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OnlyFans or Fanvue?
If you are choosing a platform for subscription content, these two names come up constantly. OnlyFans is the established giant. Fanvue is the newer challenger promising better features and lower fees.
The headline difference: OnlyFans takes 20% of your earnings. Fanvue takes only 15% for your first year, then 20% after that.
But commission is just one factor. Discovery, features, audience size, content policies, and payout systems all matter for building a sustainable creator business.
This guide compares OnlyFans and Fanvue across everything that affects your success as a creator.
| Factor | OnlyFans | Fanvue |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | 20% | 15% first year, 20% after |
| Brand recognition | Very high | Growing |
| User base | 377M+ fans, 4M+ creators | Smaller, growing |
| Discovery features | Almost none | Built-in discover page |
| Payout speed | Daily available | Same day available |
| Minimum payout | $20 | $20 |
| Content scheduling | Basic | Advanced |
| AI creators | Policy unclear | Explicitly welcomed |
| Welcome messages | Basic | Automated features |
The core trade off: OnlyFans has massive brand recognition and audience. Fanvue has better features and a promotional commission rate for new creators.
OnlyFans launched in 2016 and became the dominant subscription platform, particularly for adult content. The brand is now synonymous with creator subscriptions.
Scale:
History: OnlyFans grew rapidly during 2020 and became a cultural phenomenon. The 2021 controversy where the platform briefly announced and then reversed an adult content ban created some uncertainty, but the platform has remained stable since.
Fanvue launched in 2021, positioning itself as a modern, creator-focused alternative to OnlyFans.
Positioning:
Scale: Fanvue is significantly smaller than OnlyFans but growing. The platform has attracted creators looking for better features or lower initial fees.
This is often the first thing creators compare.
OnlyFans takes 20% of all creator earnings:
Simple and consistent. If you earn $10,000, you keep $8,000.
Fanvue offers a promotional rate for new creators:
This means new creators keep 85% of earnings for their first year, then 80% after that.
For a creator earning $5,000 per month in their first year:
OnlyFans:
Fanvue (first year at 15%):
First year difference: $3,000 more on Fanvue
After the first year, when Fanvue moves to 20%, the commission rates are identical.
The 5% first year savings is meaningful if you earn significant income during that period. For a creator earning $50,000 in their first year, the difference is $2,500.
But commission is only one factor. If OnlyFans' larger audience helps you earn more in the first place, the 5% discount may not matter.
This is where the platforms differ most significantly.
OnlyFans has essentially no internal discovery features:
If someone does not already have your link, they cannot find you on OnlyFans. The platform is a destination, not a discovery engine.
How OnlyFans creators get found:
OnlyFans puts 100% of the marketing burden on creators.
Fanvue was designed with discovery as a core feature:
Discover page: A browse feed similar to Instagram's explore, recommending creators based on user interests and behavior.
Search and categories: Users can search for creators and browse by category.
Algorithm recommendations: The platform actively suggests creators to potential subscribers.
Creator spotlights: Featured placement for creators.
This internal traffic is a genuine differentiator. New creators can potentially gain subscribers from people browsing Fanvue itself, not just from external promotion.
For creators without large existing followings, Fanvue's discovery features provide a growth channel that OnlyFans simply does not offer.
On OnlyFans, if you have no social media presence, you have almost no way to get subscribers. On Fanvue, organic discovery is at least possible.
That said, OnlyFans' massive brand recognition means more people are searching for "OnlyFans" content in general. External discovery through search engines and platforms like OnlyFinds helps bridge this gap for OnlyFans creators.
Beyond commission and discovery, the platforms differ in daily functionality.
OnlyFans:
Fanvue:
Fanvue was built more recently and shows it. The day-to-day experience of managing your page is smoother.
OnlyFans:
Fanvue:
For creators posting frequently, Fanvue's scheduling tools save time.
OnlyFans:
Fanvue:
The automated engagement features on Fanvue help creators build relationships without constant manual work.
OnlyFans:
Fanvue:
Data-driven creators will appreciate Fanvue's more robust analytics.
Both platforms support:
The core monetization mechanics are similar on both platforms.
Getting your money matters. Both platforms handle this well.
Fanvue often emphasizes faster payout processing as a selling point. For creators who depend on quick access to earnings, this matters.
Both platforms allow adult content, but with some differences in approach.
OnlyFans allows most adult content between consenting adults. There are restrictions on certain extreme content, and the platform requires age verification for all creators.
The 2021 attempted ban on adult content spooked some creators, but policies have remained stable since the reversal.
Fanvue explicitly welcomes adult content and has positioned itself as a stable home for creators concerned about OnlyFans' policy history.
AI Creators: A notable difference is that Fanvue explicitly welcomes AI-generated content and virtual creators. OnlyFans' policy on AI content is less clear.
For creators building AI personas or using AI-generated imagery, Fanvue is the safer choice.
Fanvue, being built specifically for adult and creator content, may offer more policy stability than OnlyFans, which has faced external pressure from payment processors.
Neither platform has shown recent policy instability, but Fanvue's explicit positioning as adult-friendly may be reassuring.
This is OnlyFans' biggest advantage.
OnlyFans is a household name. When someone wants to subscribe to a creator, OnlyFans is often the first platform that comes to mind.
Advantages of brand recognition:
When you tell someone you have an OnlyFans, they know what that means. There is no explanation needed.
Fanvue is growing but does not have OnlyFans' brand power. Many potential subscribers have never heard of it.
Challenges of lower recognition:
This does not mean Fanvue is worse, but brand recognition has real business value that affects conversion rates.
OnlyFans makes sense for creators who:
Have existing audiences: If you already have significant social media followings, OnlyFans' brand recognition makes conversion easier.
Prioritize brand trust: The established platform has proven reliability and audiences already understand it.
Want the largest potential audience: OnlyFans' user base is simply bigger, meaning more potential subscribers.
Create mainstream adult content: OnlyFans remains the default destination for this category.
Value proven stability: The platform has operated for years and processed billions in payments.
Fanvue makes sense for creators who:
Are starting fresh: The 15% first-year commission saves money while you build. The discovery features help new creators get found.
Value organic discovery: If you struggle with external marketing, Fanvue's browse features provide a growth channel OnlyFans lacks.
Want modern features: Better interface, scheduling, analytics, and automation.
Create AI content: Fanvue explicitly welcomes AI creators and virtual influencers.
Want faster payouts: Same-day payout processing.
Are concerned about policy stability: Fanvue's explicit adult-content positioning may feel more reliable.
Some creators maintain presence on both platforms.
Audience diversification: Capture subscribers who prefer each platform.
Risk reduction: If one platform has issues, you have the other.
Testing: See which platform performs better for your content.
Different content: Potentially offer different content on each.
Double the work: Two platforms means two content strategies, two sets of messages, two analytics to track.
Divided attention: Time spent on one platform is time not spent on the other.
Subscriber confusion: Some subscribers may not understand why you are on both.
For most creators, picking one platform and doing it well is simpler than managing both.
OnlyFans' lack of internal discovery creates a market for external discovery platforms.
OnlyFinds indexes over 249,000 OnlyFans profiles with search filters for category, location, price, and more. This type of discovery platform fills the gap that OnlyFans itself does not address.
For creators, being discoverable on these platforms matters because it is one of the few ways new subscribers find OnlyFans pages without direct links.
For subscribers, discovery platforms make finding OnlyFans creators dramatically easier than the platform's own non-existent search.
Here is a simple framework:
OnlyFans has scale and recognition. Fanvue has features and lower initial fees. The right choice depends on your situation, content, and goals.
OnlyFans:
Fanvue:
The key trade-off: OnlyFans has the audience. Fanvue has the features and first-year savings.
For established creators with audiences to convert, OnlyFans' brand power matters. For new creators building from scratch, Fanvue's discovery features and lower initial fees may provide a better start.
Looking for OnlyFans creators to subscribe to? OnlyFinds makes discovery easy with search by category, location, and price.
249,000+ profiles indexed. Find creators worth following.
This comparison reflects platform features as of 2025. Features and policies change. Verify current terms directly with each platform.