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OnlyFans vs Patreon: Which Platform Is Better for Creators in 2025?
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OnlyFans or Patreon?
If you are a creator looking to monetize your content through subscriptions, these are the two biggest names you will consider. Both let fans pay monthly to access exclusive content, but they work very differently.
The short version: OnlyFans takes a flat 20% commission, allows adult content, and focuses on direct transactions. Patreon takes 8% to 12%, restricts explicit content, and emphasizes community building with tiered memberships.
But commission rates and content policies are just the starting point. The platforms differ in audience expectations, features, discoverability, and what types of creators succeed on each.
This guide compares OnlyFans and Patreon across everything that matters, helping you decide which platform fits your content, audience, and goals.
| Factor | OnlyFans | Patreon |
|---|---|---|
| Commission | 20% flat | 8% to 12% depending on plan |
| Adult content | Allowed | Restricted |
| Payout frequency | Daily available | Monthly |
| Minimum payout | $20 | $25 (varies by method) |
| Tiered subscriptions | Limited | Built in, core feature |
| Primary audience | Direct content consumers | Community supporters/patrons |
| Discovery features | Almost none | Limited |
| PPV messaging | Yes | No |
| Live streaming | Yes | Limited |
The fundamental difference: OnlyFans is built for selling content directly. Patreon is built for building communities around ongoing creative work.
OnlyFans launched in 2016 and became the dominant platform for adult content creators, though it hosts creators across many categories.
How it works:
The model: OnlyFans operates as a content marketplace. Fans pay to access exclusive photos, videos, and direct interaction. The relationship is transactional: payment in exchange for content.
Who uses it: OnlyFans has over 4 million creators and 377 million registered fan accounts. While known for adult content, the platform also hosts fitness trainers, musicians, chefs, and other creators.
Patreon launched in 2013 as a way for fans to support creators with ongoing monthly payments, similar to being a patron of the arts.
How it works:
The model: Patreon positions itself around patronage and community. Fans are "patrons" supporting a creator's work, not just purchasing content. The relationship emphasizes ongoing support and belonging to a community.
Who uses it: Patreon hosts podcasters, YouTubers, musicians, writers, artists, game developers, educators, and other creators. The platform has over 250,000 active creators and millions of patrons.
The financial structures differ significantly.
OnlyFans keeps things simple:
If you earn $10,000, you keep $8,000. Straightforward.
Patreon offers three plans with different commission rates and features:
Lite Plan (free to join, 5% + payment processing):
Pro Plan (8% + payment processing):
Premium Plan (12% + payment processing):
Payment processing fees add approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction on top of the platform fee.
Let us calculate what you actually keep on $10,000 in monthly earnings:
OnlyFans:
Patreon Pro (8% + ~3% processing):
Patreon Premium (12% + ~3% processing):
At most earning levels, Patreon's total fees are lower than OnlyFans' flat 20%. However, the difference narrows when you factor in payment processing, and OnlyFans includes processing in their commission.
The real question is not just fees but which platform helps you earn more in the first place.
This is often the deciding factor.
OnlyFans allows adult content, which is why it became the dominant platform for that category.
Allowed:
Not allowed:
The 2021 incident where OnlyFans announced and then reversed an adult content ban created some uncertainty, but the platform has maintained its policies since then.
Patreon has stricter content policies, especially around adult material.
Allowed:
Restricted or not allowed:
Patreon's policies are less explicit than OnlyFans' and enforcement can sometimes seem inconsistent. Creators in gray areas sometimes face account issues.
Choose OnlyFans if:
Choose Patreon if:
Both platforms let you charge for subscriptions, but the tools differ.
Subscriptions:
Pay Per View (PPV):
Tips:
Live streaming:
The approach: OnlyFans gives you multiple ways to monetize individual transactions. PPV messaging alone often generates more revenue than subscriptions for top creators.
Tiered memberships:
Example tier structure:
Per-creation charging:
Benefits you can offer:
The approach: Patreon is built around offering escalating value at different price points. The goal is giving fans options and rewarding higher levels of support.
OnlyFans focuses on selling content: subscriptions plus individual purchases.
Patreon focuses on selling membership: ongoing support with benefits that increase at higher tiers.
Neither approach is inherently better. The right choice depends on your content and how your audience wants to engage.
Neither platform excels at helping new fans find you, but they differ in audience expectations.
OnlyFans has minimal internal discovery. There is no browse page, no algorithm recommending creators, no search by category.
How fans find OnlyFans creators:
Fans on OnlyFans expect:
The relationship tends to be more transactional. Fans pay specifically for content access and interaction.
Patreon also has limited discovery, but slightly more than OnlyFans. There is a browse feature and some category exploration.
How fans find Patreon creators:
Fans on Patreon expect:
The relationship tends to be more patronage-oriented. Fans pay to support the creator's work and get benefits in return.
Since neither platform helps much with discovery, external promotion matters enormously.
For OnlyFans creators, platforms like OnlyFinds help potential subscribers search for creators by category, location, and price. With over 249,000 indexed OnlyFans profiles, discovery platforms fill the gap that OnlyFans itself does not address.
For Patreon creators, discovery typically happens through the creator's primary platform (YouTube, podcast, website) where they build audience before converting to paid supporters.
How and when you get paid matters for managing your finances.
The daily payout option is valuable for cash flow. You do not have to wait weeks to access your money.
Monthly payouts mean waiting longer to access your money, but the predictable schedule helps with financial planning.
OnlyFans' daily payouts give you more flexibility and faster access to earnings. This matters if you depend on creator income for expenses.
Patreon's monthly cycle is more predictable but slower. You know when money is coming but wait longer to receive it.
Different types of creators thrive on each platform.
Adult content creators: The platform was built for this and remains dominant in the space.
Fitness and lifestyle creators: Workout plans, meal plans, personal coaching content.
Creators with strong personal brands: Those who monetize personal connection and direct access.
Creators comfortable with high engagement: Responding to messages, selling PPV, building individual relationships.
Common traits:
Podcasters: Bonus episodes, early access, ad-free versions for patrons.
YouTubers: Behind the scenes, extended cuts, patron-only videos.
Musicians: Exclusive tracks, early releases, songwriting sessions.
Artists and illustrators: Process videos, high-res downloads, commissions.
Writers and journalists: Patron-only articles, early access, community discussion.
Educators: Extended lessons, exclusive courses, direct Q&A.
Common traits:
Some creators use OnlyFans and Patreon simultaneously for different purposes.
Use Patreon for:
Use OnlyFans for:
Running two platforms doubles your administrative work. You need content strategies for both, separate promotional efforts, and clear differentiation in what each offers.
For creators with diverse content types or audiences, the dual approach maximizes reach. For creators with focused content, picking one platform and doing it well usually makes more sense.
Here is a framework for choosing:
Regardless of which platform you choose, discovery remains your responsibility.
Neither OnlyFans nor Patreon will bring you an audience. You must build audience elsewhere and convert them to subscribers.
For OnlyFans creators:
For Patreon creators:
The platform is the tool. Audience building is your job.
OnlyFans:
Patreon:
Choose based on:
Both platforms can work for the right creator. The question is which model fits how you create and how your audience wants to support you.
If you are a subscriber looking for OnlyFans creators to support, OnlyFinds makes discovery easy.
Search over 249,000 OnlyFans profiles by category, location, and price. Find creators worth subscribing to.
This comparison reflects platform features as of 2025. Commission structures, features, and policies change over time. Verify current terms directly with each platform.