Tech

What is OnlyFans?

Published

4 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Vicky

onlyfans on computer

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?

SEE ALSO:

How I make 6 figures on OnlyFans selling feet pics

We're here to answer your questions.

Table of Contents

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.

SEE ALSO:

The best sexting apps for discreet and NSFW chats

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.

Tech

T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to qualify

Published

13 seconds ago

April 10, 2026

Vicky

Apple iPhone 17 on Mashable composite background

TL;DR: Get a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. Alternatively, get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

Credit: Apple

T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free

Last month was absolutely huge for Apple. We got new iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads, but what now? Are we just expected to sit around and wait for the next batch of new products? No, we're supposed to score the best deals on this fresh lineup.

For those interested in investing in the new iPhone 17, we recommend checking out T-Mobile. The popular carrier is offering another "free iPhone" deal this weekend.

You can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan and get a free iPhone 17e with no trade in required. Alternatively, you can score the iPhone 17 for free when signing on for 24 months of an Experience Beyond plan and trading in an eligible phone. T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee.

There are always some strings attached to these sort of deals, and we should note that the Experience More plan is designed for power users who want 4K streaming, massive hotspot data, and the best international roaming. It therefore comes with a higher monthly bill than more limited plans. The Experience More plan does include perks like Apple TV+ and Netflix, which helps offset some of that cost.

If you’re still rocking an iPhone 12 or 13, you’re missing out on some genuinely game-changing features. The iPhone 17 is the first base model built specifically to handle Apple’s most advanced AI features. Mashable's Stan Schroeder said it's an "excellent phone that matches the iPhone Pro models in many ways that matter."

Score an iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

Tech

Amazons sister site is having a one-day sale, and this Bissell TurboClean deal is too good to skip

Published

19 seconds ago

April 10, 2026

Vicky

A woman using the Bissell TurboClean Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner Mop and Lightweight Wet/Dry Vacuum.

GET 25% OFF: Today only, add one or more Main Woot and/or Category Daily Deals to your cart to score 25% off your order subtotal.

Credit: Woot

Get 25% off at Woot

Use code 25OFF at checkout

If you haven't heard of Woot yet, I highly recommend checking it out. The website isn't as sleek or user-friendly as its parent company (which is Amazon, BTW), but if you're willing to do a little digging, you'll find tons of deals on things Amazon hasn't even discounted yet.

Today only, you can get 25% off your order subtotal just by adding one or more Main Woot and/or Category Daily Deals to your cart. All you have to do is enter the promo code 25OFF on the final checkout screen right before you hit the "Place order" button. It's super easy, but you have to act fast because the promotion ends tonight, April 3, 2026, at 11:58 p.m. CT.

Whether you're looking to upgrade your home or just stock up on everyday essentials, the eligible categories have a little bit of everything, including Amazon Kindles, DeWalt flashlights, and the "Grocery and Beauty Palooza."

But my favorite find is on the Bissell TurboClean Cordless Wet/Dry Vac (which is basically a must-have if you have messy pets). Right now, you can get it at Amazon for $281.72, but Woot has it listed as a daily deal for $93.99. When you apply the 25OFF promo code, the price drops to around $70. That's an unbeatable steal for a cordless vacuum with a 30-minute run time and a self-cleaning cycle.

Tech

The best smartwatch youve never heard of is on sale for less than $50

Published

23 seconds ago

April 10, 2026

Vicky

Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro in light green with blue and green abstract background

SAVE $54: As of April 3, the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro is on sale at Woot! (an Amazon company) for only $44.99. That's $54.01 or 55% off its list price of $99 and the cheapest we've ever seen it.

Credit: Nothing

Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro

$44.99
at Woot

$99
Save $54.01

In a world of expensive Apple watches, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is a delightfully affordable and surprisingly fantastic alternative. It was one of Mashable's favorite smartwatches of 2025 and earned a near-perfect rating in our testing. It's an excellent value at full price (just $99), but on sale for under $50, it's an absolute steal.

As of April 3, you can grab the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro at Woot! (an Amazon company) for only $44.99 instead of $99. That's 55% in savings and its best price ever. Just last week, we saw the smartwatch drop to $69 in Amazon's Big Spring Sale. This beats that sale price by an extra $24. The only catch? You'll have to go with the light green colorway. Though, honestly, I think that's the best choice anyway.

Mashable Contributor Lauren Allain tested the watch last fall and still wears it every day. She writes that it "looks, feels, and functions like a smartwatch that costs hundreds more." It offers loads of features like stress tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, precise heart-rate monitoring, dual-band GPS tracing, and in-depth sleep tracking, but where it truly outshines the competition is in battery power. As Allain puts it, "it just would not die." She had to turn on extra features to wear this thing down; it finally died after 16 days. That blows Apple's single day of battery life out of the water.

If you're in the market for a new smartwatch, fitness tracker, or sleep tracker, the CMF Watch 3 Pro does all three beautifully — and for less than $50 if you act fast.