Tech
What is OnlyFans?
The creator platform OnlyFans has changed the adult industry since its inception a decade ago. What started as a tip jar for bloggers has become an extreme moneymaker for some porn performers, making six figures a year or even in a single month. But do you have to post sexually explicit work on OnlyFans? Are you required to message back and forth with strangers? Can you actually make money on the platform? What is OnlyFans, anyway?
We're here to answer your questions.
What is OnlyFans?
OnlyFans was started in 2016 by British entrepreneur Tim Stokely. Its main goal is to help content creators and artists "monetize their content while developing authentic relationships with their fanbase." This basically means the platform was created to let users post content behind a paywall, which fans have to subscribe to for access. Fans can also pay more to message back and forth with creators and "tip" to get content created on demand that's specifically tailored to their interests and tastes.
If you look back at OnlyFans promotional materials from 2016, you'll notice that it was geared towards "safe for work" creators, like bloggers and YouTubers. This changed in 2018, when the majority of its parent company, Fenix International Limited, was sold to Ukrainian-American entrepreneur Leonid Radvinsky. Radvinsky, who died in March 2026 at the age of 43, previously founded the porn site MyFreeCams. OnlyFans pivoted to porn after 2018 (despite any type of creator still allowed on the platform), and it exploded in usage and name recognition during the COVID lockdowns.
While creators don't have to post explicit content on the platform (and in fact, Mashable interviewed a creator who makes six figures from OnlyFans without nudity), it's what the platform is known for at this point. In 2021, OnlyFans announced it would ban explicit content, only to reverse the decision days later due to backlash.
How much money can creators make on it?
It depends on the kind of content you're producing, how much reach you have, and a whole host of other variables, but creators can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars a month to a few thousand. In 2023, the average OnlyFans creator made just $1,300 a year from the platform, but Mashable has interviewed creators who've made millions from it. Last year, current OnlyFans CEO Keily Blair shared that the platform paid out $25 billion to creators since 2016.
But if you think OnlyFans is "easy money," think again. Last year, Mashable interviewed different creators about the work that goes into building a successful OnlyFans, including investing in camera equipment, hiring help, and marketing yourself.
How do you subscribe to creators?
You don't have to be a creator to use the platform — in fact, it's fueled by users who don't post on the platform. In order to subscribe to creators, you simply have to create an OnlyFans account, go to the Home page, and find someone you're interested in following. Check out their subscription tiers, and decide what kind of bundle or offer you're interested in paying for. You can also tip a creator any amount you want, or pay for messages and individualized content with pay-per-view messages that range anywhere from a couple dollars to more than $100, depending on the creator.
And if you have a friend who's started posting on OnlyFans and you want to support them, there are ways to do that, too, from subscribing to their pages to offering emotional support.
This article was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2026.
Save $120: As of April 13, you can grab the Beelink SER5 MAX 7735HS mini PC with 24GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for just $539, thanks to an on-page coupon at Amazon. Usually, this mini PC costs $659, so this deal saves you 18%.
Opens in a new window
at Amazon
$659.01
Save $120.01
Despite its security flaws, OpenClaw's popularity as an open-source AI assistant has catapulted it to proper viral status (at least, within the AI community). While many users were running to pick up Mac Minis to run the assistant, the Apple computer isn't exactly at its cheapest right now.
Don't get us wrong — you can catch the Mac Mini on sale from time to time. But as of April 13, the $599 regular M4 version is unavailable at Amazon, and the more expensive M4 Pro model will run you $1,419.99 — not exactly the most cost effective solution.
Our advice? Check out other mini PCs on the market. At the time of writing, the Beelink SER5 MAX 7735HS mini PC with AMD Ryzen 7, 24GB RAM, and 1TB SSD is on sale for $539 with an on-page coupon, knocking $120 off its usual $659. Even when the M4 Mac mini is available, it can be harder to find it below $549, making this an especially competitive price for the Beelink PC.
Just a note: its important to be aware of the security risks that come with using this open source AI tool. And if you're already using OpenClaw, be sure to update to the latest version immediately.
SAVE 30%: As of April 13, you can get the DJI Mini 4K for $209, down from $299, at Amazon. That's a 30% discount or $90 savings.
Opens in a new window
My dad and my cousin are obsessed with drones, so I've spent enough time watching them fly to know two things: the really good ones are usually very expensive, and they're easy to crash if you don't know what you're doing (and sometimes, even if you do!).
If you've been wanting to get into the hobby without the steep learning curve (or the high price tag), this DJI model is a great place to start. Right now, the DJI Mini 4K is listed at $299, but if you clip the on-page coupon, it drops to $209.
Despite its tiny size, this drone has the practical features you need to get in the air quickly. It has a 4K Ultra HD camera paired with a 3-axis gimbal to keep your footage smooth and cinematic. Because it weighs under 249 grams, you don't have to worry about FAA registration or Remote ID for recreational use. It also has a maximum flight time of 31 minutes, Level 5 wind resistance (stable in winds up to 38kph), and a 10km video transmission range.
If you're worried about flying it into a tree or the ocean, it features one-tap takeoff and landing, stable hovering, and a GPS Return to Home (RTH) function, so you don't have to panic if you lose it. It even comes with intelligent QuickShots modes that automatically fly the drone in cinematic patterns to get you professional-looking shots with just a few taps (which could be good if you're a real estate agent or photographer!).
SAVE $404.03: The Bluetti Elite 100 V2 is on sale at Amazon for $394.97, down from the list price of $799. That's a 51% discount.
Opens in a new window
Memorial Day weekend will be here in just over a month. After that, we'll officially be in summer camping season. If you've been hearing about portable power stations and how useful they can be at the campground but don't own one yet, consider this sale your sign.
As of April 13, the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 is on sale at Amazon for $394.97, marked down from the normal price of $799. That's a 51% discount that takes $404.03 off the price.
Packing in 1,024Wh, the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 is well worth bringing along on your next weekend away. It'll be able to recharge phones, laptops, drone batteries, camping lights, and keep the coffee pot running each morning.
Bluetti equipped this model with four standard AC ports, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. Plus, it only weighs about 25 pounds so it'll be portable enough to carry around the campsite. It's also a relatively quiet model, operating at about 30 decibels, which will be nice if you're using it to power up a CPAP machine at night.
With 45 minutes of standard wall AC recharging, the Bluetti Elite 100 V2 will go from 0 to 80% charge in about 45 minutes. A full charge should take around 70 minutes. You can also connect the Elite 100 V2 to up to 1,000W of solar power for recharging. With that input, expect to get a full recharge in about 70 minutes.
Before you head off on the next camping adventure, upgrade you setup with the Bluetti Elite 100 V2. It's down to an incredibly affordable price of under $395. That's nearly as good as it gets for a power station in the 1K Wh range.
Want to Rent Your Home for World Cup? Airbnb Tracker Estimates Profit
Why Gen Z Workers View Their Current Roles as Just Stepping Stones
More than 100 Southwest Employees to Be Impacted as O’Hare Service Ends
SEND IN THE TROOPS! At Least 5 Dead, 10 Wounded So Far in Chicago Weekend Shootings
How I Paid Off My Mortgage 10 Years Early On A Teacher’s Salary
Black Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle
-
Politics7 months agoSEND IN THE TROOPS! At Least 5 Dead, 10 Wounded So Far in Chicago Weekend Shootings
-
Business7 months ago
How I Paid Off My Mortgage 10 Years Early On A Teacher’s Salary
-
Politics7 months agoBlack Lives Matter Activist in Boston Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges – Scammed Donors to Fund Her Lifestyle
-
Tech7 months agoGet a lifetime subscription to the “ChatGPT for investors” for under $60
-
Tech7 months agoReview: The Dreame H15 Pro CarpetFlex is the first wet/dry vacuum I liked
-
Business7 months ago
25 Low-Effort Side Hustles You Can Start This Weekend
-
Tech7 months agoHow much does the Roborock Saros Z70 cost? And does it ever go on sale?
-
Business7 months ago
9 Ways to Command a Six-Figure Salary Without a Bachelor’s