
Verification: what you'll need
Both platforms require you to be 18 or older and prove it. This is non-negotiable, and it protects you as much as anyone.
Fansly's steps:
- Make an account and verify your email.
- Pass an identity and age check with Ondato, its verification partner.
- Upload the front and back of your government photo ID.
- Upload a selfie holding your ID and a handwritten sign with your legal name, the date and "For Fansly".
- Record a short video holding both, with your face visible.
Anyone else in your content needs their own verification on Fansly, with signed consent forms. They don't need a Fansly account; they can verify through a secure invite link. Group photos don't count, tagging someone isn't consent, and content can only go live after approval. Some states need extra steps: Fansly notes that Alabama residents need notarized forms.
Expect OnlyFans to ask for the same kind of proof from you and anyone in your content. Follow its current steps when you sign up.
Referral programs
Fansly: refer a creator and you earn 5% of their sales for their first year, then 1.5% after that. You have to refer them before they finish their application. Refer a fan and you earn 1% of their purchases for 90 days.
OnlyFans: check its current terms for whether it offers referrals, the rate and how long they last.
Protect yourself on any platform
- Never share your login with an agency, manager or "promoter". You're the verified person on the account, and it should stay that way. Read our guide to webcam modeling jobs and agencies before signing anything.
- Use a stage name and keep your real name off your profile.
- Watermark your content and know how to file a DMCA takedown if it leaks.
- Block regions where people know you, if the platform lets you.
- Keep records of your earnings for taxes.
Cam sites vs subscription sites
Subscriptions and camming work well together. Cam shows are live and immediate; subscription pages earn while you sleep. Many creators use live shows to meet fans and a subscription page to keep them.
- New to camming? Start with how to become a cam girl.
- Choosing a cam site? See the best cam sites for models.
- Want to see what it could add up to? Try the earnings calculator.
Part of How to Grow Your Cam Income: Timing, Regulars and Smart Choices.
Questions people ask
Is Fansly better than OnlyFans?
It depends on where your fans come from. If you're starting with no audience, Fansly's For You page and tags help strangers find you. If you already have a big following elsewhere, OnlyFans' name recognition can make it easier for those fans to subscribe.
How long does Fansly take to pay?
Each payment you earn unlocks seven days later. After you request a payout, Fansly says most requests are approved within 48 hours, and standard methods arrive in one to three business days.
What is Fansly's minimum payout?
It depends on the method: $20 for Paxum, Cosmopayment and local bank deposits, $50 for SEPA, $100 for SWIFT wire, and $50 to $100 for crypto, according to Fansly's help center.
Do I need to verify my ID?
Yes, on both. Fansly requires you to be 18 or older and verify with a government photo ID, a selfie holding it with a handwritten sign, and a short video. Anyone else in your content must be verified and sign consent forms too.
Can I use Fansly and OnlyFans at the same time?
Yes. Many creators post on both and on cam sites too. Check each platform's rules on exclusive content before you post the same thing in two places.
What does OnlyFans pay creators?
We haven't been able to confirm OnlyFans' current creator terms on its own pages, so we don't quote a figure. Check onlyfans.com's terms and help center for the latest payout share and minimums.